Get Ready for This

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.{{cite web|first= John |last= Bush |title= 2 Unlimited – Artist Biography |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= 20 July 2014 |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/2-unlimited-mn0000431439/biography}} "Get Ready for This" originally was produced as a 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aj5lglsK1mM|title=The story behind 2 Unlimited's "Get Ready For This" by Ray Slijngaard|work=Muzikxpress|publisher=YouTube|date=9 April 2022|access-date=7 November 2024}} 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.

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. 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".{{cite web |first= Bill |last= Lamb |title= Top 10 Top 10 Jock Anthems |publisher= About.com |access-date= 20 July 2014 |url= http://top40.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/jockjams.htm |archive-date= 18 March 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160318225732/http://top40.about.com/od/top10lists/tp/jockjams.htm |url-status= dead }} 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.

Larry Flick from Billboard 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."{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |author-link= Larry Flick |title= Single Reviews |magazine= Billboard |volume= 103 |issue= 43 |page= 83 |date= 26 October 1991 |access-date= 23 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1991/BB1991.pdf}} 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."{{cite news|first= Carolyn |last= Chard |title= 2 Unlimited construct a 'happy' house mix |newspaper= The Canberra Times |page= 19 |date= 2 July 1992 |access-date= 26 April 2020 |url= https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/126932465}} Andy Kastanas from The Charlotte Observer stated that "the raving keyboards and hypnotic dance beat make for a super dance record."{{cite news|first= Andy |last= Kastanas |title= Sounds of Progress |newspaper= The Charlotte Observer |date= 18 December 1991 |page= 10}}

"Get Ready for This" was successful on the charts on several continents. In Europe, it was a top-10 hit in Belgium, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom, as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it reached number four.{{cite magazine|title= Eurochart Hot 100 Singles |magazine= Music & Media |volume= 8 |issue= 45 |date= 9 November 1991 |page= 35 |access-date= 20 March 2018 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-11-09.pdf}} In the UK, the single reached also number two during its fourth week on the UK Singles Chart, on 20 October 1991. 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.

"Get Ready for This" was awarded one of BMI's Pop Awards of 1996, honoring the songwriters, composers and music publishers of the song. In 2010, Pitchfork included it in their list of "Ten Actually Good 90s Jock Jams". In February 2024, Billboard 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."{{cite magazine|author=Billboard Staff|title=The 100 Greatest Jock Jams of All Time|url=https://www.billboard.com/lists/best-jock-jams-sports-songs-all-time|magazine=Billboard|date=8 February 2024|access-date=25 May 2024}}

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• 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

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• CD, Byte Records / BYTE 5006 (Benelux)

1. "Get Ready for This" (Rap Version) – 5:53
2. "Get Ready for This" (Orchestral Mix) – 5:31
3. "Get Ready for This" (Wilde Mix) – 5:55
4. "Get Ready for This" (Rio & Le Jean Mix) – 3:06
5. "Get Ready for This" (Rapversion Edit) – 3:42

• CD, PWL Continental / PWCD 206 (UK)

1. "Get Ready for This (Orchestral Mix:Edit)" – 2:53
2. "Get Ready for This (Orchestral Mix)" – 5:31
3. "Get Ready for This (800 Mix:Edit)" – 3:30

• CD, ZYX Records / ZYX 6599-8 (Germany)

1. "Get Ready for This" (7" Rap Version) – 3:42
2. "Get Ready for This" (Orchestral Mix) – 5:26
3. "Get Ready for This (Rap Version)" – 5:54
4. "Get Ready for This" (Wilde Mix) – 5:57

• CD, Critique / 01624 15490-2 (US)

1. "Get Ready for This (Radio Mix)" – 3:42
2. "Get Ready for This (No Rap Mix)" – 2:51
3. "Get Ready for This (Rap Mix)" – 5:26
4. "Get Ready for This (Orchestral Mix)" – 5:54
5. "Get Ready for The Twilight Zone" – 3:55

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "Get Ready for This"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1993|certyear=1993|certref={{cite web|url=http://www.mediafire.com/view/3zqbq6ndfgbdqz7/ARIA%20certifications%20for%202%20Unlimited.jpg#|title=ARIA Certifications for 2 Unlimited|publisher=ARIA}}}}

{{Certification Table Summary}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|type=single|title=Get Ready|artist=2 Unlimited|nocert=true|relyear=1993|salesamount=540,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TA8EAAAAMBAJ&q=hits+unlmited&pg=PA29|title=Hits Unlimited|magazine=Billboard|via=Google Books|volume=108|issue=10|page=29|issn=0006-2510|date=13 March 1996|access-date=16 September 2022}}}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Get Ready for This (Yves Deruyter Remix)

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = 2 Unlimited

| album =

| released = 2001

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length =

| label = White Label

| writer = {{hlist|Phil Wilde|Jean-Paul de Coster|Ray Slijngaard}}

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

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}}

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).

• 12" white label

:A: "Get Ready for This" (Yves Deruyter Remix)

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.

• 12" white label

:A: "Get Ready for This" (Robbie's Bangin' Dub)

:B1: "Get Ready for This" (68 Beat Monster Mix)

:B2: "Get Ready for This" (Robbie Rivera Remix)

{{Infobox song

| name = Get Ready for This (Steve Aoki Remix)

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = 2 Unlimited

| album =

| released = 2013

| recorded =

| studio =

| venue =

| genre =

| length =

| label = Byte

| writer = {{hlist|Phil Wilde|Jean-Paul de Coster|Ray Slijngaard}}

| producer =

| prev_title = Tribal Dance 2.4

| prev_year = 2004

| next_title =

| next_year =

}}

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.{{cite web|title= Get Ready Incl Steve Aoki Remixes |publisher= Beatport |url= http://www.beatport.com/release/get-ready-incl-steve-aoki-remixes/1159296 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131003112101/http://www.beatport.com/release/get-ready-incl-steve-aoki-remixes/1159296 |archive-date= 3 October 2013}} The Rap and Orchestral mixes featured on the original "Get Ready for This" single were also included.

• Download 1 (Steve Aoki Remixes EP)

1. "Get Ready" (Steve Aoki Instrumental Extended) (5:25)
2. "Get Ready" (Steve Aoki Instrumental Edit) (4:21)
3. "Get Ready" (2013 Rap Version Edit) (3:42)
4. "Get Ready" (2013 Orchestral Mix) (5:26)

• Download 2 (Steve Aoki Radio Mixes)

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

{{Reflist}}

{{2 Unlimited}}

{{San Antonio Spurs}}

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Category:1991 songs

Category:1991 debut singles

Category:2 Unlimited songs

Category:San Antonio Spurs

Category:Pete Waterman Entertainment singles

Category:Songs written by Phil Wilde

Category:Songs written by Ray Slijngaard

Category:Songs written by Jean-Paul De Coster

Category:Byte Records singles

Category:ZYX Music singles

Category:Music videos directed by David Betteridge

Category:Sports anthems