Atomic Kitten are considering re-recording their hit ‘Whole Again’ to incorporate the new lyrics which have been added by England fans in praise of manager Gareth Southgate.
The pop group’s 2001 single – which was the final Atomic Kitten track to feature founding member Kerry Katona – has served as the inspiration for a new song which has been sung by England fans both in Russia and back home this summer.
The lyrics to ‘Whole Again”s original chorus have been changed to: “Looking back on when we first met / I cannot escape and I cannot forget / Southgate, you’re the one / You still turn me on / Football’s coming home again!”
Who created a love song for Southgate to the tune of Atomic Kitten’s Whole Again and can they please step forward to collect their prize #ENGCOL pic.twitter.com/F3EK9zbvy6
— Hannah Jane Parkinson (@ladyhaja) July 3, 2018
And, with England set to take on Croatia in tonight’s (July 11) huge semi-final game in Moscow, Atomic Kitten have now come forward to express their interest in possibly re-recording ‘Whole Again’ to celebrate the team’s success in this summer’s tournament.
The track’s original songwriter Andy McCluskey told The Guardian: “The Kittens are really chuffed and are actually considering remaking the single with the England lyrics.
“Any time something you’ve created becomes widely accepted is humbling and touching. I wonder who made that first connection by starting to sing it, and suddenly everyone was doing it.”
Atomic Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton tweeted a video of herself singing the new version of ‘Whole Again’ last week, with a snippet of a ‘re-recorded’ version being shared by the singer yesterday (July 10).
A little something for our boys ahead of the semi-final tomorrow with love from Us. xx ?
COME ON ENGLAND!! #FootballsComingHomeAgain #SouthgateYoureTheOne #WholeAgain #homeagain #ENG #WorldCup #SemiFinal pic.twitter.com/hAD3fYcfNB— Natasha Hamilton (@NatashaOfficial) July 10, 2018
The group have yet to confirm whether they will actually re-record a full version of the song, however.
The big England game will be screened in the grounds of the BST festival site in London’s Hyde Park later today – with The Lightning Seeds set to make a special guest appearance.