1998 Baddiel & Skinner & Lightning Seeds: Three Lions '98

Another record of sorts - 'Three Lions 98' is the first (and only to date) example of a former number one hitting the top again after being re-recorded by the same artists. So what's changed? Well after 1996's European Championships, 1998 was World Cup year, and so with the 96 campaign not having gone as well for England as it might, there's a shift from the "Football's coming home" chant to one of "We still believe" (over an opening sample from the commentary of the penalty miss that knocked them out). Which is basically sums up 'Three Lions 98' to a tee - an updating by the (re) recognition and a re-affirmation of the eternal optimism of the England football fan with a sly tongue in cheek nod to the disappointments two years previously and adding them to the litany of woe. For the most part the song remains the same; the sample of the 96 fans chanting "Football's coming home" that pepper it show the high affection it holds so wheels don't need re-inventing and all concerned would have been fools to try. A further act of updating comes via the fresh production that injects more pop into its guts than present in the original, but I think the bottom line here is that there are two broad camps and you're opinion will be governed by which you pitch your tent in; the fans who would be happy to see it updated and re-released every time England embarked on some campaign or other, or the disinterested layman (like me) who, quite frankly, wouldn't.