WHEREVER YOU ARE
by MILITARY WIVES/GARETH MALONE
The 2011 Official Christmas Number 1, and the UK's 60th Christmas Number 1, Wherever You Are by The Military Wives with Gareth Malone and Paul Mealor, saw a return to a choir-based festive chart-topper. Military Wives comprised the wives and girlfriends of serving personnel from two British Army bases in Devon, who had been coached by English choirmaster Gareth Malone during the fourth series of his BBC TV show The Choir.
Wherever You Are was written using extracts from the wives’ letters by Welsh composer Paul Mealor, and the song was produced by Jon Cohen. Released December 15, 2011, Wherever You Are had first week sales of 556,000 copies, with a phenomenal 400,000 of those on physical copies bucking the digital trend, outselling the rest of the top ten combined.
Proceeds from the song were donated to the Royal British Legion and the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association. Wherever You Are entered at Number 1, knocking 2011’s X Factor winners Little Mix, and their debut song Cannonball, off the top. Not only did they land the coveted Christmas Number 1 2011, but The Military Wives took the honour of being the first ever recipients of the now-iconic Official Chart Number 1 Award, no less. They were presented with the trophy by then Radio 1 Official Chart host Reggie Yates on behalf of the Official Charts Company.
Official Singles Chart
Official Singles Chart
Official Singles Downloads Chart
Official Singles Downloads Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position1
- LabelDECCA
- Catalogue numberGBUM71110865
- First Chart Date
Weeks on chart
- 1No. 1
- 1Top. 10
- 2Top. 20
- 2Top. 40
- 3Top. 75
- 3Top. 100
Chart run
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Official Physical Singles Chart
Official Physical Singles ChartChart facts
- Peak position1
- LabelDECCA
- Catalogue numberGBUM71110865
- First Chart Date
Weeks on chart
- 12No. 1
- 33Top. 10
- 52Top. 20
- 70Top. 40
- 99Top. 75
- 124Top. 100
Chart run
70 weeks - 24/12/2011 to 20/04/2013
1 week - 18/05/2013
1 week - 01/06/2013
1 week - 10/08/2013
1 week - 15/02/2014
1 week - 29/03/2014
1 week - 07/06/2014
1 week - 18/10/2014
1 week - 17/01/2015
1 week - 31/01/2015
1 week - 01/10/2015
1 week - 12/11/2015
1 week - 14/01/2016
1 week - 02/06/2016
1 week - 23/06/2016
1 week - 17/11/2016
1 week - 25/10/2018
1 week - 04/06/2020
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End of Year Singles Chart
Chart facts
- Peak position13
- LabelDECCA
- Catalogue numberGBUM71110865
- First Chart Date
Weeks on chart
- 0No. 1
- 0Top. 10
- 1Top. 20
- 1Top. 40
- 1Top. 75
- 1Top. 100
Chart run
1 week - 07/01/2012
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