AS the excitement builds with each World Cup, the number of football-related singles released just keeps increasing, and 2010 is no different.
Over the next few days and weeks, a host of songs – some iconic and anthemic, many downright naff and cheesy but all totally enthusiastic and heartfelt in their support of Team England, will be released via download and on CD single in the elusive search of a chart-topping No.1 hit.
The UK’s leading bookies William Hill and music retailer, HMV, have teamed up to predict the songs that are likely to flop and those which will make it past the group stages and knock out rounds in pursuit of England-related charts glory.
This year, it’s likely we’re going to have a straight chart battle between Dizzee Rascal and James Corden on one side, who have teamed up to record the charity single Shout For England, and a reworking of the classic 3 Lions on the other with Robbie Williams and Russell Brand joining original performers, Baddiel & Skinner for a 2010 remix.
Both songs have loads going for them: Shout For England is also backed by Simon Cowell, and was performed during the final of Britain’s Got Talent – giving it huge exposure. It’s also likely to emerge as a real festival favourite, especially with Dizzee performing at so many events this Summer.
Alternatively, 3 Lions is much-loved by England fans for its nostalgic ‘football’s coming home’ appeal, and has arguably become the England team’s unofficial anthem. This 2010 edition is also bound to be boosted by having Robbie and Brand on board.
The further the England team progresses in the tournament, the more the hype and excitement will build and the greater the chance of either football single topping the official UK charts.
See below for William Hill odds and for the detailed run down of HMV/Hills top ten World Cup songs.
“Dizzee and James Corden are going to be very hard to beat after their performance on Britain’s Got Talent, which will promote Shout For England to a huge TV audience – so we see them as strong favourites. However, we shouldn’t forget that the X Factor winner got beaten in the race for the Christmas No.1, and we can only hope one of the old favourites come to our rescue,” says Hill’s spokesperson, Rupert Adams.
HMV’s Gennaro Castaldo comments: “The pop pairings of Dizzee and Corden and Robbie and Brand each have a genuine chance with their respective releases this summer. Both are half-decent songs, and they can also expect huge exposure for their singles given their equally massive media profiles. Ultimately, however, it will all depend on the England performance, and the further the team progresses through the tournament the better the prospects for both songs as the hype builds and they each battle to land a number one single.”
William Hill Odds for Top Charting World Cup Related Song* : 1/3 James Corden & Dizzee Rascal – Shout for England; 4/1 The Squad (feat Robbie Williams & Russell Brand) – 3 Lions 2010; 6/1 New Order ft. John Barnes – World In Motion; 10/1 K’naan – Wavin’ Flag (The Celebration Mix); 12/1 Lightning Seeds with Baddiel & Skinner – Three Lions; 20/1 Terry Venables – If I Can Dream (Sun TV ad music); 25/1 The Three Tenors – Nessun Dorma (20th Anniversary Edition); 33/1 Shuttleworth – England’s Heartbeat; 66/1 Chico – It’s England Time; 100/1 Ken Dodd’s Dad’s Dog’s Dead – Confidence. *Market settled on July 11th at midnight
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ENQUIRIES
William Hill PR: Rupert Adams – radams@williamhill.co.uk / +44 (0)20 8918 3858 / +44 (0)7841 011 584
HMV Press & PR: Gennaro Castaldo – gennaro.castaldo@hmv.co.uk / +44 (0)20 7432 2033 / +44 (0)7801 194 139
HMV’s AND HILLS TOP TEN PREDICTED ENGLAND WORLD CUP 2010 SONGS
1. Dizzee Rascal and James Corden Shout for England
UK Hip/Hop Grime star, Dizzee Rascal, and comedy actor, James Corden, join forces to support England. The song is a rap-style reworking of the Tears For Fears’ classic Shout, and is also backed by Simon Cowell and, critically, was performed in the final of Britain’s Got Talent. England fans are being offered the chance to add their vocals to the chorus via mobile phone, and all royalties from the track will be donated to Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital. Likely to be a big festivals fave as England progress. Digital release: 13 June / CD-single release 21 June.
William Hill odds: 1/3
2. The Squad ft. Robbie Williams and Russell Brand 3 Lions 2010
Big-name reworking of the classic Euro ’96 football anthem, ‘3 Lions’, which sees Robbie Williams and Russell Brand team up with original collaborators, Ian Broudie of The Lightning Seeds, and comedy duo, Baddiel and Skinner. Produced by the legendary Trevor Horn at Abbey Road Studios, and featuring a full-scale orchestra and choir, the track also features a cameo from John Motson as well as the Official England Band and members of the England Supporters Club. Released on May 17, the track is already available on download and CD-single formats.
William Hill odds: 4/1
3. New Order ft. John Barnes World In Motion
A classic footie anthem and a firm favourite among England fans originally released for Italia 90 by New Order, featuring a famous rap by England and Liverpool football legend, John Barnes. Now re-worked and reissued for a Mars TV ad campaign – giving it plenty of TV exposure. Available to download.
William Hill odds: 6/1
4. K’naan Wavin’ Flag (The Celebration Mix)
Somali-Canadian poet-rapper, K’naan, has already enjoyed international success with this song taken from his album Troubadour, and there are also plans for a cover by will.i.am and David Guetta. This ‘Celebration Mix’ version of the song has been recorded as Coca-Cola’s promotional anthem for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and has already reached No.1 in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. So, with so much promotion behind it it has a sporting chance of doing well – with or without England success. Available now to download and on CD-single format.
William Hill odds: 10/1
5. The Lightning Seeds with Baddiel & Skinner Three Lions
For many fans, the unofficial England football anthem with a nostalgic appeal that invokes the spirit of 1966 and the pride of wearing the England shirt. The song has real form as a possible no.1 contender, having previously topped the charts in both 1996 for Euro 96, when it also caught the mood of Britpop, and 1998, when it was re-issued to mark England’s challenge in the World Cup in France. Since then it has reached the top 20 on a further two occasions – in 2002 (#16) and 2006 (#9), again to mark England’s participation in the World Cup. With downloads making it possible for any song to re-enter the charts at any given time, if sufficient people get behind it, we’re bound to see this song make a re-appearance in the charts during future football tournaments. Unlikely to feature this time round, though, given that it’s competing with its own cover by The Squad, although if England go on to lift the trophy we could see fans resorting to the original, so this could prove a worthwhile longer shot. Available to download.
William Hill odds: 12/1
6. Terry Venables If I Can Dream
Originally made famous by Elvis Presley (1968) and notable for its direct quotations from Martin Luther King Jr., this gospel song has now been recorded by former England manager Terry Venables for The Sun newspaper’s World Cup TV campaign – so it’s getting plenty of media exposure. Filmed at Wembley Stadium, it features the music of the 60-piece Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and also includes cameos from Spurs manager, Harry Redknapp, and football personality, Ian Wright. Available to download and released 7 June as a CD-single.
William Hill odds: 20/1
7. The Three Tenors Nessun Dorma (20th Anniversary Edition)
It’s hard to believe that it’s 20 years since Italia 90, and the majestic performance given by the celebrated Three Tenors: Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras on the eve of the World Cup Final at Rome’s ancient Caracalla Baths. Pavarotti’s performance of Nessun Dorma, the aria taken from the final act of Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot, and which translates as ‘none shall sleep’, really caught the public’s imagination and helped to catapult the Italian to global super-stardom. Many commentators believe that it was also the moment when classical music ‘crossed-over’ to the mainstream, helped in no small measure by the BBC’s decision to use the piece as the soundtrack to their World Cup programming. The aria has now been re-issued to mark the 20th anniversary of its Three Tenor release. Available to download.
William Hill odds: 25/1
8. Shuttleworth England’s Heartbeat
This quirky song could be a bit of a dark horse, featuring a poppy, anthemic chorus and vocals, courtesy of The Fall’s Mark.E. Smith, who implores England, as guardian’s of our football heritage, to ‘take care of the invention of your nation’. Ultimately, however, it may not get the profile it needs to mount a serious assault on the charts. Available to download and as on CD-single format from 7 June.
William Hill odds: 33/1
9. Chico It’s England Time
Yes, he’s back. 2005 X Factor contestant, Yousseph Slimani, aka ‘Chico’, returns with a patriotic re-working of his 2006 no.1 single, It’s Chico Time. Basically, it’s the same song with a few changed lyrics, and this definitely falls in the ‘cheesy’ category, but when has that ever stopped a single from making it to the top of the charts?
William Hill odds: 66/1
10. Ken Dodd’s Dad’s Dog’s Dead Confidence
Granted the act’s name is brilliantly memorable and silly – so at least they have one advantage, but we’re not confident that Confidence will challenge the chart statisticians too much. But who knows what can happen during the madness of the World Cup and the band and their fans are mounting an impressive Facebook campaign… Available to download from 6 June.
William Hill odds: 100/1
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Contact: Gennaro Castaldo
Phone: +44 (0)20 7432 2033 / +44 (0)7801 194 139
Email: gennaro.castaldo@hmv.co.uk
Website: http://www.hmv.co.uk
