A FOREST choir totting up an average age between 50 and 60 has rewritten Englebert Humperdinck's classic 'Release Me' as a charity social media anthem entitled 'Please Retweet Me'.

Drybrook and District Male Voice Choir, most of whom don't have computers, have won Engelbert's support and hope to take YouTube by storm as part of their campaign to raise awareness of meningitis.

The re-worked song references the major social networks and iconic digital brands like Facebook, MySpace, Google and Twitter, which the choir hopes will be a hit with the YouTube generation.

Sarah Waycott, the choir's musical director, says the idea was first brought to her by the Meningitis Trust and local Renegade Media.

"When I put it to the choir I think it's fair to say they were a bit bemused. I know one of them is very computer literate and some do check out the odd email, but most of them don't have a computer and don't know what Facebook is, or YouTube or Twitter.

"I did ask if they were up for it," says Sarah who's directed the choir since 2009.

"But once they got into it, they really did get into it as a project. Funnily enough, it's spurred some of them to talk to their families about new media and how to use it. I just hope they like the finished version which most of them will get on a disc, otherwise I'm in trouble."

Please Retweet me went live on YouTube at Midnight on December 16.

"I've been amazed at how many hits we were getting. It was getting 1,000 views a day and just before Christmas was up to 16,000 views.

Humperdink's original 'Release Me' was a number one hit for the singer in 1967, keeping The Beatles "Strawberry Fields Forever" off the top spot.

Backing Drybrook's new media version, he said: "I think it's a great thing if it's going to help the charity's work and it would be nice to have it back in the charts.

"And why not change the words? I didn't write it myself but I knew the late Eddie Miller, who did write it, and I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

The song's ending, a chorus of 'Facebook me' directs YouTube viewers to http://www.PleaseReTweet">www.PleaseReTweet Me.com the Meningitis Trust's Facebook page where there is information about signs and symptoms as well as a downloadable sing-along song sheet.