LONDON, December 21, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- "Release Me", the 43-year old classic by Engelbert Humperdinck, has been rewritten as a social media anthem performed by a 30-strong choir as part of a campaign to raise awareness of meningitis.

Sung by the Drybrook & District Male Voice Choir - average age 60 - "Please ReTweet Me" is looking to take YouTube by storm and save lives.

Humperdinck's "Release Me" lyrics have been re-written to include major social networks, iconic digital brands including Facebook, MySpace, Google and Twitter.

The song's ending, "Facebook me, Facebook me...", directs viewers via http://www.PleaseReTweetMe.com to the Meningitis Trust Facebook page, where they can find out more about signs and symptoms, along with background to the campaign and a downloadable singalong song sheet.

Every year 2,500 cases of bacterial meningitis are reported in the UK - 10% of people will die and 15% will have severe after-effects including brain damage, loss of hearing and sight and, where septicaemia has occurred, loss of limbs and scarring.

Engelbert Humperdinck 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." He added: "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."

Sue Davie, CEO of the Meningitis Trust, says: "We want to reach out to a young audience and make them aware of the signs and symptoms, and what they should do if they are concerned. "Please ReTweet Me" appeals to an at risk group; if it helps save one life it will have worked."

Mark Terry-Lush, founder and CEO of Renegade Media, who wrote "Please ReTweet Me", says: "The song is a classic, the new lyrics are memorable and should provoke conversations about a serious subject."

"Release Me" was a hit for Engelbert Humperdink in 1967 when it reached number one in the charts and remained there for six weeks. More than 40 years on and the new version has its tongue firmly in its cheek.

The song was written by Renegade Media, which worked with Atticus Finch, to produce the videos.