Nothing Sacred – A Song for Kirsty
Encyclopedia
"Nothing Sacred – A Song for Kirsty" is a song performed by Russell Watson
. It was released as a charity single in December 2002 and reached a peak of number 17 in the UK Singles Chart
.
The song was recorded by Watson in order to raise money for Francis House Children's Hospice in Manchester
, England
, which had been open since 1991 but was in need of funds to avoid being closed. The plight of the hospice
was highlighted by the eponymous Kirsty Howard
who had appeared in several advertising campaigns and was raising money through the Kirsty Appeal. At the time of the single's release, the Kirsty Appeal fund to save Francis House stood at around £
1.6 million, still £3.4 million off the target of £5 million.
was back to front) at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
in Manchester
, England
. According to a spokesman for the record label Universal Classics, Watson was encouraged to release the ballad as he "fell in love with her" and was "working to help her out". He also had a daughter who was the same age as Kirsty.
Sales of the single helped the Kirsty Appeal to reach its £5 million target in 2006. Kirsty herself has defied the medical experts and, as of 2009, was still alive, despite being told she only had six weeks to live in 1999. Watson visited Kirsty on her seventh birthday, where he performed “Nothing Sacred” for her. After Watson had surgery himself for a brain tumour in 2007, Kirsty was amongst his visitors, presenting him with flowers as recognition for him raising £40,000 for the appeal.
and Victoria Beckham
, the British Prime Minister at the time Tony Blair
and Ronan Keating
.
Russell Watson
Russell Watson is an English tenor who has released singles and albums of both operatic-style and pop songs. The self-styled "People's Tenor" had been singing since he was a child, and became known after performing at a working men's club...
. It was released as a charity single in December 2002 and reached a peak of number 17 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
The song was recorded by Watson in order to raise money for Francis House Children's Hospice in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, which had been open since 1991 but was in need of funds to avoid being closed. The plight of the hospice
Hospice
Hospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
was highlighted by the eponymous Kirsty Howard
Kirsty Howard
Kirsty Howard is a 16-year-old British girl, most notable for her charity work.Kirsty is the figurehead of Kirsty's Appeal, a charitable foundation in her name, created to raise £5 million for Francis House, the hospice where she receives care. In October 2006, the appeal announced that it has...
who had appeared in several advertising campaigns and was raising money through the Kirsty Appeal. At the time of the single's release, the Kirsty Appeal fund to save Francis House stood at around £
Pound sterling
The pound sterling , commonly called the pound, is the official currency of the United Kingdom, its Crown Dependencies and the British Overseas Territories of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, British Antarctic Territory and Tristan da Cunha. It is subdivided into 100 pence...
1.6 million, still £3.4 million off the target of £5 million.
Background and production
The single was recorded by Russell Watson after he met Kirsty (who was born with a rare condition where her heartHeart
The heart is a myogenic muscular organ found in all animals with a circulatory system , that is responsible for pumping blood throughout the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions...
was back to front) at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. According to a spokesman for the record label Universal Classics, Watson was encouraged to release the ballad as he "fell in love with her" and was "working to help her out". He also had a daughter who was the same age as Kirsty.
Sales of the single helped the Kirsty Appeal to reach its £5 million target in 2006. Kirsty herself has defied the medical experts and, as of 2009, was still alive, despite being told she only had six weeks to live in 1999. Watson visited Kirsty on her seventh birthday, where he performed “Nothing Sacred” for her. After Watson had surgery himself for a brain tumour in 2007, Kirsty was amongst his visitors, presenting him with flowers as recognition for him raising £40,000 for the appeal.
Cover art
The cover of the single features pictures of Kirsty with various celebrities, including Watson, DavidDavid Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
and Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Caroline Beckham is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman. In the late 1990s, Beckham rose to fame with the all-female pop group Spice Girls and was dubbed Posh Spice by the July 1996 issue of the British pop music magazine Top of the Pops...
, the British Prime Minister at the time Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
and Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
.
Track listings
- "Nothing Sacred – A Song for Kirsty" (Radio Edit)
- "Nobody Does It Better"
- "Nothing Sacred – A Song for Kirsty" Video
Charts
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
17 |