It's a poisoned chalice, being charged with writing the England World Cup anthem, but Embrace have decided that they're up for it. The rejuvenated Huddersfield rockers, who narrowly missed out on a number one single this week, fairly leapt at the chance. "The band can't wait to get into the studio - we think we've got a really good song, and hopefully it will repeat the success of previous songs, such as New Order's World in Motion," said the band's lead singer, Danny McNamara.
Embrace's return from pop's sidelines (they had resorted to jobs in call centres until their last album, Out of Nothing, became the least expected number one of 2004) is proof that abrupt changes in fortune happen, a thought to inspire the England team as they gallop around German pitches this summer.
Of the English acts that were reportedly considered for the task - Kaiser Chiefs, Streets, et al - Embrace best embody the mandatory blokeyness and have the biggest penchant for colossal anthems. You just know that their song, entitled World at Your Feet, will sound utterly right as it ponderously floats into the night air, prompting burly fans to get touchy-feely with each other.
But while it will be a nice little fillip for Embrace's CV, will the song be any cop in a musical sense? World Cup anthems rarely are. The reason people still remember World in Motion (and the Baddiel & Skinner/Lightning Seeds anthem, Three Lions) is that they weren't bad examples of New Order and Lightning Seeds songs. The mistake others - including 2002's distinguished official duo, Ant & Dec, and the 1970 England World Cup squad (they did their own back then) - have made was to try to write a tune to order (subject: England will score startling upset victory; tempo: slow). Unless anthem-composing is your day job, it doesn't work. Nor do attempts at humour, such as Fat Les's unofficial 1998 chunderer, Vindaloo, or sexiness, eg 2002's Over There, screeched by a gang of page three girls known as the Babe Team.
Embrace's effort may turn out to be a classic. But if not, let's plan ahead for Euro 2008, or even the World Cup in 2010. What's required is a song that will motivate both players and fans, delivered by an act with proven chart appeal. Thinking laterally, what organisation has a history of generating dozens of motivational marching tunes designed to chivvy weary men into going that extra mile to victory? The army, of course. And what superstar ex-army captain would be just the man to sing it? That's right. Next time, let James Blunt do it.
