THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

899-Black Eyed Peas-Boom Boom Pow.

2009-Number 1 single.

Best Bit-At 2.00. Will. i. am’s unfathomable dislike of fairies who mend shoes, surfaces again, or is he just talking a load of old cobblers.

The Black Eyed Peas (see also best songs 234) were formed in Los Angeles, California, United States, the classic line up, and the four who performed on this song, are the three founding members, William Adams, (Will.i.am) Allan Lindo, (apl.de.ap) Jaime Gomez, (Taboo) and Stacy Ferguson, (Fergie) (see also best songs 909) who replaced the original lead singer Kim Hill in 2002, and was a group member until leaving in 2017.

‘Boom Boom Pow’ was the first of five singles released from the Black Eyed Peas fifth studio Album ‘The E.N.D.’ (The Energy Never Dies) from June 2009. ‘Boom Boom Pow’ credits all four group members as songwriters, with the production credited to Will.i.am. ‘The E.N.D.’ was a conscious decision by the Black Eyed Peas to re-invent themselves as a commercial outfit, moving away from their ‘Hip-Hop’ roots, to a more radio friendly ‘Electronic Dance Music/Dance Pop’ group. The decision proved very successful, as the Album has gone on to sell in excess of 8 million copies worldwide, while ‘Boom Boom Pow’ went on to become the best selling single worldwide in 2009, spending 12 consecutive weeks at Number 1 on Billboard in America. It’s run at the top of the chart was brought to an end when the Black Eyed Peas released their follow up single ‘I Gotta Feeling,’ which took over the Number 1 spot, and stayed there for the next 14 weeks. The Black Eyed Peas became only the 11th act ever to have the Number 1, and Number 2 songs in the same week on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

Will.i.am had got the idea for ‘Boom Boom Pow’ while he was in Australia filming for his role as ‘John Wraith,’ in his major film debut, ‘X-Men Origins: Wolverine,’ which was a prequel to the ‘X-Men’ film series. Will.i.am had been spending evenings in nightclubs in Sydney, where he was influenced by the ‘Electronic Music’ that he heard. He has stated that the song ‘Planet Rock’ by Afrika Bambaataa (see also best songs 716) was a major influence, which is ironic, because ‘Boom Boom Pow’ is a meant to be a ‘futuristic’ sounding track, while ‘Planet Rock’ dates back to 1982. ‘Boom Boom Pow’ features a vocal sample from the 1990 ‘House Music’ track ‘Reach Out,’ by the British duo ‘Sweet Mercy’ featuring the vocals of ‘Rowetta.’ ‘Sweet Mercy’ are not credited as songwriters on ‘Boom Boom Pow,’ and no lawsuit has ever come to light.

Will.i.am was born William James Adams Jr. on March 15th, 1975, in Los Angeles, California, United States. Away from music he has appeared in eight films between 2004-2014, and has worked in television since 2012, as either a judge or mentor on shows such as ‘American Idol,’ ‘The Voice Australia,’ and ‘The Voice Kids UK.’ Will.i.am has also released four solo studio Albums between 2001-2013, and 59 singles without the Black Eyed Peas, between 2001-2020. 12 of those singles have charted on the Billboard Hot 100, with the 2010 track ‘OMG’ by Usher featuring Will.i.am making Number 1. In the UK, without the Black Eyed Peas he has achieved 24 top 40 hits, with five of those tracks reaching Number 1. Will.i.am also has an extensive production discography, between 1998- 2018.

Will.i.am has explained the meaning behind those very unusual lyrics ‘Beats so big I’m steppin on leprechauns,’ he has said,’It’s not about actual leprechauns. I’m rapping about, um, er… Cons. Convicts. Criminals. Who are leopards. Leopard-cons. So it’s not offensive at all.’ Fergie has also commented on the song saying,’I feel that ‘Boom Boom Pow’ is not your typical first single. It’s not the typical, let’s do a hooky chorus, and you know, have a feel good-heart love song, or anything like that. It’s basically kind of to the left. We’ve always been kind of misfits, and so it kind of fits. The song is to the left, but it works, because we’re being true to ourselves.’ The songs attempts a futuristic theme, with Fergie rapping,’I’m so three thousand and eight, you so two thousand and late.’

And finally to save you from having to do the totting up, the word ‘Boom’ is spoken 168 times.

‘People in the place, if you wanna get down, put your hands in the air. Will.i.am drop the beat now.’