UB40 releases the video for “Champion“. “Champion” is the official anthem of the upcoming Commonwealth Games, directed by award-winning filmmaker and Birmingham’s rising star, Daniel Alexander. Featuring local rappers Dapz On The Map & Gilly G, the uplifting and inspirational video reflects the competition’s spirit for all aspiring to be a champion and No.1 at whatever they do. The band will be touring the U.S. from August 18 – September 24. Check out dates and venues HERE.
For 45 years, UB40 has been flying the flag for their home city, and “Champion” carries this torch for the next generation with their iconic sound, as introduced by Zoe Ball on Radio 2, “This is going to stick in your head, it’s massive.”
The track also features a horn line from the late Brian Travers, UB40’s saxophonist, co-songwriter, and founding member. It was hugely important to the band that Brian featured on this momentous track and that his work continues to live on in UB40’s recordings.
“Champion” celebrates the Commonwealth Games coming to England for the first time in 20 years and is a celebration of Birmingham. It is the first single from UB40’s upcoming album UB45, which will be released in early 2023, which will be the ultimate celebration of UB40 past and present, featuring new original material, in addition to re-records of some of the band’s classics and greatest hits, performed by new frontman Matt Doyle.
Says Robin Campbell, “We are proud to be representing the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games with the official anthem ‘Champion .’Birmingham represents the best of global Britain, and it’s our pleasure to showcase this to the world. Birmingham is a city of champions!”
Adds Matt Doyle, “Champion is all about positivity. It’s about being uplifted and putting that energy into whatever gets you up in the morning, whether it be music, art, sport, or whatever it is. It’s about doing what you do best and excelling at that, celebrating being a champion. “
UB40 is one of the U.K.’s most successful British groups of all time, achieving three U.K. Number Ones – “Red, Red Wine,” “I Got You Babe (ft. Chrissie Hynde)” and “(I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You“ – not to mention 17 Top 10 singles and more than 50 the U.K. hit singles. The band has sold 100 million records while taking their smooth Reggae and Pop blend to all corners of the globe, with hits such as “Food For Thought,” “Cherry Oh Baby,” and “Kingston Town.” Among the accolades, the band won the Grammy Award for “Best Reggae Album” four times between 1987 and 2006, an Ivor Novello Award, and was nominated for the BRIT Award for Best British Group in 1984.
UB40 hit the road this summer in the U.S. for their BIGGA BAGGARIDDIM TOUR with The Original Wailers featuring Al Anderson, Maxi Priest, and Big Mountain, kicking off on August 18 in Knoxville, Tennessee. The band will perform its worldwide hit singles in addition to songs from their most recent album, BIGGA BAGGARIDDIM. The tour will include stops at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and Central Park in New York City, in addition to Detroit, Pittsburgh, Boston, Washington, DC, St. Petersburg, Houston, Ft. Worth, Austin, Phoenix, and many more.
Tickets are available at UB40.GLOBAL.
