Nikki Webster has dismissed the criticism received for sales of the reboot to her 2001 hit song, Strawberry Kisses, insisting that the whole point of re-releasing the track was in the name of charity.
The revamped pop single, which also features Sunrise weatherman Sam Mac, debuted on the ARIA Singles chart this past week at #97, after the original peaked at #2 and stayed there for seven weeks upon its release 16 years ago.
News Corp noted that Strawberry Kisses made 1989 sales and that it was hit with some nasty feedback online, with one person commenting that Mac's rapping throughout is "an act of aggression against the ears”.
However in a statement given exclusively to The Music, Webster says raising funds for the Starlight Children's Foundation was the main focus.
"We certainly had no intention to widely promote the song with the aim of a chart position," she said.
"[It was] simply [to] have a bit of fun and allow people to reminisce for the purpose of supporting a worthwhile charity in Starlight Australia."
Despite its low debut on the ARIA Singles chart, it did come in at #10 on the ARIA Australian Artist Singles chart.
The now-29-year-old singer continued, "I think its something people needed at this time, a chance to have fun and think about fun times shared with friends over a song when they were young."
Webster confirmed that an official music video for the Strawberry Kisses reboot is in the works and will premiere on Channel Seven, though a date was not confirmed.
