Launch Recite Me assistive technology

Pharrell and Stevie Wonder in BBC's God Only Knows spot

Date
7 October 2014

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It was 17 years ago (!) that the BBC released a star-studded cover of Lou Reed’s Perfect Day, and tonight they marked the relaunch of BBC Music in a similar way. Musicians from Pharrell Williams and Stevie Wonder to Lorde and Chrissie Hynde weigh in on this heavyweight effort that more than anything confirms the strength of the BBC’s pulling power. Sure some people will find it cheesy as hell and on balance it’s probably not as good as Perfect Day but when you can roll out guns as big as these it’s sometimes fun to put them all together and see what happens. Also the song’s writer Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys plays a piano with a tiger on it. Because, well, just because I think…

Pharrell Williams wears a black tuxedo and bow tie, looking towards the camera. Behind them is a large, abstract gold sculpture with curved, rib-like forms. A “BBC Music” logo appears in the top left corner.
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BBC Music: God Only Knows

Andrew Lloyd Webber sits at a piano, looking towards the camera. He is set against a backdrop of lush, tropical greenery with a “BBC Music” logo in the top left corner.
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BBC Music: God Only Knows

Stevie Wonder wears dark sunglasses and a black jacket embellished with sparkling diamond patterns. He is surrounded by floating, shimmering crystals against a blurred architectural background.
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BBC Music: God Only Knows

A singer in a black shirt stands with their mouth open, performing in front of an orchestra. They are surrounded by tall sunflowers and lush tropical greenery under ornate chandeliers.
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BBC Music: God Only Knows

A person in a white dress floats among soft, golden clouds, holding a bunch of balloons. Surrounding them are several hot air balloons, including one shaped like a giant eye. The “BBC Music” logo appears in the top left corner.
Above

BBC Music: God Only Knows

A white feather rests on the keys of a worn, dark piano. Centred over the image, serif text reads “FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC”, with a Bbc Music logo in the top left corner.
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BBC Music: God Only Knows

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About the Author

Rob Alderson

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Rob Alderson is a freelance writer, editor and strategist. He was previously editor-in-chief of It’s Nice That and WePresent, and editor of Design Week. He publishes the newsletter Undo, which tries to make sense of how AI is changing design work, the design process and the design industry.

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