Women’s World Cup: Mel C and Self Esteem have joined forces with a slew of female vocalists to cheer on England’s women’s football squad in the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The former Spice Girl appears on Call Me A Lioness alongside Ellie Rowsell from Wolf Alice and Marika Hackman, Rachel Chinouriri, Shura, Jasmine Jethwa, Rose Grey, Highlyy, and Al Greenwood from Sports Team.
The song, written by Glen Roberts and Olivia Dean, celebrates the Lionesses’ 2022 Euro tournament victory and features players Chloe Kelly and Ella Toone, who scored the game-winning goals.
“It’s been amazing to see the popularity of women’s football grow and their incredible win last year was a huge inspiration for this new song for the Women’s World Cup,” Sporty Spice said in a statement. “I’m so privileged to be involved with a whole host of amazing female artists, cheering on our women’s team to bring it home again!”
Self Esteem, real name Rebecca Lucy Taylor, added, “I love the song so much. The Lionesses are the future and I am so proud and excited to get behind them this summer… Can’t believe I’m on a song with Melanie C. Baby Becky is quaking.”
Proceeds from the unofficial anthem’s sales and streams will benefit charities such as Football Beyond Borders, Manchester Laces, Street Soccer London, and Girls United.
The song was released on Wednesday by Hope FC, an homage to former manager, player, and coach Hope Powell.
Mel C features on an England football song for the third time, after (How Does It Feel To Be) On Top Of The World in 1998 and a cover of Take That’s Greatest Day in 2014.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup, staged in Australia and New Zealand, begins on Thursday.
On Tuesday, Lionesses captain Millie Bright shared a joint statement on Twitter, saying the team is “disappointed” that a resolution with the FA has yet to be reached, despite players expressing their concerns last year.
“It’s the first time as a player group that we’ve sent a message out ourselves, that we’ve collectively done together,” Bronze told reporters on Wednesday. “So, in that respect, it’s a very empowered player group, last night, this morning, and these past few weeks.
“We felt it was important that we sent the message out because there has been some talk, we want to show that we’re focused on the Women’s World Cup, that that is our main focus.”
Bronze stated that the players are entirely focused on reaching the Women’s World Cup final and that discussions with the FA took place before the Euros, which England won on home soil last year.
“We strive to make a difference,” Bronze added. “Although we’re just players who play football, we are pushing to make changes, we want women’s football to be in a better place, and not just for ourselves but for the future of the game long past when I’m retired.
“We want to keep pushing the game further, rather than just being like: ‘OK, this is where we sit,”. That’s something that we do regularly, every single tournament, every single year: ‘What’s next, how can we push the game on?’
“It’s about pushing every single angle that we can to make sure that women’s football can smash through that ceiling that we’re constantly getting put under.”