God Only Knows How Many Celebs Star In This BBC Music Ensemble

BBC Music has created a unique broadcasting and musical moment spanning the BBC’s television, radio and online networks at 8pm on Tuesday 7th October.    

From BBC One to BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC iPlayer to BBC Radio Cornwall, BBC outlets will join forces in the very first pan-channel broadcast of God Only Knows, an extraordinary reworking of The Beach Boys’ classic song uniting 27 internationally acclaimed artists from across the musical genres to form ‘The Impossible Orchestra’.  

The promotional film, created by Karmarama, marks the official launch of BBC Music - an ambitious wave of new programmes, innovative partnerships and ground-breaking music initiatives that amount to the BBC’s strongest commitment to music in 30 years. 

God Only Knows will be released as a single in aid of BBC Children in Need.  It will be available to download from midnight on Tuesday 7th October.

Bob Shennan, Director BBC Music says: “This is an exciting moment for BBC Music as we launch to a global audience. With the 80-piece BBC Concert Orchestra at its heart and comprising an array of iconic music stars, from a wide range of musical genres, this “impossible” orchestra is a celebration of all the talent, diversity and musical passion found every single day throughout the BBC.

God Only Knows features the song’s original writer and creator, Brian Wilson, alongside 26 award-winning musicians including popular music stars Sir Elton John, One Direction, Stevie Wonder, Pharrell Williams, Jake Bugg, Lorde, Emeli Sandé, Chris Martin, Kylie Minogue, Paloma Faith, Sam Smith and Florence Welch; rock musicians Chrissie Hynde, Brian May and Dave Grohl.

Recognised as a modern masterpiece, Brian Wilson himself says: “I just feel so incredibly humbled that the BBC would choose God Only Knows to promote their new music initiative. All of the artists did such a beautiful job I can’t thank them enough. I’m just honoured that God Only Knows was chosen. God Only Knows is a very special song. An extremely spiritual song and one of the best I’ve ever written.”

Sam Walker, Executive Creative Director at Karmarama, said: “The God Only Knows campaign demonstrates the pulling power of the BBC with world class talent and the huge diversity of genres that it supports. It was unbelievable that so many artists agreed to take part and help us create a campaign that hopefully demonstrates the amazing power of music."

Full Credits

Agency: Karmarama

Executive Creative Directors: Sam Walker and Joe De Souza

Account Handler: Jamie Wylie

Planner: Dan Hill

Music producers: Ethan Johns & Ken Nelson

Music arrangement: Ethan Johns

Director: Francois Rousselet (represented by Riff Raff)

Production Company: Red Bee Media

Producer: Joanna Yeldham

DoPs: Ed Wild, Denzil Armour-Brown, Philipp Blaubach, Richard Mott, Michael Pescasio (LA)

Art Directors: Morgan Kennedy, Sarah Kane, Melissa Broker (LA)

Styling: Grace Snell

Editor: Amanda James @ Final Cut

Post Production Supervisor: Hugo Guerra @ The Mill

Grade: Mick Vincent

Sound design: Munzie @ Grand Central

Post-Production / VFX Company: The Mill

Executive Producer: Gemma Humphries

Production Assistant: Clare Melia

Shoot Supervisor: Hugo Guerra 

3D Cloud Lead: Adam Droy 

2D Lead Artists: Zoe Casey-Hayes, Hugo Guerra 

2D Artists: Alex Candlish, Richard McKeand, Grant Connor, Gary Driver, Siro Valente, Kirti Dave, Justin Gros-Desir, Anne-Sofie Tholander, Jeanette Eiternes, Eleanor Risdon, Gianluca Di Marco 

3D Artists: Adam Droy, Yoann Gouraud, Christos Pariaros, Michael Balthazart, Margaux Huneau, Luke Tickner, Adam Dewhirst, Vasilis Pazionis, Philip Maddock, Fabrice Le Nezet, Jules Janaud, Daniel Kmet, Emmanuel Strixner, Ashley Reemul, Hugo Jackson, Giancomo Cavalletti

Matte Painting: Can Y Sanalan, Sullivan Richard, German Casado

Colourist: Mick Vincent 

Executive Producer: Luke Colson