Tuesday 28th March 2006

Embrace are to record the official England World Cup song for The FA.

After much speculation, The FA has today confirmed that chart-toppers Embrace will record the official England World Cup song to be released prior to the World Cup.

The top guitar-band were approached by The FA earlier this year and jumped at the chance to be part of the traditional World Cup preparations by writing a track for the team.

The song is titled ‘World At Your Feet’ but the demos are being kept under wraps for the time being and will be revealed nearer to the start of the tournament.

Lead singer Danny McNamara said: “The band can’t wait to get into the studio and record the new track. We think we’ve got a really good song and hopefully it will repeat the success of previous songs like New Order’s World in Motion.”

The official song has been subject of much debate since the England team qualified for the tournament last year and The FA has been inundated with requests and song entries from record companies, artists and members of the public.

FA Marketing Manager Tom Harold has negotiated the deal with Embrace’s record label Independiente following a series of meetings and pitches arranged by their publisher Melanie Johnson at EMI Music Publishing. Harold said: “The official England 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.

“With only 75 days to go until England’s first game against Paraguay everybody has been asking who will get the gig. We’d like to think we’ve pulled off something of a coup by bagging such a great band and keeping it secret… until now.”

Independiente’s Managing Director Mark Richardson said:

“This is another high point for Embrace, since the success of ‘Out Of Nothing’ they have gone from strength to strength, with their current single ‘Nature’s Law’ their biggest hit to date and this weeks release of their new album ‘This New Day’ the timing couldn’t be better, it’s a great moment for all of us”.

Embrace are currently at number two in the UK chart with their new single Nature’s Law and their fifth album This New Day – released yesterday – is expected to top the album charts later this week.

EMI’s Music Publishing Promotions Manager Melanie Johnson said: “I’m a huge fan of Embrace and felt strongly that the band had it in them to meet the challenge of delivering England’s World Cup song. Their music has an uplifting, anthemic feel which will capture the spirit of the occasion.”

THE FA can be so boringly predictable – and we’ve got to shake them up because England’s official World Cup song is at stake.

I’ve seen the latest wish list of artists the Football Association are now chasing to record England’s World Cup anthem — and the names are so obvious, it’s a joke.

What we need is another World In Motion, NEW ORDER’s catchy 1990 World Cup tune.

Who would you like to do the song? Let me know and we can pressure the bands and the FA to take up the challenge.

Text BIZ (space then message) to 61008 or email me on biz@the-sun.co.uk or ring me on 020 7782 4036.

It’s 40 years since we last lifted the trophy — and a stonking song would kick off things brilliantly for Germany.

Full Article at The Sun

Compiled by PA Sport staff
Last updated March 1 2006
World Cup songs tend to land somewhere between the toe-curlingly awful, the fantastically misguided, and the bigoted. We’ve chosen 10 of the most memorable, taking you down memory lane with lyrics from the records we never dare admit we bought.

1. Vindaloo – Fat Les (unofficial England song 1998)
(amid the nah-nah-nahs) “Me and me Mum and me Dad and me Gran/We’re off to Waterloo/Me and me Mum and me Dad and me Gran/And a bucket of Vindaloo/ Vindaloo, vindaloo/Vindaloo, vindaloo, vindaloo, nah-nah.”

2. Ally’s Tartan Army – Andy Cameron (unofficial Scotland song 1978)
“We’re on the march with Ally’s Army/We’re going to the Argentine/And we’ll really shake them up, when we win the World Cup/Because Scotland is the greatest football team.”

3. Back Home – England World Cup squad (official England song 1970)
“Back home/They’ll be watching and waiting and cheering every move/Back home/Though we think we’re the greatest/That’s what we’ve got to prove.”

Full List at MSN

The Times and Avalon today announced that David Baddiel & Frank Skinner are to launch the world’s first World Cup podcasts, which will be available free at Times Online.

Baddiel and Skinner will broadcast the unofficial voice of the World Cup 2006, direct from Germany, as they travel from game to game with the fans. The co-creators of the three-times-number-one platinum selling football anthem, Three Lions, and the stars of six acclaimed series of Fantasy Football, will bring their unique humour, knowledge and passion for football to the fans at home and around the world.

The series of 10 podcasts will be available exclusively at Times Online and will run throughout the World Cup (June 9th- July 9th). Baddiel and Skinner will also be online and interact with fans during the tournament on The Times’ website.

Read the Full Article from The Times Online

The football-mad five-piece, winners of three Brits, had apparently been attracting support from the FA and were hotly tipped to come up with an anthem for Germany.

But in a statement on their website, the band – named after the first club of former Leeds star Lucas Radebe – said they would not be getting involved.

“We’re flattered about these rumours regarding the England football team’s World Cup song, but there’s no truth in them, they are just rumours.

“The only writing we’ll be doing in the next few months will be for our next album. We have no plans to write the England football team’s World Cup song. Sorry to dispel the myth.”

Read this article in full at bbc.co.uk or show all related articles