Where Is the Love?

"Where Is the Love?" is a song by American hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas. It was released in June 2003 as the lead single from their third album, Elephunk. 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 song to feature singer Fergie as an official member.

This article is about the Black Eyed Peas song. For the Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway song, see Where Is the Love (Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway song). For the Hanson song, see Where's the Love.
"Where Is the Love?"
Single by The Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake
from the album Elephunk
B-side
  • "Somethin' for That Ass"
  • "What's Goin Down"
ReleasedJune 16, 2003
FormatCD single
Recorded2002-2003
Genre
Length4:34 (single version/2004 album version)
3:51 (radio edit)
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
The Black Eyed Peas featuring Justin Timberlake singles chronology
"Request + Line"
(2001)		 "Where Is the Love?"
(2003)		 "Shut Up"
(2003)
Music video
"Where Is the Love?" on YouTube

"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. It became the biggest-selling single of 2003 in the latter country. 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]

Background

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]

Shortly after Christmas 2001, 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.

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.[5]

Composition
Timberlake co-wrote the song and provided vocals.

The song was written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Justin Timberlake, Ron Fair, Printz Board, George Pajon, Fiona Davies, M. Fratantuno, and J. Curtis, and co-produced by will.i.am and Ron Fair. In this song, The Black Eyed Peas lament on various worldwide problems. Many issues are discussed, which include but are not limited to terrorism, US government hypocrisy, racism, gang crime, pollution, war and intolerance.

Reception

The song was rewarded with nominations at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards in 2004 for Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.

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.[6]

On May 12, 2013, after 10 years since the song's release, the song re-entered the official UK singles charts at 40, eventually peaking at 35.

Music video

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 offences to tell people the truth. Justin Timberlake does not appear in the video, although several different people are seen mouthing his part.

The video is similar to a 2002 British television advertisement for T-Mobile, in which a face of a young baby is presented in various forms around a large city, much like the question mark in this video. The Bon Jovi music video "Have a Nice Day" is also similar to both the advertisement and this video.

The video features gameplay footage of the extremely graphic and controversial video game Postal 2, in which a group of young children are playing the game. This suggests that violence in the media and entertainment industry affects the morals of children. Near the beginning of the video, posters of the video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City are shown.

Formats and track listings
CD single
  1. "Where Is the Love?" – 4:35

Personnel

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[61] 4× Platinum 280,000^
Belgium (BEA)[62] Gold 25,000*
Denmark (IFPI Denmark)[63] Platinum 90,000
Germany (BVMI)[64] Platinum 300,000^
Italy (FIMI)[65] Platinum 50,000
Norway (IFPI Norway)[66] Platinum 10,000*
New Zealand (RMNZ)[67] Platinum 10,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[68] 2× Platinum 1,400,000[69]
United States (RIAA)[70] Gold 500,000^

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

2016 version
"Where's the Love?"
Single by The Black Eyed Peas featuring The World
ReleasedAugust 31, 2016
FormatDigital download
Length5:25
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • will.i.am
  • Giorgio Tuinfort
The Black Eyed Peas singles chronology
"Don't Stop the Party"
(2011)		 "Where's the Love?"
(2016)		 "Street Livin'"
(2018)
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.[71] 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.[72] All proceeds from the song will go to will.i.am's non-profit foundation, i.am.angel. – the charity funds educational programs and college scholarships.[73] 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.[71] It was the group's last song to feature singer Fergie.

Music video

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, Jessica Szohr, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Adrianne Palicki, Adrienne Bailon, Kris Jenner and Kendall Jenner.[72][74][75][76]

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.[77] 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.

Track listing
  • Digital download[78]
  1. "Where's the Love?" (featuring The World) – 5:25

Personnel

Credits adapted from the official press release.[71]

  • Produced, Instruments and Programming by Giorgio Tuinfort and will.i.am
  • Mixed by will.i.am and Joe Peluso
  • Mastered by Joe Bozzi
  • Written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Justin Timberlake, The Game, ASAP Rocky, DJ Khaled and Giorgio Tuinfort
  • Piano by Giorgio Tuinfort
  • First Violin by Ben Mathot, Inger van Vliet, Marleen Wester, Tseroeja van den Bos and Sofie van der Pol
  • Second Violin by Judith van Driel, Loes Dooren, Diewertje Wanders and Azra Dizdar
  • Alt Violin by Ian de Jong, Yanna Pelser, Bas Goossens
  • Cello by David Faber and Jascha Bordon
  • Bass by Hinse Mutter
  • Horns by Jenneke de Jonge
  • Trumpet by Printz Board
  • Orchestra Midi Programming by Franck van der Heijden
  • Orchestra Arrangement by Franck van der Heijden and Giorgio Tuinfort
  • Orchestra recorded and mixed by Paul Power
  • Vocals recorded by will.i.am and padraic kerin
  • Main and additional vocals by The Black Eyed Peas, Justin Timberlake, Jamie Foxx, Ty Dolla $ign, 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.

Charts
Chart (2016) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[79] 15
Australia Digital Track Chart (ARIA)[80] 5
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[81] 12
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[82] 15
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[83] 6
Canadian Digital Songs (Billboard)[84] 21
Euro Digital Songs (Billboard)[85] 14
Finland Download (Latauslista)[86] 12
France (SNEP)[87] 26
Germany (Official German Charts)[88] 39
Luxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard)[89] 5
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tip)[90] 28
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[91] 3
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[92] 11
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[93] 58
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[94] 41
UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[95] 47
UK Download (Official Charts Company)[96] 11
US Digital Songs (Billboard)[97] 39
US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard)[98] 20

2016 Spanish/English version

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.[99]

See also
  • List of Romanian Top 100 number ones of the 2000s

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