Where Is the Love?
| Company type | Single |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | May 12, 2003 |
| Founder | will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Justin Timberlake, Printz Board, Michael Fratantuno, George Pajon |
| Products | Single from album Elephunk |
Where Is the Love? is a 2003 single by the American hip hop ensemble the Black Eyed Peas, issued on May 12 as the lead track from their third studio album, Elephunk. The song was penned by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Justin Timberlake, Printz Board, Michael Fratantuno, and George Pajon. It features uncredited vocal contributions from Timberlake and marks the debut official appearance of vocalist Fergie within the group.
The single attained notable commercial acclaim, peaking at number eight on the US Billboard Hot 100 and securing the top position in Australia, Ireland, and the United Kingdom—where it became the highest-selling single of 2003. At the 46th Annual Grammy Awards, both the band and Timberlake received nominations for Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration.
Background
Following the underperformance of their previous albums and singles, the Black Eyed Peas faced an uncertain future. A&R executive Ron Fair recommended adopting a more mainstream pop style. Although will.i.am was initially reluctant, concerned about being labeled sellouts, the concept was pursued after thorough discussions and songwriting sessions. After "Where Is The Love" was released, Taboo remarked that if they were to compromise their artistic integrity, he preferred "selling out arenas rather than selling out of my trunk on the corner of my block."
In a 2016 interview with The Telegraph, will.i.am disclosed that the song’s creation was influenced by the anxiety following the September 11 attacks. He recounted witnessing the first plane strike the World Trade Center while recording in San Francisco, an event that profoundly impacted him and shaped the emotional core of the track.
Shortly after Christmas in 2001, will.i.am developed a loop and guitar segment that attracted apl.de.ap and Taboo’s interest; they contributed lyrics to complete it. Taboo introduced Justin Timberlake to the song, who assisted in writing and performing the chorus. Production halted in early 2002 due to exhaustion within the group caused by stress related to 9/11 during their tour.
At that time, Timberlake was promoting his debut solo album, Justified, and his label, Jive Records, expressed concerns about excessive exposure. A compromise was reached permitting Timberlake’s vocal presence on the track but excluding him from appearing in the music video or receiving official artist credit. By 2008, "Where Is The Love" had sold 954,000 digital copies.
Composition
Originally inspired by post-9/11 tension, this song addresses themes such as terrorism, hypocrisy within the US government, racism, gang violence, environmental pollution, war, and intolerance—all connected through a unifying appeal for love in its chorus. The lyrics draw parallels between domestic terrorism and international terrorism by referencing groups like the CIA, Bloods, Crips, and KKK; however, mentions of the CIA were omitted in subsequent live performances. Released amid the Iraq War, it subtly references this conflict with the line "A war's going on but the reason's undercover."
Set at a tempo of 94 BPM, will.i.am crafted the primary rhythm inspired by a human heartbeat to create an instinctive emotional resonance through its beat.
Reception
As a track from the album Elephunk, this song played a significant role in achieving both critical acclaim and commercial triumph. The album Elephunk achieved a Metacritic rating of 66 out of 100 and had sold 3.2 million units by 2011. David Jeffries from Drowned in Sound lauded the track as a highly anticipated success, delivering a powerful, socially aware message reminiscent of Marvin Gaye's style. According to The Washington Post, "Where Is the Love" was instrumental in establishing Black Eyed Peas' mainstream breakthrough. In contrast, Entertainment Weekly expressed criticism for the track's shift away from the group's rap origins, describing it as clichéd despite Justin Timberlake’s participation. Chris Nettleson from Drowned in Sound labeled it a "somewhat saccharine hippie anti-Gulf War anthem," while also recognizing its importance within the album’s overall theme.
From a commercial perspective, this single was the top-selling track in the UK for 2003 and ranked as the 25th highest-selling single of the entire 2000s decade in that country.
Music video
The official video for "Where Is the Love?" was filmed in East Los Angeles under the direction of group member will.i.am. It showcases the Black Eyed Peas alongside various individuals, including children, all questioning the existence of love in society. Within the video, will.i.am and Taboo portray a soul music duo that highlights social issues, Fergie appears as a peace advocate placing question mark stickers throughout, and apl.de.ap plays a character arrested for revealing uncomfortable truths through his actions. Justin Timberlake does not feature in the video due to his focus on promoting his album Justified, though other performers lip-sync his parts.
The video incorporates posters from the 2002 game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City with question marks superimposed to protest its violent content. It also displays scenes from the contentious 2003 shooter Postal 2, showing children engaging with the game to imply media violence’s detrimental effect on youth. Running with Scissors, creators of Postal, later confirmed they received compensation for allowing their footage to be used. As of April 2024, this YouTube clip has surpassed one billion views.
Track listings
UK CD single
- "Where Is the Love?"
- "Sumthin for That Ass"
- "Where Is the Love?" (instrumental)
- "Where Is the Love?" (video)
European CD single
- "Where Is the Love?"
- "Sumthin for That Ass"
Australian CD single
- "Where Is the Love?"
- "Sumthin for That Ass"
- "What's Going Down"
- "Where Is the Love?" (video)
Personnel
- Arrangement by Ron Fair
- Songwriters – will.i.am, Justin Timberlake, Taboo, apl.de.ap, Printz Board, Michael Fratantuno, George Pajon, Jr.
- Production – will.i.am, Ron Fair
Weekly charts
Template:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chartTemplate:Single chart| Chart (2003–2004) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada CHR (Nielsen BDS) | 1 |
| Croatia (Croatian Radiotelevision) | 2 |
| Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100) | 3 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 (Billboard) | 1 |
| Greece (IFPI Greece) | 30 |
| Chart (2003–2004) | Peak position |
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| Chart (2003–2004) | Peak position |
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| Chart (2003–2004) | Peak position |
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| Chart (2003–2004) | Peak position |
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| Chart (2003–2004) | Peak position |
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| Chart (2003–2004) | Peak position |
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Year-end rankings
| Chart (2003) | Ranking |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 3 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) | 10 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) | 10 |
| CIS (TopHit) | 14 |
| Eurochart Hot 100 (Billboard) | 2 |
| France (SNEP) | 78 |
| Germany (Media Control GfK) | 8 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 2 |
| Italy (FIMI) | 13 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) | 4 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100) | 19 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ) | 2 |
| Romania (Romanian Top 100) | 70 |
| Russia Airplay (TopHit) | 147 |
| Sweden (Hitlistan) | 7 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) | 2 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 1 |
| UK Urban (Music Week) | 28 |
| US Billboard Hot 100 | 26 |
| US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard) | 1 |
| US Rhythmic Top 40 (Billboard) | 23 |
| Chart (2004) | Ranking |
|---|---|
| Brazil (Crowley Broadcast Analysis) | 20 |
Decade-end rankings
| Chart (2000–2009) | Ranking |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA) | 35 |
| Germany (Media Control GfK) | 89 |
| UK Singles (OCC) | 25 |
All-time rankings
| Chart | Ranking |
|---|---|
| UK Singles (OCC) | 152 |
Release timeline
| Territory | Release date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | May 12, 2003 | Template:Center | ||
| June 3, 2003 | 12-inch vinyl | Template:Center | ||
| France | July 16, 2003 | CD single | Polydor Records | Template:Center |
| Australia | July 28, 2003 | Maxi single | Universal Music | Template:Center |
| Germany | September 1, 2003 | |||
| United Kingdom |
2016 version
On August 31, 2016, the track "Where's the Love?" (presented as #WHERESTHELOVE), attributed to "The Black Eyed Peas featuring The World," was made available digitally on iTunes and various other platforms. This rendition incorporates elements from the original while introducing fresh arrangements and vocals contributed by artists such as 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, alongside a children's choir.
The earnings from this release were directed to support will.i.am's charitable organization, the i.am.angel foundation, which focuses on education and scholarship funding. This launch was part of a collaborative initiative involving the media firm ATTN and geospatial company Esri. Notably, this song represents the final contribution of singer Fergie with the group.
Music video
Michael Jurkovac helmed the music video’s direction, which debuted worldwide on Apple Music. It features performances by the vocalists alongside numerous 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, Omarion, Jessica Szohr, Snoop Dogg, LL Cool J, Ryan Guzman, Adrianne Palicki, Becky G, Adrienne Bailon, Kris Jenner, and Kendall Jenner.
Inspired by significant incidents such as the 2015 Paris attacks, 2016 Brussels bombings, Orlando nightclub shooting, and police shootings of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, The Black Eyed Peas revived this song to connect with contemporary audiences. The video also features family members impacted by gun violence as well as law enforcement representatives to highlight its social message.
Personnel
According to official press documentation:
- Production, instrumentation, and programming: Giorgio Tuinfort and will.i.am
- Mixing engineers: will.i.am and Joe Peluso
- Mastering engineer: Joe Bozzi
- Songwriters: will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Justin Timberlake, The Game, ASAP Rocky, DJ Khaled, Giorgio Tuinfort
- Piano performance: Giorgio Tuinfort
- Strings performed by Ben Mathot and others (violins), David Faber and Jascha Bordon (cello)
- Horns by Jenneke de Jonge; Trumpet by Printz Board
- Orchestral arrangement and programming handled by Franck van der Heijden and Giorgio Tuinfort; recording and mixing by Paul Power
- Vocal recordings conducted by will.i.am and Padraic Kerin
- Lead and additional vocals provided by Black Eyed Peas members along with Justin Timberlake, Jamie Foxx, Ty Dolla $ign, Mary J. Blige, Diddy, Cassie Ventura, Andra Day, The Game, Tori Kelly, V. Bozeman, Jessie J, French Montana, DJ Khaled, Usher, Nicole Scherzinger, ASAP Rocky, Jaden Smith plus a 40-member children’s choir named The World.
| Chart (2016) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia Digital Track Chart (ARIA Charts) | 5 |
| Canadian Digital Songs (Billboard) | 21 |
| Euro Digital Songs (Billboard) | 14 |
| Germany (Official German Charts) | 39 |
| Italy (Musica e Dischi) | 44 |
| Luxembourg Digital Songs (Billboard) | 5 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tip) | 28 |
| New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ) | 3 |
! scope="row"| US Digital Songs (Billboard) | 39 |} ! scope="row"| US Pop Digital Songs (Billboard) |} 20
2016 Spanish/English rendition
In 2016, The Black Eyed Peas unveiled a bilingual rendition of "Where's the Love?" named "Dónde Está El Amor?" which included a collaboration with El Mundo. This version debuted on November 7, 2016, at the Premios de la Radio event. Shortly after, the accompanying music video was released, featuring notable Latin musicians such as Gerardo Ortíz, Milkman, Pepe Aguilar, Becky G, Fey, Paulina Rubio, and Luis Coronel.
See also
- ↑ "Where Is the Love?". Amazon.de. Retrieved March 29, 2022.