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Rock band Embrace have been chosen to record England's official football World Cup song. The Football Association is hoping the song World at Your Feet will become a fans' anthem for the England team at the tournament. Embrace's Danny McNamara said the band were excited about recording the track and hoped to repeat the success of New Order's 1990 track World in Motion. The World Cup contest begins in Germany on 9 June. OFFICIAL WORLD CUP SONGS SINCE 1970 1970 Back Home - England World Cup Squad 1982 This Time (We'll Get it Right) - England World Cup Squad 1986 We've Got the Whole World at Our Feet - England World Cup Squad 1990 World in Motion - New Order/England World Cup Squad 1998 (How Does it Feel to Be) On Top of the World - England United (Spice Girls, Lightning Seeds, Echo and the Bunnymen) 2002 We're On the Ball - Ant and Dec 2006 World at Your Feet - Embrace World in Motion, which featured a number of England players including John Barnes, is considered one of England's best footballing anthems. 'Capture the imagination' David Baddiel and Frank Skinner's Three Lions song, recorded for Euro 96, was also a critical and commercial success and was re-released for the World Cup in 1998. FA marketing manager Tom Harold said: "The official World Cup song has become something of an institution and it is really important that we have an original and exciting track. "We're confident that Embrace's song will capture the imagination of the fans and players alike." Founded in Huddersfield, Embrace have been releasing records since 1997 and have released five albums, including their number one debut Good Will Out. They are currently sitting at number two in the singles chart with Nature's Law, taken from their latest album This New Day. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| TV theme reworked for World Cup Singer Joe Fagin has re-recorded his 1984 hit That's Livin' Alright as an alternative World Cup football anthem. That's England Alright, a reworking of the theme tune to Auf Wiedersehen, Pet, will be released on 22 May. "It's a song that captures the spirit of the true England fan - whether they are over in Germany, or watching it in the pub back home," said Fagin. Rock band Embrace have been chosen to record England's official World Cup song, World At Your Feet. The World Cup contest begins in Germany on 9 June. THAT'S ENGLAND ALRIGHT Heading out tonight, to cheer the team in white That's England alright Raise a glass to the boys, in a bar full of noise That's England alright Hear the roar, when the three lions score We're gonna beat them all out of sight And when we've played the game you'll remember our name That's England alright "I hope it's going to be a people's song," said Fagin, former frontman of 1960s Merseybeat band The Strangers. Fagin also performed with Brown's Home Brew and The Crowd, but remains best known for That's Livin' Alright, which reached number three in January 1984. The latest version of the single, That's England Alright - aka TEA - has been recorded by Madness producer Clive Langer. The Football Association announced Embrace as the band behind the official song last month. The Huddersfield act are currently at number one in the album chart with This New Day. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| 10 songs that won't upset the Germans Perhaps time for a song? England fans are being urged not to sing offensive songs at the World Cup, but instead to consider jovial chants in German and display a more peaceful demeanour. The Magazine suggests a few songs that could be construed as more positive. 1. 10 GERMAN PEACEKEEPERS Perhaps the supporters' song that most raises the ire of officials is 10 German Bombers, an adapted version of 10 Green Bottles that even Sven-Goran Eriksson has been upset by. UNWELCOME DITTIES 10 German Bombers Dambusters March Stand up if you hate Germans Instead we bring you an ode to Germany's outstanding record in peacekeeping in war-torn areas such as the Balkans and Afghanistan in recent years. 2. I'D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING It could be a time for a revival of this ode to peace and harmony by the New Seekers. Who cannot be moved by a verse like this: "I'd like to build the world a home and furnish it with love, grow apple trees and honey bees and snow-white turtle doves." Even if their ears recoil in horror. 3. DON'T GIVE UP With a South African mother and an Indian father, pop singer Xavier Naidoo could be viewed as a symbol of modern Germany's multiculturalism. No fight left or so it seems, I am a man whose dreams have all deserted Xavier Naidoo Don't Give Up And his cover of Peter Gabriel's Don't Give Up could be particularly appropriate for when England are 1-0 down to Brazil, Rooney's off injured and the rest of the side look as if they'd rather be in Dubai on their hols. 4. THE BEST IS YET TO COME No slice of German pop culture would be complete without a bit of the former Baywatch and Knight Rider star David Hasselhoff, or so non-Germans believe. When your back's against the wall, keep your spirit standing tall, don't surrender, because the best is yet to come David Hasselhoff The Best Is Yet To Come Hasselhoff might be known as an actor in these shores, but in Germany his foremost talent is as a singer. From Hasselhoff's extensive canon of hits, England fans might draw succour from The Best Is Yet To Come, as they try to come to terms with an early exit and look forward to South Africa in 2010. Or in the event England triumph, Hasselhoff's Hot Shot City might capture the mood. 5. CARAVAN OF LOVE If England fans want to indulge in a bit of close harmony without upsetting their hosts they could do a lot worse than Hull's finest, The Housemartins. As the song can easily be done a cappella, it will be ideal for fans unable to take instruments into the ground (for security reasons). 6. EBONY AND IVORY We all know that people are the same where ever we go, there is good and bad in everyone, we learn to live, we learn to give Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder Ebony and Ivory Racism on the terraces is currently a burning issue across mainland Europe, with some national associations seemingly reluctant to take adequate action. Perhaps they could gain a collective kick up the bottom from this ode to harmony by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. 7. PEACE, LOVE AND UNDERSTANDING Liverpool fan Elvis Costello's plaintive cry of "I ask myself is all hope lost?" in his version of Nick Lowe's (What's So Funny About) Peace, Love and Understanding will be a familiar sentiment to supporters. Particularly for those steeling themselves for the moment David Beckham readies himself for a penalty/conversion attempt in a shootout against Germany. 8. IMAGINE If fans were going to sing a McCartney ode to peace and understanding it's only fair to throw in a John Lennon one for balance. Although imagining "there's no countries" might make the World Cup a bit less of a thrilling spectacle. 9. LEAN ON ME Should an England player get himself needlessly sent off or concede a last minute penalty and hasten England's exit, instead of burning effigies loyal fans could instead try to be supportive. "Lean on me, when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on," sang Bill Withers Ahhh. Gareth Southgate, David Beckham, Phil Neville, and, frankly, a host of others, would be glad to hear that from the terraces. 10. DON'T LET'S BE BEASTLY TO THE GERMANS Great title by Noel Coward, although most of the lyrics would need an overhaul to reflect the cordial relations of the last 60 years. A major overhaul. Although one verse could remain if England knock the Germans out. "We must be sweet, and tactful and discreet, and when they've suffered defeat, we mustn't let them feel upset." |
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| Embrace unveil World Cup anthem Embrace hope England football stars will appear in the video Rock band Embrace have unveiled their official World Cup song which they hope will spur the England team to victory. World at Your Feet, which is released on 5 June, received its first radio play on BBC Radio 1. Singer Danny McNamara said he was inspired by the nation's love of football when the team does well. The song features the lyrics "there's no-one you can't beat" and "you know it's going to be our time" but does not mention the word "football". SAMPLE LYRICS FROM WORLD AT YOUR FEET You're the first in my life To make me think That we might just go all the way And I, want you to know we're all hanging on They'll come and yes they'll try To break us down But we know that we'll never lose If we keep moving forward and don't look back Send us your comments But McNamara told BBC News the song featured football references. He said: "There's 'You lift it up with one proud kiss', which is obviously about lifting the cup. "Then there's 'You're the first in my life to think we might just go all the way'. "I wasn't born in 1966 but I think they have got every chance." McNamara said the band had been "very, very nervous" about unveiling their effort. He said they would play it to the England players for the first time on Sunday. "They haven't heard it yet, but we are playing the PFA awards so we'll get a chance to play it to them then," he said. "We hope they like it. We did it wholeheartedly so we hope they like it." Classics comparison The band are yet to record a video to accompany the song but hope the likes of David Beckham and Wayne Rooney will join them if they perform on Top of the Pops. Send in your own World Cup songs McNamara said: "That would be a complete honour. I bet I'd get all their autographs, I bet it would be amazing." McNamara said he was not intimidated by comparisons to previous favourites like Three Lions and New Order's World in Motion. He said: "New Order are one of my favourite bands. Joy Division, the band before New Order, were one of the reasons I got into forming a band. Embrace believe England's players can triumph in Germany "There's been some classic songs and you can't really be compared to them yet because people haven't had a chance to listen to it. "Those songs become classics when people take them into their hearts and I just hope people do (with ours)." The band will give the first televised performance of the song on Match of the Day 2 on BBC Two on Sunday. Virgin Radio's Christian O'Connell is releasing an unofficial song called the People's Anthem, featuring former footballer John Barnes, while singer Joe Fagin has re-recorded his 1984 hit That's Livin' Alright. |
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| Sheep flock to support England Sheep in the Lake District are swapping the green grass of home for the football field in a bid to bleat England to World Cup success. Cumbria's "Baarmy Sheep" were recorded baa-ing in the fields and filmed playing football in the Lake District. The result is a version of Land Of Hope And Glory they hope will inspire Beckham and the boys to victory. The release follows the official England World Cup song by Embrace and Crazy Frog's version of "Ole Ole Ole". Along with the song, there is also a pop video which depicts the first ever football match between sheep. Sheep anthem A spokesman for the Cumbria Tourist Board, the brains behind the woolly campaign, said: "Every football fan has heard of three lions.... well this is three lambs! "We hope this sheep single and video puts a much-needed smile on the face of football fans and the England team. "We are sure the sheep anthem will give the fans something to sing about on the world stage while the inspiring scenery and hilarious video will help relax the players and motivate them to achieve great things on the pitch." The single was created by Charley Darbeyshire and the video was shot on location throughout Cumbria and the Lake District in a bid to promote the area. The Baarmy Sheep have already released two singles and videos - Jerusalem and Jingle Bells and all three are available on the Cumbria Tourist Board's website. Story from BBC NEWS: |