We're on the Ball

"We're on the Ball"
"We're on the Ball"
Single by Ant & Dec
from the album The Official Album of the 2002 FIFA World Cup
Released	27 May 2002
Recorded	2002
Length	3:01
Label	Columbia
Songwriter(s)	Anthony McPartlin; Declan Donnelly; Harold Spiro;
Producer(s)	Mike Hedges
Ant & Dec singles chronology

"We're on the Ball" is a single by British pop and television duo Ant & Dec, released in 2002. It was the second of three comeback performances since their musical career ended in 1997, and their only studio recording since. "We're on the Ball" is a football song, and was adapted from a song written by Harold Spiro. It was produced and arranged by Mike Hedges.

The song is the England football team's "Official Song" of the 2002 FIFA World Cup.^[2] It features on the album The Official Album of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, released by Epic Records.^[3] The song's lyrics are about the England team of the time, featuring references to their victory at the 1966 FIFA World Cup and their attempts to repeat that success since.

The single was re-released digitally in May 2010, to coincide with the World Cup 2010.

Background and release

The song was the duo's first single since their 1997 release "Falling", after which they had decided to end their pop career and move into television presenting. They resurrected their musical career for CD:UK in 2000, for a one-off performance of "Let's Get Ready to Rhumble". Their success with that performance led to "We're on the Ball".

The song entered the UK Singles chart at number three, beaten by a cover of "Light My Fire" by Will Young, who was the winner of that year's series of the reality show Pop Idol, which Ant & Dec presented, and also by the previous week's number-one single, Eminem's "Without Me". It became their highest-peaking single at the time, beating 1994's "Let's Get Ready to Rhumble", which had reached only number nine.

Music video

The music video starts with Ant & Dec eating in a café watching the FIFA World Cup on a television set (which is on top of a fridge that bears a sticker advert for Tizer, who sponsored the music show CD:UK, which Ant & Dec also presented).

Dec explains how they "really want to be at the World Cup", but Ant says "it's too expensive", and they would need to disguise themselves as then England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson and his assistant manager Tord Grip to be at the World Cup. After first laughing it off, they quickly deem it a good idea, disguising themselves in a K6 red telephone box outside the café (a reference to Superman).

The pair then go to the World Cup. The rest of the video sees them singing in the café and in disguise, as well as kicking large inflatable St. George's Flag footballs and, whilst in disguise, managing the England football team. At the end of the video, the duo are caught by officials.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2002)	Peak position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[4]	15
Scotland (OCC)^[5]	8
UK Singles (OCC)^[6]	3

Year-end charts

Chart (2002)	Position
UK Singles (OCC)^[7]	51

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)^[8]	Silver	200,000^‡
^‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

^ "New Releases – For Week Starting 27 May 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 25 May 2002. p. 37. Retrieved 26 August 2021.
^ "World Cup Archive". everyHit.com. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
^ "The Official Album Of The 2002 FIFA World Cup: Various Artists: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2012.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 25. 15 June 2002. p. 9. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
^ "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
^ "British single certifications – Ant & Dec – We're on the Ball". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 June 2021.

[1] "New Releases – For Week Starting 27 May 2002: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 25 May 2002. p. 37. Retrieved 26 August 2021.

[2] "World Cup Archive". everyHit.com. Retrieved 14 March 2012.

[3] "The Official Album Of The 2002 FIFA World Cup: Various Artists: Amazon.co.uk: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2012.

[4] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 20, no. 25. 15 June 2002. p. 9. Retrieved 18 June 2021.

[sc_Scotland_-5] "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2021.

[sc_UK_-6] "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 18 June 2021.

[7] "The Official UK Singles Chart 2002" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 18 June 2021.

[United_KingdomAnt_&_DecWe're_on_the_BallsingleCertRef-8] "British single certifications – Ant & Dec – We're on the Ball". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 18 June 2021.

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v t e Ant & Dec
Anthony McPartlin Declan Donnelly
Studio albums	Psyche (1994) Top Katz (1995) The Cult of Ant & Dec (1997)
Singles	"Tonight I'm Free" "Why Me?" "Let's Get Ready to Rhumble" "If I Give You My Number" "Eternal Love" "Our Radio Rocks" "Stuck On U" "U Krazy Katz" "Perfect" "Stepping Stone" "All I Have to Do Is Dream" "Better Watch Out" "When I Fall in Love" "Shout" "Falling" "We're on the Ball"
Television	PokerFace Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Ant & Dec's Push the Button Red or Black?
Related articles	Ant & Dec discography

v t e FIFA World Cup music
Official albums	Gloryland World Cup USA 94 (1994) Music of the World Cup: Allez! Ola! Ole! (1998) The Official Album of the 2002 FIFA World Cup (2002) Voices from the FIFA World Cup (2006) Listen Up! The Official 2010 FIFA World Cup Album (2010) One Love, One Rhythm – The 2014 FIFA World Cup Official Album (2014) FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Soundtrack (2022)
Official songs by FIFA	"Un'estate italiana" / "To Be Number One" (1990) "Gloryland" (1994) "The Cup of Life (La Copa de la Vida)" (1998) "Boom" (2002) "The Time of Our Lives" (2006) "Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)" (2010) "We Are One (Ole Ola)" (2014) "Live It Up" (2018) "Hayya Hayya (Better Together)" (2022)
Official anthems by FIFA	"La Cour des Grands (Do You Mind If I Play)" (1998) "Anthem" (2002) "Celebrate the Day" (2006) "Sign of a Victory" (2010) "Dar um Jeito (We Will Find a Way)" (2014)
Other official songs	"El mundial" (1978) "El mundial" (1982) "El mundo unido por un balón" (1986) "Let's Get Together Now" (Official Local Song, 2002) "Game on" (Official Mascot Song, 2010) "Tatu Bom de Bola" (Official Mascot Song, 2014) "Living Football" (Official TV Opening Theme, 2018) "Arhbo" (2022) "Light The Sky" (2022) "Dreamers" (2022)
Tracks from official albums / Promotional songs	"A Special Kind of Hero" (1986) "We Are the Champions" (1994) "Together Now" (1998) "Live For Love United" (2002) "Hips Don't Lie" (2006) "Wavin' Flag" (2010) "La La La" (Brazil 2014)" (2014) "Colors" (2018) "Tukoh Taka" (2022)
Other famous unofficial songs	"Back Home" "Argentine Melody (Cancion de Argentina)" "Nessun dorma" (1990) "Put 'Em Under Pressure" (1990) "Give It a Lash Jack" "Put 'Em Under Pressure" "Shibobo" "Top of the World (Olé, Olé, Olé)" "World In Motion" "Watch Your House for Ireland" "Here Come the Good Times" "Vindaloo" "Tema da Vitória" "3 Lions '98" "Three Little Birds" "A Little Less Conversation (JXL version)" "Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Jurgen Klinsmann?" "Zidane y va marquer" "Coup de Boule" "We Are the Champions (Ding a Dang Dong)" "Allez Ola Olé" "Love Generation" (2006) "Everywhere You Go" "Shout for England" "We're on the Ball" "World at Your Feet" "Oh Africa" "Vida" "Olé" "Stan's World Cup Song" "(Is This the Way to) The World Cup" "Hurry Up England" "Adrenalina (Univision version)" "Ko Ko Bop" "Ramenez la coupe à la maison" "World Cup" (2022)