#thatPower

Album: #willpower (2013)
Charted: 2 17
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Will.i.am teamed up with Justin Bieber for this Dance cut about overcoming adversity. The Black Eyed Peas founding member told London-based radio station Capital FM that the song was recorded during the BRIT Awards in February 2013. "So actually we went shopping first," he explained, "and we were like 'hey, let's just have a chilled day' and we went shopping for shoes, then after that we went to the studio, watched the BRITs, recorded that and then trucked off to see Justin Timberlake perform. So that was a pretty full day."
  • The futuristic video features a Justin Bieber hologram and myriad will.i.am clones dancing in formation. "This is the best video I've ever been a part of," gushed Will during an interview on BBC Radio 1. "I don't like choreography. For me, I don't like having to practise it all the time. The Black Eyed Peas, we learnt from our mistakes with dancing, so for this video, we had a new choreographer from Japan who had these amazing, freaking synchronised, movements. It's very cinematic. We had crazy sound effects and cinematology. What you'll see is next-level effects."
  • Will.i.am admitted to Entertainment Tonight that it was a challenge to get Justin Bieber to appear in the music video because of the singer's busy touring and personal appearance schedule."[Justin's] on tour. It was tough to get this video [done]," he recalled. "I had to fly to Barcelona to shoot Justin Bieber then flew to Japan to work with Rio and the boys on the choreography for it. So it was a lot of trekking."
  • The other-worldly vehicle that features in the video was part of Will.i.am's project to get inner city kids inspired in math and science. "I made the vehicle because I want to teach kids in my neighborhood-science, technology, engineering and mathematics," he told Entertainment Tonight. "To go to an inner city and say to a kid you should be a scientist and not give them anything tangible that represents their education, that's a hoop dream.
    "So I decided to invest in a vehicle so that people who help me build that vehicle -- the chassis, the body, the interior, the shocks -- all that it took to make that you need to know some type of science, engineering and math to make a vehicle. It's a dream of mine, I'm not saying it's executed yet but I would like to put that as a tangible means of education in my neighborhood."

Comments: 1

  • Lynda Pratt from Stoke-on-trentPower song really really motivates me to walk over 10000 steps to help improve my arthritis and fibromyalgia and definitely puts a spring in all of my steps and I then do not feel my pain xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
see more comments

Editor's Picks

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

Charlie Benante of Anthrax

Charlie Benante of AnthraxSongwriter Interviews

The drummer for Anthrax is also a key songwriter. He explains how the group puts their songs together and tells the stories behind some of their classics.

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in Songs

Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear: Teddy Bears and Teddy Boys in SongsSong Writing

Elvis, Little Richard and Cheryl Cole have all sung about Teddy Bears, but there is also a terrifying Teddy song from 1932 and a touching trucker Teddy tune from 1976.

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"They're Playing My Song

Shears does very little promotion, which has kept him secluded from the spotlight. What changed when Cyndi Lauper had a hit with his song? Not much, really.

Francesca Battistelli

Francesca BattistelliSongwriter Interviews

The 2011 Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards isn't your typical gospel diva, and she thinks that's a good thing.

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.