World in Motion

This article is about the New Order single. For the Jackson Browne album, see World in Motion (album).

"World in Motion"
Single by New Order
B-side	"The B-side" (1990) "Such a Good Thing" (2002)
Released	21 May 1990
Format	CD, cassette, 12", 7"
Recorded	The Mill, Buckinghamshire, March 1990
Genre	Dance
Length	4:30
Label	Factory - FAC 293
Writer(s)	Keith Allen Bernard Sumner Peter Hook Stephen Morris Gillian Gilbert
Producer	New Order, Stephen Hague
New Order singles chronology
"Run 2" (1989) "World in Motion" (1990) "Regret" (1993)

"World in Motion" is a song by English musical group New Order. It is New Order's only UK number one single. The song was produced for the England football team's 1990 FIFA World Cup campaign, and features several members of the 1990 English team, as well as comedian Keith Allen, who co-wrote the lyrics. Originally it was going to be called "E for England" but the Football Association, worried that it would be taken as a reference to the drug ecstasy, vetoed that title.

The backing track for the chorus of "World in Motion" bore some similarities to the instrumental theme tune for the DEF II current-affairs show, Reportage, which had been written for the show by Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert of New Order. The song was produced by Stephen Hague, who had also produced one of the group's earlier hits, "True Faith".

The single's B-side, an early version of the A-side, was titled "The B-Side", extending the football theme of the release. It was produced by former Swans member Roli Mosimann. The single was released in May 1990 with the catalogue number FAC 293. It was New Order's last release on Factory Records.

A rap is performed by Jamaican-born England player John Barnes towards the end of the track. Barnes was selected to perform the rap after a contest with other players including Peter Beardsley, Paul Gascoigne, and Chris Waddle. The rap part was co-written by former Liverpool player Craig Johnston. In addition to Barnes, the entire squad sing on parts of the track.

In 1996, LFO's Mark Bell remixed version of the song appeared on The Beautiful Game, which was released to tie in with Euro 96.

The single was re-released for the 2002 FIFA World Cup, this time with the track "Such a Good Thing" replacing "The B-Side". It failed to enter the UK Top 40. The 2002 version was planned to have David Beckham performing the rap, but the F.A. vetoed the idea. It was due to have been re-released again in remixed form for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, however despite a UK release date of May 29, 2006 a last minute decision was taken to shelve this release and the remix has never surfaced.

The legendary "They think it's all over" quotation uttered by football commentator Kenneth Wolstenholme at the end of the 1966 World Cup Final between England and West Germany is utilised at the beginning and end of the track (though not the original; Wolstenholme re-recorded his famous phrase especially for the producers), and somewhat less known samples, such as "A beauty scored by Bobby Charlton" and "We Want Goals", are taken from Goal!, the official documentary film on the 1966 tournament; the voice is that of actor Nigel Patrick.

In 2010 a reworked version of the song was used in a commercial for the Mars Bar.

Track listing

UK CD - FACD 293

1. "World in Motion" – 4:30
2. "World in Motion (The B-Side)" – 4:14
3. "World in Motion" (No Alla Violenza Mix) – 5:19
4. "World in Motion" (Subbuteo Mix) – 5:08

UK 12" 1 - FAC 293

1. "World in Motion" – 4:30
2. "World in Motion (The B-Side)" – 4:48

The same tracks appear on the 7" and cassette singles.

UK 12" 2 - FAC 293R

1. "World in Motion" (Subbuteo Mix) – 5:08
2. "World in Motion" (Subbuteo Dub) – 4:13
3. "World in Motion" (Carabinieri Mix) – 5:52
4. "World in Motion" (No Alla Violenza Mix) – 4:12

US CD - Qwest 9 21582-2

1. "World in Motion" (Single Mix) – 4:30
2. "World in Motion" (The B-Side) – 4:48
3. "World in Motion" (No Alla Violenza mix) – 5:40
4. "World in Motion" (Subbuteo Mix) – 5:08

US 12" and cassette - Qwest 9 21582-0/4

1. "World in Motion" (Carabinieri Mix) – 5:52
2. "World in Motion" (No Alla Violenza Mix) – 5:40
3. "World in Motion" (Subbuteo Mix) – 5:08
4. "World in Motion" (Subbuteo Dub) – 5:08

Canadian CD - Factory/MCA/Polygram 846 237-2

1. "World in Motion" – 4:32
2. "World in Motion" (No Alla Violenza Mix) – 5:41
3. "World in Motion" (Carabinieri Mix) – 5:56
4. "World in Motion" (Subbuteo Mix) – 5:10
5. "World in Motion" (Subbuteo Dub Mix) – 5:10
6. "The B-Side" – 4:49

Canadian cassette - Factory/MCA/Polygram 846 237-4

1. "World in Motion" (No Alla Violenza Mix)
2. "World in Motion" (Carabinieri Mix)
3. "World in Motion" (Subbuteo Mix)
4. "World in Motion" (Subbuteo Dub Mix)
5. "The B-Side"

UK CD - NUOCD12 [2002 release]

1. "World in Motion" – 4:30
2. "Such a Good Thing" – 4:10
3. "World in Motion" (No Alla Violenza Mix) – 4:12

Chart positions

Chart (1990)	Peak position
Australia ARIA Singles Chart	21
German Media Control Singles Chart	21
Irish Singles Chart	7
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart	8
UK Singles Chart	1
UK Indie Chart	1
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Club Play	10
U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Singles Sales	5
U.S. Billboard Modern Rock Tracks	5

Chart (2002, NUOCD12 release)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	43

Chart (2010)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart	22

Preceded by "Killer" by Adamski featuring Seal

UK number one single 3 - 16 June 1990

Succeeded by "Sacrifice" by Elton John