We Got the Power (Gorillaz song)

"We Got the Power"
Single by Gorillaz featuring Jehnny Beth
from the album Humanz
B-side"Tranzformer"
Released23 March 2017 (2017-03-23)
Genre
Length2:20
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Gorillaz singles chronology
"Saturnz Barz"
(2017) 		"We Got the Power"
(2017) 		"Ascension"
(2017)
Jehnny Beth singles chronology
"We Got the Power"
(2017) 		"I'm the Man"
(2019)
Audio
"We Got the Power" on YouTube

"We Got the Power" (referred to as "We Got the Power (Version 2:18:482)" in the tracklist and the booklet) is a song by British alternative rock virtual band Gorillaz, featuring Jehnny Beth of British post-punk band Savages and backing vocals from former Oasis guitarist and songwriter Noel Gallagher and American rapper D.R.A.M., who also appears on the group's single "Andromeda". The song was released on 23 March 2017. It was released as the second single from their fifth studio album Humanz.

Background and recording

"We Got the Power" is the second single from the band's album Humanz and was produced by Damon Albarn, Remi Kabaka, and the album's executive producer The Twilite Tone. The song features guest vocals from Jehnny Beth, the lead singer of the British band Savages as well as backing vocals from American rapper D.R.A.M. and Noel Gallagher. The song is a particular landmark for Albarn and Gallagher, after their public feud during what was dubbed by the media as "The Battle of Britpop" in the 1990s. At one point, the song featured backing vocals from Albarn's Blur bandmate Graham Coxon; however, his vocals were removed from the final version of the song.[6][7]

In an interview with Radio X, Albarn spoke of the song, saying "At one point this song had Graham, Noel and me on it and it was sort of heading slightly in the wrong direction. It was becoming almost retro in its sort of spirit and way too rocky for this record so I kind of stripped it right back down again. We play it slightly different live than how it is on the record. It's sort of the song that comes on during the final titles of a film. The climax. I thought Jehnny would take a bit of the testosterone off". He also spoke of working with Gallagher for the first time, which Albarn was very complimentary: "He's fantastic in the studio. It's nice when you see how someone goes about their business. He's great."[8][9][10]

Music video

On 26 May, in collaboration with e.on, a music video for the song was released. The video shows a number of electrical toys and gadgets dancing in tune with the song with a toy version of the band appearing near the end of the song for the climax.[11]

Track listing

Digital release single

  1. "We Got the Power" – 2:20
  2. "We Got the Power" (Claptone Remix) – 6:05

Personnel

Charts

Chart (2017) Peak
position
Czech Republic (Rádio – Top 100)[12] 57
France (SNEP)[13] 158
Mexico (Mexico Ingles Airplay)[14] 43
Scotland (OCC)[15] 89
UK Singles Downloads (OCC)[16] 78
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs (Billboard)[17] 13
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[18] 38

References

  1. ^ Leight, Elias (8 June 2017). "Hear Gorillaz's New Psychedelic Disco Song, 'Sleeping Powder'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  2. ^ LaFollette, Jon (19 May 2017). "SOUND 'ROUND: Are we humanz, or are we androidz?". The Monitor. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  3. ^ "REVIEW: Gorillaz – Retrospective". 2 April 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2019.
  4. ^ "Why Gorillaz' 'Humanz' Is the Most 2017 Album Possible". Electronic Beats. 27 April 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Paste Review of the Day: Gorillaz - Humanz :: Music :: Features :: Gorillaz :: Paste". Pastemagazine.com. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Former rivals Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher record together for first time on Gorillaz's "We've Got the Power" — listen". Consequence.net. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  7. ^ "graham coxon on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Damon Albarn talks working with Noel Gallagher on new Gorillaz track 'We Got The Power' - NME". Nme.com. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Damon Albarn and Noel Gallagher team up on Gorillaz track 'We Got The Power'". Factmag.com. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  10. ^ "Gorillaz premiere FOUR songs from their new album Humanz, plus 360 video — watch". Consequence.net. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 6 April 2017.
  11. ^ "A number of Engine-owned agencies have joined forces with energy provider E.ON and virtual band Gorillaz to launch a solar-powered music video and studio space — watch". prweek.com. 26 May 2017. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
  12. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 42. týden 2017 in the date selector. Retrieved 24 October 2017.
  13. ^ "Gorillaz feat. Jehnny Beth – We Got the Power" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  14. ^ "Chart Search". Billboard. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  17. ^ "Gorillaz Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  18. ^ "Gorillaz - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Retrieved 14 April 2017.