When BBC Three Counties Wycombe Wanderers commentator Ian Stringer first had an idea that Tony Christie's Amarillo would make a great World Cup 2006 song for England, little did he know that it would come to this!  | | Tony Christie's on board! |
Last week we reported that he had joined forces with colleague and music legend Big George to write what they thought was the perfect song for England's summer World Cup campaign. This week Ian had some very exciting news for us! "We're recording it today in the studio with Tony Christie" he revealed! "Yes - we've got Tony Christie, we've got TC on board! "But I can't tell you what it's going to be called yet because to be brutally honest with you it's not been named. It'll be Amarillo 06 or World Cup Amarillo, something like that." An excited Ian was on his way to the recording studio where he was due to spend today (Friday), and a good deal of the weekend as well, recording the single with Big George and of course Tony Christie himself! "The single's being done today, tomorrow and into the early hours of Sunday morning" explained Ian. | "It's just crackers, it's absolutely insane. But it's insane ideas like this that work." | | Ian Stringer |
"And we'll be recording the video when the single's done." But he could not confirm whether or not the video would include any familiar dances a la Peter Kay! "I'm sure there'll be some ridiculous things involved though because Big George is in it!" he laughed. Ian had the idea for the song some time ago and was talking to Big George about it on the way to a Wycombe Wanderers match at the Causeway Stadium. As they talked about football songs, Ian told George that he could guarantee then and there that a version of Amarillo will get to number one in the summer for the World Cup because it is a football anthem, played at matches all over the country. He didn't know who was going to write it though. To which George responded: "You are, get off you back side and write it yourself!" So he did, and with a little tweaking from George they created a demo, that caught the attention of Radio One's Chris Moyles and a record company! Moyles even championed the song on his breakfast show: "I listened at first and I wasn't sure if it was any good but then it grew on me a little bit" said Chris.  | | Chris Moyles already a fan! |
"It works and you can see it working on the terraces and trust me when I tell you - this will go round in your head all day once you've heard it." So how does Ian feel, now that a chance conversation has led to a recording studio and possible chart success?! "It's crazy isn't it?!" he laughed. "It was a random idea that I had and George said well get on with it and write the lyrics then, and I've done that and we've got to this point where I'm on my way to the studios to record it with Tony Christie. "It's just crackers, it's absolutely insane. But it's insane ideas like this that work" he added. "I thought it would work from Day One and I still strongly believe that it will because it is a football anthem. At every ground you go to Amarillo is played. "Last night (Thursday) for example, at the Charlton game, who was on the pitch at half time singing Amarillo? Tony Christie. I rest my case!" And will it go to Number One? Watch this space! Here's a teaser - the lyrics by Big George and Ian Stringer All across the nation
You can taste the expectation
Finish what we started
ENGLAND the lion hearted Every single player (woe oh oh oh oh)
Holds our destiny (woe oh oh oh oh)
and they’ll all be heroes
on plasma screen TVs ENGLAND WIN THE WORLD CUP
Dig Deep, don’t come unstuck
ENGLAND WIN THE WORLD CUP
Stevie G score for me ENGLAND WIN THE WORLD CUP
40 years, who gives a “Oi”
ENGLAND WIN THE WORLD CUP
Beckham scores a penalty Every fan is singing
It’s a ROAR - ENGLAND’S winning
Let’s go down the local
Have a laugh and get all vocal we’re gonna cruise the group stage (woe oh oh oh oh)
Yes we’ll win all three (woe oh oh oh oh)
the last 16’s easy
‘cause we’ve got Wayne Rooney eeeeee ENGLAND WIN THE WORLD CUP
Michael Owen’s always good luck
ENGLAND WIN THE WORLD CUP
Sven’ll dance like old Nobby ENGLAND WIN THE WORLD CUP
40 years, who gives a “Oi”
ENGLAND WIN THE WORLD CUP
Then knight them all Your Majesty | 
