TWO lads from Lancashire are taking on the corporate giants of the music industry in a bid for the Christmas number one… and all in aid of their local children’s charity.
Graham Haydock and Danny Clarkson – who call themselves 2 n a Half Lions – hope their festive tune “Christmas Disco” will be a smash hit, knocking the big boys off the top spot and raising much-needed funds for Derian House Children’s Hospice.
The lifelong friends, from Leyland, penned the song together, in which they encourage people to “have a Christmas disco and put down your mobile phones” in a bid to give the country a boost at the end of a difficult year.
They filmed the video to the track in the function room of their local pub using their friends and family as extras and offer a nod to previous Christmas hits, such as Slade and The Pogues.
The pair run a small sports coaching business together, offering school DJ events, sports coaching, parties and afterschool clubs.
Graham, 40, said: “We’re just two lads from Lancashire – a couple of underdogs – hoping for a Christmas miracle. We’re taking on the big PR machine of the music industry and hope that we can get a surprise Christmas number one. All proceeds from downloads of the song will go towards helping seriously ill children at Derian House.”
The unlikely lads will have their work cut out for them, with other artists gunning for the top spot this year including Dolly Parton and Liam Gallagher.
“We’re not worried about the competition,” said Graham. “Nobody rated Mr Blobby but he went on to not only have a number one Christmas hit, but with what is widely considered one of the worst songs in the whole of history!”
If the name 2 and a Half Lions sounds familiar it’s because the guys shot to fame in 2018 when they released a song for the Football World Cup. The song had 50,000 views and ended up on the news.
This year, they hope that their song will not only raise money for Derian House, but will also raise a smile in the community.
“We just want the song to pick people up,” said Graham. “Our aim is to uplift the nation in a time of fear and uncertainty, with a message to remind people that no matter how bad their year has been, next year will be better.”
David Robinson, Chief Executive of Derian House Children’s Hospice, said: “Derian House Children’s Hospice cares for almost 400 babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions from across the North West. Care is free to the families, but costs £4.8 million every year. With less than 10 per cent of this coming from funding, the charity relies heavily on the generosity of its supporters.
“We think Christmas Disco has smash hit written all over it and we can’t thank the lads enough for choosing to support the children at Derian with this brilliant initiative.”
The song is available for download on December 11. Pre-order yours here: smarturl.it/BuyChristmasDisco
You can listen to the song here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2SHAfj7kTyI
Follow the 2 n a half Lions Facebook page www.facebook.com/2nhalfLions or visit www.2nhalflions.co.uk
