| I Wish For You the World | |
| Cover: | I-wish-for-you-the-world-single-cover.jpg |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Games Maker Choir featuring Alistair Griffin |
| Released: | 16 December 2012 |
| Recorded: | October 2012 |
| Length: | 3:16 |
| Label: | Decca Records |
| Producer: | David Watts, Richard Chance, Alistair Griffin |
| Chronology: | Games Maker Choir |
"I Wish For You the World" is a 2012 song by Games Maker Choir featuring Alistair Griffin. It was composed on the occasion of 2012 Summer Olympics by Griffin and songwriter/composer Richard Chance, who writes music for television and film. The single was released officially on 16 December 2012 as a UK Christmas single on Decca Records. The proceeds from the single went to the British Olympic Foundation and the British Paralympic Association.[1]
The song was promoted with videos and messages of support from the mayor of London Boris Johnson[2] and many Olympic athletes, notably rowers Katherine Grainger, Andrew Triggs Hodge and Great Britain Rowers team[3] and by tenor Alfie Boe.
Mayor Johnson said about the song:
This song is a great tribute to the feelings of pride, inspiration and goodwill that spread throughout the country during the 2012 Games. I wish everyone involved the best of luck in their efforts in keeping the Olympic spirit alive.
The Games Maker Choir had been put up during the Olympics when Victoria Verbi, a university student and Games Maker on the Olympic Park, placed a call for singers in the volunteers' newsletter.[4] Within two days she had more than 200 members and the choir went on to perform at several locations around the Olympic Park and on local radio during the Olympics.[5]
Alistair Griffin wanted to record a song he had been inspired to write whilst attending the Olympic Games[6] and knew about the existence of the choir and invited them in October 2012 to take part in the recording.
Griffin says about his choice of the choir:
The idea and the sentiment of the song is about giving something back. Everyone involved hopes it will keep the Olympic spirit alive.
I wrote the song after being so affected by the Olympics, to reflect the amazing year we've had as a nation, and when I heard the Games Maker Choir I knew they had to sing it. They're the people who made the games and this is the people's song.
A select group of elite members of the 400 strong Choir held a rehearsal in The Actors Workshop in Covent Garden and the final recording was in Angel Recording Studios in Islington, London.
The single received high-profile support from Boris Johnson.
On 16 December 2012, the choir performed it as part of the coverage of BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2012, performing on BBC Radio 5 Live.[7]