Girls Aloud are releasing new music – a tear-jerking tribute to Sarah Harding.
The late singer tragically died aged 39 – after confirming her initial diagnosis of breast cancer had advanced to various parts of her body. Despite her diagnosis, Sarah continued to put on a fight and updated fans on her condition. Although she was initially responding well to treatment, she sadly died on September 5, 2021, surrounded by her family.
Now, her bandmates Cheryl Tweedy, Nadine Coyle, Kimberley Walsh and Nicola Roberts have confirmed they will honour Sarah with the re-release of one of their biggest hits. Taking to X, formerly known as Twitter, the band announced that I'll Stand By You (Sarah's version), will be released in aid of Children In Need later this month.
It comes 20 years after the chart-mauling group released the initial version of their song in aid of the charity. In a statement shared on the micro-blogging platform, they said: "This year marks the 20th anniversary of our @BBCCiN single 'I'll Stand By You'. To celebrate and honour our amazing Sarah, we're releasing a brand-new studio version of the track once again in support of @BBCCiN.
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X/GirlsAloud)"'I'll Stand By You (Sarah's Version)' features Sarah on lead vocal throughout using vocals we discovered in the vault from the original recording sessions. The track played a key part in our 'The Girls Aloud Show' arena tour this summer & was an emotional moment for us all."
Fans have since taken to social media to praise the band following the news. One said: "Oh my. Thank you so much for this!!! I'll Stand By You was such a beautiful and emotional moment during the show - something I will never ever forget." "OMG I'm gonna be a mess," said a second. A third commented: "Oh I'm crying at work."
Sarah's memory was kept very much alive on their tour, The Girls Aloud Show, with her iconic "Take a walk on the wild side of life," from Something New being played across the arenas. As the band wrapped up their performance, a huge screen appeared on stage during The Promise, allowing Sarah to shine once again as she belted out: "So here I am, a walking primrose, wondering when I'm gonna see you again," as fans and the band cheered for the late star. Moments before the four girls walked off stage, a photograph of Sarah appeared behind them alongside the text: "In loving memory of Sarah Nicole Harding. 17.11.81 05.09.2021."
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Getty Images)Proceeds from the song will benefit the BBC Children In Need projects which work with children across the UK who face a variety of challenges. This includes children fighting cancer. Earlier this year, Girls Aloud embarked on their first tour since splitting in 2013 and performed a string of tributes to Sarah.
These included Sarah's powerful vocals being heard across arenas up and down the country, with her renditions of songs such as I'll Stand By You and Whole Lotta History. In a moving performance, her bandmates joined Sarah for I'll Stand By You as they sang along to her previously unheard recording of the moving track.
Sarah's fans were left heartbroken on August 26, 2020, when she made an unexpected return to social media after two years. Sharing a snap of herself taken in hospital, Sarah announced that earlier that year she had been diagnosed with breast cancer while going on to share the devastating news it had advanced to other parts of her body.
But, in true Hardcore Harding spirit, she went on to fight the condition and at times, remained extremely positive. In March 2021, Sarah's tumour had reduced in size and she was feeling hopeful about her treatment. But, tragically, she had revealed that she expected Christmas of that year to be her last. She made the decision, while undergoing treatment to share her life story in her memoir, Hear Me Out, in a bid to share her side of the stories that people had sold about her over the course of her life.
A mastectomy and various rounds of treatment, including chemotherapy, failed to stop the cruel disease. Heartbreakingly, just 53 weeks after Sharing her diagnosis, and two months before her 40th birthday, the singer died aged 39, surrounded by her family at home in Manchester. Her mum, Marie, took to social media to share that Sarah had "slipped away peacefully" on September 5, 2021.
I'll Stand By You was originally a single for The Pretenders, written by Tom Kelly, Chrissie Hynde and Billu Steinberg. Despite this, Chrissie would always tell audiences that the group were going to "perform a song by the great Girls Aloud." Following the announcement of the charity rendition of I'll Stand By You, the 73-year-old said: "How wonderful to hear I'll Stand By You with the lovely vocals of Sarah Harding leading the way for BBC Children in Need. Happy Christmas all!"
Since her death, Sarah's former bandmates have raised over £1.2million in aid of The Sarah Harding Breast Cancer Appeal, in partnership with The Christie Charity. Earlier this year, the Mirror revealed that Sarah's death could save thousands of lives. If a study launched in Sarah's memory is successful, says her oncologist Dr Sacha Howell, it could be rolled out nationwide. Pop-up clinics in handy spots such as supermarket car parks would offer women DNA testing and low-dose mammograms. Unlike regular mammograms, which look for tumours, these examine breast density, believed to identify those at higher risk of breast cancer.
If you have been affected by this story, advice and support can be found at Breast Cancer Support. The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.
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