The BBC assembled a “We Are the World”– style cast of globally famous musicians to sing the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” with its 80-piece BBC Concert Orchestra for a spot promoting the network’s newly launched BBC Music venture.
The network has dubbed the ensemble — which sings in a classically fantastical array of settings, from a jungle-scape on a stage to a hot air balloon — the “Impossible Orchestra.”
Pharrell Williams, Elton John, Lorde, Chris Martin, Brian Wilson, Florence Welch, Stevie Wonder, Brian May, One Direction, Chrissie Hynde, Baaba Maal, Dave Grohl and Sam Smith are among the dozens of performers who comprise the ensemble.
“All of the artists did such a beautiful job, I can’t thank them enough,” Brian Wilson told The Guardian. “I’m just honored that ‘God Only Knows’ was chosen. ‘God Only Knows’ is a very special song. An extremely spiritual song and one of the best I’ve ever written.”
The BBC has created a charity single of the song to raise money for its BBC Children in Need campaign. A physical copy of the CD is available for purchase in the U.K. and on Amazon, and it’s also available for download and streaming.
See the original story at RollingStone.com.
