Make Hey Jude England’s new football anthem urge Sunak & Starmer after Jude Bellingham’s Euro 2024 Serbia heroics
RISHI Sunak and Keir Starmer both urged the nation to sing Hey Jude after Bellingham’s sensational header clinched England’s 1-0 win over Serbia.
The PM and Labour leader’s good luck call came as a leap in sales of the Beatles’ 1968 classic was set to send it up the charts.
Rishi said: “We want more goals and more singing Hey Jude.”
Bellingham’s goal and stellar performance secured a 1-0 win over Serbia, with thousands belting out the 1968 Beatles anthem in his honour on Sunday night.
Music site Spotify said downloads had rocketed 19 per cent overnight, and are set to rise further.
Rishi urged England fans to chant that instead of the war-related Ten German Bombers which has upset some of the locals.
The PM said yesterday: “It’s great to see England get our Euros campaign off to a winning start, the whole country is behind them to go all the way.
“And when it comes to the chants specifically, I agree with what Gareth Southgate has said about that chant in the past.
“What we want is to represent the best of our country at these tournaments – and that means more goals for Jude Bellingham and more singing of Hey Jude.”
In a rare show of election unity, Arsenal fan Sir Keir Starmer agreed.
The Labour leader told The Sun: “What better way of celebrating our new wonderkid Bellingham than belting out the classic Hey Jude?”
He added: “Our songs should be about backing the players on the pitch rather than anything else.”
Stourbridge-born Jude – who shot to fame with Borussia Dortmund and Real Madrid – revealed he feels proud to hear England fans singing his name.
He said after his heroics in Gelsenkirchen: “I like the Beatles, I listen to the Beatles a lot.
“My style of music is a bit old so that’s right up my street.
“I really enjoy playing in front of the England fans, it’s a different experience for me because obviously I play abroad.
“They give me a lot of appreciation and a lot of love and I try to give that back with my performances and energy on the pitch.”
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As its writer Sir Paul McCartney celebrates his 82nd birthday today, Hey Jude looks set to race up the charts — and replace Sweet Caroline and Football’s Coming Home as England’s anthem.
Pop star Chesney Hawkes led Three Lions fans in a singalong at the Boxpark fanzone in Croydon, South London, on Sunday night.
West Ham fan Chesney, England’s lucky mascot at the World Cup in Qatar, said: “Jude was amazing last night.
“I knew he would be so Hey Jude was the perfect song to sing.
“As soon as I started, the whole crowd joined in.
“It was incredible.”
How England rated vs Serbia... as Bellingham shines but TWO big names get 5s
JUDE BELLINGHAM was England’s head boy as Gareth Southgate’s side made a winning start in Germany.
The Real Madrid superstar oozed class throughout and broke the deadlock with only 13 minutes played thanks to an excellent header, dispatching Bukayo Saka’s deflected cross.
But, despite the brilliant start, it was a nervy affair here in Gelsenkirchen.
Serbia exerted significant pressure in the second half, with a few narrow escapes for Southgate’s men.
Harry Kane barely had a kick and the Premier League’s player of the year Phil Foden struggled to have any influence on the left of the Three Lions’ front three.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tom Barclay rated England’s stars… with TWO stars getting just a 5.
Jude’s social media profile is rocketing, as he gained 1.6million followers on Instagram in the run-up to the Euros.
He now has 33.2million, nearly twice the next-highest in the England squad, skipper Harry Kane with 17million.
Sir Paul yesterday announced his first UK tour dates in six years — playing Manchester and London in December.
Viewing figures for Sunday night’s game peaked at 15million, with an average of 10.5million, the BBC said yesterday.
Train services were cancelled after drivers and staff refused to work overtime on the day of England’s opening group game.