Scotland-supporting celebrities from all over the world including Rod Stewart and Susan Boyle are lending their support to a new single by The Bay City Rollers to drum up cash for charity.
Singers Rod and Subo are amongst many stars who’ve been filmed dancing along to the song with iconic tartan scarves to celebrate 50 years of the Edinburgh band’s smash hit and also the Scotland men’s football team inclusion the Euros.
The music video to accompany the new updated version of the song features actors, musicians, famous personalities and people from all over Scotland who submitted their own home videos to join the fun.
The idea happened organically live on air when the Bay City Rollers joined ‘Ewen and Cat at Breakfast on Greatest Hits Radio Scotland in December.
The new single is helping to raise money for children’s charity ‘Cash for Kids.’
Clyde radio presenter Ewen Cameron told STV News: “The response has been amazing. It’s been so much fun making a music video, it’s flying on social media.
“Shang-A-Lang is a Scottish anthem. Everyone got involved and was singing along. It has crossed generations.
“It’s been a brilliant experience.”
Woody, who joined the band in 1974, was reminiscing about how the song would turn 50 just when Scotland were heading to the Euros in Germany during the interview.
Presenter Cat Harvey asked: “Surely now is the time to re-release it to celebrate the song and our football team?”
Woody and songwriter and musician John McLaughlin, who has joined the band, happily agreed and immediately offered to donate all proceeds to Cash for Kids who help children and families living in poverty.
John said: “It’s the 50th anniversary which is incredible, and we wanted to celebrate in a spectacular fashion.
“We were in with Cat and Ewen and it felt natural to do this. It felt like a good idea to freshen it up.
“From the opening chords, people seem to react with that instantly. It doesn’t make sense, but Shang-A-Lang sounds like such a Scottish word.
“The feel of the song has such a brilliant Scottishness to it. With the Scottish team being at Euros, it all adds up to make a perfect storm.”
Woody added: “It’s a great cause and a great song.
“From the zoo to Greyfriars Bobby to punters, it’s got all the big names. A lot of people got involved.
“It’s always been an anthemic type song, the chord structure, the chanting, the happiness. It seemed to work.
“Thanks to Cat and Ewen, we got the ball rolling.”
Since then, Ewen and Cat asked their listeners to send in videos and some of them have been exceptional.
Cat said: “We’ve been inundated with amazing clips from all over Scotland because our listeners have been very creative with their mobile phones.
“We have people dancing in a fish factory, folk waving flags and singing in the sea, grannies, babies, pensioners groups, disabled groups, families, friends and celebrities all dancing and singing along.
“This song is such a celebration, and we can tell everyone has had loads of fun joining in.”
The Bay City Rollers performed the new version of the single in front of hundreds of Tartan Army before the Northern Ireland friendly match at the Shed nightclub in March.
Footage from the set forms the basis of the video.
Clips of punters and well-known faces from the worlds of music, film, television, media and sport are also featured.
ITV’s showbusiness reporter Ross King enthusiastically joins in from the Hollywood hills, LA based Scottish actor Tony Curran sent his hilarious clip from Los Angeles, while local STV news anchors John MacKay and Kelly-Anne Woodland are spotted waving their scarves and flags from behind their television news desk.
Also starring are Bay City Rollers original singer Nobby Clark, Michelle McManus, Callum Beattie, Kyle Falconer, former BBC News anchor Jackie Bird, former Scotland defender Stephen O’Donnell, former Scotland manager, player and TV pundit Gordon Strachan.
Some of the cast from Still Game and River City, ICW wrestling World Champion Jack Jester and Greatest Hits Radio presenters Webster, Fred McAuley, Boogie and Arlene also joined in.
Clyde 1 Breakfast host George Bowie has also made a dance mix of the new version which will be released as part of a bundle with ‘Shang-A-Lang 50’.
He said: “This is such a well-loved song all over the world. I was delighted to get involved to help such a good cause.
“The new Bay City Rollers’ version is brilliant, it doesn’t stray far from the original but sounds fresher and with the Tartan Army joining in and chanting for Scotland it sounds epic.
“I’ve made a version the young team will love, and I can’t wait to see dance floors going mad for it.’
Shang-A-Lang 50 launched on Friday June 7 on all platforms, with all profits going to Cash for Kids.
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