| "The Power" | |||||
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| Single by Snap! from the album "World Power" |
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| Released | 1990 | ||||
| Genre | Electronic music | ||||
| Length | 3:47 (7" Single version), 8:14 (12" Single version) | ||||
| Label | Ariola Records | ||||
| Writer | Benito Benites/John "Virgo" Garrett III | ||||
| Producer | Snap! | ||||
| Certification | Platinum (US) Platinum (UK) |
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| Snap! singles chronology | |||||
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"The Power" is an electronic pop hit song for the group Snap!. The song went to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 singles charts in the United States during the summer of 1990. Written by Benito Benites and John "Virgo" Garrett III and produced by Snap!, the third single by the Frankfurt-based dance rap group was their biggest hit. Featuring a rap by Turbo B and vocals by Jackie Harris the single became a massive international hit first in Germany where it peaked at #2 and was certified gold then in the UK where it peaked at #1 on the UK singles chart for two weeks in March 1990 and where it was also certified gold. It then crossed over to the USA by entering the charts just based on import sales. After being released regularly in the U.S. it peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on both the Billboard Hot Rap and Hot Dance Club Play charts. Finally it was certified platinum in the U.S. Jackie Harris was responsible for the "curdling" lead vocals on this single, though the lines "He could break my heart", and "Gettin' kinda heavy" (appearing on the single/dub/radio mixes) are sampled from "Love's Gonna Get You," a self-penned dance single by house musician Jocelyn Brown. In addition, the song also heavily samples rapper Chill Rob G's "Let The Words Flow." The song opens with the somewhat enigmatic line in Russian: “Американская фирма Transceptor Technologies приступила к производству компьютеров «Персональный спутник»” (meaning “The American company Transceptor Technologies has started production of the ‘Personal Companion’ computer”). “Personal Companion” was a computer-like device for the blind and visually impaired released in 1990, it was controlled by voice and could, among other functions, automatically download articles from USA Today by a built-in modem. It was made by Transceptor Technologies of Ann Arbor, Michigan. [1] The song has made many appearances in film, television and other media. It is also popular as a sporting event anthem. For example, it is played at times at hockey games throughout North America as home teams go on a power-play. This song was covered in 2002 by the German Crossover band, H-Blockx.[2]
Media appearances
- Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie soundtrack.
- Bruce Almighty soundtrack
- The Fisher King
- Sung in the second episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air and used later in a scene when Will goes to a pool hall.
- The Perfect Weapon (1991) soundtrack.
- Pampers training pants commercial
- Hotels.com commercial
- Energizer batteries commercial
- Toyota power steering commercial ('90s)
- I Love The 90s
- A scene in Hudson Hawk
- A striptease scene in Brigada.
- During the floor exercise scene in the film Old School.
- T-Mobile commercial
- Neuf Telecom commercial (France, 2006)
- Jet's Theme in UK Gladiators
- Phil Taylor's Entrance Theme
- Three kings
- Turkcell commercial (Turkey, 2007)
- Terri Powers's entrance theme in Ladies Professional Wrestling Association.
| Preceded by "Dub Be Good to Me" by Beats International |
UK number one single March 25 1990 |
Succeeded by "Vogue" by Madonna |
