Get Ready for This

Background

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.

Release and reception

"Get Ready for This" was released in September 1991 as the lead single from 2 Unlimited's debut album Get Ready! Originally, the single was produced as an instrumental, titled the "Orchestral Mix". 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's suggestion, Anita joined as the female vocalist.

The rap version was released with raps by Ray Slijngaard and vocals by Anita 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." This was done by record producer Pete Waterman, who owned the record label 2 Unlimited were licensed to for UK releases.

"Get Ready for This" was an immediate success throughout Europe with notable peaks worldwide, including Australia and the U.S. It is arguably the most famous of the band's singles in the United States having charted at no. 14 on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, no. 17 on the Top 40 Mainstream and no. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it the band's only Top 40 hit in the U.S.

Sports

The song is one of the most frequently played songs at sporting events around the world, and was the opening song for the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV, and similarly served as the opening song at one time for two NBA teams, the Orlando Magic and the San Antonio Spurs. It has also been the opening song for several Major League Baseball teams, including the Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Houston Astros, Miami Marlins, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres, as well as the Montreal Canadiens and San Jose Sharks of the NHL. It has also been the goal song at one time or another for two other NHL teams, the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs. The Sharks currently have this song as their goal song as of late March 2016.

The song has also appeared in the introduction of the starting lineups in the Philippine Basketball Association was used in 1999 until 2000 seasons.

Films

The song has also appeared in the films Space Jam, Bring It On, Chandaal, Happy Gilmore, Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2 and The Lego Movie; likewise, it has been featured on the television series Moesha, in the popular TV comedy series Friends (Season 3 episode 9: The One With The Football) and in trailers and commercial spots such as for the film Good Burger. Its status as a sports anthem was parodied by Beavis and Butt-head, when Beavis asks if they are watching an American football game when the music video to the song comes on. It also appeared in How to Eat Fried Worms and was the first song ever played by Radio Disney. An instrumental cover of this song is played by a big brass band in the UK TV commercial advertising Plusnet Broadband, broadcast from January to February 2013. This song, along with other 2 Unlimited songs such as "Twilight Zone", also appears in the Super NES video game Biometal. The song was heard in the short-lived US TV show Surviving Jack, in episode six "She Drives Me Crazy".

Compilations

The song has appeared on the Eurodance compilation Dancemania series albums, including Dancemania Super Techno II (2001), Dancemania Speed 6 (2001) and Dancemania Super Techno Best (2002).

Yves Deruyter remixes

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

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.

Track listing

Steve Aoki remixes

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. The Rap and Orchestral mixes featured on the original "Get Ready for This" single were also included.

Track listing

1. "Get Ready" (Steve Aoki Extended) (5:25)
2. "Get Ready" (Steve Aoki Edit) (3:08)
3. "Get Ready" (Rap Version) (5:26)
4. "Get Ready" (Orchestral Mix) (3:42)

1. "Get Ready" (Steve Aoki Vocal Edit) (2:55)
2. "Get Ready" (Steve Aoki Instrumental Edit) (2:55)