Mike Christie, founder of the annual outdoor festival The Wight Proms, has released a song entitled ‘The Heartbeat of Our Nation’ to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The singer-songwriter from Cowes wrote both the music and the lyrics. The music video was filmed at Fort Redoubt, Freshwater.
The song will be released on all online platforms this week, with proceeds from sales and streams going to the Isle of Wight charity Independent Arts, who use the arts to improve people’s wellbeing, quality of life, and to reduce social isolation on the Isle of Wight. The charity is close to Mike Christie’s heart, which lead them to becoming the official associated charity for The Wight Proms Festival.
Mike will perform the song live at various Island events over the course of the Platinum Jubilee weekend, including the Beacon Lighting Ceremony at The Parade, Cowes, on Thursday and The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Picnic in the Park at Northwood House, Cowes, on Sunday.
Mike says:
“I’ve been thinking for a while I’d like to write a song to commemorate the Platinum Jubilee, but just hadn’t got around to doing it. Then, last week, when I was putting together my set lists for my performances on the Island over the Jubilee weekend, I realised there aren’t any Jubilee-specific songs out there. So, I decided I needed to knuckle down and write one!
“It was so difficult when it came to writing the lyrics, as I didn’t want it to sound cheesy or cliché, and I wanted to get the right sentiment across. For the music video, I was spoilt for choice for stunning locations on the Island and went with Fort Redoubt in Freshwater in the end, not only for its beauty but also for its history.
See the video of Heartbeat of Our Nation below:
