Entertainment Anthem to Rock the Millennium

Organisers of the New Year's Eve party at the Millennium Dome are searching for a rock anthem to kick off the festivities, with the likes of Oasis and the Beatles heading the list of contenders. The song will be played at 2345GMT on Millennium Eve, just before the Queen officially opens the Dome.

Although keen to stress that nothing has yet been ruled out, a spokesman for The New Millennium Experience said that there were eight frontrunners. The shortlist has be drawn from various polls conducted throughout the year to find the song of the millennium, explained Graham Taylor.

Musician Jools Holland, English National Opera boss Paul Daniel and Dome party organisers Mark Fisher and Michael Lockett will have the final say. The panel is already considering the fittingly-titled Millennium by Robbie Williams, Prince's 1999 and Disco 2000 by Pulp.

Sixties legends The Beatles and The Rolling Stones are also in the running - although the Fab Four's All You Need Is Love may fall foul of its opening blast of the French Marseillaise. John Lennon's Imagine could further anger those who feel the celebrations are too secular. The classic song has become an atheist anthem thanks to the line: "Imagine there's no heaven." Oasis favourite Don't Look Back In Anger could become the modern answer to Auld Lang Syne if it is selected by the panel. Queen's We Are The Champions completes the eight - though creative Mark Fisher has pledged to considerother suggestions. What we're looking for - and this puts Prince at a disadvantage - is a great combination of popular and classical British music," says Graham Taylor. "A powerful mix of the tried and tested and the new."

The rock anthem will be played at the climax of the varied musical programme including a number of choirs and Jools Holland's band. "It has to be something everyone will want to join in," said Taylor. The event will end with a new version of the National Anthem, featuring calypso-style drumming and Holland on piano.

Rock anthem frontrunners

Beatles - All You Need Is Love

Rolling Stones - It's Only Rock And Roll

John Lennon - Imagine

Queen - We Are The Champions

Prince - 1999

Pulp - Disco 2000

Robbie Williams - Millennium

Oasis - Don't Look Back In Anger

Taken from BBC News.