WORTH A LOOK?: ****

England’s Lionesses are European champions and, as we write, play Nigeria on Monday (7 August 2023) in the final 16 knockout stage of the Women’s World Cup.

• Read on for reasons including how this song features Melanie C, Self Esteem and Shura

James Graham’s play Dear England about Gareth Southgate’s managerial reign over the men’s England team finishes a week today (Friday 11 August 2023) and it features national World Cup anthems including New Order’s mighty World In Motion.

Call Me A Lioness isn’t quite that but it does star monstagigz favourites including former Spice Girl Melanie C, Self Esteem and Shura.

The lyrics hark back to the Lionesses’ success at the Euros last year with Self Esteem singing: ‘The Russo backheel, the crowd is chanting, when Kelly dropped the mike, started dancing/Toone at the finish, we were in it to win it. Life would never be the same. Now I’m dreaming once again.’

As West Ham supporters we know all about blowing bubbles and hope and that’s why Melanie C’s part two-thirds of the way through is especially resonant: ‘It always starts with hope, who knows where it ends, we can’t pretend to know but we keep dreaming once again.’

Perhaps best though is that, unlike their male counterparts, they’ve won a major trophy but can’t rest on their laurels: ‘Won’t stop until we’re holding up the cup, winning once was not enough.’

Musically, it features some apt iconic commentary like World In Motion and Three Lions before it alongside some of the tubthumping nationalistic charm of something even older like 1982’s This Time (We’ll Get It Right).

It’s unofficial but is so good that we hope to be hearing Call Me A Lioness being roared at the top of the team’s voices after the Women’s World Cup Final on Sunday August 20 2023.

• Main picture via Facebook courtesy FA Tickets
• Have you heard the song or seen the Lionesses play? Let us know what you thought in the comments below
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