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 band's first song to feature singer Fergie as an official member.

"Where Is the Love?" saw success on radio airplay charts, 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 Grammy Awards.

A new version "#WHERESTHELOVE" by The Black Eyed Peas featuring The World was released on August 31, 2016, in collaboration with a great number of artists within the music industry. The proceeds of the charity single will go to educational programs.

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.

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 allegedly introduced to the group by new band member Fergie, 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.

Composition
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, intolerance, and violence against LGBT people.

Reception
The song was rewarded with nominations at the 46th 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.

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 the chorus as he sings it.

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 graphically explicit 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.

Covers
British pop band Busted did a rock version of the song, which features on their live album, A Ticket for Everyone.

The Voice UK contestant Frances Wood sang the song at her audition and chose will.i.am to be her mentor.

Japanese pop singer Sho Sakurai of Arashi re-wrote the rap lyrics in Japanese language and performed his cover version at his solo concert in 2006.

At the Mnet Asian Music Awards (commonly abbreviated as MAMA) promotional held in Singapore in 2011, will.i.am apl.de.ap performed the song with friend and collaborator, K-pop vocalist and rapper CL of 2NE1 performing Taboo and Fergie's part.

The X Factor Israel contestant Inbal Bibi sang the song at the live shows and received positive reviews.

Formats and track listings

 * CD maxi
 * 1) "Where Is the Love?" – 4:35
 * 2) "Somethin' for That Ass" – 3:53
 * 3) "What's Goin Down" – 2:43
 * 4) "Where Is the Love?" (music video) - 4:35


 * CD single
 * 1) "Where Is the Love?" – 4:35
 * 2) "Somethin' for That Ass" – 3:53

Personnel

 * Arranged by Ron Fair
 * Writers – will.i.am, Justin Timberlake, Taboo, apl.de.ap, Printz Board, Michael Fratantuno, George Pajon, Jr.
 * Producers – will.i.am, Ron Fair

2016 version
On August 31, 2016, a new version of the song titled "#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. The song samples the original track but has additional music composition and features additional vocals from 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. 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. 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.

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, Ben Barnes, Nikki Reed, Bridgit Mendler, Jessica Szohr, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Kris Jenner and Kendall Jenner, as well as family members affected by gun violence (Alton Sterling's aunt Sandra, Philando Castile's mother Valerie) and police officials (Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown, Officer Miguel Salcedo, and more).

"I remember when the attack in Paris happened, people would say, 'We need "Where Is the Love?" again.' And then Belgium happened, and then Turkey, and then Orlando, and then Philando (Castile), and then Alton (Sterling) before him, and then Dallas. Everyone was calling on us like, 'We need that song again," will.i.am said explaining the new version of the song. He continued, "Millennials are powerful, I don't think they realize just how powerful they are. I hope this song inspires the millennials to go all out, scream from the tallest mountain, care like your freedom depends on it. Pay attention like that is at risk."

Track listing

 * Digital download
 * 1) "#WHERESTHELOVE" (featuring The World) – 5:25

Personnel
Credits adapted from the official press release.


 * Produced by will.i.am and Giorgio Tuinfort
 * 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
 * Instruments and Programming by Giorgio Tuinfort and will.i.am
 * 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.

2016 Spanish/English version
The Black Eyed Peas also released a bilingual Spanish/English version of "#WHERESTHELOVE", titled "#DóndeEstáElAmor?" 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.