Wherever You Are [Single, Maxi]

A beautiful, meaningful piece of music. I hope this makes Christmas number one rather than the usual X-factor tat. Well done girls and release more of the same soon.

Ordering a pre - release CD meant that I got my copy early. Lucky me! The song was already so familiar from the radio and television - and it still moved me to tears. Paul Mealor's lovely lyrics, put together from the letters, poems and prayers of the Military Wives and their men as they served in Afghanistan are deeply moving.
They are also reproduced on the CD insert, although the words are sung so clearly that they are almost unnecessary.

The story of how Gareth Malone put together a choir of military wives and partners to give them an alternative focus for their lives whilst their men were in Afghanistan has now been told many times in the media. Gareth's exploits in forming choirs have been the focus of three previous TV programmes, and his skill in drawing out the best in people via the medium of choral music is unsurpassed. This fourth choir challenge has been the one that has really caught the imagination of the public.

This song emerged as a performance piece to be sung by the choir at the televised Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. Following the screening of both the Festival and the final episode of The Choir - Military Wives, it became clear this song HAD to be released. Nine months ago these women had never sung together and very few had any experience of singing. You genuinely wouldn't know. The soloist, Samantha Stevenson, has to be mentioned - what a truly beautiful voice.
The additional Paul Mealor composition on the CD, A Spotless Rose, is sung by the well-known choir Tenebrae. It's a lovely extra surprise, an exquisitely sung piece that has a real Christmas feel.
A minimum of 40p from each CD is being split between the Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen Families Association - Forces Help. A great way to give a little to two very deserving charities - and the best song to be (hopefully) a Christmas No 1 for many, many years - in fact, possibly the best ever. Stop reading this and go and buy it!

Well here goes for what its worth,I have been in the Military most of my life and at 63 can say I have seen and heard stuff that still haunts me today.

Take a bunch of woman,wives and sweethearts of serving Royal Marines,Royal Navy etc. and just prior to the Marines going to Afghanistan ask the wives,Fancy Joining A Choir Ladies,seeing and feeling the pain and worry of these ladies manifest itself in tears and jumpy nerves brings it into your home,not knowing when there will be a knock on the door and hearing that there has been an incident!involving your loved one and trying to cope with that,Could You.
Well Gareth Malone took that bunch of woman and moulded them and called them a choir,he then went to Plymouth and done the same there till the two Choirs were around 100 strong,then he hit them with their first public appearance,the Chivenor choir were going to sing in Barnstable,The Pannier Market no less,that was the start,then again he took them to the exalted grounds of Sandhurst and in front of all the newly Passed out Officers and Staff had both Choirs sing,IN LATIN,then a real bouncy song,Bugle Boy of Company C,it was a great success which got them a Standing Ovation from all the Officers.
On the 12th November the full Choir went to London,in front of the Royal Family and audience,and all those watching on TV,sang Wherever You Are,there was not a dry eye in The Royal Albert Hall,again they received a thunderous round of applause and rightly so,the nerves were popping the tears were flowing and it was outstanding.
THE SONG.
The words of the song Wherever You Are,written by Paul Mealor,comes from letters written by the wives and loved ones of all those serving in Afghanistan and other places abroad,the music again written by Paul Mealor,the name of the song is from an inscription on a Bracelet a Royal Marine gave his his wife before he deployed to Afghanistan.All this is for real,its not Rambo,or some actor in a film saying lines from a script so it does add reality to what this song is all about,when all those wives said Goodbye to their loved ones it really was Goodbye,out in Afghanistan one step was all that was needed to end a life or to maim terribly,but that is their lot and its a dirty job that needs doing and our Military get on with it as only our Military can.
I cannot express my Admiration for our Military out there,and the Wives and Loved ones waiting at home have brought into the Public eye what being a Military Wife is all about,the choir have highlighted and in such a fantastic way the plight of our Military and their wives and Loved Ones,Gareth Malone is without a doubt a Magician,Paul Mealor is a writer of fantastic Lyrics and Music,the Wives and Sweethearts who are the Military Choir are beyond belief,and have my utmost RESPECT.
Okay the Bottom line,go out and buy this CD as it is only £1 99p,proceeds are divided between Royal British Legion And SSAFA,and this Christmas lets give back to our Military through the wives and Loved Ones our Respect and Admiration for what they do and Achieve out there by buying this Cd and putting it in the No 1 Slot this Christmas,I have bought a load and giving them to All friends and Family this Christmas and will be Buying more after that so please do this as well,put a feel good Song in the Top Slot and know you have done Something really special this Christmas.