listen to ‘dailyecho talk about Something Blue by Voxpop’ on Audioboom

IT IS a poignant song that will celebrate the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton – but also pay tribute to Princess Diana, the one person missing from the royal couple’s big day.

Now Hampshire choir Voxpop will be performing their take on the royal nuptials to hundreds of people gathered at Southampton’s Guildhall Square on Friday, April 29.

The Southampton-based group, which has choirs in Southampton, Fareham and the Isle of Wight, will come together to sing the two-part harmony ballad entitled Something Blue, which is meant to reflect the bittersweet nature of the day.

The piece was written and composed by choir member Amanda Field, while choir director Alison Eade arranged the harmonies, and will be leading the first verse. It will be the song’s first public performance and the first time the three branches will have sung it all together.

Dr Field, 56, from Gosport, who is a fulltime writer on film history, came up with the idea and was particularly inspired by William’s choice for Kate’s engagement ring – the famous diamond and blue sapphire worn by Princess Diana.

“I was trying to find a way of talking about the royal wedding, but without being fluffy or sentimental,” she said.

“I began to think about what else was blue connected with the royal wedding and in a way it’s a happy day tinged with sadness with the association of William’s mother.

“She can’t be there on the day so in one verse I suggest she’s there on the day watching them. Everybody watching them go down the aisle will be thinking of Diana – I see her as an invisible presence.”

The song will launch the 60-strong choir’s set taking place in front of the giant screen, which will beam a live broadcast of the wedding to crowds in the square.

The rock and pop choir has members ranging from their 20s to their 80s and there is no audition process or requirement to read music.

They have sung at Race for Life on Southampton Common and accompanied Blake when they performed at the King’s Theatre, Southsea.

• To find out more about the group visit voxpopchoir.co.uk.

Something Blue - The Lyrics

She stands before the mirror,
Her dress of creamy white,
The sparkle of the sapphire
It seems to catch the light.
She touches every diamond
To make her wish come true.
A princess, but a queen some day,
She’ll start her life anew.
A moment after take-off,
The young man smiles to see
How the mountains fall away,
The sky’s the place to be.
And for one precious moment
He forgets about the throne
As he soars above the country
His father calls his own.
Something old,
Something new,
We know love
Will see you through.
Something old,
Something new,
But there’s always,
Yes there’s always
Something blue.
Beside them in the abbey,
Though they cannot see,
Someone else is watching
To complete the family.
We called her the Queen of Hearts,
Her own she could not mend,
But she will give her blessing,
Our candle in the wind.
Something old,
something new,
We know love will see you through.
Something old,
something new
But there’s always,
Yes there’s always,
Something blue.

Copyright 2010 Amanda J Field PO12 1LN. All rights reserved