“We all have differences and it’s okay,
If kids are united, then united we’ll stay”
For the fourth consecutive year, Andy and the Odd Socks support the Anti-Bullying Alliance. On Monday November 2nd, the UK-band posted online their cover of Sham 69’s “The Kids Are United”.
This official anthem features Princess K (who shared the stage with Stormzy at Glastonbury 2019), her brothers and the Libera Choir, made up of boys aged 7-16 years from various South London schools and all walks of life.
Anti-Bullying Week 2020 is nearly here! It will take place from Monday 16th November to Friday 20th November 2020. This year’s theme is “United Against Bullying”.
This special event will start with Odd Socks Day on Monday 16th November: a day to encourage people to express themselves and to celebrate what makes everybody different and unique.
A bully isn’t just someone you see in movies or TV shows. Bullies are real and school is the main place they appear. It can happen during elementary school, middle school, high school or even college.
Bullies constantly make fun of someone else in a mean way. It’s repetitive. They can also drag more people to make you look bad, by creating false rumors or calling you names. Sometimes, bullies can hurt you physically too. A bullied schoolboy or schoolgirl may be isolated, become quiet, sad or even aggressive, as a response to this injustice. Their self-esteem is shattered.
That is why children’s voices are so important to prevent this phenomenon. When you’re young, you’re influenced by what you see or what you hear. Singing a song about unity, with kids being all happy is a good start to stop bullies. Kids will want to do the same.
Besides, this cover of “The Kids Are United” shows kids equally talented, in singing and dancing, no matter their age, their appearance, their ethnicity or where they come from. Over 750 clips of children singing and dancing were submitted to be included in the video. This song is a powerful message of friendship and tolerance, written to fight against any discrimination or racism.
Andy Day is one of the favorite presentators of the BBC’s children’s channels. Andy’s songs are destined to a young audience: they’re always joyful, playful, and the video clips are colourful. Their songs claim self-acceptance, but also kindness and respect towards each other. By the way, the band also stood up for animal’s condition with “Save All The Animals”.
His sock’n’roll band Andy and the Odd Socks already went to Glastonbury Festival in 2017 and played over 100 live dates. They released their second album “Who’s in the Odd Socks?” in May 2020. The band supported children and their parents during the pandemic, by doing virtual live shows or by sending over 1 000 personalised birthday messages when the kid’s parties had to be cancelled.
All proceeds of this version of “The Kids Are United” go to the Anti-Bullying Alliance. It’s a unique coalition of organisations and individuals established in 2002. They act to stop bullying and create safer environments for children to play, team-up and grow-up together. They educate about bullying and deliver programme work at a national and local level. If the kids are united, then the future adults will be too. Won’t they?
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