2010

2010 was to see Carol take part in two charity singles, amongst other things.  Here is the first one.

Celebs sing for the Big C

Hundreds of women from across the UK joined over 20 celebrities to record a unique charity single in aid of Cancer Research UK's Race for Life.  The track, led by DJ and Singer Sonique, who herself was undergoing treatment for breast cancer at the time, is a remake of Cyndi Lauper's 1980's classic "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun."  The single, was released 25th April 2010 to mark the start of Race for Life - the UK's largest women-only fundraising series, was sold exclusively by official Race for Life partner Tesco and available to download on iTunes, with proceeds going directly to help beat cancer.

Sonique, whose lines on the track saw her returning to the microphone for the first time since June 2009, is joined on the song by a host of female celebrities including Coronation Street's Kym Marsh, singer Liz McClarnon, actress Caroline Quentin, GMTV presenter Penny Smith, Big Brother star Nicola T the X-Factor's Lucie Jones, T'Pau singer Carol Decker and Eastender's actress Nina Wadia.  The track also features a number of inspirational women who have been personally affected by cancer, as well as the contributions of women from around the UK, captured by mobile producers who had been touring shopping centres during the previous 6 weeks.

Sonique, far left

Carol recording her part of the song

"Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"

As I said the single was available in Tesco stores, but it is still available to download from iTunes if you click on the link below.

A short interview with some of the stars performing.

The official video to the song.

The link to iTunes above will give you the opportunity to either buy the single or to download the video.  The video is only 50p more!  Remember the great cause folks.

The single got to number 7 in the Indie charts!!

Here And Now 2010

Here And Now Newcastle Race Course

14/05/10

A great performance of "Bridge of Spies".  Somebody has commented on You Tube "Once again Carol proves her versatility in her voice (mic arm distant away).  Like to see more like this".

Here And Now Scarborough The Greatest Eighties Party Ever!

31/07/10 Scarborough, Open Air Theatre

Short clip but somebody deserves an A* for effort towards the end!!

Here And Now at De Brabanthallen, S-Hertogenbosch, Holland 2010

18/09/10 De Brabanthallen S-Hertogenbosch, Holland

Rewind Festival 2010

The second Rewind Festival took place on the 20th, 21st and 22nd August 2010, and the line-up was as follows :

"Heart And Soul" at Henley.  Great beginning to the song. haven't heard that version before.  Great audience participation too.  Carol certainly knows how to grab their attention!!

"China In Your Hand" sorry it's not all of it folks.

Re - Joyce

On Tuesday 16th November 2010, The Hazel O'Connor Collective launched "Re-Joyce", a song that was a sure fire box ticker in every way.

It's superbly poignant (and you can't say that about many Christmas singles), celebrating as it does the gift of life.

The song was inspired by Hazel's mum, who the previous year was told she was terminally ill with cancer and had just six months to live.  "She was still with us a year later".  Hazel says.

It was approaching Christmas and Hazel wanted to do something 'different' and 'special'  both for her mum, who was called Joyce, and her step-father, who was battling cancer too.

What started out to be a poem, ended turning into a song, and on Christmas day, Hazel spent Christmas with her mum and step-dad in Coventry's Myton Hospice, taking with her a keyboard.

Hazel sang the song to them both and it was such a poignant moment.  Unfortunately, her step-dad passed away a few months later, and what started out as a poem was to be released as a single, and Hazel was to get some of her 80's buddies to help her, including Toyah, Carol and Kid Creole with the proceeds of the single going to Myton  Hospice in Coventry where her mum was staying.

Hazel on Daybreak talking about the single.

Short interviews from Hazel, Toyah and Carol saying that hospices are also places for 'restbite', and how important they are.

Re-Joyce was launched on 16th November 2010 at the Leamington Assembly, and below is them singing it live exclusively for Daybreak.

The singers on stage ready to sing the single live for Daybreak.

After the 'launch' of the single, the artists were to perform :

• Hazel O'Connor      "Will You" and "Eighth Day"
• Toyah                      "It's a Mystery" and "I Want To Be Free"
• Carol Decker          "China In Your Hand" and "Heart & Soul"
• Pauline Black          "On My Radio" and "Missing Words"
• Ranking Roger       "Mirror In The Bathroom" and "Tears Of A Clown"
• Vince Hill                "Edelweiss" and "Look Around You (And You'll Find Me There)"
• Neville Staple         "Too Much Too Young" and "A Message To You Rudy"
• Moyra Brennan      "Theme From Harry's Game" and "Robin Of Sherwood"

Here is the video to the song.

It is such a beautiful song and video, and such a worthwhile cause.  It did very well on a few of the Amazon charts,  going top ten!!  And you can still download it on iTunes if you click on the link below.

Here is a sample of Carol's vocals in the song.

Created by Deano Hollett July 2012