Where Is the Love?

This article is about the Black Eyed Peas song. For the Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway song, see Where Is the Love. 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"
Released	June 16, 2003
Format	CD single
Recorded	December 26, 2001–March 3, 2003
Genre	Hip hop, hip hop soul
Length	8:29 (Album version) 3:51 (Radio edit)
Label	A&M, will.i.am, Interscope
Writer(s)	Will Adams; Justin Timberlake; Jaime Gomez; Allen Pineda; Printz Board; Michael Fratantuno; George Pajon, Jr.; J. Curtis
Producer	will.i.am, Ron Fair
The Black Eyed Peas singles chronology
"Request + Line" (2001) "Where Is the Love?" (2003) "Shut Up" (2003)

"Where Is the Love?" is a song recorded by the American hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas for their third album, Elephunk. It is the band's first record to feature Fergie. The song features vocals from Justin Timberlake, although he is not officially credited on the single release.

The single was released as the album's lead single in 2003. It has peaked at number eight in the United States, becoming The Black Eyed Peas' first Top 10 hit, while it peaked at number one in Australia and the United Kingdom. The band received two nominations, Record of the Year and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, for "Where Is the Love?" at the 46th Grammy Awards.

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. Taboo and apl.de.ap also heard the track and were able to write similar lyrics over it. Justin Timberlake was allegedly introduced to the band 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 album, Justified, and his label Jive Records was concerned about possible overexposure. The 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. The song has so far sold 954,000 digital copies.

Composition

The song was written by will.i.am, Taboo, apl.de.ap, 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.

Critical 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.

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 try to 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 UK television advertisement for T-Mobile, in which a face of a young baby is presented in various forms around a large city, much like how the question mark is 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

Pop punk band Busted did a rock version of the song, featuring on their album A Present for Everyone (2003). It also features on their live album A Ticket for Everyone. Shirley Bassey also covered the song on her 2007 album, Get the Party Started.

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
• Engineered by Dylan Dresdow and Tal Herzberg
• Assistant by Christine Sirois
• Vocals by will.i.am, apl.de.ap, Taboo, Fergie and Justin Timberlake
• Produced by Ron Fair

Charts

Peak positions

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)	1
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 75)	1
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)	1
Belgium (Ultratop 40 Wallonia)	19
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)	5
Denmark (Tracklisten)	1
European Hot 100 Singles	1
France (SNEP)	16
Germany (Media Control AG)	1
Hungary (Single Top 10)	3
Ireland (IRMA)	1
Italy (FIMI)	3
Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)	1
New Zealand (RIANZ)	1
Norway (VG-lista)	1
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)	1
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)	1
UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)	1
US Billboard Hot 100	8
US Pop Songs (Billboard)	1
US Hot Dance Club Songs (Billboard)	17

End of year charts

End of year chart (2003)	Position
Australian Singles Chart	3
Austrian Singles Chart	10
Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart	10
Dutch Top 40	4
French Singles Chart	78
Irish Singles Chart	2
New Zealand Singles Chart	2
Swiss Singles Chart	2
UK Singles Chart	1

Decade-end charts

(2000–2009)	Position
German Singles Chart	89

Certifications

Country	Certification	Date	Sales certified
Australia	2x Platinum	2003	140,000
Belgium	Gold	November 22, 2003	25,000
Germany	Gold	2003	150,000
Norway	Platinum	2003	10,000
UK	Platinum	October 31, 2003	600,000
U.S.	Gold	October 25, 2004	500,000

Chart procession and succession

Order of precedence
Preceded by "Evergreen"/"Anything is Possible" by Will Young	Top selling single of the year (UK) 2003	Succeeded by "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid 20
Preceded by "Ignition (Remix)" by R. Kelly "Not Me, Not I" by Delta Goodrem	Australian ARIA Singles Chart number-one single August 24, 2003 – September 14, 2003 October 5, 2003 – October 12, 2003	Succeeded by "White Flag" by Dido "Rise Up" by Australian Idol – The Final 12
Preceded by "Breathe" by Blu Cantrell	Irish IRMA number-one single September 6, 2003 – November 1, 2003	Succeeded by "Be Faithful" by Fatman Scoop featuring The Crooklyn Clan
Preceded by "Are You Ready for Love" by Elton John	UK number one single September 7 – October 19, 2003	Succeeded by "Hole in the Head" by Sugababes
Preceded by "Hver dag" by Ufo Yepha	Danish number-one single September 12, 2003 – October 24, 2003	Succeeded by "Guilty" by Blue
Preceded by "Never Leave You - Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh!" by Lumidee	Swiss number-one single September 21, 2003 – November 16, 2003	Succeeded by "Aïcha" by Outlandish
Preceded by "Aïcha" by Outlandish	Dutch Top 40 number-one single September 27, 2003 – October 4, 2003	Succeeded by "Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime" by Nena and Kim Wilde
Preceded by "Wild at Heart" by David "Wild at Heart" by David "White Flag" by Dido	Norwegian VG-lista number-one single 41/2003 43/2003 45/2003 – 46/2003	Succeeded by "Wild at Heart" by David "White Flag" by Dido "Hey Ya!" by Outkast
Preceded by "Never Leave You – Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh!" by Lumidee	Belgian (Flanders) number-one single October 4, 2003 – October 25, 2003	Succeeded by "You Are the Reason" by Sarah & Koen Wauters
Preceded by "White Flag" by Dido	German number-one single October 10, 2003 – October 31, 2003	Succeeded by "Schick mir 'nen Engel" by Overground
Preceded by "Never Leave You – Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh!" by Lumidee	Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single October 11, 2003 – November 22, 2003	Succeeded by "Me Against the Music" by Britney Spears and Madonna
Preceded by "White Flag" by Dido	Ö3 Austria Top 40 number-one single October 26, 2003 – November 16, 2003	Succeeded by "Schick mir 'nen Engel" by Overground
Preceded by "Aïcha" by Outlandish	Swedish number-one single November 5, 2003	Succeeded by "Aïcha" by Outlandish