TV: Andrew Lloyd Webber & Gary Barlow's Official Diamond Jubilee Song Video with Gareth Malone & Prince Harry

Decca Records today announced "Sing", the Official Diamond Jubilee song co-written by Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber, two of the UK’s greatest living songwriters. Check out the offical music video, featuring Gary Barlow as well as Gareth Malone and the Military Wives Choir, the African Children's Choir, and Prince Harry on tamborine, making his recording debut.

At a special meeting at Windsor Castle on Tuesday 8th May Andrew Lloyd Webber and Gary Barlow officially presented Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the special anthem they have jointly composed in honour of her Diamond Jubilee. The song, entitled ‘Sing’, celebrates the Queen’s commitment to The Commonwealth.

Gareth Malone and his ever-expanding Military Wives Choir lead The Commonwealth Band in both the recording (released on May 28th) and the Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace on June 4th. ‘Sing’ had its first radio play on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show this morning, Friday 18th May.

The Commonwealth Band includes 210 musicians from across The Commonwealth, believed to be among the most musicians to record a UK single. They are as diverse as the African Children’s Choir (including soloist Lydia who opens and closes the track), Aboriginal guitarist Gurrumul, Slum Drummers from Kenya’s Kibera slum, the Jolly boys from Jamaica and Royal Solomon Islands Police Force Band.

‘Sing’ will form part of a commemorative Jubilee album by Gary Barlow & The Commonwealth Band, to be released by Decca Records on Monday May 28th. The album celebrates global young singing talent including New Zealander Hayley Westenra (the best-selling classical artist of the 21st Century) and two British singers; chart-topping tenor Alfie Boe and up-and-coming soprano Laura Wright. Some of the proceeds from ‘Sing’ will raise funds for The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust*.

Gareth Malone and the Military Wives Choir were selected as the perfect exponents of singing in the UK, having scored the Christmas No.1 with their choral hit ‘Wherever You Are’, as well as a No.1 album. The choir touched the hearts of the nation when Gareth first introduced them to singing just a year ago on BBC Two and, in addition to raising well over half a million pounds for charity, their runaway Christmas success has already led to a significant rise in choir membership across the UK. The two soloists on ‘Sing’, Elizabeth Simpson and Rebecca Ellen Marshall from Wattisham and Catterick, represent the expanded and specially auditioned Military Wives Choir for this single.

To further encourage the nation to learn the song and join in the Jubilee celebrations, the sheet music and words will be available for free download.

Gary Barlow and Andrew Lloyd Webber were approached by Buckingham Palace to bring their musical talents to the Jubilee celebrations and wrote this commemorative song as a result. Gary travelled around The Commonwealth countries of Australia, Kenya, Jamaica and the Solomon Islands gathering musicians that he could bring together into one song. His main criteria was to recruit undiscovered musicians who showed a real passion for music. His journey has been tracked in a BBC documentary which will air on BBC1 on Saturday June 2nd.

Having recorded most artists locally on a laptop, the final elements were recorded and mixed at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. The culmination of this epic song-writing project will be when a number of the artists join together on stage to perform ‘Sing’ at the Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace on June 4th. For all the artists involved, this will be a huge honour.

Gary Barlow said: “We went on a journey with this record, meeting and recording with some beautifully talented singers and musicians. I can’t believe we’ve managed to get the amount of people we got featured on this song, from all corners of The Commonwealth, but we did! I’m very proud of the result and hope people enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoyed making it.”

Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “It has been a great joy to collaborate with Gary on a song for this extraordinary occasion. I hope it will become a song that is sung in celebration for many years to come.” Gareth Malone said: “We’ve had the most incredible year and have been embraced by the public in a way we never imagined possible. We’re so honoured to have been chosen to be a part of this momentous national celebration. It’s great to be able to continue the legacy of the Military Wives Choir, which includes the two fantastic new soloists on this single.”