Song includes horn line from the late Brian Travers
UB40 releases the video for “Champion,” the official anthem of the upcoming Commonwealth Games. The clip is 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 spirit of the competition, for all those aspiring to be a champion and No. 1 at whatever they do.
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 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.
“We are proud to be representing the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games with the official anthem ‘Champion,'” Robin Campbell shares. “Birmingham represents the best of global Britain and it’s our pleasure to showcase this to the world. Birmingham is a city of champions!”
“Champion is all about positivity,” adds Matt Doyle. “It’s about being uplifted and putting that energy into whatever gets you up in the morning — whether it be music, art or sport or whatever it is. It’s about doing what you do best and excelling at that, celebrating being a champion.”
On August 18th, the Bigga Baggariddim Tour will kick off in Knoxville, TN with The Original Wailers featuring Al Anderson, Maxi Priest and Big Mountain. 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.
