ngland’s Lionesses kick off their Women’s World Cup 2023 campaign in Australia and New Zealand on Saturday and are being cheered on by a team of singers known as Hope FC.
The supergroup of pop stars and rock singers assembled to record Call Me a Lioness, which includes a catchy hook that could easily be transferred to the terraces.
After Dua Lipa’s song One Kiss started being belted out, DJ Calvin Harris commented that there really is no formula for what makes a football stadium anthem.
But the talent behind Hope FC is surely enough to make this one a hit and with 11 members they could even form their own team – although perhaps the onfield action is better left to Lucy Bronze and co.
Here is the star-studded line-up of Hope FC and where you can find them when not being called up for international duty.
Mel C, Marika Hackman and Jasmine Jethwa
/ PR HandoutMel C
The former Sporty Spice was an obvious candidate for this team. Melanie Chisholm, to give her full name, has released eight solo studio albums and still occasionally performs with her former Spice Girls bandmates.
She said: “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 World Cup.
“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!”
Becky Taylor who performs as Self Esteem
/ PA WireSelf Esteem
Experimental pop singer Becky Taylor has won fans for the unapologetic style that came to recognition with her second album Prioritise Pleasure.
The singer who performs as Self Esteem said: “The Lionesses are the future and I am so proud and excited to get behind them this summer. Recording it was very fun. Can’t believe I’m on a song with Melanie C. Baby Becky is quaking.”
Ellie Rowsell of Wolf Alice
/ Bowers & WilkinsEllie Rowsell
The dreamy and unmistakable tones of the Wolf Alice frontwoman can be heard on the second verse of Call Me a Lioness.
The singer and guitar player won the 2018 Mercury Prize alongside her band for their second album, Visions of a Life.
“In 19, oh what could have been, we only went and threw it away,” she sings on Call Me a Lioness – an echo to the England of old referred to on the football song Three Lions. But now we are dreaming once again.”
Al Greenwood (centre front) and her band Sports Team
/ Lauren MaccabeeAl Greenwood
The Sports Team band member has been an influential part of the process and said the inspiration came from watching England win the 2022 Euros.
“It was at a critical moment,” Greenwood said about Arsenal striker Russo’s audacious goal at a critical moment of the semi-finals.
“We were on the brink of going out. But it was like the cult of [manager] Sarina [Wiegman] at that moment; there was no way … [team captain] Leah Williamson talked about it after the game. I don’t think any of them believed that they were going out of the tournament.”
Maricka Hackman on stage
/ Getty Images for Fender MusicalMarika Hackman
The London-based singer-songwriter has released three albums to critical acclaim as well as an LP of covers recorded and released during lockdown.
Her style combines blunt lyrics with artfully constructed instrumentation. Subject matter is often on the sexual end of the scale but she is apparently more than happy to go against type to cheer on the Lionesses.
Shura
Electro-pop singer Shura has played football since the age of 10 and was scouted for Manchester City.
“I basically ran rings around all the boys,” at a primary school tournament she said.
“I think the shift has been happening for a while, but the England team winning the Euros had a massive impact,” Shura says, of women’s football now attracting its biggest audiences yet.
“I probably said yes as quickly as I responded to the Man City scout!” the musician adds, of joining the line-up for Call Me a Lioness. “I couldn’t imagine a universe in which the answer would be no.”
Rachel Chinouriri
The Croydon-born singer-songwriter has released two EPs and a mini album to date.
Her mixture of drill rap and indie pop was inspired partly from her London origin and her African heritage. She has completed tours of the UK and her songs have been picked up as Hottest Record in the World on Clara Amfo’s Future Sounds on Radio 1.
Jasmine Jethwa
The south London singer has been hailed as a rising star and has been releasing music since 2020.
She called England’s defeat of Germany to win the women’s Euros a “huge moment”.
She continues, “It felt like the country paused for a moment and took one of those collective in-breaths. Those sorts of enormous shared cultural moments are rare, and it’s amazing that it was English women’s football that gave it to us. I think having shared that moment … it would be hard for everyone’s relationship to the team, and the sport, not to be elevated.”
Rose Gray
Walthamstow’s Rose Gray has built a following for her electronic pop songs such as Prettier Than You and the Groove Is in The Heart-sampling Happiness.
She once said of herself in an interview with The Face: “I like cold water swimming, I love William Orbit’s synths and I hate missing the sunset.”
Highlyy
The baby of the team, Highlyy, is only 19 but has already established herself as an urban vocalist to watch.
Her debut single Soldier featured the vocal of rapper Tion Wayne and amassed millions of streams. She has also notched up 50,000 followers on Instagram.
Olivia Dean
Another to hail from Walthamstow, Dean has recently released her first album Messy – which reached number 4 in the UK.
The 24-year-old made her name from working with Rudimental and has now collaborated with Leon Bridges on her latest single The Hardest Part.