| "The Power" | ||||||||
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| Single by Snap! | ||||||||
| from the album World Power | ||||||||
| B-side | Remix | |||||||
| Released | January 3, 1990 (original version) June 17, 1996 (remix version) |
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| Format | CD maxi, 7" single, 12" maxi | |||||||
| Genre | Hip house, rapcore | |||||||
| Length | 3:47 (7" single version) 8:14 (12" single version) 6:01 (12" jungle fever remix '90) 5:42 (Album version) |
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| Label | Ariola Records | |||||||
| Writer(s) | Benito Benites/John "Virgo" Garrett III/Toni C. | |||||||
| Producer | Snap! | |||||||
| Certification | see certifications | |||||||
| Snap! singles chronology | ||||||||
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"The Power" is an electronic pop hit song by the German music group Snap! from their album World Power. It was released in January 1990 and reached number-one in the Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, as well as the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play and Hot Rap charts. It is particularly known for its hook "I've got the power!".
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Written by Michael Münzing and Luca Anzilotti (under the pseudonyms Benito Benites and John "Virgo" Garrett III) and produced by Snap!, it was the group's third single. Featuring a rap by Turbo B and vocals by Jackie Harris, the single became a massive international hit.
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]
Benites and Garrett III first released the song in 1990 on the Wild Pitch Records label in the United States calling themselves "Power Jam (featuring Chill Rob G)". However, they failed to legally clear samples in the song. The song contained samples from "Let the Words Flow" by Chill Rob G, "Love's Gonna Get You" by Jocelyn Brown, and "King Of The Beats" by Mantronix. The song was re-recorded in the U.S. in response to the unlicensed samples with Durron Butler, aka Turbo B, replacing the a cappella vocal of Chill Rob G, and for this new version they adopted the name Snap!.
The song was covered in 2002 by the German crossover band, H-Blockx. Turbo B featured in the song taking turns to rap lyrics with H-Blockx's then frontman Dave Gappa. Of note, Turbo B replaces the word 'Snap!' with 'H-blockx' in the line "If they are Snap! don't need the police to try to save them". The single charted at No. 48 in Germany[2] and No. 34 in Australia.[3]
In 2003, the song was remixed by Motivo, with added Indian vocals from Joshilay and released as Snap! Vs. Motivo - The Power (of Bhangra).
In 2010, Swizz Beatz sampled the song on the second half of Kanye West's official remix to his single Power featuring Jay-Z.
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. It is also used as a theme song by Jet in UK Gladiators, darts player Phil Taylor[4] and Terri Powers in the Ladies Professional Wrestling Association.
In Germany, there is a radio show with misheard lyrics entitled "Agathe Bauer" (a German name); the name is a play on the hook from "The Power" (I've got the Power!).[5]
The song appears in the following films: The Perfect Weapon, Coyote Ugly,[6] Dr. Dolittle, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie,[7] Bruce Almighty,[8] The Pacifier,[9] The Fisher King , The Perfect Weapon, Hangin' with the Homeboys, Three Kings, Marock and Under siege. The songs lyrics are sung in the film Hudson Hawk and the H-Blockx cover appears in the film Fat Slags.
The song was used extensively in the 1991 Amiga game The Power. The music of the game was produced by Peter Thierolf and excludes any lyrics, and the title card mimics the cover of the single.[10]
The song also appears in the following video games: Psychonauts, NHL 11, NBA Live 07 and Just Dance 2 (video game).
On July 5, 2011, a 39-story shopping mall called the "Techno-Mart" in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, shook violently for 10 minutes and was evacuated for two days.[11] After study, it was determined that about 20 people performing Tae Bo exercises to "The Power" caused the building to vibrate by creating a mechanical resonance. The tentative conclusion was the consensus among the six professors from an architectural institute and vibration measurement experts who participated in a recreation of the event. The Architectural Institute of Korea was scheduled to release the final results of the safety inspection later in 2011.[12][13]
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Peak positions
1 "The Power '96" |
Year-end charts
Certifications
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| Preceded by "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinéad O'Connor |
Eurochart Hot 100 number-one single 4 March 1990 - 1 April 1990 (3 weeks) |
Succeeded by "Vogue" by Madonna |
| Dutch Top 40 number-one single 14 April 1990 – 5 May 1990 |
Succeeded by "Kingston Town" by UB40 |
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| UK number-one single 31 March 1990 – 7 April 1990 |
Succeeded by "Vogue" by Madonna |
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| Preceded by "Dub Be Good to Me" by Beats International |
Swiss number-one single 6 May 1990 – 27 May 1990 |
Succeeded by "Vogue" by Madonna |
| Preceded by "Vogue" by Madonna |
Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single 2 June 1990 |
Succeeded by "Dub Be Good to Me" by Beats International |
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