Aberdeen fans give Human League iTunes chart boost

FANS of Aberdeen FC have propelled a 1980s hit by The Human League into the iTunes Top Five three decades on from its release after a social media campaign.

Aberdeen's Peter Pawlett. Picture: TSPL

Supporters embraced Don’t You Want Me, which was the UK Christmas No 1 in 1981 and remains the band’s best-known and most commercially successful recording, after changing the lyrics to “Peter Pawlett Baby”, in honour of the 23-year-old midfielder.

The chant rang around Celtic Park on Sunday following Aberdeen’s League Cup victory over Inverness Caledonian Thistle., in which they beat the Highland side on penalties after drawing 0-0.

Electronic pioneers the Human League, founded by Philip Oakey, Joanne Catherall and Susan Ann Sulley, said in a statement: “Amazing stuff you Aberdeen FC fans, simply amazing. For us to be waking up this morning to find Don’t You Want Me at number 5 on the iTunes singles chart was absolutely amazing and has to rank as one of the biggest surprises of our career to date, which after over 35 years in the music business is really saying something. As we believe the saying goes in Aberdeen – Come On You Reds!”

Richard Albiston, a Gourdon-based postman, launched an online campaign aimed at getting the 1981 hit to the top of the music charts.

He said yesterday: “I got the idea after having the song stuck in my head.

“I thought, let’s try to get this song charted and it just took off from there.”

Fans are now also calling on The Human League to play in Aberdeen, with the alternative Peter Pawlett lyrics included in the set.