Because We Want To


"Because We Want To" is a song performed by British pop singer Billie. The song was written by Wendy Page, Jim Marr, Dion Rambo and Jacques Richmond, and produced by Page and Marr for Billie's debut album Honey to the B. It was released as her debut single on 29 June 1998 and entered the UK Singles Chart at number one in July 1998, making Piper the youngest artist to debut at number one, at age 15. It also reached the top ten in Ireland, New Zealand and Sweden. The song was the official theme of the 1999 Women's World Cup.

Chart performance

"Because We Want To" made Billie the youngest artist to debut at number one on the UK Singles Chart, aged 15. However, Helen Shapiro still holds the record as the youngest solo female singer to have topped the UK Singles Chart; "You Don't Know" rose to number one in 1961 after six weeks on the chart, when Shapiro was 14 years old. Outside the United Kingdom, the song became a top-ten hit in Ireland, New Zealand and Sweden, peaking at numbers nine, nine and eight respectively. Although the song became a hit in Canada, peaking at number 30 on the RPM Top Singles chart in September 1998, it did not chart in the United States.

Music video

The video starts in a run-down street in London, where the ground is violently shaking. The reason is soon seen: A UFO is flying just metres from the ground. Billie is then seen teleporting from the ship and down onto the street. She starts singing and dancing and soon gathers huge crowds of supporters. In the video, cut scenes of Billie and her friends walking down side streets are seen. In one scene, she melts a bin which transforms into a dancing humanoid and in another scene she graffitis "Billie" on a billboard and an animated character then jumps from the billboard and dances along with the humanoid made from the melted bin. Later in the video, she and her friends sneak into a warehouse and have a party.

Formats and track listings

These are the formats and track listings of major single releases of "Because We Want To".
International CD single
  1. "Because We Want To"
  2. "G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T."
  3. "Because We Want To"
  4. "Because We Want To"
UK special edition CD 2
  1. "Because We Want To"
  2. "Because We Want To"
  3. "Because We Want To"
  4. "Because We Want To"
UK cassette
Side 1
  1. "Because We Want To"
  2. "G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T."
Side 2
  1. "Because We Want To"
UK promo 12" single-sided vinyl

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history