The Power

"The Power"
Single by Snap!
from the album World Power
B-side	Remix
Released	1990 (original version) 1996 (remix version)
Format	CD maxi 7" single 12" maxi
Genre	Electronic music
Length	3:47 (7" single version) 8:14 (12" single version) 6:01 (12" jungle fever remix '90)
Label	Ariola Records
Writer(s)	Benito Benites/John "Virgo" Garrett III/Toni C.
Producer	Snap!
Certification	Platinum (US) Platinum (UK) Platinum (Germany)
Snap! singles chronology
"The Power" (1990) "Ooops Up" (1990) Music sample "The Power"

"The Power" is an electronic pop hit song for the group Snap! from its album World Power. It was released as a single in 1990 and achieved great success in many countries. It is particularly known for its hook "I've got the power!".

Background

Written by Michael Muenzing and Luca Anzilotti under the pseudonyms Benito Benites and John "Virgo" Garrett III and produced by Snap!, the third single by the Frankfurt-based dance rap group was their biggest hit. Featuring a rap by Turbo B and vocals by Penny Ford (Jackie Harris in the video). 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«Персонaльный 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!.

Chart performances

It became a hit first in Germany where it peaked at #2 and was certified platinum, then in the UK where it peaked at #1 on the UK singles chart for two weeks in March 1990 and where it was also certified platinum. It then crossed over to the USA, by entering the charts just based on import sales. After being released regularly in the U.S. it peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on both the Hot Dance Club Play and Billboard Hot Rap charts, as well as peaking at #4 on the U.S. R&B chart. Finally it was certified platinum in the U.S. There has been some controversy which has turned to fact that the line "I've got the power" vocal was sampled from the song Love's Gonna Get You, a dance single recorded by Jocelyn Brown in 1985. SNAP! can not legally prove that the line is the resung vocal of Penny Ford and by a simple test of "phase difference cancellation" (whereby Jocelyn Brown's original vocal is super imposed onto the distributed master recording SNAP! claims Penny Ford sings) Jocelyn's voice has been scientifically proven to still exist on licenced and syncronised copies of the record. An out of court settlement is predicted in 2009.^{[citation needed]}

Covers and remixes

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 and No. 34 in Australia.^[2][3]

In 2003, the song was remixed by Panjabi MC and named The Power (of Bhangra) after the Bhangra genre remix.

Media appearances

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.

In Germany, there is a radio show with misheard lyrics entitled "Agathe Bauer" (a german name), the name is a spoof of the hook from "The Power" (I've got the Power!)

Appears in the following films:

• Coyote Ugly
• Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie
• Bruce Almighty
• The Pacifier
• The Fisher King as DJ Jack Lucas' show's theme music
• The Perfect Weapon
• Hangin' with the Homeboys
• Three Kings
• Marock
• Under siege
• Used in the trailer for Super Mario Bros.
• Lyrics sung by Minerva Mayflower in Hudson Hawk

Used as a theme song by:

• Jet in UK Gladiators
• Darts player Phil Taylor
• Terri Powers in Ladies Professional Wrestling Association

Track listings

Certifications

Charts

¹ "The Power '96"

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)

References