Sam Fender is soundtracking this year's John Lewis Christmas advert with a cover of The Rolling Stones' You Can’t Always Get What You Want.
Recorded in Tyneside, the song has been self-produced by Fender alongside his band mates Joe Atkinson and Dean Thompson.
It features the choir from the John Spence Community High School in North Shields, where Fender was a former pupil, and brass from the Easington Colliery Band.
“It was a privilege to rework such an iconic song by such a legendary band," said Fender. "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.”
I’m a fan of Sam’s work, so I was pleased to hear he was covering one of my songs
Mick Jagger
His cover of the Stones' 1969 classic has received the seal of approval from Mick Jagger. Fender previously supported the band at their 2022 headline show at BST Hyde Park in London.
“I’m a fan of Sam’s work, so I was pleased to hear he was covering one of my songs," said Jagger. "I think he’s done a great job with it.”
The track, which soundtracks the 20th edition of the annual John Lewis Christmas advert, has emerged as a contender for the 2026 Christmas No.1, is backed with Fender’s 2020 cover of Lindisfarne’s Winter Song, available physically for the first time.
Fender and Polydor Records will be donating 100% of the net profits received from sales in the UK of the CD and 7” single sold via the official Sam Fender online store to Teenage Cancer Trust.
All John Lewis profits from each record sold at John Lewis stores will be donated to Action For Children, the retailer’s charity partner of Building Happier Futures.
Meanwhile, tickets for Fender's Proper Massive Stadium Tour ’27 went on sale last Friday (October 30), with all nine tour dates selling out in a day. Extra dates have been added in Cardiff, Edinburgh and London.
The tour calls at six cities and includes the singer-songwriter’s biggest headline shows to date at London’s Wembley Stadium on June 18 & 20 and September 2.
