British soul-pop legend Billy Ocean has released a new cover of the late Bill Withers’ 1977 hit Lovely Day in support of mental health charity Place2Be. The single has been released to coincide with Children’s Mental Health Week 2021, which runs from the 1st-7th February.
The new version of the track – which adds reggae and gospel touches to the original Withers’ melody – sees Ocean join forces with the Young Voices Choir (the world’s largest school choir); MOBO award-winning saxophonist YolanDa Brown; and Southend-born Ruti Olajugbagbe, former Young Voices chorister and the winner of the 2018 edition of The Voice UK.
In a press statement ahead of Children’s Mental Health Week, Place2Be Chief Executive Catherine Roche said “The past year has been incredibly challenging and with so many adjusting to homeschooling again, many children and families will be feeling the extra pressure. At this time, support for children’s mental health is more important than ever. We’re so grateful that Sony and Young Voices are supporting Place2Be this Children’s Mental Health Week. The charity single will not only raise vital funds to support our work with schools around the country but will hopefully be an uplifting and positive anthem for the nation at a time when we all really need it.”
Billy Ocean, who has also been supporting the #ILoveLive campaign to support stage crews during the pandemic, added “We have all been affected in different ways over this difficult last year, and many children have really struggled. I’m so happy to be able to join with Young Voices to help make a difference and to raise funds for children’s mental health with this wonderful and hopeful song.”
Last year Ocean released his 11th studio album, One World – his first LP in seven years. In an interview with American Songwriter in September, the Romford-born troubadour confirmed that the album title was reflective of the unifying, optimistic feel he has always wanted his music to exude. He said “One world, we’ve got to find love all over the world, the balance. I like to think my music is always uplifting. We need something to cheer us up, for God’s sake!”
The superlative Billy Ocean back catalogue – which includes anthemic pop hits When The Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going; Caribbean Queen; Love Really Hurts Without You; Get Outta My Dreams; Get into My Car; L.O.D. (Love on Delivery) and Red Light Spells Danger – will get toes tapping again when the singer returns to the live stage later this year. After a clutch of summer festival appearances, the vocalist’s 21-date UK tour begins with a gig at Newcastle City Hall on September 10th. Tickets for all tour dates are available on Ocean’s website.
The new cover of Lovely Day won’t be the last time we’ll hear from the Young Voices choir this year either. This summer the mass chorus are scheduled to undertake an attempt to break their own Guinness World Record for ‘Largest Simultaneous Sing-Along’. The previous record – which stands at a hefty 293,978 participants singing from 1,616 locations across the UK – was set when the choir performed another Bill Withers staple, Lean On Me, at 2005’s ‘Big Sing’ broadcast live from the Royal Albert Hall.
