thatPower

#thatPOWER is a song by American recording artist will.i.am, taken from his fourth studio album, #willpower. The song features Canadian singer Justin Bieber, who wrote the song alongside will.i.am, Verrigni and Damien Leroy (DJ Ammo). The latter two also produced the song. "thatPOWER" was released in the United States and Canada on March 18, 2013, via Interscope Records, as the third single from the album. The song has since charted in several countries. A special version of the song is used for 2013 NBA Playoffs telecasts on ESPN and ABC and the last day of TV5's primetime sports block on IBC, AKTV.

"#thatPOWER"
Single by will.i.am featuring Justin Bieber
from the album #willpower
Released	March 18, 2013
Recorded	February 20, 2013
Studio	Metropolis, London
Genre	Electropop dance-pop[1]
Length	4:39
Label	will.i.am Music Interscope
Songwriter(s)	William Adams Damien LeRoy Justin Bieber
Producer(s)	will.i.am Verrigni Damien Leroy
will.i.am singles chronology
"Scream & Shout" (2012) "#thatPOWER" (2013) "Crazy Kids" (2013)
Justin Bieber singles chronology
"All Around the World" (2013) "#thatPOWER" (2013) "Lolly" (2013)
Music video
"#thatPOWER" ft. Justin Bieber on YouTube

Background

"#thatPOWER" was released on YouTube on March 15 and on iTunes on March 18.[2] The song made its radio premiere on Capital FM in the United Kingdom on March 15.[3] Will.i.am tweeted the cover art for the song on March 15.[4] The song was recorded on February 20, 2013 at Metropolis, when Bieber and will.i.am were in London for the 2013 BRIT Awards.[3] The song was released to American Contemporary radio on March 26, 2013. The single sold 108,000 digital downloads in its first week of release.[5]

Composition

Will described "#thatPOWER" as up-tempo.[3] MTV's Jocelyn Vena said the song had "lyrical swagger" and noted how "Bieber brings his sweet vocals to the chorus", with a vibe that "recalls Kanye West's 2010 hit, 'Power'".[6] According to The Hollywood Reporter, the song is club-oriented.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Common Sense Media	[7]
Daily Star	8/10[8]
Digital Spy	[1]
Rolling Stone	[9]

"#thatPOWER" received mixed reviews from music critics. E.E. Bradman for Common Sense Media wrote, "This one's all about the club: With its uptempo four-on-the-floor bass and kick assault, repeated choruses, and surging synths, "#thatPOWER" sounds and feels more like a remix than the first iteration of a new song."[7] The Daily Star's John Earls rated it 8 out of 10 and commended Bieber's guest appearance in the song, saying that "it's worth swiveling your chair around, Voice style, among Will’s predictable rave malarkey...#savedbythebieber."[8] Jody Rosen of Rolling Stone called the song "a wan melody warbled by Bieber over generic 4/4 beats" and gave it two out of five stars, ending his review with "#FAIL."[9]

Music video

On March 21, will.i.am tweeted about how exhausting rehearsals for the video were.[10][11] On March 25, Capital FM reported that will.i.am was seen taking part in the production of parts of the video for the song in Los Angeles.[12] The official video premiered on April 19, 2013.[13] An alternate "second screen" music video is available through an unlisted YouTube link when the song is tagged via Shazam. The alternate video does not contain audio and is meant to be viewed alongside the original music video in order to spot the differences between the two.

A special version was shot with National Basketball Association (NBA) players, including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh, to be used as the opening theme introduction for the 2013 NBA Playoffs television broadcasts on ABC and ESPN.[14] The video is also used at various commercial breaks throughout the broadcasts.

Live performances

will.i.am performed the track at Le Grand Journal on April 16, 2013, and it featured his backing dancers. Four days later, he performed the song on The Jonathan Ross Show, doing a similar performance. He performed the song on Dancing with the Stars results show on April 23, 2013 while Justin Bieber's solos played in the background in a video. On May 19, will.i.am and Bieber also performed the song live during the 2013 Billboard Music Awards, in Las Vegas.

Cover versions

A funk and soul-infused version of "#thatPOWER" was arranged, recorded and performed by Judith Hill, on the television singing competition show The Voice. The performance was held on May 27, 2013, and was broadcast live on NBC.[15] The studio-recorded version was digitally released during the same period.

Track listing

Digital download[16]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"#thatPOWER" (featuring Justin Bieber)	4:39

CD single[17]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"#thatPOWER" (featuring Justin Bieber) (radio edit)	4:01
2.	"#thatPOWER" (instrumental)	4:39

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2013–14) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[18] 6 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[19] 13 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[20] 15 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[21] 9 Brazil (Billboard Brasil Hot 100)[22] 78 Brazil Hot Pop Songs[22] 22 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[23] 6 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[24] 32 Denmark (Tracklisten)[25] 19 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[26] 13 France (SNEP)[27] 11 Germany (Official German Charts)[28] 7 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[29] 35 Hungary (Rádiós Top 40)[30] 27 Ireland (IRMA)[31] 5 Israel (Media Forest)[32] 10 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[33] 27 Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[34] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[35] 14 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[36] 17 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[37] 16 Norway (VG-lista)[38] 4 Poland (Video Chart)[39] 4 Romania (Airplay 100)[40] 72 Scotland (OCC)[41] 1 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[42] 45 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[43] 3 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[44] 23 UK Singles (OCC)[45] 2 UK Dance (OCC)[46] 2 UK R&B (OCC)[47] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[48] 17 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[49] 3 US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[50] 10 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[51] 11 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[52] 16 Venezuela Pop/Rock General (Record Report)[53] 2

Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Australia (ARIA)[54] Platinum 70,000^^ Belgium (BEA)[55] Gold 15,000^* Germany (BVMI)[56] Gold 150,000 Italy (FIMI)[57] Platinum 30,000^* Mexico (AMPROFON)[58] Platinum 60,000^* New Zealand (RMNZ)[59] Gold 7,500^* United Kingdom (BPI)[60] Gold 400,000 United States (RIAA)[61] Platinum 1,018,369[62] ^* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. Year-end charts Chart (2013) Position Australia (ARIA)[63] 62 Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[64] 53 Belgium Dance (Ultratop Flanders)[65] 41 Belgium (Ultratop Wallonia)[66] 35 Belgium Dance (Ultratop Wallonia)[67] 13 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[68] 67 France (SNEP)[69] 52 Germany (Official German Charts)[70] 68 Italy (FIMI)[71] 59 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[72] 55 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[73] 81 Russia Airplay (Tophit)[74] 40 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[75] 37 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[76] 65 US Billboard Hot 100[77] 95 US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[78] 13

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref.
Canada	March 18, 2013	Digital download	Universal Music	[79]
United States			Interscope Records	[16]
	March 26, 2013	Mainstream and rhythmic radio		[80]
Germany	March 29, 2013	Digital download	Universal Music	[81]
United Kingdom	April 3, 2013	Mainstream radio	Polydor Records
	April 14, 2013	Digital download		[82]
Germany	April 26, 2013	CD single	Universal Music	[83]

References

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External links

• Official video on YouTube
• 2013 NBA playoff version video on YouTube