VIDEO: First score to Trent FM with World Cup song

IT'S a catchy tune – anthemic, you might say – that's probably best listened to on a hot summer day.

Yes, the World Cup anthem season has begun.

All together now: From left, Josh Boardman, Rhianne Poole, Philip Rostance, Andy Twigge, Emma Caldwell, Nik Wright, Ben Marshall, Tom Cable, with pupils from Hillside Primary school.
Honourable mentions: Far left Notts County FC and, left, Panthers ice hockey players join in the chorus of the station's Raise Your Voice.
Plenty of backing: Twiggy went down a storm with local pupils.

In the coming weeks we'll undoubtedly get the chance to hear every manner of World Cup song, but Trent FM has got in first with Notts-themed anthem Raise Your Voice.

The single, made with the help of 14,000 pupils from 60 primary and junior schools, and Trent FM morning personalities Twiggy and Emma, debuts today.

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO:

The song is performed by Trent FM's official band, The Marshall Band, and it was written by Marshall Band members Philip Rostance and Ben Marshall. They went to schools across Notts and recorded thousands of pupils singing the chorus.

Proceeds from the sale of the single will go to the Shine Foundation, which helps vulnerable children in South Africa and the UK, and Nottingham University Hospitals' charity for Cystic Fibrosis.

"It's been an amazing project from the start," said Ben, who also works as a music producer. "There's not been a single school where we've gone in and it's not been perfect."

In August, Ben will be part of a group of 16 that will travel to South Africa with the Shine Foundation. The four adults and 12 teenagers from Seymour Road Baptist Church in Hucknall will travel to Nongoma, KwaZulu-Natal, to work with young people.

"It's a forgotten community, even within South Africa," said Rev Vanessa Hollingworth.

The Marshall Band, along with Twiggy and Emma, recently launched the song at Hillside Primary School in Hucknall, where Ben works one day a week. According to some of his pupils, Ben's dual role at the school made him the perfect person to do a World Cup song.

"He's our music teacher and our football manager," explained Elliot Matthews, 10.

The tune, which includes a mid-song rap from Twiggy, got high marks from the critics.

"I like the rap and the chorus," Elliot said.

"Especially because were in it," added Kira Spooner, 11.

The song mentions the local football clubs as well as Notts cricket and rugby, Panthers ice hockey and individual heroes including Carl Froch. Many of them also lent their voices to the recording.

Then came the song. And the kids all knew the words.

By the end of the summer, so will the rest of Nottingham.

To order a copy of the song, go to trentfm.co.uk/worldcupsong.

To learn more about the Shine Foundation, visit www.shinefoundation.org.