The song, “I’ll Stand By You”, was originally recorded by The Pretenders in 1994
Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg and Chrissie Hynde wrote the song “I’ll Stand By You” for her band The Pretenders. It was recorded for their 1994 album “Last Of The Independents” and was released as the lead single in April that year. It would give the group their biggest hit single since “Don’t Get Me Wrong”, eight years earlier, and peaked at No.10 in the UK, No.16 in America and was generally a top twenty success across twenty two other countries worldwide.
British female quintet, Girls Aloud, recorded the song in 2004 for that years Children In Need campaign. Their version was released in November and would top the UK singles chart, but equalling the original in gaining a Silver sales certification. It was later featured on their album “What Will The Neighbours Say?”.
Both Shakira and Carrie Underwood have recorded versions of the song. Underwood’s came in 2007 for an American Idol album of star coverversions. She released the song as a single in April and took it to No.6 on the US singles chart. Shakira recorded her version in 2010 in support of the Haiti earthquake disaster. It featured on the album “Hope For Haiti Now”.
But which version is the best? THE PRETENDERS original, GIRLS ALOUD’s number one or CARRIE UNDERWOOD’s cover?
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