For the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, we flipped the long running campaign thought, ‘Superhumans’, and this time focused not on what made the athletes super, but on their human side instead – Super. Human. Our film explored the very human qualities of dedication, obsession, and overcoming self doubt, all taken to the extreme in order to compete on a global stage. To soundtrack this story we chose ‘So You Wanna Be A Boxer’ from the musical Bugsy Malone. Lyrically perfect, we rearranged and re-recorded the track to better reflect the emotional journey the athletes went on when preparing for the Paralympics.

Channel 4 is a UK public service broadcaster with a unique remit to be a disruptive force in television, giving a voice to lesser heard groups and challenging the status quo. It has had the rights to the Paralympic Games since 2012 and revolutionised broadcasting of the event across the globe.

To re-imagine the much loved song ‘So You Wanna Be A Boxer’ as a score-style musical accompaniment to the ‘Super. Human.’ film. It was important to retain the gritty energy of the original while also emphasising the highs and lows of the on-screen story. We aimed to plug into the nostalgic value of the original song and yet also connect to a new audience through a fresh, contemporary performance.

Using the original arrangement as a starting point, we created a three-minute score that responded to each beat of the story and emphasised the trials of training, as well as the triumphs. We worked with producer / arranger Guy Farley and recorded the track with a fully live band, including recording artist / vocalist Jay Prince, before the coordination of the single release through Decca Records.