"Team Ball Player Thing" is a 2015

charity single A charity record, charity album, or charity single is a recording with most or all proceeds raised going to a dedicated foundation or charity. In 1956, The Lord's Taverners released a 78 rpm disc which contained six tracks donated by popular artis ...

and the official supporters' song of the

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks, is the representative men's national team in the sport of rugby union for the nation of New Zealand, which is considered the country's national sport. Famed for th ...

in the

2015 Rugby World Cup The IRB 2015 Rugby World Cup was the eighth Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial rugby union world championship. The tournament was hosted by England from 18 September to 31 October. Of the 20 countries competing in the World Cup in 2011, there was ...

. The song is performed by the

charity supergroup A charity supergroup is a music group comprising famous musicians or other celebrities which is formed to raise funds or awareness for charities or causes. The supergroup is usually together only for a single album, performance, or single. T ...

#KiwisCureBatten and is in aid of research into Batten disease via the New Zealand charity Cure Kids. The day after it was released, the song debuted at number six on the

New Zealand Top 40 Recorded Music NZ (formerly the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ)) is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell recorded music in New Zealand. Membership of Recorded Mus ...

. The song is officially credited as featuring

Lorde Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O'Connor (born 7 November 1996), known professionally as Lorde ( ), is a New Zealand singer and songwriter. She is known for her unconventional style of pop music and introspective songwriting, and has been referred to ...

Kimbra Kimbra Lee Johnson (born 27 March 1990), known Mononymous person, mononymously as Kimbra, is a New Zealand singer and songwriter. Known for mixing pop with R&B, jazz and rock musical elements, her accolades include four ARIA Music Awards, two 2 ...

Brooke Fraser Brooke Gabrielle Ligertwood (née Fraser; born 15 December 1983) is a New Zealand singer and songwriter. She uses both her maiden and married names professionally. After signing with Sony BMG in 2002, she gained recognition for her debut album, ...

Gin Wigmore Virginia Claire Wigmore (born 6 June 1986) is a New Zealand singer and songwriter. Featured on the Smashproof single "Brother" in 2009, Wigmore went on to release four albums'' Holy Smoke'' (2009), '' Gravel & Wine'' (2011), '' Blood to Bone' ...

Broods Broods are a musical duo from Nelson, New Zealand, composed of Georgia Josiena Nott on lead vocals, with older brother and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Allan Joseph Nott on production and backing vocals. They released the single "Bridges (Broo ...

Daniel Bedingfield Daniel John Bedingfield (born 3 December 1979) is a New Zealand-British singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. His debut studio album, '' Gotta Get thru This'' (2002), spawned three UK number ones, " Gotta Get thru This", " If You're ...

The Naked and Famous The Naked and Famous are a New Zealand indie electronic band from Auckland, formed in 2007. The band currently consists of Alisa Xayalith (vocals, keyboards) and Thom Powers (vocals, guitars). The band has released four studio albums: ''Passiv ...

, Sam McCarthy, Sahara Adams,

Jemaine Clement Jemaine Atea Mahana Clement (born 10 January 1974) is a New Zealand actor, comedian, musician, and filmmaker. He has released several albums with Bret McKenzie as the musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords, and created a comedy TV series t ...

, Savage,

Jon Toogood Jonathan Charles Toogood (born 9 August 1971) is a New Zealand musician who is the frontman (lead vocals and guitar) of the rock band Shihad. He started playing guitar when he was "8 or 9" and became friends with Tom Larkin (musician), Tom Lark ...

Jason Kerrison Jason Mark Kerrison (born October 15, 1976) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter, producer, and former radio broadcaster, best known as the lead singer of the band Opshop. Kerrison's albums with Opshop have gone multi-platinum and received critic ...

Dave Dobbyn Sir David Joseph Dobbyn (born 3 January 1957) is a New Zealand musician, singer–songwriter and record producer. In his early career he was a member of the rock group Th' Dudes and was the main creative force in pop band DD Smash. Since then h ...

, Matiu Walters, Dave Baxter,

Hollie Smith Hollie Smith (born 17 November 1982) is a New Zealand soul singer-songwriter based in Auckland, New Zealand. Her four solo albums '' Long Player, Humour and the Misfortune of Others, Water or Gold,'' and ''Coming In From The Dark'' have all rea ...

, Jupiter Project,

Boh Runga Boh Runga (born 14 March 1970) is a New Zealand recording artist and was the lead singer and guitarist in New Zealand rock band Stellar. Boh is the older sister of Bic Runga and Pearl Runga who are also musicians. Early life Runga was born ...

, Jamie Curry, K.One, Lizzie Marvelly, Carly Binding, Jesse Griffin,

Brooke Howard-Smith Brooke Howard-Smith (born 6 October 1972) is an entrepreneur, New Zealand broadcaster, television presenter and artist having most recently exhibited at 42 Below's space in Auckland. Action sports At age 21 Brooke and Arlo Eisenberg started ...

, Tom Furniss, Joseph Moore, PNC,

Peter Urlich Peter Urlich (born 1956 in Auckland) is a New Zealand musician. He is the cousin of fellow New Zealand singer Margaret Urlich. Early years Urlich was educated at Sacred Heart College in the suburb of Glen Innes, Auckland. Son of Daniel and Rub ...

and

Julia Deans Julia Mary Deans (born 27 August 1974) is a New Zealand singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer of rock band Fur Patrol. Banshee Reel In the early '90s, Deans joined Wellington-based Celtic rock band Banshee Reel. The group releas ...

. The music video features these and other artists, as well as New Zealand actors, comedians and rugby players.

Background

The project was organised by

and comedian Jesse Griffin, who approached film-maker

Taika Waititi Taika David Cohen (born 16 August 1975), known professionally as Taika Waititi ( ), is a New Zealand filmmaker, actor, and comedian. Known for quirky comedy films and expanding his career as a voice actor and producer on numerous projects, he ...

and songwriter/producer

Joel Little Joel Little (born 13 February 1983) is a New Zealand record producer, musician and Grammy Award-winning songwriter.

. Like Cure Kids' 2012 charity single " Feel Inside (And Stuff Like That)", the lyrics of the song were based on ideas from young children. The song's title comes from a young girl who says the All Blacks "should just pass to the other team, ball, player... thing". The song is intended to be both a parody of sports anthems and an actual sports anthem. Vocal parts were recorded at Little's studio in Los Angeles and at a studio in Auckland.

Music video

The music video was directed by

and Jesse Griffin. As well as featuring the performers of the song, the video also includes appearances from members of the

, New Zealand actors and comedians and the children who contributed the lyrics. The full-length video starts with a 10-minute skit based around a meeting where the song is planned.

Full music video appearances

; Singers *

Alisa Xayalith Alisa Xayalith (born 24 August 1986) is a New Zealand musician best known as the lead vocalist, guitarist, and Electronic keyboard, keyboard player for the indie electronic band the Naked and Famous. Early life Xayalith, the daughter of Laos, ...

(

) *

* Caleb Nott (

) *

* Dave Baxter *

* Gavin Correia (Jupiter Project) * Georgia Nott (

) *

* James Reid (

The Feelers The Feelers are a New Zealand pop rock band formed in the early 1990s in Christchurch by James Reid (singer/guitarist) and Hamish Gee (drums/guitar). History The Feelers were signed by Warner Music and released their first album, '' Super ...

) *

Joel Little Joel Little (born 13 February 1983) is a New Zealand record producer, musician and Grammy Award-winning songwriter.

Jordan Luck Jordan William Hunter Luck (born 15 October 1961) is the former lead singer and songwriter of the New Zealand rock band the Exponents. He was born in Vanderhoof in the province of British Columbia, Canada. His family moved to Tokarahi (near ...

* K.One *

* Marty Rich (Jupiter Project) * Matiu Walters (

Six60 Six60 is a New Zealand pop rock band formed in Dunedin, Otago in 2008. The band consists of Matiu Walters (lead vocals, guitar), Ji Fraser (lead guitar), Chris Mac (drums, bass guitar), and Marlon Gerbes (guitar, bass guitar, synthesiser). Th ...

) *

* Sahara Adams * Sam McCarthy (

Kids of 88 Kids of 88 were a New Zealand New wave music, new wave duo based in Auckland, New Zealand, consisting of Jordan Arts and Sam McCarthy (singer), Sam McCarthy. They are best known for their 2009 single, "My House (Kids of 88 song), My House". The ...

) * Savage * Thom Powers (

) ; Rugby players *

Brodie Retallick Brodie Allan Retallick (born 31 May 1991) is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, who currently plays as a lock for Kobelco Kobe Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One competition. He previously played for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and in N ...

Colin Slade Colin Richard Slade (born 10 October 1987) is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player. He played primarily at first five-eighth, as well as all other backline positions on occasions. He was first selected for the All Blacks in 2 ...

Cory Jane Cory Steven Jane (born 8 February 1983) is a former New Zealand international rugby union player and current assistant coach. He was a part of the World Cup winning squad in the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He first played for the All Blacks in 2008 ...

* Hika Elliot *

Jerome Kaino Jerome Kaino (born 6 April 1983) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. In 2004, he was named IRB International Under-21 player of the year. In 2011, he was named the New Zealand Rugby player of the year, finishing ahead of Richie McCaw ...

Julian Savea Sio Julian Savea (born 7 August 1990) is a New Zealand professional rugby union player. He currently plays wing or centre for Wellington in the National Provincial Championship and Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Savea formerly played for in ...

Ryan Crotty Ryan Stevenson Crotty (born 23 September 1988) is a New Zealand-born former rugby union Rugby player. Crotty has previously played for the Crusaders in the Super Rugby competition and Canterbury in the ITM Cup, captaining both teams. He is curr ...

Stephen Donald Stephen Rex Donald (born 3 December 1983) is a New Zealand rugby union player who played for the Green Rockets Tokatsu, NEC Green Rockets in the Japanese Top League. A Fly-half (rugby union), first five-eighth or Centre (rugby union), centre, he ...

; Actors and other personalities *

David de Lautour David Hugh de Lautour (born 28 November 1982) is a New Zealand television actor, producer and director. He was born in Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand and attended King's College, then The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) to w ...

* Jamie Curry *

Kieren Hutchison Kieren Robert Hutchison (born 9 October 1974) is a New Zealand actor. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand. Career Hutchison is best known for playing the roles of Jonathon McKenna in the New Zealand soap opera ''Shortland Street'', Andy Harg ...

* Madeleine Sami *

Melanie Lynskey Melanie Jayne Lynskey ( ; born 16 May 1977) is a New Zealand actress. Known for her portrayals of complex women and her command of American accents, she works predominantly in independent films and television. She is the recipient of numerous ...

* Sir Peter Jackson *

Zoë Bell Zoë E. Bell (born 17 November 1978) is a New Zealand Stunt performer, stuntwoman and actress. Some of her most notable stunt-work includes doubling for Lucy Lawless in ''Xena: Warrior Princess'' and for Uma Thurman in ''Kill Bill''. As an act ...

; Comedians *

Bret McKenzie Bret Peter Tarrant McKenzie (born 29 June 1976) is a New Zealand musician, comedian, music supervisor, and actor. He is best known as one half of musical comedy duo Flight of the Conchords along with Jemaine Clement. In the 2000s, the duo's com ...

* Jesse Griffin * Joseph Moore *

Rhys Darby Rhys Montague Darby (born 21 March 1974) is a New Zealand actor and comedian. He is known for his energetic physical comedy routines, telling stories accompanied with mime, and sound effects of things such as machinery and animals. He was nomin ...

* Tom Furniss

Charts

References

External links

* {{YouTube, tcwuPTlQSxI, "Team Ball Player Thing" music video 2015 singles 2015 songs Charity singles Songs about New Zealand Songs written by Joel Little