In 2013, One Direction was at the peak of their global fame — and instead of releasing a chart-chasing single, they chose to give everything away. Their mashup of Blondie's "One Way or Another" and the Undertones' "Teenage Kicks," released as Comic Relief's official Red Nose Day single, became the biggest-selling charity single the campaign had ever seen, while the band kept not a single penny.
Simon Cowell's Idea, a Nation's Cause
The concept came from Simon Cowell, who suggested covering Blondie's 1978 classic because, as he explained, "it's a really cheeky song, it's very fun, and it was very unexpected." The addition of the Undertones' "Teenage Kicks" — another beloved British-Irish punk anthem from the same year — created a mashup that felt both nostalgic and fresh.
Released on February 17, 2013, the single was Comic Relief's official charity record for Red Nose Day 2013. In an extraordinary gesture, One Direction waived 100% of their royalties. Sony Music Entertainment and iTunes also donated their share. The band received zero payment. Every penny went to Comic Relief's work supporting children and families in the UK and across Africa.
From Ghana to 10 Downing Street
Rather than spend money on a lavish music video, the band filmed it themselves across four countries while on tour — Ghana, Tokyo, New York City, and London — keeping production costs minimal so more money could go to charity. In Ghana, they visited a children's hospital, and the footage of the boys interacting with patients moved fans around the world.
The London segment, shot at 10 Downing Street, featured a surprise cameo from then-Prime Minister David Cameron — a moment that underscored just how culturally significant the campaign had become. It wasn't every day that the world's biggest pop group collaborated with a sitting head of government for a charity single.
"One Direction donated 100% of their royalties, as did Sony Music and iTunes. They didn't receive a single penny in connection with the official Red Nose Day single."— Comic Relief, official statement
The mashup format itself was clever. Blondie's original "One Way or Another" was Debbie Harry's intensity-charged track about a persistent ex-boyfriend. In One Direction's hands, that obsessive energy was transformed into breezy pop enthusiasm, while the addition of "Teenage Kicks" brought in a punk spirit that gave the whole thing a chaotic, joyful edge.
The Biggest Comic Relief Single in History
The song debuted at number one on the UK Singles Chart in its first week, selling 113,000 copies — the second-highest first-week UK sales of any song in 2013 at that point. It topped the charts in Ireland and hit number one on iTunes in 63 countries simultaneously in its first week. In the US, it peaked at number 13.
The single raised over £850,000 for Red Nose Day directly through sales, while the broader campaign involving the band raised over £2 million. It became the biggest-selling Comic Relief single ever recorded. Even after One Direction went on hiatus in 2015, this song has remained a symbol of what pop stardom can look like at its most generous.
Pop stardom is about choices. One Direction chose, at their brightest moment, to turn the spotlight on someone else. That's why "One Way or Another (Teenage Kicks)" isn't just a hit — it's a benchmark for what celebrity can do when it's pointed in the right direction.
