The captivating and deeply emotional essence of England’s football journey has always been accentuated by music. Whether it’s official tournament anthems like New Order’s “World in Motion” or fan-created favorites such as the dance track turned terrace chant “Freed from Desire,” songs have played a significant role. Now, as the Women’s World Cup gets underway in Australia and New Zealand, the England women’s team aims to create their own crowd-pleasing singalong called “Call Me a Lioness.”
A team of eleven talented British female artists, including Melanie C and Self Esteem, have joined forces under the name Hope FC to record this unofficial track for England’s World Cup campaign. Inspired by the Lionesses’ triumph at Euro 2022, songwriter Glen Roberts collaborated with producer Joel Pott and singer-songwriter Olivia Dean to bring this song to life. Instead of focusing on the sometimes disheartening experience of supporting the underdog, as Baddiel, Skinner, and the Lightning Seeds did in their enduring Euro 96 hit “Three Lions,” “Call Me a Lioness” transports fans into the dreamlike aftermath of the team’s 2022 victory and envisions another triumph: “We’re bringing it home again.”
Roberts, Pott, and Dean began their creative process with a few beers and a checklist of elements that make a great football anthem: nostalgia, determination, national pride, and a sense of unity, whether it be the euphoria of victory or the agony of defeat. “Three Lions” and “Sweet Caroline” both share a similar tempo, incorporating a natural moving stomp element, Roberts explains. And, of course, the song needed a rousing chorus that every fan could sing, regardless of vocal range. The challenge was finding a way to fill the verses between the choruses without replicating the same singalong joy. According to Dean, her perspective as an essential female voice and a lifelong West Ham fan was crucial. She wanted to recreate the feeling of being part of a crowd, passionately singing along. Dean recalls sitting on her father’s shoulders and singing, even though the songs or chants at that time might not have been politically correct. This sense of belonging to something greater was a significant focus for her. She says, “When we were writing it, all I could think of was girls in primary school and them having something to shout and sing together.”
“Call Me a Lioness” has a distinct community feel to it. The artists, including Ellie Rowsell from Wolf Alice, Alex Greenwood from Sports Team, Marika Hackman, Rachel Chinouriri, Shura, Jasmine Jethwa, Rose Gray, and Highlyy, were invited to participate in a casual manner, primarily due to their friendships and shared love for football. The result is a lighthearted song with a school choir-like vibe, with ad-libs from Sporty Spice in the background. Roberts, emphasizing its organic nature, mentions that it wasn’t planned in any way. Although EMI now handles distribution, the song came together even before the label’s involvement, and all proceeds will be divided among four charitable organizations focused on sports. Roberts continues, “I think it’s really reflective of women’s football itself, where it’s all about community.”
Shura didn’t hesitate to join the project, remarking that she “never said yes to anything faster.” As a child, she was scouted to play for Manchester City’s youth team and often wondered what if things had been different with better funding, sports rehab, and resources for girls like her playing in tough northern conditions. Shura appreciates how the current England team acknowledges and appreciates the women who paved the way before them. While she can’t play for them, she can now sing for them and feels connected to their story.
Just like the Lionesses’ journey to the knockout stages of the World Cup is uncertain, “Call Me a Lioness” faces its own challenges. For a song to become an anthem, it relies on repetition. In today’s fragmented music consumption landscape, with radio and personalized streaming services, there’s a real possibility that the song won’t reach enough listeners frequently enough to become part of the cultural soundtrack. Think of “Olé” by rappers Krept & Konan, the official England song for the 2020 Euros, which went mostly unnoticed.
However, the artists and songwriters of Hope FC still hold hope that fans will chant the memorable chorus line, “Call me a Lioness, I wear it on my chest,” or even just the infectious “la-la-las.” If the song succeeds, it will be an organic triumph, akin to a grassroots local team’s remarkable journey. As Potts puts it, “it was just a bunch of mates coming together to make a song about football.”
“Call Me a Lioness” signifies the need for a song of their own, as Shura emphasizes, especially considering the team’s actual victory.
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