Song Lyric Sunday is a challenge originally started by Helen Vahdati and is now hosted by Jim Adams of A Unique Title For Me. It is a fun way to remember songs of the past or hear new ones. This week’s topic is Who/What/When/Where/Why/How. You can find the rules and other people’s choices at the above link.
I chose “Where Is The Love” by the Blackeyed Peas with Justin Timberlake because it has a strong message. That message summed up in the very first line, “What’s wrong with the world mama?” is told through rap, melodies and harmonies that are some of the best in the business. I think it was the first Blackeyed Peas song I ever heard and I fell in love with it instantly. Each member of the group (as well as JT) are so talented in their own right and together are a musical force to be reckoned with.
The song was released in June 2003 and was the first single to feature Fergie as an official member of the hip-hop group. Justin was not credited on the original release for vocals but was for co-writing the song. It peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard Top 100 and sold more than 950,000 in the first five years.
Lydia!
Where Is The Love?
(Featuring Justin Timberlake)
What’s wrong with the world, mama?
People livin’ like they ain’t got no mamas
I think the whole world’s addicted to the drama
Only attracted to the things that’ll bring a trauma
Overseas, yeah, we tryin’ to stop terrorism
But we still got terrorists here livin’
In the USA, the big CIA
The Bloods and the Crips, and the KKK
But if you only have love for your own race
Then you only leave space to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate
And when you hate, then you’re bound to get irate
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that’s exactly how anger works and operates
Man, you gotta have love, this’ll set us straight
Take control of your mind and meditate
Let your soul gravitate to the love, y’all
People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurt and you hear them cryin’
Can you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?
Father, father, father, help us
Send some guidance from above
These people got me, got me questionin’
Where is the love? (love)
Where is the love? (the love)
Where is the love? (the love)
Where is the love? (the love, the love)
[Verse 2: Taboo]
It just ain’t the same, old ways have changed
New days are strange, is the world insane?
If love and peace is so strong
Why are there pieces of love that don’t belong
Nations droppin’ bombs
Chemical gases fillin’ lungs of little ones
With ongoing sufferin’ as the youth die young
So ask yourself, is the lovin’ really gone?
So I can ask myself, really, what is going wrong?
With this world that we livin’ in, people keep on givin’ in
Makin’ wrong decisions, only visions of them dividends
Not respectin’ each other, deny thy brother
A war is goin’ on, but the reason’s undercover
The truth is kept secret, and swept under the rug
If you never know truth, then you never know love
Where’s the love, y’all? (Come on, I don’t know)
Where’s the truth, y’all? (Come on, I don’t know)
And where’s the love y’all?
[Pre-Chorus: Justin Timberlake]
People killin’, people dyin’
Children hurt and you hear them cryin’
Will you practice what you preach?
And would you turn the other cheek?
Father, father, father, help us
Send some guidance from above
These people got me, got me questionin’
[Chorus: Justin Timberlake (and Fergie)]
Where is the love? (love)
Where is the love? (the love)
Where is the love? (the love)
Where is the love? (the love, the love)
[Verse 3: Apl.de.ap]
I feel the weight of the world on my shoulder
As I’m getting 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 is the main criteria
Infecting the young minds faster than bacteria
Kids wanna act like what they see in the cinema
Whatever happened to the values of humanity?
Whatever happened to the fairness and equality?
Instead of spreadin’ love we spreadin’ animosity
Lack of understandin’ leading us away from unity
That’s the reason why sometimes I’m feelin’ under
That’s the reason why sometimes I’m feelin’ down
It’s no wonder why sometimes I’m feelin’ under
Gotta keep my faith alive ’til love is found
Now ask yourself…
[Bridge: will.i.am & Justin Timberlake]
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Where is the love?
Father, father, father, help us
Send some guidance from above
These people got me, got me questionin’
Where is the love?
[Outro]
Now sing with me, y’all (one world, one world)
We only got (one world, one world)
That’s all we got (one world, one world)
And something’s wrong with it
Something’s wrong with it
Something’s wrong with the w-w-world
We only got (one world, one world)
That’s all we got (one world, one world)
Being Lydia! 
Lydia this is like two totally different songs combined together, as it has rap and then there is this beautiful harmony singing. I am more partial to the singing, but overall it is a wonderful song.
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Jim, I totally agree with you on all points. I think that is what drew me to it – the two songs feel. It is like Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s “See You Again”. I am glad you liked it.
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Nice choice! Perfect fit for the prompts!!
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Glad you liked it!
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I thought it was Roberta Flack and Donnie Hathaway’s song from the ’70’s, but this one’s pretty good, too.
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Yes, I was originally thinking of that one but then remembered this one and how timely it is these days.
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Good song – good question – where is the love?
Nice blend of all their voices, and so relevant today. 🙂
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Glad you liked it. Yes, very relevant and some some very talented people!
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