Put 'Em Under Pressure
"Put 'Em Under Pressure" was the official song to the Republic of Ireland national football team's 1990 FIFA World Cup campaign in Italy. It is regarded as "an all-time classic that the entire country knows every single word to, even the spoken words of wisdom from Jack Charlton, it's place in the hearts of the Irish people is assured".
Produced by U2's Larry Mullen, it featured an intro by Moya Brennan. The song was centred around a sample of the Horslips song "Dearg Doom". The title was 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.
The sample referred to as being used by Horslips Doom is actually a relatively old tune traditionally associated with Aodh Ó Neill's army during the Nine Years' War and known in Ireland as "O Neill's March".
The song is regularly played in celebration at Irish homes matches. It was used as the opening theme for the compilation episode of the BBC Switch series Chartjackers. In 2011, RTÉ One aired a quiz show titled Put 'Em Under Pressure, presented by Gráinne Seoige.
The phrase Put 'Em Under Pressure is to this day used in relation to the Ireland national football team.
Read more about Put 'Em Under Pressure: See Also
Famous quotes containing the words put and/or pressure:
“Most revolutionaries are potential Tories, because they imagine that everything can be put right by altering the shape of society; once that change is effected, as it sometimes is, they see no need for any other.”
—George Orwell (1903–1950)
“Destiny is an absolutely definite and inexorable ruler. Physical ability and moral determination count for nothing. It is impossible to perform the simplest act when the gods say “no.” I have no idea how they bring pressure to bear on such occasions; I only know that it is irresistible.”
—Aleister Crowley (1875–1947)