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Friend hails 'amazing tribute' to Girls Aloud star

BBC Sarah Harding in a BBC room, wearing black sunglasses, a black dress and white jacket, her blonde hair is tied up in a bun.BBC
Sarah Harding died in 2021 of complications from breast cancer

One of Sarah Harding's best friends has hailed the new Girls Aloud single as an "amazing tribute" to the late popstar.

The new version of hit single I'll Stand By You, with the lead vocal sung entirely by their late bandmate, is set to be re-released for BBC Children In Need.

DJ Greg Burns said "what a tribute" the ballad was to Sarah, who lived in Stockport, Greater Manchester, 20 years on from when the band released the original.

Harding died at the age of 39 in September 2021 following complications with breast cancer.

The singer's isolated vocals for I'll Stand By You were rediscovered earlier this year and featured in Girls Aloud's sold-out arena tour.

Burns described the time he first heard the "emotional moment".

'Fun girl'

He told BBC Radio Manchester: "To say that was an emotional point in the show would be an understatement.

"I could feel Sarah's mum taking my hand and I wondered why that was happening and then I realised because that was coming up.

"It's a beautiful song and so lovely that they got those isolated vocals of Sarah. What a tribute".

Burns and Harding became firm friends after they met backstage at V Festival when Girls Aloud played there in 2006.

He said: "She was so excited, having spoken for a little bit she turned to me and said 'the other girls want to go but I want to stay, do you want to hang out?'

"I've thought about that moment a lot since 2021 because I thought we'd hang out for that day and we did but then there were 15 years of us going on many holidays to lots of adventures around the world and she was just a fantastic, fun girl."

Recently, Burns joined Sara's mother Marie Hardman to help unveil a dress at the Hard Rock Cafe in London.

The dress was worn by Sarah at the BRIT Awards in 2009 which saw Girls Aloud win Song of the Year for their song, Promise.

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He said displaying the Vivienne Westwood dress was fitting as it was not only Sarah's specific wish but the band's nickname for her was, 'Hardcore Harding'.

The Hard Rock then donated money to The Christie Hospital in Manchester, which cared for Sarah, as part of the display.

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