John Barnes’ rap towards the end of New Order’s England anthem World In Motion airlifted an already-classic football song into the stratosphere, former Liverpool winger Barnes delivering a note-perfect rap as nimble as his fleet-footed dribbling. But it could have been so different, as a recent episode of the podcast Transmissions: The Definitive Story Of Joy Division and New Order demonstrates.
Comedian and actor Keith Allen, who went on to create another classic footy anthem in Vindaloo, was co-writer on World In Motion and he recalled the chaotic attempts to get it written and recorded as well as the less-than-impressive attempts of other members in England’s 1990 World Cup squad to nail the pivotal rap. He said it was former Liverpool player Craig Johnston’s idea to stick a rap in the track. “I thought, ‘Oh, I better write a rap then’.”
