Where Is The Love?

Album: Elephunk (2003)
Charted: 1 8
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Songfacts®:

  • This song is about the state of post 9/11 world, which all but calls for US withdrawal from Iraq. Group member Ron Fair started writing it late in 2001, and another member, will.i.am, added the socially conscious lyrics.
  • This was co-written by Justin Timberlake, who also sang on the track. He came up the chorus after hearing the song on the phone.
  • The group talked about the initial inspiration for this song when they made a new version 13 years later:

    Taboo: "I just remember the day of 9/11, Will comes in running to the room and he says, 'Yo! We're being attacked."

    apl.de.ap: "And then we saw the second plane and then reality sets in."

    will.i.am: "My grandma said a prayer, and said that we shouldn't stay at home afraid when you're being called on to do as much healing as you can with the gift that was given to us."

    Taboo: "There was a lot of separatism, racism, and we felt like the question we had been asking was like, 'Yo, where's the love?'"
  • The song took a long time to develop. By the time they recorded the version on the Elephunk, The Black Eyed Peas added a string section and recorded vocals by their new member: a female singer named Fergie. They had also changed their sound to appeal to a wider audience.
  • Justin Timberlake was not listed as a featured singer on this and did not appear in the video. His record company wanted to keep his contribution to this low-key because they didn't want it to interfere with his album Justified.
  • This song got lots of love in the UK, where it was #1 for six weeks, remarkable since the band was little-known in Britain. It was the longest-serving British #1 in five years and the best selling record of 2003 in the UK.
  • The group performed this on the Grammy Awards, where it was nominated for Record of the Year but lost to "Clocks" by Coldplay. The ceremony took place February 8, 2004, exactly one week after Justin Timberlake tore off a piece of Janet Jackson's outfit during the Super Bowl halftime show to reveal her bare breast. Jackson was pilloried and uninvited to the Grammy Awards, but Timberlake got to perform on the show and collect two awards. On stage, they kept him far away from Fergie at all times.
  • The Black Eyed Peas released a new version of the song on August 31, 2016. Will.i.am said the remake was inspired by tragic events that were happening throughout the world.

    "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, and then Alton before him, and then Dallas," he said. "Everyone was calling on us, like, we need that song again."
  • The Peas roped in some of their famous friends for the reworking including Justin Timberlake, Usher, Jamie Foxx, The Game, Mary J. Blige, Jessie J, Jessica Szohr, Nicole Scherzinger, Diddy, DJ Khaled, Andra Day, Tori Kelly, Ty Dolla $ign, Jaden Smith and ASAP Rocky.
  • Proceeds from the new version benefit several charities including the Alton Sterling Fund, Dallas Police Officers, the Philando Castile Fund and will.i.am's non-profit i.am.angel Foundation, which helps communities in crisis.
  • The video for the remake features cameos from several additional stars including Kendall Jenner, Quincy Jones, Vanessa Hudgens and Wiz Khalifa. Dallas Police Chief David O Brown and Sandra Sterling, the aunt who raised the late Alton Sterling, also make appearances.
  • On the remix, DJ Khaled changes his trademark "They don't want you to win" line during his contribution on the bridge into "They don't want us to love." Will.i.am told Genius:

    "I placed it over the a cappella break where we have Justin Timberlake, Nicole Scherzinger and Usher, and it fit perfectly over that. He's been saying 'They don't want you to win' for a long time and that line in particular makes you question—who the f--- are 'they' anyway. Those are haters. When he says 'They don't want us to love' in this song it's like, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa, who are 'they'?' They don't want us to have the values of humanity, they don't want us to unite. A lot of times people laugh at that DJ Khaled line, but here it's like, 'Pay attention, that's heavy.'"
  • The Game wrote his verse in 20 minutes. "Everyone is into social activism when they heart things and retweet things, but we need more from people," will.i.am. commented. "Retweeting is great and liking things is awesome, but let's do more together. Game's verse summed up what's going on in America's inner cities and what's going on in people's frame of mind on social media activism."
  • The lyrics, "The Bloods, the Crips and the KKK" are a reference to two Los Angeles-based gangs and the Ku Klux Klan hate group.
  • The male members of Black Eyed Peas performed this at the One Love Manchester concert on June 4, 2017, with Ariana Grande filling in for Fergie. The concert, viewed by over 11 million in Britain, raised over $3 million for the victims of the suicide bombing at Grande's May 22 concert at the Manchester Arena. The day after the show, "Where Is The Love?" went to #7 on the iTunes chart.

Comments: 45

  • Rick Grimes from Atlanta, GeorgiaWe do what we have to do, that we get to live. I think about the dead all the time.
  • Yazan Martinez from QueenslandThere's no simile or any language features it doesn't say it.
  • Danni Neilson from Bundaberg, QueenslandI love the song it shows how the past has changed and can be different from the future by making all colours equal!
  • Kokooza Aziz from UgandaI like this song with power full message.
  • Siahara Shyne Carter from United StatesI 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, it's the main criteria

    Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria

    Kids want to act like what they see in the cinema

    Yo', whatever happened to the values of humanity

    Whatever happened to the fairness in equality

    Instead in spreading love we're spreading animosity

    Lack of understanding, leading lives away from unity

    That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' under

    That's the reason why sometimes I'm feelin' down

    There's no wonder why sometimes I'm feelin' under

    Gotta keep my faith alive till love is found now Askk Yourself !!!! ~_~


    My FAVORITE LINE
  • Monica Watkins from Jacksonville, FloridaIts March 25, 2020. Today is the first time I've heard this. It's AWESOME, BEAUTIFUL, INSPIRATIONAL, AND EXTREMELY WELL WRITTEN. I love watching William on the Voice and AGT. With Trump in office as well as the Pandemic we are dealing with, I feel like once again they need ressurect WHERE IS THE LOVE once again. I'm a die-hard music lover. I know good music. Music tells a story.
  • Ty from BelgiumHello guys, You are all real B.E.P. fans I guess so I have a question for you. I'm from Belgium and my teachers gave my the task to listen to the song ' Where is the love ' and she gave my also some questions and I need some help please ( I know some answers but I need good answers) so if someone can help me please ???
    the song is beautiful and I need the answers fast so......

    1. What is this song about?
    2. "I think the whole world is addicted to the drama
    only attracted to thing that will bring you trauma. do you agree? and why ? ( Yes....)
    3. According to the lyrics who are considered "local" terrorists?
    4. What does "irate" mean?
    5. What is discrimination?
    6. What does discrimination create? ( IDK)
    7. What can stop discrimination according to the song? ( IDK)
    8 What is the meaning of expression "to set someone or something straight" (IDK)
    9. Explain and give my an example of "practice what you preach" (IDK)
    10. Which do you support "To turn the onther sheek" or "an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth"? ( I don't know what these expressions mean)
    11. What/who do the artists refer to in the following. "Why are there pieces of love that don't belong? ( That's poëtrie or something?)
    12. According to the lyrics what do people have vision of? What does that mean? ( IDK)
    13. Which expression is used or a cover-up? (IDK)
    14. Share you opinion on "if you never know truth you never know love"
    15. Which expression is used to say that the artist feels sad and worried about the state of the world and it's people?
    16. What are the artists' opinion of the media and their influence on the youth?
    17. Do you agree agree with this^potrayal of the media?



    these are al the questions so please help my and Thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • April from Carthage, NyMy youth leader played this song during our evening service on Sunday and this song certainly describes everything!
  • Flower from Anytown, NeThis song describes events happening after 9/11, like the war on terror and terroristic threats, as well as talking about the threats and things people live through every day, such as killing, fighting, abuse, and many other negative things.
    I also believe this song is about the sense of materialism that the world is getting stronger and stronger about every day. We, as people, care more about money and things more than beliefs, culture, and politics.
    I really like this song, and it has a really good meaning behind it. On a scale of 1 to 10, this song is definitely a 10, rated on it's lyrics, meaning, and the song in general.
  • Hetty from Cantonment, Fli wonder if this is a christian song
  • Hetty from Cantonment, Fli am deciding whether or not this is a christian song cause it says "turn the other cheek" and that is wat the Bible says cause i am a Christian my self and the song says "father father help us" and this world does need help and if this song was a christian song that would mean that they have a had a huggeeeeehhuuuggeee heart change and it is talking about father from above
    heather
  • Hetty from Cantonment, Fli am deciding whether or not this is a christian song cause it says turn the other cheek and it says that in the Bible and i am a Christian soo i want it to cause that would mean that they have had a huge heart change and they also say in this song "father father please help us" and we do need help in this world so idk
  • Tessa from Washingtonville, PaWow, pretty good for The Black Eyed Peas. This is a sweet song. Kudos to the song's writer...
  • Grace from Malibu, Camy best friend showed this to me and he loves the black eyed peas and i dont but he convinced me to listen to it and omg i love it! I'll never doubt him again
  • Kayla from Fort Plain, NyI love this song! My teacher played it in school to help us figure out minorities or something like that. that was the first time i heard it and i fell in love. :)
  • Austin from Smallsville,new England, --It is amazing this song became a hit because at the time rap music was going under the playa,gangsta stage and few rap songs in this decade had a message to it.
  • Jess from Brisbane, Australiahey guys this is JESS this is a good song because it is about how people can be mean by being raisist so listen to the lyricks to this song and listen really carefull and you can see just how beautiful this song is.
  • Danleichty from Rochester, MnWhen I was younger this was one of my favorate songs.I am not usually into rap but I like this song alot. I before I heard this song I once thought about how good of a place this world would be to live in if everybody knew how to love. I wish that rap these days would be as positive as this song.
  • Madalina from Azuga, RomaniaWell, it's not only about war, is it? People confront with the same situation, the same lack of love for each other even in peaceful areas. We really need some guidance from our Father...
  • Daisy from Los Aneles, CaYoU rOxX dUdEs ;)
  • Daisy from Los Aneles, CaYoU.RoCK.DoODs.=]
  • Scott from Boston, MaI don't like anything else by the Black Eyed Peas, but this is a great song. On a negative note, I think it's pathetic that we have no good song writers nowadays. Think of all the great protest songs during the Vietnam War. I'm not even gonna start naming them. Iraq is my generation's Vietnam and this is the only song I can think of that is actually a good protest song. Sad.
  • Raymond from Sydney , AustraliaGood song. Love between a husband and wife can change the world. But the love is not there because we fail to be precise in our relationships, and instead of making the world a better place our phony lyin relationships actually add to the chaos. Seek me out if you want a better world. I am the way.
  • Ashley from Leeds"A wars going on but the reasons under cover, The truth is kept secret, its swept under the rug"

    So true
  • Lexie from Florissant, Moi love this song!!!:)
  • Nicole from Boston, MaThis song makes me reminiscent of the lyrics of songs by people like Pink Floyd and U2. While it doesn't go into the same depth the lyrics of those groups do, the lack of any real metaphors make the song more accessible to a wider audience, which was their goal. While the song may seem a bit sappy to those unused to modern pop music (as it does take some influence from Justin Timberlake, who's music I stay away from like the plague), the message it provides does make it an almost profound song. It makes me wish more groups nowadays would try to break out of the mold as BEP did with this, so we wouldn't have to dig 25-30 years into the past to find songs with a meaning.

    Anyone know if there's any way to listen to demos of this song? This is in reference to the comment, "They had also changed their sound to appeal to a wider audience." I do dabble a little bit into BEP's other work, and I was wondering how this song might sound if it kept their usual structure.
  • Jamie from Cambridge, Gawhen the war staed it was to bring good luck but it did not but it is a good
  • Magda from Addison, IlMy teacher played this song before we read the book "Lord of the Flies".
  • Kelly from Chicagoland, IlI first heard this song in a variety show at my school. It almost made me cry. The lyrics are totally true, and even though I'm not a big fan of hip hop and rap-ish music, I think that this song rocks!
  • Stacey from Someplace, Australiathis song is bomb i love it cept' i think that the black eyed peas are sell outs seriously most their new songs sound the same and are all fergie dancing around in practically nothing ANYWAY this song is uber cool
  • Junsu from Rancho Cucamonga, CaTHE BEST SONG EVER!
    WILL LAST THROUGHOUT THE TIME AND STILL BE ONE OF THE BEST SONG 100 YEARS LATER!
    I love this song, the song is harmonious and meaningful.
    THE BEST.
  • Joe from Chicago, Ari love this song and the black eyed peas aren't rap their hip hop rap is eminem and 50 cent hip hop is stuff like black eyed peas
  • Emily from Abingdon, VaLyrics are so poetic and profound. It's too bad you have to here Justin Timberlake sing them. This song absolutely captures the epitome of American perspective. Wonderful!
  • Frodo from The ShireVery touching song. Had a profound impact on my life.
  • Celeste from Miami, FlThis is without a doubt the most AMAZING song I have ever heard, & I don't think I'll ever hear anything else like it. It's just so beautiful. The lyrics couldn't make any more sense than they already do ("..instead of spreadin love we spreadin animosity..","..I think the whole world's addicted to the drama;only attracted to the things that'll bring you trauma.")
    And the fact that actual instruments,(not obnoxious,computerized beats), were used to create the beautiful melody, adds to the beauty of the song.
    The only probelm I have with this song is the fact that Justin Timberlake took part in creating it, & that his drag queen-esque vocals drown out Fergie's rich, powerful voice. If the Peas felt that they had to collaborate with another singer for this song, I believe that they should have chosen someone like Michael Jackson. Not only does he have a much better voice, but one would normally associate Jackson with a song about love & the deteriorating world,not Timberlake. But I forgive the Peas, because not even something so trivial could bring down my love for them.
    I consider myself the biggest BEP fanatic in the world. I have always loved them, & can never get enough of them,as well as this song. Listening to "WITL" has become a daily ritula for me. I feel that the song has completely changed my life, & I will forever consider it not just a song, but an anthem.
    Admit it, the Peas are geniuses!
  • Casie from Denver, CoI love the B.E.P. Sometimes when their live Fergie screws the whole song but I love em anyway!
  • Anthony from Elkton, MdThis song is great. Just think, though its 2005, how much does this song need to be applyed to our society? Theres barely any love at all in the world today. People killing each other, bombing each other. I myself am a christian and cant wait until Jesus comes back and takes the christians into heaven. Either that or ill die and be recieved into heaven but think. Even in highschool, so much love right? Wrong, theres so much hate, you have to be perfect to be loved. Now come on, we should definetely enact some sort of peace corp type thing right here in the united states for those who want a change! right? well feedback would be appreciated:) chatterbox3121@aol.com. Thanks so much
  • Candice from Vancouver, CanadaThis song must really means a lot to people who live in places with war. It's really touching. I also liked to music video because it shows we need to be caring.
  • Song from New York, Nyi just love the black eyed peas.i love their song calle "where is the love?"its good music and it honors god and peace!^^im happy!lol....i love rap music.i love any song but no slow ones.^^
  • Ujyjngng from New York, Nyi usally HATE rap music.it sounds all the same to me but blackeyed peas are amazing. lets get retarded and where is the love are my fav songs
  • Alex from Las Vegas , NvWow. I love this song. I always get a chill whenever I hear the line, "And would you turn the other cheek."
  • Shannon from Pittsburgh, PaThe first time i saw this group they were on SNL and Jennifer Anniston was the host. I thought they were okay and i usually don't like rap.
  • Danton from Saskatoon, CanadaI think this song is reflective of the political climate in the US at the time. The bad talks about various ways in which they disagree with US foreign policy.
  • Dan from Chicago Suburbs, IlThis song has some very cool sounds in it, (like the strings in the beginning) and the lyrics are mostly good.
    I don't like rap music but this is a good song, get a recording of it!
  • Ashley from Philadelphia, Pa"Fergie" is really Stacy Fergison, who appeared on Disney's Kids Incorperated and was in the pop female group Wild Orchid. They sang the song "Talk to Me". The group was also the hosts on the kids show "The Great Pretenders"
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