Where Is the Love?

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“Where Is the Love?”
Single by The Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake from the album Elephunk
Released	September 16, 2003
Format	CD
Genre	Pop, hip hop, R&B, pop rap
Length	4:32
Label	A&M/Interscope
Writer(s)	will.i.am, Taboo, Apl.de.ap, Ron Fair, Printz Board, George Pajon Jr., Mike Fratantuno, J. Curtis
Producer	will.i.am, Ron Fair
Certification	Platinum (RIANZ)
The Black Eyed Peas singles chronology
"Get Original" (2001) "Where Is the Love?" (2003) "Shut Up" (2003)
Justin Timberlake singles chronology
"I'm Lovin' It" (2003) "Where Is the Love?" (2003) "Signs" (2005)

This article is about the Black Eyed Peas single. "Where is the love" may also refer to a 1972 duet single featuring Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. For another similarly named, 1997 song by the band Hanson, see "Where's the Love."

"Where Is the Love?" is the first single from the Black Eyed Peas' third album, Elephunk. Released in 2003, the single (which features an uncredited vocal from Justin Timberlake) peaked at #8 in the USA becoming The Black Eyed Peas' first Top 10 hit; the single also peaked at #1 in Australia and the UK. The single is most known as the breakthrough single of the Black Eyed Peas.

[edit] Background and writing

Although the song was one of the biggest worldwide hits of 2003, it almost did not happen. Following the commercial failures of their previous albums and singles, The Black Eyed Peas had become depressed and were about to quit the music industry. Although they had been praised critically and had a huge underground following, they had failed to garner a major pop or hip-hop following. One day, will.i.am ran into A&R executive Ron Fair whom Fair had recruited for a movie soundtrack. After realizing that The Peas were actually on a related label on their company's label, Fair offered to have them transferred to his part of the label to help with their career. Knowing that he might offend them as a corporate head with his ideas of a pop crossover, Fair asked will.i.am if the band might consider doing more poppish music.

As expected from Fair, will.i.am was not pleased with the notion, and thought that the band might be considered as a "sell-out" if they did it. Fair stood strong on his ground, and reminded The Peas that this could possibly be their last chance to succeed and as The Peas did want a second chance, they accepted. Fair then randomly suggested Justin Timberlake. To the surprise of Fair, The Peas did not resist and actually agreed, noting to Fair that Timberlake was a personal friend of theirs. Fair was surprised at the turn of events, but warned The Peas to be dilligent in their recruitment of him, as musicians often engage in bureaucratic music industry politics, Fair advised The Peas to go to Timberlake directly to avoid drama with his label or management.

Black Eyed Peas in the music video.

The Black Eyed Peas and will.i.am noted the advice and began writing a song that could be performed with Timberlake. Shortly after Christmas 2001, will.i.am created a loop and a guitar part that he liked. Repressing his emotions since September 11, will.i.am was able to get a few things off his chest as lyrics like, "Overseas we tryin' to stop terrorism, but we still got terrorists here livin', in the U.S.A., the big CIA, the Bloods and the Crips and the KKK...". Taboo and Apl.de.ap also heard the track and were able to write similar lyrics over it. Timberlake also got his chance to hear the track that will.i.am created. Impressed with the music, melodies immediately came racing to Timberlake along with the words "Where is the love?" Soon Timberlake had written the song's chorus and went to record it.

The song samples rapper Nas' song "One Love". UK pop-punk band Busted covered the song in Jo Whiley's Live Lounge in February 2004.

[edit] Lyrics

"Where Is the Love" logo

The song was written by Will.I.Am, Taboo, apl.de.ap, Ron Fair, P. Board, G. Pajon Jr, M. Fratantuno, and J. Curtis, and co-produced by will.i.am and Ron Fair. In this anti-war pacifist anthem, The Black Eyed Peas lament on various worldwide problems. Many issues are discussed, which include but are not limited to terrorism, U.S. government hypocrisy, racism, war, intolerance and greed. Early on, the Peas had been a trio, then before Fergie they had featured Kim Hill in two of their albums. Some view this song as an anthem against the War on terror and the 2003 invasion of Iraq since it was released shortly after the invasion began.

[edit] Reception

Although "Shut Up" had originally been planned as the album's first single, there was consensus among The Peas and Fair that "Where Is The Love?" was a stronger first single, and "Shut Up" was delayed as the next single. However, another problem arose before chart release: Timberlake was in the midst of promotion of his solo album, Justified, and his label Jive Records was concerned of overexposure. The Peas and Fair were worried as that had been the original point of this song: to get some assistance from an established pop star. A compromise was reached eventually in which Jive gave clearance for the vocals of Timberlake to be released on the song. However, Timberlake would not appear in the song's music video nor would he be credited on the song as an artist.

Despite the song's rough path to production, it was rewarded with a nomination at the 2004 Grammys for Record of the Year.

[edit] Chart

[edit] See also

• Nonviolence
• Opposition to the Iraq War