Can We Fix It?

"Can We Fix It?" is the name of the theme song from the British children’s animated television programme Bob the Builder. It was written by Paul K. Joyce and produced by Hot Animation. The song's title is derived from the catchphrase of the programme's titular character, and the chorus of the song features this phrase prominently, as well as the response, "Yes we can!" Vocals on the song are provided by Neil Morrissey, who voiced Bob at the time of the track's recording. It was released as a single on 4 December 2000 in the United Kingdom.

"Can We Fix It?"
Single by Bob the Builder
from the album Bob the Builder: The Album
B-side	"Bob's Line Dance"
Released	4 December 2000 (2000-12-04)
Genre	Children's novelty[1]
Length	3:09
Label	BBC Universal Music Australia
Songwriter(s)	Paul K. Joyce
Producer(s)	Grant Mitchell
Bob the Builder singles chronology
"Can We Fix It?" (2000) "Mambo No. 5" (2001)

"Can We Fix It?" became the UK Christmas number-one single of 2000, beating Westlife's "What Makes a Man" to the top spot and ending the group's run of seven consecutive number-one singles.^[2] It was the biggest-selling single of 2000 in the United Kingdom, appearing at number 10 on the decade-end chart in 2009. The song has sold over one million copies in the United Kingdom according to the Official Charts Company.^[3] On 13 August 2001, the song was released in Australia and reached number one that September, becoming the ninth-best-selling single of the year there.

A second single by Bob the Builder, "Mambo No. 5", with the lyrics adapted from Lou Bega's 1999 hit version, also reached number one on the UK chart in September 2001. An album entitled The Album followed, which debuted at number four on the UK Albums Chart.^[4]

Critical reception

The song was rated 8/10 by Stylus Magazine, saying "kids TV themes getting to number one is a thing to be savoured, especially when a), it stops pretentious tosh like "Stan" from reigning at the top of the charts and b), when it actually has a much better 2-step beat than any of the garage number ones from the previous 18 months."^[5]

Track listings

UK and Australian CD single^[6][7]

1. "Can We Fix It?"
2. "Bob's Line Dance"
3. "Can We Fix It?" (karaoke version)
4. "Can We Fix It?" (video)

UK cassette single^[8]

1. "Can We Fix It?"
2. "Bob's Line Dance"

Personnel

Personnel are adapted from the UK cassette single sleeve.^[8]

• Paul K. Joyce – writing
• Neil Morrissey – vocals
• Grant Mitchell – production, arrangement
• Graham Dickson – mixing, engineering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2000–2001) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[9] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[10] 6 Ireland (IRMA)[11] 3 Scotland (OCC)[12] 1 UK Singles (OCC)[4] 1 UK Indie (OCC)[13] 1

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position Ireland (IRMA)[14] 41 UK Singles (OCC)[15] 1 Chart (2001) Position Australia (ARIA)[16] 9 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] 90 Ireland (IRMA)[18] 67 UK Singles (OCC)[19] 72 Decade-end charts Chart (2000–2009) Position UK Singles (OCC)[20] 10

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[21]	2× Platinum	140,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[22]	Platinum	600,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United Kingdom	4 December 2000	BBC	CD cassette	[1][23]
Australia	13 August 2001	BBC Universal Music Australia	CD	[24]

References

1. Sexton, Paul (16 December 2000). "Novelty Tunes Have Good Shot at Top Spot on Brit Christmas List" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 51. p. 15. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
2. Masterton, James (24 December 2000). "Week Ending December 30th 2000". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved 6 March 2024.
3. Sedghi, Ami (4 November 2012). "UK's million-selling singles: the full list". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
4. "Bob the Builder: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 December 2020.
5. "Stylus". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
6. Can We Fix It? (UK CD single liner notes). BBC Records. 2000. WMSS 6037-2.
7. Can We Fix It? (Australian CD single liner notes). BBC Records, Universal Music Australia. 2000. 116 037-2.
8. Can We Fix It? (UK cassette single sleeve). BBC Records. 2000. WMSS 6037-4.
9. "Bob the Builder – Can We Fix It?". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
10. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 3. 13 January 2001. p. 11. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
11. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Can We Fix It". Irish Singles Chart.
12. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
13. "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
14. "Top 100 of 2000". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on 2 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
15. "Yearly Best Selling Singles" (PDF). British Phonographic Industry. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
16. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2001". ARIA. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
17. "Year in Review – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2001" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 18, no. 52. 22 December 2001. p. 14. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
18. "Ireland – Top Singles for 2001". Allcharts. Archived from the original on 5 May 2012. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
19. "The Official UK Singles Chart 2001" (PDF). UKChartsPlus. Retrieved 16 December 2018.
20. "The Noughties' Official UK Singles Chart Top 100". Music Week. London, England: United Business Media. 30 January 2010. p. 17.
21. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
22. "British single certifications – Bob the Builder – Can We Fix It?". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
23. "New Releases – For Week Starting December 4, 2000: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 2 December 2000. p. 27. Retrieved 7 August 2021.
24. "The ARIA Report: ARIA New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 13th August 2001" (PDF). ARIA. 13 August 2001. p. 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2002. Retrieved 22 April 2021.