SALES at HMV and other record stores/online sites yesterday indicate that Embrace
have taken an early lead in the race to have the best-performing World Cup single of
the tournament, comfortably outselling their closest World Cup rivals including the
likes of Tony Christie, who is set to remain in the top ten after last week’s chart
debut, and The Tonedef All Stars, Crazy Frog and Stan Boardman, who are all
challenging for top 20 positions.
At this early stage of the World Cup proceedings, however, Embrace look like they
may only enter the Official UK Singles Charts at No.3, behind the current No.1 from
Sandi Thom (I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker – With Flowers In My Hair) and the new entry
from Nelly Furtado (Maneater).
There’s every possibility, however, that the single could eventually rise to No.1 as
England progress successfully through the tournament, closely challenged by the
Tonedef All Stars, Tony Christie and Sham 69 – which is released next week.
HMV’s Gennaro Castaldo explains: “It’s likely that many of these World Cup singles will prove slow burners – selling increasingly larger amounts as the England team progresses through the tournament and national fervour builds. Ultimately we could end up seeing a top ten composed
mainly of World Cup singles if England are still there come the end of the month.
“The Embrace single has met with a bit of a mixed reception since we first heard it,
with a lot of people liking it, but some fans not sure whether it’s anthemic enough
for it to be remembered as a classic world cup single. These early sales are
encouraging, however, and suggest that ‘World At Your Feet’ could outsell all its
unofficial rivals to emerge as the best-selling football single of the tournament.”
He added: “In previous tournaments you’d be lucky to get one official single, usually
performed by the players themselves, and that would be it. Now, perhaps reflecting
the nature of today’s ‘X Factor generation’, anybody who fancies their chances and
feels that it’s their patriotic duty to release a single to spur the boys on, are
trying to get in on the act.
“This year there’s around 30 releases already confirmed, and counting – which,
clearly, must be a record. Ironically, there’s a danger that with so many of these
tending to sound the same, the public may struggle to tell them apart, so it’ll be
the more anthemic tracks, backed by national newspaper or radio station campaigns,
that will have the best chance of generating nationwide publicity and selling the
most copies.
“Although the official release from Embrace must be in the frame to emerge as the
best selling song, high profile singles from the likes of the Tonedef All Stars,
featuring Geoff Hurst & Martin Peters, Sham ’69 and Tony Christie must all have a
chance of stealing their thunder – and, of course, don’t rule out the re-issued ‘3
Lions’, which has become the England team’s de facto anthem among the fans since it
was first released in 1996.
“HMV will certainly be doing its bit to support the lads and backing them as Top
Dogs for the World Cup – our stores will be stocking all these singles over the next
few weeks, while they will also be hosting quite a few personal appearances by many
of these artists. England fans can also order all the songs online at www.hmv.co.uk.”
YOU too can post a media release on allmediascotland.com. For more information, email here.
Contact: Gennaro Castaldo HMV Head of Press & PR 020 7432 2033 / 07801 194 139
