A Zoom choir made up of ICU multidisciplinary staff, including seven from University Hospitals Leicester (UHL), have released a re-make of the classic Police track ‘Every Breath You Take’ in a bid to secure the Christmas number one spot and raise funds to support NHS staff recovery from the trials of 2020.
Known as the ICU Liberty Singers, the choir began life as an attempt to bring some fun and respite to ICU workers after the toughest year in history.
The members of the choir from UHL are:
Dr Jenny Briggs; Sarah Cooke, Pharmacist; Ross Darby, Operating Department Practitioner; Dr Orlaith McMahon; Kerry Anne Prosho, Sister; Professor Jonathan Thompson; and Julia Trinder-Oxley, Pharmacist.
The 100 strong choir includes ICU staff from every region and ‘met’ for the first time, on Zoom, on 25 November, and had an hour of hilarity, singing a range of songs. They were able to ‘let go’ of the enormous pressure they have faced all year, for a short hour and come together instead in a spirit of fun and relaxation.
Julia said: “It has been an amazing and emotional experience singing with ICU Liberty Singers choir. All of us from UHL have felt a real buzz doing it. Singing together, even though it has been over the internet, has been uplifting and joyful. I really missed singing in my usual choir over lockdown so it was great to do something I love and support fellow NHS staff at the same time.”
Legal permission for the single was granted by SONY ATV, which owns the rights to Every Breath You Take (We Watch Over You) and the opportunity to release the song took shape. The choir used videos of Director Kari Olsen-Porthouse conducting each part so they could practise in private, between rehearsals – and sometimes even during their breaks on shift!
The single is released today, Friday 18 December, and is available to download here https://orcd.co/lwnv105
ENDS
