Sam Fender lands epic charity track with Bruce Springsteen, Mark Knopfler and Sting
SAM FENDER has won Brit Awards, had No1s and yesterday won his first Ivor Novello gong. But the singer-songwriter is about to have the biggest pinch-me moment of his career so far — by teaming up with Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Mark Knopfler on a superstar song. Sam has revealed he recorded a charity single […]
SAM FENDER has won Brit Awards, had No1s and yesterday won his first Ivor Novello gong.
But the singer-songwriter is about to have the biggest pinch-me moment of his career so far — by teaming up with Bruce Springsteen, Sting and Mark Knopfler on a superstar song.
Sam has revealed he recorded a charity single with The Boss, whose signature guitar is a 1950s Fender, and Co earlier this month.
Speaking to Bizarre at The Ivors at London’s Grosvenor House hotel yesterday, the North Shields-born singer explained: “Sting occasionally FaceTimes us, weirdly I always end up being in the bath.
“We were in the studio the other day. I did a charity thing with him and Mark Knopfler.
“I just did some guitar stuff, which was the most f***ing nerve-wracking thing ever, going in to do a guitar take on a Mark Knopfler song, he’s one of the best guitarists ever.
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“Springsteen’s on it as well. There’s a million people.
“All of the legends and then me, a stupid Geordie.”
The collaboration is thought to have been put together by the Teenage Cancer Trust believed to be for Teenage Cancer Trust and its sister organisation Teenage Cancer America.
At The Ivors yesterday, Sam’s hit song Seventeen Going Under beat competition from Adele and Rag’N’Bone Man to win the award for Best Song Musically and Lyrically.
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But despite the acclaim, Sam still has self doubt. Asked if he ever questions whether he is cut out for music, Sam said: “Every week. I think if you ask any artist they’ll probably say the same thing.
“There’s so many times where you f***ing think, ‘Jesus Christ, I’m so s***. How the f*** have I ended up here?’
“Self doubt is one of the driving forces, I think.
“Nothing has felt real for the last four months. Pinch-myself moments are in overdrive.”
Sam is so popular right now he hasn’t even been able to get cracking on the follow-up to his second album, Seventeen Going Under, a No1 in October
He added: “It’s just trying to find the time. We’re on the crest of a f***ing mental wave at the moment and it’s kind of impossible to get any time to record my next lot of stuff.”
IVORS OWN LOVE SHAK
THERE were plenty of surprising faces at The Ivors, not least Shakira, who wore this black minidress.
The singer jetted to London to collect the Special International Award with Apple Music yesterday, and said on stage: “I feel so humbled and so honoured to be here in such amazing company, surrounded by friends and people I admire.
“I appreciate the award so much as even before I became a singer, I was a songwriter. I started writing songs when I was eight years old.”
Also at the VIP bash was dancefloor filler Raye, Take That’s Mark Owen, Torn singer Natalie Imbruglia and vocal powerhouse Laura Mvula, who won Best Album for Pink Noise.
NO MORE SILLY BURGERS, TOM
THERE is less than a month to go before a raft of stars take to the pitch at the London Stadium for Soccer Aid, and Tom Grennan is feeling the squeeze ahead of the big match.
The Little Bit Of Love singer has admitted he piled on weight during his recent US tour and he is now trying to get back into shape for the celebrity charity game on June 12.
Tom, who was up for the Ivors’ PRS For Music Most Performed Work but lost out to Ed Sheeran and his hit Bad Habits, said: “Soccer Aid training is going well.
“Don’t get me wrong, I’ve put a bit of a tour belly on, but I’m out at the moment doing laps of the field and I played football last night, so I’m getting ready for it.
“I was eating rubbish in America. It’s just fries and Impossible Burgers.
“I’ll definitely be in a headspace where I’m there to play well. It’s on TV, for God’s sake. I’m not looking rubbish, no way.”
Tom has been juggling the fitness training with plans to release his next record, which he teased could feature a song or two about his Italian personal-trainer girlfriend Danniella Carraturo.
Tom said: “The album is finished and I am excited. It is a different chapter. It’s a colourful album, it’s exciting.”
Asked if there would be material ded- icated to Danniella, he added: “Yeah, of course, she is a big part of my life and she is the reason I really did change my ways.
“She has helped me get to the place that I am at now, so definitely.”
TAYLOR SHOWS A DEGREE OF SPIRIT
SHE’S conquered the charts – now Taylor Swift is trying out motivational speaking, with a rallying cry to students on New York University’s graduation day.
Wearing the institution’s purple graduation gown and a black mortar board, the singer accepted an honorary doctorate in fine arts before addressing the students.
Encouraging them to face any problem and Shake It Off, Taylor told them: “Life can be heavy, especially if you try to carry it all at once.
“Part of growing up and moving into new chapters of your life is about catch and release. What I mean by that is, knowing what things to keep and what things to release.
“You can’t carry all things, all grudges, all updates on your ex, all enviable promotions your school bully got at the hedge fund his uncle started.
“Decide what is yours to hold and let the rest go. Oftentimes the good things in your life are lighter anyway, so there’s more room for them.”
Taylor, who has written plenty of tunes about ex-boyfriends, added: “One toxic relationship can outweigh so many wonderful, simple joys.
“You get to pick what your life has time and room for. Be discerning.”
FILM BUFF HARRY TAKES BUM DIRECTION IN ROLE
I HAVE good news and bad news for fans hoping to glimpse Harry Styles in the buff when his new film My Policeman hits cinemas.
He has revealed he will bare his bum in the movie, which also stars Emma Corrin, but that he drew up a contract before shooting to ensure any scenes showing his todger got cut in the edit.
He explained on TV in the US: “There’s no peen in the final cut. There’s bum bum. I don’t think the peen was intended to be involved. The peen, it was pre-negotiated that that would remain my own.”
He is back today with his third album, Harry’s House, and spoke about how he has quit partying to make his performances even better.
He said: “I just cannot do it. Drinking and stuff dehydrates my voice.
“It would be really freeing if I could have a night out and then do a show the next day. I just can’t.
“Knowing I can’t makes it easy.
“I did it once. It was my least favourite show I have ever done because I felt like it was so bad.
“I think of it almost like an athlete would approach something like that. It’s a pretty incredible thing I get to do and I love it so much, so to treat it as such doesn’t feel like a sacrifice.
“For those two hours a night I want to be at 100 per cent and give it everything
“I love doing it. It doesn’t feel like I am giving up on life.”
CALL IN NAME OF IAN
NEW ORDER legend Bernard Sumner has opened up about the tragic death of his Joy Division bandmate Ian Curtis, who took his own life 42 years ago this week.
Speaking in the Houses of Parliament, Bernard called for greater support in schools for those who are less academically gifted, saying taboos still need to be broken around mental health.
He said: “We didn’t think Ian had a mental health problem. What he had was a problem with epilepsy.
“In the first few years of Joy Division he was fine. He was a happy-go-lucky guy.
“His lyrics were a bit on the dark side, to put it mildly, but on a day-to-day basis he was a good laugh.”
After Ian started hard treatment for his illness, Bernard said they watched his personality change.
He continued: “He became very depressed. It changed his personality.
“He also had relationship problems. But I think, because of the medication, it was emphasised and I think he felt very guilty. I think he wanted to punish himself.
“Ian tried to commit suicide once previously. He took an overdose. He told me the only reason he didn’t go through with it was that he feared it might cause brain damage as he didn’t have enough pills.”
For help and support contact Samaritans free on 116 123.
DOC A YAY!
YOU wait ages for a music documentary, then two come along at once.
Sir Elton John and Lizzo have each announced they are dropping TV projects in the coming months.
Truth Hurts singer Lizzo has teamed up with HBO for an as-yet untitled docu that will arrive after her upcoming second album, Special.
Elton has signed a deal with Disney+ for a one-off focusing on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour and early years.
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road: The Final Elton John Performances And The Years That Made His Legend is also expected to get a limited cinema release. Elton will play London’s Hyde Park as part of British Summer Time festival next month.
GABRIEL RULES O-KAY
PETER KAY made a rare surprise appearance to award the Fellowship of The Ivors Academy to Peter Gabriel.
The comic joked that his hero, the ex-Genesis singer, “first touched him in 1985” and added: “What I really admire about him is that he has got his priorities right, he takes his time.
“Then a little bit too much time, to be honest with you, because he hasn’t done an album of original recordings in 20 years.
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“But he is going to sing his new song in a few minutes.
“He is going to sing it Acapulco.”