A YOUNG singer from Huddersfield is hoping for Christmas chart success.
Chanelle Adams, 16, was one of the stars of a unique music project.
Chanelle joined forces with other young people around the country to write and perform a new festive single.
The charity song – called Common Ground – aims to send a message about what the performers want to change at Christmas.
They are hoping that their lyrics tackling themes of community, positive body image and the desire to stamp out prejudice will strike a real chord with their peers.
But their hopes of a Christmas No 1 will, of course, pit them against X Factor winner Matt Cardle, whose song When We Collide is out this week, and Sir Cliff Richard – subject of a Facebook campaign to get his song Little Town to the top.
Filming for Chanelle’s part in the song’s video took place in the snowy grounds of the historic Kirkstall Abbey in Leeds, while other segments were filmed at landmarks throughout the UK.
Musicians, singers and rappers from nine different regions collaborated on the project by ITV Fixers, an organisation which gives young people a voice in the media.
Chanelle, from Oakes, was asked to represent West Yorkshire after making a big impression with her poignant lyrics.
She said: “I really enjoyed myself. Getting involved with the song and video shoot was a good experience and definitely something I would like to do again.
“My verse was about my sister Chloe and how she’s always there for me when I’m upset. When I’m singing in the video I actually walk side by side with her.”
All of the young performers have previously worked with ITV Fixers, which aims to help 16-25-year-olds tackle the views they care about and get their views out to a wider audience.
Chanelle, who is studying public services at Kirklees College, worked on a project to encourage young people not to get involved in gang culture.
In the true spirit of Christmas the charity single is about giving, not taking, and working together to make the world a better place.
The lyrics reflect both the good and bad sides of life for young people today and has an uplifting message about anything being possible if they find common ground and stand together.
The gritty, hip-hop influenced pop song can be downloaded now and is already being played on several regional radio stations.
It’s very different to the usual songs dominating the Christmas charts but Chanelle reckons it could do well because so many young people can relate to the lyrics.
Chanelle, who with her sister performs in a band called Destiny Sisters and dreams of becoming a professional singer, said: “It’s a really good song and I think I could do well in the charts because it’s more relevant to people my age.
“For me the project has an important message, that instead of doing drugs and crime on the streets young people can get involved with something positive like music.
“All around Huddersfield you see the posh ends and the ghetto ends where teenagers don’t really mix but I think we’ve shown we can come together and achieve something no matter what the colour of our skin or backgrounds are.”
THE coveted Christmas No 1 has attracted its fair share of oddities.
Here are some you may remember:
1971 - Ernie by Benny Hill
1980 - There’s No-one Quite Like Grandma by St Winifred’s School Choir
1993 - Mr Blobby by Mr Blobby (above)
2000 - Can We Fix It? by Bob The Builder
2004 - Do They Know It’s Christmas? by Band Aid 20
2009 - Killing In The Name by Rage Against The Machine
