Flashback Friday: Black Eyed Peas "Where Is The Love?"

Today’s Flashback Friday takes us back to 2003 when the Black Eyed Peas first burst onto the scene with their single “Where Is The Love?” which went on to become the best-selling single of 2003.  The track is from the group’s third album, Elephunk, and was the first song to feature Fergie.

In the United States, the single peaked at #8 but was good enough to become the group’s first Top 10 hit.  In the United Kingdom and Australia, it went all the way to the #1 spot. 

While Justin Timberlake isn’t credited, he did lend his vocals to the track as well as helped write the chorus.  The main reason for this was that he was in the middle of promoting his highly successful Justified album and his label was concerned about oversaturating the market.  On the flipside, The Peas really wanted Timberlake involved to give themselves a boost and, while Jive Records allowed JT’s vocals to be included on the track, the concern regarding overexposure won out and he wasn’t given credit until well after the song did well.

So far, “Where is the Love?” has sold 954,000 digital copies and has been covered by pop punk band, Busted, The Voice UK contestant, Frances Wood (who then chose will.i.am to be her mentor) and Japanese pop singer Sho Sakurai (Arashi).