"Proud" is a song by Wayne Hector

Wayne Hector

Wayne Hector is an English songwriter.Wayne Hector has had over 30 number ones around the globe under his belt and numerous movie soundtrack credits, Wayne Hector is one of the UK’s most successful songwriters....

, Steve Mac

Steve Mac

Steve Mac , is a songwriter, record producer and owner of Rokstone Studios in London.He has produced more than 22 number one singles in the UK and had several multi-million selling albums worldwide...

 and Andy Hill

Andy Hill (composer)

Andy Hill is a British music producer and songwriter who scored many hits during the 1980s and 90s...

 originally written and recorded for the British television drama series Britannia High

Britannia High

Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television Britannia High was a British musical drama television series co-produced by Granada Television (now part of...

. The song was later covered by Scottish singer Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle

Susan Magdalane Boyle is a Scottish singer who came to international public attention when she appeared as a contestant on the TV programme Britain's Got Talent on 11 April 2009, singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from ...

 for her debut album I Dreamed a Dream

I Dreamed a Dream (album)

I Dreamed a Dream is the debut album from Scottish singer Susan Boyle. It was released on 23 November 2009 by Syco Music in the United Kingdom, and by Columbia Records in the United States one day later. In the standard edition, 11 out of the 12 songs that appear on the album are cover songs, plus...

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In the ITV drama series the song is performed in episode 1.03 by the character Jez Tyler played by Matthew James Thomas

Matthew James Thomas

Matthew James Thomas is a British actor, best known for his role in the UK drama/musical show, Britannia High.-Early life:...

. The song features on the 2008 Britannia High soundtrack album

Soundtrack album

A soundtrack album is any album that incorporates music directly recorded from the soundtrack of a particular feature film or television program. In some cases, not all the tracks from the movie are included in the album; however there are rare cases of songs in the trailers that do not appear in...

.

Writing and inspiration

The song was written specifically for the Britannia High television programme. The original inspiration was a teenager talking to a father that doesn't understand them. In an interview with HitQuarters Hector recounts how the writers composed the lyrics:

"We drew on the things that we felt about our own relationships with our dads when we were younger. I've got a good relationship with my dad now but, as is usual, when you're a teenager and the whole world is against you … I mean, not everybody has a tense relationship, but both of us did."

Susan Boyle version

"Proud" was covered by Scottish singer Susan Boyle

Susan Boyle

Susan Magdalane Boyle is a Scottish singer who came to international public attention when she appeared as a contestant on the TV programme Britain's Got Talent on 11 April 2009, singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from ...

 for her debut 2009 album I Dreamed a Dream

I Dreamed a Dream (album)

I Dreamed a Dream is the debut album from Scottish singer Susan Boyle. It was released on 23 November 2009 by Syco Music in the United Kingdom, and by Columbia Records in the United States one day later. In the standard edition, 11 out of the 12 songs that appear on the album are cover songs, plus...

.

Despite being originally written about teenage-parent conflict, the song arguably found greater resonance when Boyle reinterpreted the song to suit her own real life feelings.