New Delhi, Delhi, India13 years on, the Black Eyed Peas have reunited to ask the world a very relevant question - Where is the Love?
In 2003, The Black Eyed Peas released “Where is the Love?” in response to the 9/11 terror attacks. Now, weeks before the 15th anniversary of 9/11, the all-star band has come together, joined by prominent Hollywood names to ask the world once again, “Where is the Love?”.
The updated version of the song is a powerful statement on the refugee crisis as much it is the Black Lives Matter cause, with images of Syria flashing alongside images of the Paris terror attacks, the Brussels bombing and the Orlando shooting.
The Black Eyed Peas along with a laundry list of celebrities including Vanessa Hudgens, Kendall Jenner, Shailene Woodley and Olivia Munn break down the song with more than a few relevant questions. “Why can’t we all just get along? Where is the love when a child gets murdered or a cop gets knocked down?”.
"After the Paris attacks, after Brussels and Turkey and Orlando, here in the US, our hearts were paining and aching like everyone else", said Will.i.am on why he felt the world needed this song once again.
The song also features Mary J Blige, Nicole Scherzinger, Usher, Justin Timberlake, Jamie Foxx, Jessie J, Jaden Smith , The Game, A$AS Rocky and Diddy lending their voice against hate and discrimination.
Often times we question the presence of violence and strife in our world. We question hatred and why it exists. But what we don’t question or understand is the absence of love and more importantly the absence of respect for the dignity of human life irrespective of caste, colour, religion, race and ethnicity.
The lyrics of this song also break down this flaw of accepted human behavior.
“But if you only got love for your own race,
Then you're gonna leave space for others to discriminate
And to discriminate only generates hate,
And when you hate, then you're bound to get irate
Madness is what you demonstrate
And that's exactly how hate works and operates.”
Will.i.am hopes people will not only listen and share “#WHERESTHELOVE” but also buy it because proceeds from the song’s US sales benefit to i.am.angel Foundation, his non-profit education effort.
You can watch the full video here.
(WION)