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Today is the launch of the Thank You Day campaign with one month to go til Thank You Day on 2nd July and to mark this very special day, UBER COOL CROONER Tony Christie has recorded a soon-to-be-released charity song, Thank You For Being A Friend, recorded for Music for Dementia. Alongside Tony’s celebrity band, he was also joined on the recording of the song by a small orchestra from our chums at Manchester Camerata, the UKs most relentlessly pioneering orchestra and global leader in music and dementia.
Tony has issued a rallying cry for the nation to learn and practice this year's Thank You Day song, ‘Thank You for Being a Friend’, ahead of a mass singalong at 3pm on Sunday 2 July. Christie has recorded the classic song for Music for Dementia, with a group of specially selected carers, representing Britain’s army of unsung heroes.
More than 450,000 are already set to take part through the Girl Guides, Women’s Institute, Asda, Young Voices, Dementia Choirs and 4,000 Care Homes as part of Care Home Open Week. And to help the nation get involved, the backing track and sheet music has been made free to download today (1 June) via thankyouday.org.uk/music
Christie, who announced his dementia diagnosis earlier this year, has rerecorded the 1978 classic for the Music for Dementia campaign on behalf of Thank You Day.
The song will form the centrepiece of this year’s Thank You Day celebrations, as organisers call on the nation to get together in their communities to say a special thank you to someone who has made a difference. This year, the day has a particular focus on carers after a special poll commissioned for Thank You Day found that Britain’s army of carers are the UK’s most under thanked group.
Christie is now urging the public to really let loose on Thank You Day and belt out the anthem. He said: “There’s only one month to go, so print off the sheet music, download the backing track, learn the song and then sing your heart out wherever you may be on Sunday 2 July. It doesn’t matter if you’re in a church, at a festival, at a picnic in the park, in your bedroom on TikTok or you host an event yourself at the park or in the pub. All that matters is that you’re part of something big and special that celebrates all the diverse people and communities that make the UK great, and gives special recognition to the brilliant carers in it.”
Christie recorded the song ten days ago in London. He was joined by a host of famous musicians, singers and producers whose names are being kept a strict secret until the song is released in late June but Mag North has been led to believe that Matthew 'Break My Stride' Wilder, Bobbie 'Don't Worry Be Happy' McFerrin and Carnie 'Hold On' Wilson have been bombarding Christie's people with appeals to be involved. In addition five specially selected carers were invited to join Tony at the recording and were given the chance to add their vocals to the track at British Grove Studios, which was kindly donated for free by Mark Knopfler from Dire Straits.
Music for Dementia, founded and funded by The Utley Foundation, is leading the Thank You Day 2023 music activities. Managing Director, Sarah Metcalfe, said: “The stories of the carers singing with Tony on the record show powerfully how music can become a lifeline for people living with dementia and their families. Thank You Day is a chance for everyone to say Thank You For being A Friend to someone special.
"Let’s make Thank You Day the biggest singalong ever! Get ready by visiting the website to download the lyrics, sheet music and backing track for free. And dementia choirs and care homes can sign up for a free activity pack - including kazoos!”
To register your interest or simply find out more about Thank You Day and the wider ways you can get involved PLEASE CLICK HERE
"We often see the transformational impact carers can make during our Music and Dementia sessions. So to provide an orchestra for this beautiful project with Tony Christie and our friends Music for Dementia for Thank You Day is just fantastic. Here at Camerata, we believe everybody's lives should be elevated and enhanced by exceptional music, and this project is an excellent way of doing just that." – Samantha McShane, Creative Director Manchester Camerata.
Header Image: Tony Christie - Image John Dawson