Hey Child (East 17 song)

Victoria Segal from Melody Maker noted "new track "Hey Child" is grisly as only a song called "Hey Child" can be."{{cite magazine|first=Victoria|last=Segal|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/nothingelseon/53737333211/|title=Albums|magazine=Melody Maker|date=9 November 1996|page=49|access-date=17 June 2024}}

The music video for "Hey Child" was directed by Badger Smith and Iain Titterington.{{cite web|title= East 17: Hey Child|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9382760/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_0_in_0_q_hey%2520child%2520east|publisher=IMDb|access-date=12 September 2024}} "Hey Child" music video features lead vocalist on the song Tony Mortimer performing in front of children facing different scenarios, all in colour, whilst intercut with the whole group singing the song against a white background, shot in black and white.

This was the final single released by the original band members following lead singer Brian Harvey's dismissal on 18 January 1997 during promotion of this single.

Harvey was sacked from East 17 after making comments in a radio interview that appeared to condone the use of the drug ecstasy, in which he claimed to have taken 12 pills in one night.{{Cite news |date=18 January 1997|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/east-17-singer-sacked-for-making-ecstasy-remarks-1283668.html|title=East 17 singer sacked for making ecstasy remarks|newspaper=The Independent|access-date=20 August 2024 }} These comments caused an uproar in the press and general public with the matter being raised by Member of Parliament Barry Legg during Prime Minister's Questions. The band were subsequently blacklisted from UK radio stations, mainstream youth media, and lost a considerable amount of their young fans in the aftermath of the controversy.

{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom|title=Prime Minister's Questions|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1997-01-16a.449.6#g450.0|house=House of Commons|date=16 January 1997|column=450 |speaker=Barry Legg|quote=What is his reaction to the comments made today by Brian Harvey of East 17, who says that Ecstasy makes people feel better and that he takes up to 12 tablets a day?}}

{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom|title=Business of the House|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1997-01-16a.455.0#g463.5|house=House of Commons|date=16 January 1997|column=463 |speaker=Nigel Evans| quote=Brian Harvey and East 17 are idolised by many thousands of youngsters, some as young as 12. All the campaigning that has been done by voluntary bodies and others may now be jeopardised by the fact that Brian Harvey has come up with those stupid remarks.}}

{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom|title=Public Entertainments Licences (Drug Misuse) Bill|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1997-01-17a.526.0#g526.2|house=House of Commons|date=17 January 1997|column=526 |speaker=Barry Legg| quote=We heard some dreadful remarks from Mr. Brian Harvey of East 17. [...] However, there was also a promising sign yesterday. I spoke to a 12-year-old schoolgirl in my constituency, who said that she would be taking down the posters of East 17. [...] Incidentally, I was pleased yesterday to note that many radio stations and record companies said that they would ban the music of East 17.}}

Tony Mortimer left East 17 several months later after Harvey was allowed to rejoin the group who then re-launched under the rebranded name of E-17.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4598937.stm|title=Life of troubled pop star Harvey|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=1 June 2005 | access-date=31 December 2009}}

• CD single

1. "Hey Child" (7" Radio Edit) - 4:06
2. "Hey Child" (Matthew Roberts' Low Pressure Phunk Remix) - 8:19
3. "Hey Child" (Trade Mix) - 6:25
4. "Hey Child" (4 X Men Mix) - 5:33

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Category:East 17 songs

Category:1997 songs

Category:Songs written by Tony Mortimer