Description
“Where Is the Love?” by The Black Eyed Peas is a socially conscious pop-rap and R&B song released on May 12, 2003 as the lead single from the group’s third studio album, Elephunk. The track was issued by A&M Records, will.i.am Music Group, and Interscope Records. It was written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Justin Timberlake, Printz Board, Michael Fratantuno, George Pajon Jr., and J. Curtis, and produced by will.i.am and Ron Fair.
Musically, “Where Is the Love?” blends pop rap, conscious hip-hop, and R&B with a melodic, radio-friendly production. The song is built around a steady mid-tempo groove, rap verses, a sung chorus, and an emotional arrangement that includes guitar, programmed drums, bass, keyboards, and layered vocals. According to the song’s background, will.i.am created a loop and guitar part after Christmas 2001, while Justin Timberlake later helped write and sing the chorus, although he was not officially credited as a featured artist on the single release.
The lyrics address many social and political issues, including terrorism, racism, gang violence, war, pollution, intolerance, and media violence. Although the song was shaped by the anxiety that followed the September 11 attacks, it also reflected the political mood of the early 2000s, including references connected to the Iraq War. Its central question — “Where is the love?” — works as a simple but powerful call for empathy and unity.
“Where Is the Love?” became a major commercial breakthrough for The Black Eyed Peas. It peaked at No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in 15 countries, including the United Kingdom, where it became the biggest-selling single of 2003. The song also received two nominations at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards: Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
One important curiosity is that “Where Is the Love?” was the first Black Eyed Peas single to feature Fergie as an official member, helping define the group’s new mainstream sound. Another interesting detail is that Justin Timberlake sings the famous chorus but does not appear in the music video and was not officially credited on the single, partly because he was promoting his solo album Justified at the time.
The music video was directed by will.i.am and filmed in East Los Angeles. It shows the group spreading question-mark stickers around the city, using the symbol as a visual way to ask where love, empathy, and responsibility have gone. The video also includes references to violent video games and youth culture, reinforcing the song’s message about media, society, and conflict.
Lyrics
What's wrong with the world, mama?
People livin' like they ain't got no mamas
I think the whole world's addicted to the drama
Only attracted to things that'll bring you trauma
Overseas, yeah, we tryna stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin'
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods, and the Crips, and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate, then you're bound to get irate, yeah
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love just to set it straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all, y'all
People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt, and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?
Father, Father, Father, help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love? (Love)
Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love?
It just ain't the same, old ways have changed
New days are strange, is the world insane?
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don't belong?
Nations droppin' bombs
Chemical gases fillin' lungs of little ones
With ongoin' sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself, is the lovin' really gone?
So I can ask myself, really, what is goin' wrong
With this world that we livin' in? People keep on givin' in
Makin' wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin' each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin' on, but the reason's undercover
The truth is kept secret and swept under the rug
If you never know truth, then you never know love
Where's the love, y'all? Come on (I don't know)
And where's the truth, y'all? Come on (I don't know)
And where's the love, y'all?
People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt, and you hear them cryin'
Can you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?
Father, Father, Father, help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love? (Love)
Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love? (The love)
Where is the love, the love, the love?
I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm gettin' older, y'all people gets colder
Most of us only care about money-makin'
Selfishness got us followin' the wrong direction
Wrong information always shown by the media
Negative images is the main criteria
Infectin' the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Yo, whatever happened to the values of humanity? (Yeah)
Whatever happened to the fairness and equality? (Yeah)
Instead of spreadin' love, we spreadin' animosity (yeah)
Lack of understandin' leadin' us away from unity
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under
That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down
It's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under
Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found
Now ask yourself
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Father, Father, Father, help us
Send some guidance from above
'Cause people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love?
Now sing with me, y'all (one world, one world)
We only got (one world, one world)
That's all we got (one world, one world)
And something's wrong with it (yeah)
Something's wrong with it (yeah)
Something's wrong with the wo-world-world, yeah
We only got (one world, one world)
That's all we got (one world, one world)
Youtube video
Songs links
Specification
“Where Is the Love?” by The Black Eyed Peas is a socially conscious pop-rap and R&B song released on May 12, 2003 as the lead single from the group’s third studio album, Elephunk. The track was issued by A&M Records, will.i.am Music Group, and Interscope Records. It was written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Justin Timberlake, Printz Board, Michael Fratantuno, George Pajon Jr., and J. Curtis, and produced by will.i.am and Ron Fair.
Musically, “Where Is the Love?” blends pop rap, conscious hip-hop, and R&B with a melodic, radio-friendly production. The song is built around a steady mid-tempo groove, rap verses, a sung chorus, and an emotional arrangement that includes guitar, programmed drums, bass, keyboards, and layered vocals. According to the song’s background, will.i.am created a loop and guitar part after Christmas 2001, while Justin Timberlake later helped write and sing the chorus, although he was not officially credited as a featured artist on the single release.
The lyrics address many social and political issues, including terrorism, racism, gang violence, war, pollution, intolerance, and media violence. Although the song was shaped by the anxiety that followed the September 11 attacks, it also reflected the political mood of the early 2000s, including references connected to the Iraq War. Its central question — “Where is the love?” — works as a simple but powerful call for empathy and unity.
“Where Is the Love?” became a major commercial breakthrough for The Black Eyed Peas. It peaked at No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in 15 countries, including the United Kingdom, where it became the biggest-selling single of 2003. The song also received two nominations at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards: Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
One important curiosity is that “Where Is the Love?” was the first Black Eyed Peas single to feature Fergie as an official member, helping define the group’s new mainstream sound. Another interesting detail is that Justin Timberlake sings the famous chorus but does not appear in the music video and was not officially credited on the single, partly because he was promoting his solo album Justified at the time.
The music video was directed by will.i.am and filmed in East Los Angeles. It shows the group spreading question-mark stickers around the city, using the symbol as a visual way to ask where love, empathy, and responsibility have gone. The video also includes references to violent video games and youth culture, reinforcing the song’s message about media, society, and conflict.
Specification
“Where Is the Love?” by The Black Eyed Peas is a socially conscious pop-rap and R&B song released on May 12, 2003 as the lead single from the group’s third studio album, Elephunk. The track was issued by A&M Records, will.i.am Music Group, and Interscope Records. It was written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Justin Timberlake, Printz Board, Michael Fratantuno, George Pajon Jr., and J. Curtis, and produced by will.i.am and Ron Fair.
Musically, “Where Is the Love?” blends pop rap, conscious hip-hop, and R&B with a melodic, radio-friendly production. The song is built around a steady mid-tempo groove, rap verses, a sung chorus, and an emotional arrangement that includes guitar, programmed drums, bass, keyboards, and layered vocals. According to the song’s background, will.i.am created a loop and guitar part after Christmas 2001, while Justin Timberlake later helped write and sing the chorus, although he was not officially credited as a featured artist on the single release.
The lyrics address many social and political issues, including terrorism, racism, gang violence, war, pollution, intolerance, and media violence. Although the song was shaped by the anxiety that followed the September 11 attacks, it also reflected the political mood of the early 2000s, including references connected to the Iraq War. Its central question — “Where is the love?” — works as a simple but powerful call for empathy and unity.
“Where Is the Love?” became a major commercial breakthrough for The Black Eyed Peas. It peaked at No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in 15 countries, including the United Kingdom, where it became the biggest-selling single of 2003. The song also received two nominations at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards: Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
One important curiosity is that “Where Is the Love?” was the first Black Eyed Peas single to feature Fergie as an official member, helping define the group’s new mainstream sound. Another interesting detail is that Justin Timberlake sings the famous chorus but does not appear in the music video and was not officially credited on the single, partly because he was promoting his solo album Justified at the time.
The music video was directed by will.i.am and filmed in East Los Angeles. It shows the group spreading question-mark stickers around the city, using the symbol as a visual way to ask where love, empathy, and responsibility have gone. The video also includes references to violent video games and youth culture, reinforcing the song’s message about media, society, and conflict.
Specification
“Where Is the Love?” by The Black Eyed Peas is a socially conscious pop-rap and R&B song released on May 12, 2003 as the lead single from the group’s third studio album, Elephunk. The track was issued by A&M Records, will.i.am Music Group, and Interscope Records. It was written by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Justin Timberlake, Printz Board, Michael Fratantuno, George Pajon Jr., and J. Curtis, and produced by will.i.am and Ron Fair.
Musically, “Where Is the Love?” blends pop rap, conscious hip-hop, and R&B with a melodic, radio-friendly production. The song is built around a steady mid-tempo groove, rap verses, a sung chorus, and an emotional arrangement that includes guitar, programmed drums, bass, keyboards, and layered vocals. According to the song’s background, will.i.am created a loop and guitar part after Christmas 2001, while Justin Timberlake later helped write and sing the chorus, although he was not officially credited as a featured artist on the single release.
The lyrics address many social and political issues, including terrorism, racism, gang violence, war, pollution, intolerance, and media violence. Although the song was shaped by the anxiety that followed the September 11 attacks, it also reflected the political mood of the early 2000s, including references connected to the Iraq War. Its central question — “Where is the love?” — works as a simple but powerful call for empathy and unity.
“Where Is the Love?” became a major commercial breakthrough for The Black Eyed Peas. It peaked at No. 8 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and topped the charts in 15 countries, including the United Kingdom, where it became the biggest-selling single of 2003. The song also received two nominations at the 46th Annual Grammy Awards: Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
One important curiosity is that “Where Is the Love?” was the first Black Eyed Peas single to feature Fergie as an official member, helping define the group’s new mainstream sound. Another interesting detail is that Justin Timberlake sings the famous chorus but does not appear in the music video and was not officially credited on the single, partly because he was promoting his solo album Justified at the time.
The music video was directed by will.i.am and filmed in East Los Angeles. It shows the group spreading question-mark stickers around the city, using the symbol as a visual way to ask where love, empathy, and responsibility have gone. The video also includes references to violent video games and youth culture, reinforcing the song’s message about media, society, and conflict.
