Stand Tall

Album: Stand Tall (2008)
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Songfacts®:

  • In 2008, "Stand Tall" was the winning entry of the inaugural Anthony Walker Prize. Written by 17-year-old Lauren Irwin about a school friend who was being bullied, this inspirational composition was adopted by the children's charity Childline as its official song. (Anthony Walker was just 18 years old in July 2005 when he was murdered in a street attack).
  • "Stand Tall" also won Lauren the Liverpool Echo newspaper's first Young Citizen Of The Year Award. As well as performing the song herself, Lauren has long blonde hair, and is stunningly attractive, but her talents don't end there, because she re-wrote it in Chinese! In the 21st Century's global village it was not too surprising that someone in the Chinese Government heard the song and liked it. "Stand Tall" was adopted as an official song for the 2008 Olympics. Lauren was also asked to record a special version for the victims of the Chinese earthquake of May 2008 which left literally tens of thousands dead.

    After re-writing the lyrics, she jetted off to China to perform the song at a concert in Beijing, and later at a special children's concert at the Bird's Nest Stadium, becoming the first Westerner to perform at this new venue. "Stand Tall" was also chosen as the theme song for the Jackie Chan/Ben Kingsley film Knights Of Impossingworth Park, and Lauren herself was chosen as a Youth Ambassador to the United Nations. The song was recorded for a moving video which showed Lauren comforting child victims of the tragedy.
  • The original recording of "Stand Tall" was actually made by teen band Just 3, which also included Lauren's brother Steven, who shares his sister's musical talent. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3

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