Features / David Attenborough
Bristol’s voice joins global chorus for Attenborough’s 100th birthday
Slopes of the Clifton Observatory will serve as backdrop of a unique tribute as a Bristol Climate Choir performance at the historic landmark is set to feature in a global music video celebrating Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday.
May 8 will mark the centenary milestone for the legendary naturalist. In his honour composer and songwriter Pete M. Wyer is working with a mix of choirs, independent artists, music groups and naturalists globally on a recording of the song Natural World, to be released in May this year.
According to Wyer: “The purpose is to wish Sir David a happy 100th birthday and say ‘thank you’, but it’s equally about echoing his message on climate as a global community standing together.”
In the video each group will sing a line as part of a global chorus, he explained.
Bristol’s contribution was shot at Clifton Observatory, where the choir’s musical director Kai Honey led members through a performance of lyrics like ‘We are a part of the natural world’ and ‘The world is not ours to own, it’s ours to share or lose’.
On being a part of the project, Honey said: “We are trying to make a viral video singing about our love and affection for the natural world, which is also a great way to show love and respect for Sir David Attenborough on his 100th birthday.”
Kai Honey guided members of Bristol Climate Choir and Windrush Reggae Choir along with other singers that had travelled to join the event through the song that will be part of a globally collaborative video – photo: Vihan
The song is drawn from Attenborough’s Witness Statement from 2020 and has already received contributions from prominent musicians including Pete Townshend and Brian Eno.
The video will also feature a variety of artists and communities including music groups from Ghana, horticulturalists from Hoxton, the Chromatix from Wisconsin, the ChattaSings from Texas and choirs in New York and London, including school groups.
Bristol Climate Choir members said that they find it “lovely” to take part in such actions where they sing about climate and urge people to come together to stop the climate emergency.
The video will be released to mark national treasure David Attenborough’s birthday on May 8 – photo: Penny Billington
Members of the Windrush Reggae Choir also joined the performance, expressing excitement at being a part of the project.
Visitors to the Observatory observed the shoot, with some cheering for the singers, fuelling up the choir members with positivity.
Bristol Climate Choir is part of a national network that conducts peaceful protest performances on the climate and nature emergency – photo: Vihan
The Bristol Climate Choir is a part of the wider Climate Choir Movement which began in 2022 in Bristol itself and has around 20 choirs in the UK and beyond.
Main image: Penny Billington
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