People Help the People

"People Help the People"
Single by Cherry Ghost
from the album Thirst for Romance
Released12 June 2007
RecordedApe (Little Neston, Cheshire, England)
GenreIndie rock
Length3:59
LabelHeavenly
SongwriterSimon Aldred
Producers
  • Dan Austin
  • Simon Aldred
Cherry Ghost singles chronology
"Mathematics"
(2007)		 "People Help the People"
(2007)		 "4 AM"
(2007)

"People Help the People" is the second single taken from Cherry Ghost's début album, Thirst for Romance. It was made available to download on 11 June 2007, and followed two weeks later on CD and 7-inch vinyl. The band played the song live on Later... with Jools Holland on 24 November 2006. Jimi Goodwin of the band Doves plays drums on the single. "People Help the People" peaked the UK Singles Chart at number 27. The song was also a hit in Italy.

The song was written in Aldred's childhood box room bedroom in Bolton in the run up to Christmas 2005.

Two music videos were produced for the song, one directed by Huse Monfaradi, the other one directed by Chris Hopewell.

Track listings

All songs written by Simon Aldred, except where noted.

CD (HVN168CD):

  1. "People Help the People" – 3:59
  2. "Four Eyes" – 4:47

7" vinyl (HVN168):

  1. "People Help the People" – 3:59
  2. "Please Come Home" (Aldred, Parsons, Rhodes) – 4:39

Download (UK iTunes only):

  1. "People Help the People" – 3:59
  2. "People Help the People" (Cowboys and Cosmonauts Remix) – 4:10

Weekly charts

Chart (2007) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA) 41
Italy (FIMI) 23
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company) 27

Birdy version

"People Help the People"
Single by Birdy
from the album Birdy
B-side"Without a Word"
Released28 October 2011 (2011-10-28)
Recorded2011
Genre
Length4:16
LabelWarner Music
SongwriterSimon Aldred
Birdy singles chronology
"Shelter"
(2011)		 "People Help the People"
(2011)		 "1901"
(2012)
Music video
"People Help the People" (Official) on YouTube

English musician Birdy released a cover version of the song, on 28 October 2011 as a download in the United Kingdom. In 2012, the song received attention in Australia when it was used in a trailer for a Neighbours storyline.

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "People Help the People" was released on YouTube on 6 October 2011 with a total length of four minutes and eighteen seconds. It was shot in black and white, and features Birdy walking through London. The video had 237 million views as of April 2025. Another music video, released on YouTube 30 October 2012, was shot in France. It was directed by Florent Déchard.

Track listing

Download
No.TitleLength
1."People Help the People"4:16
2."People Help the People" (Two Inch Punch Remix)4:53
3."People Help the People" (Dawn Golden and Rosy Cross Remix)6:30
4."Without a Word"3:08

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2011–2014) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)10
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)7
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)2
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)5
Czech Republic Airplay (ČNS IFPI)13
Denmark (Tracklisten)37
France (SNEP)7
Germany (GfK)3
Ireland (IRMA) 84
Italy (FIMI) 22
Luxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard) 1
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)5
Scottish Singles Sales (Official Charts)30
Slovakia Airplay (ČNS IFPI)19
Slovenia (SloTop50)1
Spain (Promusicae)7
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)2
UK Singles (Official Charts)33

Year-end charts

Chart (2012) Position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) 9
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 17
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) 16
Netherlands (Single Top 100) 22
Chart (2013) Position
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 49
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia) 61
France (SNEP) 31
Germany (Media Control AG) 37
Slovenia (SloTop50) 14
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) 12

Certifications

Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) 3× Platinum 210,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria) Platinum 30,000*
Belgium (BRMA) Platinum 30,000*
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) Platinum 90,000‡
France (SNEP) Gold 75,000*
Germany (BVMI) Platinum 300,000^
Italy (FIMI) Platinum 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ) Platinum 30,000‡
Spain (Promusicae) Gold 30,000‡
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) 2× Platinum 60,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) Platinum 600,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label
Ireland 28 October 2011 Download Warner Music
United Kingdom 30 October 2011

References

  1. ↑ "The Official Charts Company – Cherry Ghost – People Help The People". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 19 December 2009.
  2. ↑ Official Tim Burgess online listening party hosted by artist "Tim Burgess listening party". Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  3. ↑ "Huse". RSA Films. Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  4. ↑ "Videos". Collision Films. Archived from the original on 24 March 2009. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  5. ↑ "People Help the People by Cherry Ghost – Music Charts".
  6. ↑ "Classifiche – FIMI".
  7. ↑ "The Official Charts:People Help the People". Official Charts Company.
  8. ↑ "Birdy's song "People Help The People" features in a Neighbours promo". Nova 96.9. DMG Radio Australia. Archived from the original on 26 February 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
  9. ↑ Birdy – People Help The People (Official Video) on YouTube
  10. ↑ Birdy (30 October 2012), Birdy – People Help the People [French Extra], archived from the original on 21 December 2021, retrieved 5 May 2017
  11. ↑ "Birdy – People Help The People". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  12. ↑ "Birdy – People Help The People" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  13. ↑ "Birdy – People Help The People" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  14. ↑ "Birdy – People Help The People" (in French). Ultratop 50.
  15. ↑ "ČNS IFPI – CZ Radio – Top 100 – 13. týden 2013" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic.
  16. ↑ "Birdy – People Help The People". Tracklisten.
  17. ↑ "Birdy – People Help The People" (in French). Le classement de singles.
  18. ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name.
  19. ↑ "Welcome to our site". IRMA.ie. Archived from the original on 28 May 2002. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  20. ↑ "Database Top of the music". FIMI. Archived from the original on 27 January 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  21. ↑ "Luxembourg Digital Songs - January 26, 2013". Billboard.
  22. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 10, 2012" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  23. ↑ "Birdy – People Help The People" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  24. ↑ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart on 25/5/2013 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  25. ↑ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 20138 into search.
  26. ↑ "SloTop50: Slovenian official singles weekly chart". SloTop50. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  27. ↑ "Birdy – People Help The People". Canciones Top 50.
  28. ↑ "Birdy – People Help the People". Swiss Singles Chart.
  29. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 12/11/2011 – Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  30. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 2012". Ultratop. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  31. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2012". Ultratop. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  32. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 2012". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  33. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2012" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved 30 April 2020.
  34. ↑ "Jahreshitparade Singles 2013". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
  35. ↑ "Rapports Annuels 2013". Ultratop. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  36. ↑ "Top de l'année Top Singles 2013" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
  37. ↑ "Top 100 Singles Jahrescharts 2013" (in German). VIVA. Viacom International Media Networks. Archived from the original on 20 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  38. ↑ "SloTop50: Slovenian official year end singles chart". slotop50.si. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2015.
  39. ↑ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2013 – hitparade.ch". Hung Medien. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  40. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2024 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  41. ↑ "Austrian single certifications – Birdy – People" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  42. ↑ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2012". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  43. ↑ "Danish single certifications – Birdy – People Help the People". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  44. ↑ "French single certifications – Birdy – People Help the People" (PDF) (in French). SNEP. Retrieved 15 October 2013.
  45. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Birdy; 'People Help the People')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  46. ↑ "Italian single certifications – Birdy – People Help the People" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  47. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Birdy – People Help the People". Radioscope. Retrieved 12 June 2026. Type People Help the People in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  48. ↑ "Spanish single certifications – Birdy – People Help the People". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 2 March 2024.
  49. ↑ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('People Help the People')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 November 2013.
  50. ↑ "British single certifications – Birdy – People Help the People". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 15 February 2025. Select singles in the Formats field. Type People Help the People Birdy in the "Search:" field.
  51. ↑ "People Help the People – EP by Birdy on Apple Music". apple.com. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
  52. ↑ "People Help the People – EP by Birdy on Apple Music". apple.com. 28 October 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2017.