The Power (Snap! song)

"The Power" is a song by the German music group Snap!. It was released in January 1990 as the lead single from their debut studio album, World Power. The song reached number one in Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and Zimbabwe, as well as on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Rap charts. On the Billboard Hot 100, "The Power" managed to reach number two for one week, behind "Vision of Love" by Mariah Carey.[3] It is particularly known for its hook "I've got the power!".

"The Power"
Single by Snap!
from the album World Power
B-side"Remix"
Released1990
Format
Genre
Length3:47
Label
Songwriter(s)
  • Benito Benites
  • John "Virgo" Garrett III
  • Toni C.
Producer(s)Snap!
Snap! singles chronology
"The Power"
(1990)		 "Ooops Up"
(1990)
Music video
"The Power" on YouTube
Audio sample
"The Power"
  • file
  • help

Background

Written by Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti (under the pseudonyms Benito Benites and John "Virgo" Garrett III) and produced by Snap!, "The Power" was the group's third single. Featuring a rap by Turbo B and vocals by Penny Ford (lip-synced in the music video by Jackie Harris), the single became a massive international hit.

The song opens with the somewhat enigmatic line in Russian: «Американская фирма Transceptor Technology приступила к производству компьютеров „Персональный спутник“» (meaning "The American company Transceptor Technology has started production of the 'Personal Companion' computer"). "Personal Companion" was a computer-like device for the blind and visually impaired. Released in 1990, it was controlled by voice and could, among other functions, automatically download articles from USA Today by a built-in modem. It was made by Transceptor Technologies of Ann Arbor, Michigan.[4]

The song contains samples from "The Power" by Chill Rob G, "Love's Gonna Get You" by Jocelyn Brown,[5] and "King of the Beats" by Mantronix.

Power Jam was the first name under which German producers Michael Münzing (Benito Benites) and Luca Anzilotti (John Virgo Garrett III) were noticed for their 1990 Hit "The Power".

The first version of "The Power" was an amalgam of many samples. The beats were taken from Mantronix's "King of the Beats Lesson #1" (from their 1990 album "This Should Move Ya"), the vocals were taken from "Let The Words Flow" by rapper Chill Rob G and from "Love's Gonna Get You" by Jocelyn Brown. The record became instantly popular in both Europe and North America. However, all of the samples used were unauthorized. In Germany, Arista Records had a deal with Stu Fine, former owner of Wild Pitch Records, but Arista did not have the same type of deal for a legal US release. Chill Rob G consented to a US release (which he thought could be lucrative) and consequently Arista Records was pressured to prepare the song for release in the US. Because it was not legally possible for Arista to simply reissue the European single, it was decided to re-record the entire track with new lyrics by rapper Durron Butler AKA Turbo B. and additional vocals by Penny Ford. The samples were then all legally cleared and the song was finally re-released under the new name Snap!, despite the fact that Jocelyn Brown had commenced legal action because of the unauthorized sampling of her vocals.[5]

Critical reception

Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote that "thanks to a healthy buzz generated via underground import attention, this hypnotic, street-soul jam should have no trouble duplicating its smash U.K. success. Expect big crossover action."[6] In 2017, BuzzFeed listed the song at number 38 in their list of "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s".[7] Cash Box said that "The Power" is "set against a basic hip-hop beat, but all sorts of computer-generated enhancements are added, as well as a great bassline, soul-drenched female vocals, a male rap that sounds a bit like Heavy D, and, depending on the mix, elements of House. Yet none of it seems forced or contrived, and it doesn't sound quite like anything else that's out there right now. This one will be huge."[8] Complex described it as "a more industrial take on the hip-house scene that blew up" at that time the song was released.[9] Tom Ewing from Freaky Trigger noted that the song "juggles aggression and melancholy, and makes both immediately appealing – the juddering riff which opens "The Power" set against the slow pace and lonesome spaciousness of the production and Pennye Ford's vocals. The riff is more distinctive than the singing, to be honest, but the contrast works."[10] Music & Media commented that a "funky hip-hop rhythm, sampled from Doug Lazy's Let It Roll has been matched with some forceful rapping by Turbo B and inspired gospel vocals on the chorus. Excellent warm production by Benito Benites, John Garrett III and Snap. Could be the next big thing from the Continent."[11] The Network Forty described the track as "a very hip and cool" rap song "with a modern edge".[12] They also added that the "power charged rap-dance"[13] does "crackles and pops with enough irresistible energy".[14]

Track listings

Charts and certifications

Covers, samples and remixes
  • The song was covered in 2002 by German band H-Blockx. Turbo B featured in the song taking turns to rap lyrics with H-Blockx's then frontman Dave Gappa. Of note, Turbo B replaces the word 'Snap!' with 'H-blockx' in the line "If they are Snap! don't need the police to try to save them". The single charted at number 48 in Germany, number 51 in Austria and number 34 in Australia.[59]

See also

References
  1. Amter, Charlie (9 November 2010). "'Euro-hop' music invades America". CNN. Retrieved 23 May 2014. Eurodance ruled the airwaves in the 1980s and early 1990s, when acts like Germany's Snap! stormed the upper echelons of U.S. pop charts with hits such as "The Power" and "Rhythm Is A Dancer."
  2. Henderson, Alex. "Hip-House". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 9 November 2010.
  3. "August 11, 1990 – The Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  4. Feinsilber, Mike (20 June 1989). "For the Blind, a Device That Obeys Spoken Commands and Speaks Back" (Press release). Associated Press. Retrieved 10 July 2016.
  5. "Jocelyn Brown discusses her voice behind SNAP's record "The Power" on BBC1 TV Interview". YouTube. 13 August 2009. Retrieved 30 March 2014.
  6. "Single Reviews > Dance" (PDF). Billboard. 21 April 1991. p. 69.
  7. Stopera, Matt; Galindo, Brian (11 March 2017). "The 101 Greatest Dance Songs of the '90s". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  8. Hardy, Ernest (5 May 1990). "On the dancefloor" (PDF). Cash Box. p. 10. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  9. Nappy (12 July 2013). "15 Songs That Gave Dance Music a Good Name". Complex. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  10. "Snap! – "The Power"". Freaky Trigger. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  11. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 24 February 1990. p. 12. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
  12. "Top 40: The Next 40" (PDF). The Network Forty. 25 May 1990. p. 31. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  13. "Top 40: The Next 40" (PDF). The Network Forty. 15 June 1990. p. 32. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  14. Galloway, A. Scott (11 May 1990). "Crossover: Urban Jams" (PDF). The Network Forty. p. 50. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  15. "Australian-charts.com – Snap! – The Power". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  16. "Austriancharts.at – Snap! – The Power" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  17. "Ultratop.be – Snap! – The Power" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  18. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 7978." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  19. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1321." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 12 May 2015.
  20. "MusicSeek.info – UK, Eurochart, Billboard & Cashbox No.1 Hits". Archived from the original on 14 June 2006.. MusicSeek.info.
  21. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  22. "Lescharts.com – Snap! – The Power" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  23. "Offiziellecharts.de – Snap! – The Power". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  24. "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7 no. 26. 30 June 1990. p. VII. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  25. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Snap!". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  26. "Top 3 Singles in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7 no. 30. 28 July 1990. p. VII. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  27. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Snap - The Power" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  28. "Dutchcharts.nl – Snap! – The Power" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  29. "Charts.nz – Snap! – The Power". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  30. "Norwegiancharts.com – Snap! – The Power". VG-lista. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  31. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 1 no. 3. 19 January 1991. p. 24. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  32. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  33. "Swedishcharts.com – Snap! – The Power". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  34. "Swisscharts.com – Snap! – The Power". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  35. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  36. "Snap! – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  37. "CASH BOX Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending AUGUST 18, 1990". Archived from the original on 7 October 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
  38. Kimberley, Chris (2000). Zimbabwe : Zimbabwe Singles Chart Book. Harare.
  39. "Snap: The Power 96" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  40. "Swedishcharts.com – Snap! feat. Einstein – The Power '96". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  41. "Australian Top 100 Singles Chart 1990". ARIA. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  42. "Jahreshitparade 1990" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  43. "Jaaroverzichten 1990" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  44. "Top 50 Dance Tracks of 1990". RPM. Vol. 53 no. 6. Library and Archives Canada. 22 December 1990. Retrieved 25 June 2018.
  45. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles: 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7 no. 51. 22 December 1990. p. 36. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
  46. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  47. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  48. "End of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  49. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1990" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  50. "Top 100 Hits for 1990". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  51. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1990". Archived from the original on 23 September 2012.. Cash Box magazine.
  52. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Snap; 'The Power')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  53. "Dutch single certifications – Snap – The Power" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Enter The Power in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  54. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  55. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden.
  56. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Snap; 'The Power')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien.
  57. "British single certifications – Snap – The Power". British Phonographic Industry. Select singles in the Format field. Select Silver in the Certification field. Type The Power in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  58. "American single certifications – Snap – The Power". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  59. "australian-charts.com – H Blockx feat. Turbo B – The Power". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
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