| "Put 'Em Under Pressure" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single byRepublic of Ireland Football Squad | |
| B-side | "Pacemaker" |
| Released | 1990 |
| Recorded | 1990 |
| Genre | Novelty |
| Length | 5:03 |
| Label | Son Records,London Records |
| Songwriter | Trad. |
| Producer | Larry Mullen Jr. |
"Put 'Em Under Pressure" was the official song to theRepublic of Ireland national football team's1990 FIFA World Cup campaign inItaly.
Produced byU2'sLarry Mullen, it featured an intro byMoya 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 filmQue Sera Sera.[1][2]
The guitar riff takes inspiration from the song "Dearg Doom" byHorslips,[3] which features on the albumThe Táin.[4] This melody is of traditional origin, and is commonly known as O'Neill's March.[5] It gained prominence whenSeán Ó Riada's bandCeoltóirí Chualann performed it for their album "Ó Riada Sa Gaiety" in 1969.[6][7]
The title became acatchphrase of then managerJack 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 forScotland in the1978 FIFA World Cup, and for 13 weeks the song was at number one in theIrish 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.[8]
The song is regularly played in celebration at Irish homes matches.[9][10][11] It was used as the opening theme for the compilation episode ofBBC Switch seriesChartjackers.[12] In 2011,RTÉ One aired a quiz show titledPut 'Em Under Pressure, presented byGráinne Seoige.[13]
The phrasePut 'Em Under Pressure is to this day used in relation to the Ireland national football team.[14]
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.