"Get Ready for This" is a song recorded by Belgian/Dutch music group 2 Unlimited as their debut single.[4] It was released on 23 September 1991 by Byte Records as the lead single from their debut album,Get Ready! (1992). Originally,the single was produced as an instrumental track in May 1991,titled the "Orchestral Mix". It became a hit and conscious of their popularity,Wilde &De Coster wanted a more accessible,formatted formula for their project to grow. Ray was then asked to write lyrics and add a rap to the track. On Ray Slijngaard's suggestion,Anita Doth joined as the female vocalist.
The single was an immediate success throughout Europe with notable peaks worldwide,including Australia and the US. It is arguably the most famous of the band's singles in the United States having charted at number 14 on the US BillboardHot Dance Club Play chart,number 17 on the BillboardTop 40/Mainstream chart and number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100,making it the band's only top-40 hit in the US. In the UK,the single went to number two on the UK Singles Chart.
The song is one of the most frequently played songs at sporting events around the world.[5] It earned one of BMI's Pop Awards of 1996,[6] and in 2010,Pitchfork included it in their list of "Ten Actually Good 90s Jock Jams".[7]
Background and release
In 1990,producers Phil Wilde and Jean-Paul de Coster had previously gained success with AB Logic,and were looking for another vehicle for their songs. 2 Unlimited formed when Wilde and DeCoster were introduced to rapper Ray Slijngaard and vocalist Anita Doth by Marvin D.,who had featured both in his rap group in the past.[4] "Get Ready for This" originally was produced as an instrumental white label track intended for the clubs. At a meeting at a record store,Slijngaard by chance came over the instrumental and Wilde played it to get Slijngaard's opinion.[8] Slijngaard got goosebumps hearing it and told that he could write a rap for the track. Two weeks later he received a demo tape at his father's house and started writing the rap. While writing,he also came up with a chorus for a female part. The whole song was written in two hours,and it was also the first time Slijngaard wrote a song.[8]
The producers agreed with him on adding a female singer on the track and Doth joined as the female vocalist of 2 Unlimited. "Get Ready for This" was recorded in a small studio behind the Amsterdam central station.[8] The rap version was released with verses by Slijngaard and vocals by Doth. For the UK release of the single,an edit of the original "Orchestral Mix" was used,without vocals,except for the line Y'all ready for this? This was sampled from The D.O.C.'s hit single "It's Funky Enough".[5] This edit was done by record producer Pete Waterman,who owned the record label which 2 Unlimited were licensed to for UK releases. Next the song was number two on the UK Singles Chart and the group performed on Top of the Pops for the first time.
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard magazine wrote,"Spirited and melodic techno/houser reaches these shores after massive pop and club success in the U.K. Although it has yet to be confirmed,rumor has it that famed hi-NRG producers Mike Stock and Pete Waterman are the creative force behind this peak-hour treat. Look for jocks to devour this one heartily."[9] Carolyn Chard from The Canberra Times described the song a "mammoth rave hit". She added further,"An instantly recognisable,hands-in-the-air track it belongs to the same Belgium-Dutch school of techno house that produced Quadrophonia,T99 and Technotronic."[3] Andy Kastanas from The Charlotte Observer stated that "the raving keyboards and hypnotic dance beat make for a super dance record."[10]
Chart performance
"Get Ready for This" was successful on the charts on several continents. In Europe,it was a top-10 hit in Belgium,Ireland,Luxembourg,the Netherlands,Spain and the United Kingdom,as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100,where it reached number four.[11] In the UK,the single reached also number two during its fourth week on the UK Singles Chart,on 20 October 1991.[12] It spent a total of two weeks at that position. Additionally,"Get Ready for This" climbed into the top 30 in Finland and the top 40 in Sweden. Outside Europe,it peaked at number two in Australia,number five in Zimbabwe,number six on the RPM Dance chart in Canada and,in the United States,it reached numbers 14 and 38 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and Billboard Hot 100 charts,respectively.
Impact and legacy
"Get Ready for This" was awarded one of BMI's Pop Awards of 1996,honoring the songwriters,composers and music publishers of the song.[6] In 2010,Pitchfork included it in their list of "Ten Actually Good 90s Jock Jams".[7] In February 2024,Billboard magazine ranked the song number ten in their list of "The 100 Greatest Jock Jams of All Time",writing,"A song that cast a greater shadow over ’90s sports culture than anything besides Shaquille O’Neal."[13]
Track listing
7", Byte Records / BYTE 7006 (Benelux)
A: "Get Ready for This (Rap Version)" – 3:42
B: "Get Ready for This (Instrumental)" – 3:42
7", PWL Continental / PWL 206 (UK)
A: "Get Ready for This (Orchestral Edit)" – 2:53
B: "Get Ready for This (800 Edit)" – 3:30
12", PWL Continental / PWLT 206 (UK)
A: "Get Ready for This (Orchestral Edit)" – 5:31
B: "Get Ready for This (800 Edit)" – 5:14
12", ZYX Records / ZYX 6599-12 (Germany)
A: "Get Ready for This (Orchestral Mix)" – 5:26
B: "Get Ready for This (Rap Version)" – 5:54
BB: "Get Ready for This (Wilde Mix)" – 5:57
12", Hot Productions / HAL 12256 (US)
A: "Get Ready for This (Orchestral Edit)" – 5:31
B: "Get Ready for This (800 Edit)" – 5:14
BB: "Pacific Walk" – 3:05
The Remixes 12", Hot Productions / HAL 12261 (US)
A: "Get Ready for This (Orchestral Mix)" – 5:26
AA: "Get Ready for This (Rap Version)" – 5:54
B: "Get Ready for This (Wilde Mix)" – 5:57
BB: "Get Ready for This (Rio & Le Jean Mix)" – 3:08
After the moderate success of the 2 Unlimited compilation album Greatest Hits Remixes in 2001, two white labels were released with remixes of "Get Ready for This". The first 12" was released in May 2001 in Belgium with a remix by DJ/producer Yves Deruyter. Although just a single sided pressing featuring the full 12" remix, the radio edit was officially released later in the 2002 release Trance Remixes (Special Edition).
Track listing
12" white label
A: "Get Ready for This" (Yves Deruyter Remix)
Robbie Rivera remixes
Following the May 2001 release of the Yves Deruyter remixes, August the same year saw the release of another "Get Ready for This" remix by Puerto Rican DJ/producer Robbie Rivera.
In 2013, American DJ/producer Steve Aoki released a remix of "Get Ready for This" on Byte Records as part of a forthcoming 2 Unlimited greatest hits album.[37] The Rap and Orchestral mixes featured on the original "Get Ready for This" single were also included.
↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1sted.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN978-951-1-21053-5.
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