"Where Is the Love?" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by the Black Eyed Peas | ||||
from the album Elephunk | ||||
B-side |
| |||
Released | May 12, 2003 | |||
Recorded | December 26, 2001–March 3, 2003 [1] | |||
Studio |
| |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
| |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
Producer(s) | ||||
Black Eyed Peas singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Where Is the Love?" on YouTube |
"Where Is the Love?" is a song by American hip hop group the Black Eyed Peas. It was released on May 12, 2003, as the lead single from their third album, Elephunk (2003). The song was written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Justin Timberlake, Printz Board, Michael Fratantuno, and George Pajon. The track features vocals from Timberlake, although he is not officially credited on the single release. It was the group's first single to feature singer Fergie as an official member.
"Where Is the Love?" saw success on radio airplay charts, [2] peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100, and topped the charts in Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, where it became the biggest-selling single of 2003. The band and Timberlake received two nominations, Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, for "Where Is the Love?" at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards. [3]
Following the commercial failures of their previous albums and singles, there was doubt over whether the Black Eyed Peas would continue to record together. A&R executive Ron Fair approached them and suggested a crossover to a more mainstream pop sound. will.i.am in particular resisted the idea for fear that they would be seen as sellouts. However, after discussions and some writing sessions, the idea was pursued. [4] After the release of 'Where is the Love' Taboo would claim on the topic of selling out that if he was going to sell out, he'd "rather be selling out arenas than selling out of my trunk on the corner of my block." [5]
In an interview with The Telegraph in 2016, will.i.am said the inspiration for the original song came from the generalized anxiety following the September 11 attacks. will.i.am said: “On our last day (of recording sessions in San Francisco), as I was packing my equipment, I saw the first plane fly through the World Trade Center (...) I thought it was a film. The fear of driving back home, y’know going over San Francisco bridge. That 10 minute drive across the bridge felt like an hour.” [6] In the same interview will.i.am claims that the emotions from that time form the base emotions the song's lyrics are composed of.
Shortly after Christmas 2001, three months after 9/11, will.i.am created a loop and a guitar part that he liked. apl.de.ap and Taboo also heard the track and were able to write similar lyrics over it. Justin Timberlake was introduced to the group by Taboo, and got a chance to hear the track that will.i.am created. Impressed with the music, Timberlake helped write and sing the chorus. The production of Where is the Love was halted over the early half of 2002 as the band burned out over what will.i.am claimed was 9/11-induced anxiety during their tour in that year. [6] Timberlake was in the midst of promotion of his debut solo album, Justified , and his label Jive Records was concerned about possible overexposure. The Black Eyed Peas were worried about this, as getting some assistance from an established pop star like Timberlake had been the original point of this song. A compromise was reached eventually in which Jive gave clearance for the vocals of Timberlake to be released on the song, but he does not appear in the song's music video nor is he officially credited on the song as an artist. By 2008, the single had sold 954,000 digital copies. [7]
Although initially intended as a vessel to post-9/11 anxiety, the song discusses many issues including terrorism, US government hypocrisy, racism, gang crime, pollution, war, and intolerance, with the call for love in the chorus as the element tying these together. The lyric "Overseas, yeah, we try'na stop terrorism - but we still got terrorists here living - in the USA, the big CIA - the Bloods and the Crips and the KKK" compared domestic terrorism with international terrorism - however, in the later live performance of One Love Manchester the inclusion of the CIA was censored. [8] The song was released during the Iraq war and alludes to it and its casus belli with the lyric "A war's going on but the reason's undercover" in the bridge.
The song has a tempo of 94 BPM. Will.i.am laid the track's iconic main rhythm over the chord progression, which he claimed is inspired by that of a human heartbeat. "I was like, 'this song needs a heartbeat.' (...) I just liked the pull and the call of response of the human heart – a beat, a rhythm that we hear everyday subconsciously, without paying attention to it." [6]
As part of the album Elephunk, the song was met with critical and commercial success. Elephunk has a Metacritic score of 66/100. [9] The Black Eyed Peas' album Elephunk sold 3.2 million copies as of 2011. [10] David Jeffries of Drowned In Sound noted that it was the "long time coming" Black Eyed Peas hit, praising its dramatic delivery as "epic, positive, and concerned with where the world is going, “Where Is the Love” bounces between positive hip-hop and orchestral soul that royally recalls Marvin Gaye's social meditations." [11] According to The Washington Post , "Where is the Love" propelled the Black Eyed Peas from the underground to the mainstream. [5] Entertainment Weekly was more negative about the song, which deviates sharply from the Black Eyed Peas' rap roots, writing that "the biggest offense for a once smart-sounding rap collective is 'Where Is the Love,' the horrifyingly trite single with Justin Timberlake. It's enough to make longtime fans wonder, 'Where are the Peas?'" [12] Chris Nettleson of Drowned in Sound refrains from commenting on "Where is the Love" directly, but instead notes that other critics have unfairly regarded Elephunk as deviating from standard hip hop. Nettleson writes that "Where is the Love" is a "slightly saccharine hippy anti-gulf war anthem", but in the context of the entire album of Elephunk it is worth listening to. [13]
The song was the biggest selling single of 2003 in the UK. It was also the 25th best-selling single of the 2000s (decade) in the UK. [14]
The music video for "Where Is the Love?" was shot in East Los Angeles and features the Black Eyed Peas and various other people, including various young children, asking the world where the love really is. In the video, will.i.am and Taboo act as a soul music road duo who use music to tell people what is wrong with the world, Fergie appears as a peacemaker who places stickers with question marks on them all over the place to ask people where the love is in the world, and apl.de.ap is a criminal who is arrested for using criminal offenses to tell people the truth. Justin Timberlake does not appear in the video, as he was promoting his album Justified at the time, [15] though several different people are seen mouthing his part.
The video features posters from the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City , with the question mark symbol plastered over said posters in an apparent protest over the game's violent content. [16] The video later shows gameplay footage from the controversial first-person shooter Postal 2 , in which a group of young children are seen playing the game, suggesting that violence in the media and entertainment industry is a corrupting influence to the youth. [17] [18] Running With Scissors, creators of the Postal franchise, later claimed in a tweet in 2021 that they were paid for the use of the game's footage. [19] As of April 2024 the YouTube video has accumulated more than one billion views. [20]
UK CD single [21]
European CD single [22]
Australian CD single [23]
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [91] | 4× Platinum | 280,000^ |
Belgium (BEA) [92] | Gold | 25,000* |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [93] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark) [94] | 2× Platinum | 180,000‡ |
Germany (BVMI) [95] | 5× Gold | 750,000‡ |
Italy (FIMI) [96] | 2× Platinum | 200,000‡ |
New Zealand (RMNZ) [97] | Platinum | 15,000* |
Norway (IFPI Norway) [98] | Platinum | 10,000* |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [99] | Platinum | 60,000‡ |
Sweden (GLF) [100] | Platinum | 30,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [101] | 4× Platinum | 2,400,000 [102] |
United States (RIAA) [103] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | May 12, 2003 | |||
June 3, 2003 | 12-inch vinyl | |||
France | July 16, 2003 | CD | Polydor | |
Australia | July 28, 2003 | Maxi CD | Universal Music | |
Germany | September 1, 2003 | |||
United Kingdom | Polydor | |||
United Kingdom | January 7, 2004 | CD | Polydor |
"Where's the Love?" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by the Black Eyed Peas featuring the World | ||||
Released | August 31, 2016 | |||
Length | 5:25 | |||
Label | Interscope | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
The Black Eyed Peas singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Music video | ||||
"Where's the Love?" on YouTube |
On August 31, 2016, a new version of the song titled "Where's the Love?" (stylized as "#WHERESTHELOVE"), credited to "The Black Eyed Peas featuring The World" was made available for digital download exclusively on iTunes and released to other digital retailers later that day. [110] The song samples the original track but has additional music composition and features additional vocals from Justin Timberlake, Jamie Foxx, Ty Dolla Sign, Mary J. Blige, Diddy, Cassie, Andra Day, The Game, Tori Kelly, V. Bozeman, Jessie J, French Montana, DJ Khaled, Usher, Nicole Scherzinger, ASAP Rocky, Jaden Smith, and a 40-member children's choir. [111] All proceeds from the song were going to will.i.am's non-profit foundation, i.am.angel. – the charity funds educational programs and college scholarships. [112] The Black Eyed Peas partnered with issues-driven media company ATTN and foundation education partner and leading geospatial company Esri for the single release campaign. [110] It was the group's last song to feature singer Fergie.
An accompanying music video, directed by Michael Jurkovac, also premiered worldwide on Apple Music that same day and shows appearances by the featured vocalists and many celebrities including Connie Britton, Lance Bass, Rosario Dawson, Shailene Woodley, Taye Diggs, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Quincy Jones, Olivia Munn, Jhené Aiko, Krewella, Wiz Khalifa, Charlie Carver, Ian Harding, Max Carver, Daniel Sharman, Vanessa Hudgens, Russell Westbrook, Carla Gugino, DJ Khaled, Ben Barnes, Nikki Reed, Omarion, Jessica Szohr, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Ryan Guzman, Adrianne Palicki, Becky G, Adrienne Bailon, Kris Jenner, and Kendall Jenner. [111] [113] [114] [115]
Inspired by tragedies, like the attacks in Paris, and in Brussels and Orlando, and police shootings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, the Peas saw the relevance of the song and decided it was time to revive the track for a new generation. [116] Family members affected by gun violence including (Alton Sterling's aunt Sandra, Philando Castile's mother Valerie) and police officials (Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown, Officer Miguel Salcedo) and more appear in the video.
Credits adapted from the official press release. [110]
Chart (2016) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [118] | 15 |
Australia Digital Track Chart (ARIA) [119] | 5 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [120] | 12 |
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders) [121] | 15 |
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [122] | 6 |
Canadian Digital Songs ( Billboard ) [123] | 21 |
Euro Digital Songs (Billboard) [124] | 14 |
Finland Download (Latauslista) [125] | 12 |
France (SNEP) [126] | 26 |
Germany (Official German Charts) [127] | 39 |
Italy ( Musica e Dischi ) [128] | 44 |
Luxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard) [129] | 5 |
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tip) [130] | 28 |
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ) [131] | 3 |
Scotland (OCC) [132] | 11 |
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) [133] | 58 |
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) [134] | 41 |
UK Singles (OCC) [135] | 47 |
UK Singles Downloads (OCC) [136] | 11 |
US Digital Songs (Billboard) [137] | 39 |
US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard) [138] | 20 |
The Black Eyed Peas also released a bilingual Spanish/English version of "Where's the Love?", titled "Dónde Está El Amor?" crediting the Black Eyed Peas featuring El Mundo. The version was premiered on November 7, 2016, during Premios de la Radio. The music video premiered days later, featuring a roster of Latin stars including Gerardo Ortiz, Milkman, Pepe Aguilar, Becky G, Fey, Paulina Rubio, Luis Coronel, and many others. [139]
Roberta Cleopatra Flack is a retired American singer who topped the Billboard charts with the No. 1 singles "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face", "Killing Me Softly with His Song", and "Feel Like Makin' Love".
Donny Edward Hathaway was an American soul singer, keyboardist, songwriter, backing vocalist, and arranger who Rolling Stone described as a "soul legend". His most popular songs include "The Ghetto", "This Christmas", "Someday We'll All Be Free", and "Little Ghetto Boy". Hathaway is also renowned for his renditions of "A Song for You", "For All We Know", and "I Love You More Than You'll Ever Know", along with "Where Is the Love" and "The Closer I Get to You", two of many collaborations with Roberta Flack. He has been inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame and won one Grammy Award from four nominations. Hathaway was also posthumously honored with a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019. Dutch director David Kleijwegt made a documentary called Mister Soul – A Story About Donny Hathaway, which premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam on January 28, 2020.
Reginald Grant Lucas was an American guitarist, songwriter and record producer. Lucas is perhaps best known for producing the majority of Madonna's 1983 self-titled debut album, and for playing rhythm guitar with the Miles Davis electric band during the first half of the 1970s.
Ralph Anthony MacDonald was an American percussionist, steelpan virtuoso, songwriter, musical arranger, and record producer.
This Is My Country is an album by the soul group the Impressions, released in 1968. It was their first album released on Curtis Mayfield's label, Curtom Records.
"Tonight, I Celebrate My Love" is a romantic ballad written by lyricist Gerry Goffin with Michael Masser and recorded by Peabo Bryson and Roberta Flack for their 1983 album of duets, Born to Love, issued as the lead single. The track—produced by Masser—became a million-selling international hit.
"The Closer I Get to You" is a romantic ballad performed by singer-songwriter Roberta Flack and soul musician Donny Hathaway. The song was written by James Mtume and Reggie Lucas, two former members of Miles Davis's band, who were members of Flack's band at the time. Produced by Atlantic Records, the song was released on Flack's 1977 album Blue Lights in the Basement, and as a single in 1978. It became a major crossover hit, becoming Flack's biggest commercial hit after her success with her 1973 solo single, "Killing Me Softly with His Song". Originally set as a solo single, Flack's manager, David Franklin, suggested a duet with Hathaway, which resulted in the finished work.
"Where Is the Love" is a popular song written by Ralph MacDonald and William Salter, and recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. Released in 1972 from their album, Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway. It peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and spent a week each at number one on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and R&B chart. Billboard ranked it as the No. 58 song for 1972. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
Paul Griffin was an American pianist and session musician who recorded with hundreds of musicians from the 1950s to the 1990s.
Released in 1975, Feel Like Makin' Love is Roberta Flack's fifth solo album and sixth overall, when counting her duet album with Donny Hathaway, Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway from 1972. It was the first album produced by Flack herself, under the pseudonym Rubina Flake.
Blue Lights in the Basement is the sixth studio album by American singer Roberta Flack, released by Atlantic on December 13, 1977. The album was a commercial success, peaking at number eight on the US Billboard 200, becoming her third top-ten album on the chart and reaching number five on the R&B albums chart. On February 27, 1978, the album received a Gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments over 500,000 copies.
Roberta Flack is a 1978 album release by American vocalist Roberta Flack: her eighth album release - including her 1972 Donny Hathaway collaboration - Roberta Flack was the parent album of the #1 Adult Contemporary hit "If Ever I See You Again" which also ranked in the Top 40.
The 1972 Atlantic release Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway is a million-selling duet album by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway produced by Joel Dorn and Arif Mardin.
Roberta Flack Featuring Donny Hathaway is the ninth studio album by American singer-songwriter Roberta Flack. Released via Atlantic in March 1980, the album features posthumous vocals by close friend and collaborator Donny Hathaway, who had died in 1979. At the 23rd Grammy Awards in 1981, the album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. The award, however, went to Stephanie Mills for "Never Knew Love Like This Before."
The Best of Roberta Flack is Roberta Flack's first compilation album, released in 1981.
"If Ever I See You Again" is the title of a 1978 hit single by Roberta Flack. The song was composed by Joseph "Joe" Brooks and served as the title song for the 1978 film If Ever I See You Again, which Brooks directed and also starred in with Shelley Hack as his leading lady. Male vocalist Jamie Carr sang the theme song on the film's soundtrack.
"Making Love" is a 1982 song written by Burt Bacharach, Bruce Roberts, and Carole Bayer Sager to serve as the theme song for the film of the same name in which, as recorded by Roberta Flack with Bacharach and Bayer Sager producing, it played under the closing credits: a Top 20 hit single for Flack, "Making Love" was included on the singer's 1982 album release I'm the One.
Don't Make Me Wait may refer to:
Back Together Again is an album by Fred Anderson with Hamid Drake.
"Never Leave Me Alone" is a song by American singer-songwriter Nate Dogg, featuring vocals from rapper Snoop Doggy Dogg. The song is the first single released from Nate Dogg's debut studio album G-Funk Classics, Vol. 1 & 2 (1998), and contains an interpolation of the 1972 song "Where Is the Love", written by Ralph MacDonald and William Salter, and recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. The song was produced by Kurupt and executive produced by Suge Knight.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link){{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)