By Steve Purcell on
Katie Melua has asked the producers of the hit British TV talent show The X Factor to donate the proceeds from the show’s forthcoming Christmas single to charity.
The winner of the series final on December 15th will release a for-profit cover of Mariah Carey's song When You Believe. Melua is herself releasing a duet rendition of What A Wonderful World with late jazz singer Eva Cassidy to raise money for the Red Cross this Christmas, and wants charities to benefit more from the annual race for the number-one spot in the charts.
“In recent years the whole Christmas number one thing hasn’t been focused on the Christmas spirit,” said Melua.
“I’m not saying What A Wonderful World is a Christmas song, it obviously isn’t, but what it’s raising money for and awareness for is very much in the Christmas spirit. Maybe this will encourage The X Factor to donate all their money to charity. I think they should.
“To me Christmas is about families and giving. It should not just be about giving each other the latest iPods and Nintendo games. The reason why the Christmas number one is such a big deal is because that’s the song people buy to give each other presents. So if all that money was to go to charity that would be great.”
Melua is no stranger to charity; she is an Ambassador for Save the Children, performed at Nelson Mandela's 46664 concert, and supports a host of other charities.
Copyright © 2007 Look to the Stars
