One Direction, Pharrell Williams and Elton John are among those featured on a cover of The Beach Boys' 1966 classic, God Only Knows.

27 global artists - who go by the name of The Impossible Orchestra - have united for the track, which had been made to launch BBC Music in aid of Children In Need.

Pharrell kicks off proceedings on the track as The Beach Boys star Brian Wilson - who composed and produced the song - takes the lead.

They are joined by the likes of Elton, 1D, Stevie Wonder, Jake Bugg, Lorde, Emeli Sande, Chris Martin, Kylie Minogue, Paloma Faith, Sam Smith and Florence Welch.

Rock musicians Chrissie Hynde, Brian May and Dave Grohl also feature, while classical acts Alison Balsom, Martin James Bartlett, Danielle de Niese and Nicola Benedetti also feature.

Folk performer Eliza Carthy; Senegalese singer Baaba Maal; jazz performer Jamie Cullum; British Asian Music star Jaz Dhami; the BBC's Zane Lowe, Lauren Laverne, Katie Derham, Gareth Malone and Jools Holland have also taken part, as well as the Tees Valley Youth Choir and the BBC Concert Orchestra.

[related]Speaking of the song, Wilson said: "I just feel so incredibly humbled that the BBC would choose God Only Knows to promote their new music initiative. All of the artists did such a beautiful job I can't thank them enough.

"I'm just honoured that God Only Knows as chosen. God Only Knows is a very special song. An extremely spiritual song and one of the best I've ever written."

The BBC's new music initiative will consist of an ambitious wave of TV and radio programming, groundbreaking music programmes alongside innovative partnerships and schemes to support emerging talent.

The Impossible Orchestra's version of God Only Knows is available to download now.