"Put 'Em Under Pressure" was the official song to the Republic of Ireland national football team's 1990 FIFA World Cup campaign in Italy.
"Put 'Em Under Pressure" | |
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Single by Republic of Ireland Football Squad | |
B-side | "Pacemaker" |
Released | 1990 |
Recorded | 1990 |
Genre | Novelty |
Length | 5:03 |
Label | Son Records, London Records |
Songwriter(s) | Trad. |
Producer(s) | Larry Mullen Jr. |
Produced by U2's Larry Mullen, it featured an intro by Moya Brennan. The song was created by Mullen, Denis Woods, John Donnelly and engineered by John Grimes. The song features 'spoken-word' mash-up taken from the film Que Sera Sera.[1][2]
The chorus was performed by some U2 fans that were hanging about outside studio 3 on Windmill Lane in Dublin. There was an attempt for the team to record the song but it never materialized.
Anthony "Anto" Drennan is credited with playing lead guitar on the single. Drennan recorded it in a single take.
The title became a catchphrase of then manager Jack Charlton, whose soundbites were sampled for the verse; the chorus was a combination of the familiar football chant "Olé Olé Olé" and a reworking of "Ally's Tartan Army" (which was itself set to the tune of "God Save Ireland"), the unofficial theme tune for Scotland in the 1978 FIFA World Cup, and for 13 weeks the song was at number one in the Irish Singles Chart helped by a pulsating video again directed by Billy McGrath featuring footage from Que Sera Sera and the team recording the song in Windmill Lane.[3]
The song is regularly played in celebration at Irish homes matches.[4][5][6] It was used as the opening theme for the compilation episode of BBC Switch series Chartjackers.[7] In 2011, RTÉ One aired a quiz show titled Put 'Em Under Pressure, presented by Gráinne Seoige.[8]
The phrase Put 'Em Under Pressure is to this day used in relation to the Ireland national football team.[9]
Old favourites like Put ’Em Under Pressure were pumped out over the PA system, a new generation of fans experienced their first attempt at the Mexican Wave and punters entertained themselves by floating paper aeroplanes onto the pitch. It was that kind of evening: Giddy and childish and wonderful.
As the fans chanted 'Keano, Keano', and 'Ole Ole Ole', the DJ blasted out famous soccer anthem Put 'em Under Pressure as the crowds in Dicey Riley's cheered on their heroes.
Old classics such as Put ’Em Under Pressure and Give It A Lash rang out lustily.Heroes such as Ronnie Whelan and Ray Houghton from past campaigns also joined the party.
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General |
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Venues | |
Results |
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Players |
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Goals |
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World Cup finals |
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European finals |
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Other tournaments |
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Rivalries |
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Songs | |
Other National teams | |
Awards | FAI International Football Awards |
Chartjackers | |
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Starring | |
Production |
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Related |
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FIFA World Cup music | |
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Official albums | |
Official songs by FIFA |
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Official anthems by FIFA |
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Other official songs |
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Tracks from official albums / Promotional songs |
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Other famous unofficial songs |
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