Cher Performs “I Got You Babe” at Queen Vic for Streaming Service Launch

Cher has brought her iconic hit “I Got You Babe” back to life in a new ad campaign for the UKTV streaming service, U. At 78, Cher has re-recorded the song, renaming it “I Got U Babe” for the promotion of this latest entertainment platform.

The advertisement creatively places Cher into well-known TV series scenes, making appearances in various guises. She is seen in a life jacket from the comedy-drama series “Annika” and presents a U-shaped cake to the judges of “MasterChef Australia.”

“I Got You Babe” initially became a sensation when Cher released it with Sonny Bono in 1965, hitting number one in both the UK and the US. The song reappeared in 1993 in a comedic context when she recorded it with animated characters Beavis and Butt-Head, reaching number 35 in the UK Singles Chart. The song has been covered multiple times, including a notable rendition by the band UB40 and Pretenders’ frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, which also topped the UK charts.

Even Mick Jagger had a comedic spin on the hit with Rolling Stones’ impresario Andrew Loog Oldham on ITV’s “Ready Steady Go” during the 1960s. The song’s success was instrumental in propelling Cher to stardom, marking the beginning of her illustrious career. She has since earned three more UK number-one singles and two UK number-one albums after her separation from Sonny Bono in 1975.

UKTV’s creative director, Scott Russell, shared insights behind the advert’s creation. “We wanted to create an ambitious ad to launch U,” Russell explained. “It had to be joyful, with a focus on quality programming and to stand out in a competitive landscape. The ad needed to be memorable and connect with both current and new viewers.” He highlighted that Cher was the perfect choice for this campaign. “Who better to perform a brand-new version of her iconic song while meeting some new and familiar friends along the way?”

The advertisement is filled with memorable moments featuring Cher. Besides her musical performance in EastEnders’ Queen Vic pub, she finds herself digitally superimposed on a rock with Orlando Bloom and in the backseat of a car driven by Chris Kamara and Jeff Stelling in Sri Lanka from the show “World’s Most Dangerous Roads.” She even appears in an electricity box in a scene from “Secrets Of The London Underground.”

The new ad campaign debuted on July 16 and will be shown on various UKTV channels, including Dave, Yesterday, Drama, and W. The U streaming platform aims to deliver a diverse range of UKTV’s programming to audiences, offering free streaming options. Popular series such as “Holby City,” “Red Dwarf,” and “Bangers And Cash” will be among the shows accessible on the platform.

Source: UKTV