Sam Fender Brings "You Can’t Always Get What You Want" Back To Tyneside
Written By: Big C
A familiar song can become a map when the people performing it come from home. Sam Fender reworks The Rolling Stones’ You Can’t Always Get What You Want with musicians from his own corner of England. Recorded in Tyneside and self-produced with bandmates Joe Atkinson and Dean Thompson, the cover features children from John Spence Community High School, where Fender grew up as a pupil. Brass from the Easington Colliery Band also adds another local ensemble to the recording, combining the community into a broader identity. Fender explains why those collaborators belong in this version:
It was a privilege to rework such an iconic song by such a legendary band. In the spirit of Christmas, we re-recorded the children’s choir with the kids from my old school, John Spence Community High School, and we arranged a brass section with the Easington Colliery Band.
The recording soundtracks the twentieth John Lewis Christmas advert, giving that local collaboration a national setting. A choir and brass section bring different ensemble colors to a rock song, making the choice of performers part of the interpretation rather than a list of additional credits. Here, the clearest musical distinction is the connection between Fender’s hometown and the voices and instruments representing it. The cover follows People Watching and arrives as he looks toward the Proper Massive Stadium Tour ’27, including Wembley Stadium dates on June 18, June 20 and September 2. Listen to "You Can’t Always Get What You Want" below and explore how those hometown collaborators reshape a familiar song. Follow Sam Fender on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
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