Cher releases Spanish-language cover of ABBA’s ‘Chiquitita’ for charity

‘When everything changed in the world I wanted to help’

Cher has released a Spanish-language cover of ABBA’s “Chiquitita”.

Proceeds from the song, which is Cher’s first single in the language, will be donated to children’s charity UNICEF, just as they were when the Swedish pop group first released the track in 1979.

It’s not the 73-year-old’s first time performing “Chiquitita”, having covered the song in English for the 2018 film Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! and her subsequent ABBA tribute album, Dancing Queen.

An accompanying video will be released on Saturday as part of UNICEF’s Covid-19 Virtual Special.

Speaking about the single, Cher said: “When everything changed in the world I wanted to help. This seemed like the right time to complete [the cover].

“I’ve long admired UNICEF, especially their work educating young women,” she continued. “The actress Audrey Hepburn was a hero of mine and I was so proud when she became their first Goodwill Ambassador in 1988. Now, more than ever, it’s critical that we prioritise every child around the world as if they were our own.”

Back in 1979, ABBA pledged to donate half of the royalties from “Chiquitita” to UNICEF after performing the song at an event for them.

This deal kept going until 2014, when all the band’s members agreed to give the full amount to the charity.