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Where Is The Love?

Black Eyed Peas
Language: English


Black Eyed Peas

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[2003]
Written by will.i.am, Taboo, Apl.de.ap, Justin Timberlake, Ron Fair, Printz Board, George Pajon Jr., Mike Fratantuno, J. Curtis
Scritta da will.i.am, Taboo, Apl.de.ap, Justin Timberlake, Ron Fair, Printz Board, George Pajon Jr., Mike Fratantuno, J. Curtis
Album: Elephunk

whereisthelove"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.

The song was written by will.i.am, Taboo, apl.de.ap, Justin Timberlake (for technical reasons, Timberlake is not credited on the song), 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. Disturbed by these problems, The Peas call on assistance from Timberlake who pleads (presumably to God), "Father, Father, Father help us, send some guidance from above...'cause people got me got me questioning...Where is the love?". The single is notable for being the first Black Eyed Peas single to feature Fergie. 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.

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 diligent 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.

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.

Although The Peas and Timberlake were happy with it, Fair still had issues with the song. He felt that the song's production was too rough and needed new post production. will.i.am was not pleased and tried to resist at first, but finally relented to Fair. Given clearance, Fair then went with his production asssistants and made numerous changes to the song: Timberlake's vocals were edited, Fergie (who had joined since the making of the song) had her vocals added, the song's famous string section was added, and verses were switched around. Following the additional production of Fair, will.i.am was still not pleased and was able to reach a compromise that blended the best of both versions. When the song is performed live, Fergie does Timberlake's parts.

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

en.wikipedia
[Verse 1: will.i.am]
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 the things that'll bring a trauma
Overseas, yeah, we tryin' to 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
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love, this'll set us straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y'all

[Pre-Chorus: Justin Timberlake]
People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear 'em cryin'
Can you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?
Father, father, father, help us
Send some guidance from above
These people got me, got me questionin'

[Chorus: Justin Timberlake (and Fergie)]
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)

[Verse 2: Taboo]
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 ongoing sufferin' as the youth die young
So ask yourself, is the lovin' really gone?
So I can ask myself, really, what is going 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)
Where's the truth, y'all? (Come on, I don't know)
And where's the love y'all?

[Pre-Chorus: Justin Timberlake]
People killin', people dyin'
Children hurt and you hear them cryin'
Will you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?
Father, father, father, help us
Send some guidance from above
These people got me, got me questionin'

[Chorus: Justin Timberlake (and Fergie)]
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)

[Verse 3: Apl.de.ap]
I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I'm getting 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
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Whatever happened to the values of humanity?
Whatever happened to the fairness and equality?
Instead of spreadin' love we spreadin' animosity
Lack of understandin' leading 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 'til love is found
Now ask yourself…

[Bridge: will.i.am & Justin Timberlake]
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
These people got me, got me questionin'
Where is the love?

[Outro]
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
Something's wrong with it
Something's wrong with the w-w-world
We only got (one world, one world)
That's all we got (one world, one world)

Contributed by Alessio Gentili - 2004/12/25 - 11:19




Language: Italian

Versione italiana:
DOV'È L'AMORE

Cosa non va nel mondo, mama
Le persone si comportano come se non avessero una madre
Credo che non possiamo più fare a meno di eventi drammatici
siamo solo attratti da quello che ci può provocare un trauma
negli altri paesi si che cerchiamo di fermare il terrorismo
mentre nel nostro, gli Stati Uniti, i terroristi ci vivono ancora
la grande CIA, i teppisti, le sette occulte e il Klu Klux Klan

Ma se ami solo la tua razza
allora lasci spazio solo alla discriminazione
e la discriminazione crea solo odio
e quando si odia si finisce con l'arrabbiarsi
e la follia ne è la conseguenza
ed è proprio così che funziona la cosa
man, c'è bisogno d'amore solo per iniziare a sistemare tutto
dobbiamo essere padroni della nostra mente, meditare
e lasciare tutti che le nostre anime gravitino attorno all'amore

(Rit)

Gente che uccide gente che muore
i bambini che soffrono, li sentiamo piangere
vogliamo mettere in pratica le teorie che predichiamo
o preferiamo porgere l'altra guancia?
padre padre padre aiutaci
mandaci un segnale dall'alto che ci serva da guida
le persone mi fanno, mi fanno riflettere e pensare
dov'è l'amore...

(vs.2)

Non è più la stessa cosa con tutti i cambiamenti
i nuovi giorni sono strani
se tutto funzionasse nello stesso modo
se l'amore e la pace sono cosi forti
perché i pezzi dell'amore non s'incastrano?
i paesi buttano le bombe
i gas tossici riempiono i polmoni dei bambini
e le sofferenze continuano mentre i giovani sono giovani
e allora, poniamoci la domanda, l'amore è davvero scomparso?
e allora posso chiedermi veramente che cosa è andato storto
in questo nostro mondo
continuiamo ad arrenderci
e a prendere le decisioni sbagliate guardando solo il nostro profitto personale
senza rispettarci
negando il proprio fratello
C'è una guerra ma i motivi sono nascosti
la verità è tenuta nascosta
e messa nel dimenticatoio
se non si conosce mai la verità non si conoscerà mai l'amore
dov'è l'amore, tutti... dai, io non lo so
dov'è la verità, tutti... dai, io non lo so
dov'è l'amore

(rit.)

Sento il peso del mondo sulle spalle
mentre invecchio tutta la gente diventa più fredda
la maggior parte pensa solo a fare soldi
l'egoismo ci sta portando a seguire la direzione sbagliata
i media ci comunicano le notizie sbagliate
dare un'immagine negativa è il prerogativo
contaminando le giovani menti più velocemente dei batteri
i ragazzi vogliono imitare quello che vedono nei film

dove sono finiti i valori umani
dove sono finiti la correttezza e l'uguaglianza
invece di spargere amore
spargiamo animosità
da questa nostra posizione
portandoci lontano dall'unità
ed è per questo che a volte mi sento sopraffatto
ed è per questo che a volte mi sento giù
Non mi meraviglio se a volte mi sento sopraffatto
devo tener vivo il ritmo finchè l'amore non si trovi

Contributed by Alessio Gentili - 2004/12/25 - 11:20




Language: Spanish

Versione spagnola
¿DONDE ESTÀ EL AMOR?

¿que esta mal con el mundo,mama?
gente viviendo como si no tuviesen madre
yo creo que todo el mundo es adicto al drama
solamente atraido por cosas que te traeran traumas
Overseas, si, nosotros tratamos de impedir el terrorismo
pero seguimos teniendo terrosristas aqui viviendo
en los E.U.A, la gigantesca CIA
la sangre las criptas y el KKK
pero si unicamente le tienes amor a tu propia raza
entonces unicamente dejas espacio para descriminar
y al descriminar solamente generas odio
y al odiar te falta poco para encolerizarte, yeah
locura es lo que demuestras
y es exactamente asi como opera la ira
hombre, solo debes tener amor para mantener la normalidad
tomar control de tu mente y meditar
permite a tu alma gravitar alrededor del amor,

gente matando, gente muriendo
niños heridos a los cuales escuchas llorar
puedes tu practicar lo que predicas
y podrias tu poner la otra mejilla

padre, padre, padre ayudanos
envianos un guia desde el cielo
porque las personas me mantienen preguntandome
donde esta el amor (amor)

donde esta el amor (el amor)
donde esta el amor (el amor)
donde esta el amor
el amor , el amor

solo que no es lo mismo, siempre sin cambios
los nuevos dias son extraños, el mundo esta loco
si el amor y la paz son tan fuertes
¿por que hay piezas de amor que no encajan?
naciones soltando bombas
gases quimicos hiriendo los pulmones de los pequeñitos
con todo ese sufrimiento los jovenes mueren en la juventud
asi que preguntate a ti mismo esta el amor funcionando
asi que me pregunto que es lo que esta saliendo mal
en este mundo en que vivimos, en el que la gente sigue dando

tomando malas decisiones, solo viendo sus dividendos
sin respetarse unos a otros, negando a sus hermanos
una guerra esta ocurriendo con motivos secretos
la verdad se mantiene en secreto, esta escondida bajo la alfombra
si tu no conoces la verdad tu no conoces el amor
donde esta el amor, todos, vamos(no lo se)
donde esta el amor, todos, vamos(no lo se)
donde esta el amor, todos,

gente matando, gente muriendo
niños heridos a los cuales escuchas llorar
puedes tu practicar lo que predicas
y podrias tu poner la otra mejilla

padre, padre, padre ayudanos
envianos un guia desde el cielo
porque las personas me mantienen preguntandome
donde esta el amor (amor)

donde esta el amor (el amor)
donde esta el amor (el amor)
donde esta el amor
el amor , el amor

siento el peso del mundo sobre mis hombros
mientras envejezco la gente se vuelve mas fria
a la mayoria de nosotros solo nos importa hacer dinero
el egoismo nos guia en una mala direccion
la mala informacion es mostrada siempre por los medios
las imagenes negativas son el criterio principal
infectando las mentes jovenes mas rapido que las bacterias
los niños quieren actuar como lo que ven en el cine
lo que haya pasado a los valores de la humanidad
lo que haya pasado a la adoracion de la igualdad
en lugar de esparcir amor esparcimos animosidad
la falta d entendimiento nos aleja de la unidad
es esa la razon por la cual a veces me siento triste
es esa la razon por la cual a veces me siento deprimido
no hay nada asombroso en porque me siento triste
lo que a mi fe la mantiene viva es que alguna vez recuperemos al amor

People gente matando, gente muriendo
niños heridos a los cuales escuchas llorar
puedes tu practicar lo que predicas
y podrias tu poner la otra mejilla

padre, padre, padre ayudanos
envianos un guia desde el cielo
porque las personas me mantienen preguntandome
donde esta el amor (amor)

donde esta el amor (el amor)
donde esta el amor (el amor)
donde esta el amor (el amor)


donde esta el amor (el amor)
donde esta el amor (el amor)
donde esta el amor (el amor)

Contributed by aldo michell villanueva diaz - 2006/5/30 - 09:59




Language: Spanish

Versione spagnola da Filoètica
¿DONDE ESTÀ EL AMOR?

No es lo mismo,
a pesar de no haber cambios
los nuevos dias son extraños
¿Está este mundo loco?
Si la paz y el amor son tan fuertes
¿Porqué hay amores que se pierden?
Naciones lanzando bombas,
gases químicos
llenando los pulmones de los niños.
Con el sufrimiento continuo,
de una juventud que muere joven.
Así que pregúntate:
¿Ha desaparecido el amor?
Así podré preguntarme
qué es lo que va mal
en este mundo en el que vivimos
la gente sigue rindiéndose
tomando decisiones equivocadas
sólo fijándose en los beneficios
sin respetarse los unos a los otros
negando a tu hermano.
Estamos en guerra,
pero el motivo está camuflado.
La verdad es un secreto, está oculta.
Si no conoces la verdad,
no conoces el amor.

¿Dónde está el amor?, vamos (no lo sé)
¿Dónde está el amor?....

Gente matando, gente muriendo
niños heridos a los que escuchas llorar.
¿Puedes llevar a la práctica lo que rezas?
¿Pondrías la otra mejilla?

Padre, padre ayúdanos
guíanos desde arriba
Porque la gente me hace, me hace dudar
¿Dónde está el amor?....

Siento el peso del mundo en mis hombros.
A medida que me hago mayor,
la gente se hace más fria.
La mayoria de nosotros
sólo nos preocupamos de ganar dinero.
El egoismo nos hace
seguir nuestro propio camino.
Los medios siempre muestran
información errónea.
Su principal criterio
son las imágenes negativas
contaminando las mentes de los jóvenes
con más rapidez que una bacteria.
Los chicos hacen lo que ven en el cine.
Yo, haya pasado lo que haya pasado
con los valores de la humanidad:
haya pasado lo que haya pasado
con la doctrina de la igualdad.
En vez de propagar amor
difundimos rencor,
falta de entendimiento, lo que lejos de
unirnos nos separa más y más.
Esta es la razón
por la que me siento bajo de moral.
Esta es la razón
por la que me siento deprimido.
No hay duda del porqué
me siento bajo de moral,
tengo que mantener viva mi
esperanza por los que me aman.

¿Dónde está el amor?, vamos (no lo sé)
¿Dónde está el amor?....

Padre, padre ayúdanos
guíanos desde arriba
Porque la gente me hace, me hace dudar
¿Dónde está el amor?....

2005/8/6 - 00:24




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