Powerful (song)

"Powerful"
Single by Major Lazer featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley
from the album Peace Is the Mission
ReleasedJune 1, 2015 (2015-06-01)
Recorded2014
Genre
Length3:26
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Major Lazer singles chronology
"Lean On"
(2015) 		"Powerful"
(2015) 		"Lost"
(2015)
Ellie Goulding singles chronology
"Love Me like You Do"
(2015) 		"Powerful"
(2015) 		"On My Mind"
(2015)
Tarrus Riley singles chronology
"Powerful"
(2015)
Alternative cover
Powerful (Remixes) Cover

"Powerful" is a song recorded by American electronic music project Major Lazer. It's the second official single off their third studio album, Peace Is the Mission (2015), featuring guest vocals from English singer Ellie Goulding and Jamaican singer Tarrus Riley. The song was initially planned to be the lead single from the album but was scrapped in favor of Lean On.[1]

Composition

The song is described as an "EDM power ballad" and its soul, pop and R&B nature led the critics to label it as one of the most accessible and radio friendly songs in the album.[2][3][4] It was written by Thomas Pentz, Maxime Picard, Clement Picard, Ilsey Juber, Fran Hall and reggae musician Tarrus Riley; the latter is also featured on the track along singer Ellie Goulding. The song is a musical departure from Major Lazer's dancehall-inspired signature sound, having this song dubbed as a ballad by many reporters.[5][6] Lyrically, the song talks about the protagonist's significant other having 'power' on them, such when they touch there is electricity. It also hints at sex. The chorus of the song was first used in the Major Lazer TV series on FXX a month before the full song was released in the episode "Vampire Weekend".

Music video

The music video was released on July 23, 2015. It features both Goulding and Riley performing their parts using telekinetic powers and ruining a small diner. The clip's theme is labeled as "supernatural" and was directed by James Slater.[6][7]

Use in media

  • In 2017, the song was used in an advertisement for Emporio Armani's Stronger With You and Because It's You perfumes.,[8] and in the 2017 advertising campaign for Unilever's Close-Up toothpaste.[9]
  • On the November 4, 2019, episode of the reality television singing competition show The Voice, Team Gwen (Stefani) member Jacob "Jake" HaldenVang performed a rock arrangement of the song in a Knockout round, opposing fellow Team Gwen member Royce Lovett, who performed Avicii's "Wake Me Up." Coaches Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, and Blake Shelton all preferred HaldenVang's performance, and Stefani agreed, naming him the winner of the Knockout and advancing him to the Live Playoffs. Meanwhile, Lovett was eliminated when Shelton opted not to steal him onto his team (as Clarkson and Legend had already used their steals by that time).

Track listing

Digital download[10]
No.TitleLength
1."Powerful" (featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley)3:26
Digital download – Remixes - EP[11]
No.TitleLength
1."Powerful" (featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley)3:26
2."Powerful" (featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley) (With You. x GITCHII Remix)4:03
3."Powerful" (featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley) (Gregor Salto Remix)4:34
4."Powerful" (featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley) (Michael Calfan Remix)2:55
5."Powerful" (featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley) (BOXINBOX & Lionsize Remix)3:48
6."Powerful" (featuring Ellie Goulding and Tarrus Riley) (G-Buck Remix)4:06

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[42] 2× Platinum 140,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[43] Gold 30,000^
Italy (FIMI)[44] Platinum 50,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[45] Gold 7,500*
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[47] Gold 500,000‡

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, formats, label and reference
Region Date Format(s) Label Ref.
United States September 1, 2015 Contemporary hit radio
[48]

References

  1. ^ "Major Lazer & DJ Snake - Lean On (feat. MØ) (Official Pop-Up Video)". YouTube. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  2. ^ "Major Lazer: Peace Is the Mission". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on December 6, 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  3. ^ "Major Lazer 'Peace Is the Mission': A Track-by-Track Review". Insomniac.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-25. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  4. ^ Dolan, Jon (June 2, 2015). "Major Lazer's New Album: Peace Is the Mission". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
  5. ^ Meadow, Matthew (23 April 2015). "Major Lazer Enlists Ellie Goulding For New "Powerful" Single". Your EDM. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  6. ^ a b "Ellie Goulding Gets Supernatural in Major Lazer's 'Powerful' Video | SPIN". Spin. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  7. ^ "Watch Major Lazer's Diner-Ruining 'Powerful' Video With Ellie Goulding". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  8. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Giorgio Armani Emporio Armani Because It's You & Stronger With You". YouTube.
  9. ^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SfpB52NXU4I (in Indonesian)
  10. ^ "Peace Is The Mission by Major Lazer on iTunes". iTunes. Retrieved 2015-11-08.
  11. ^ "Powerful (feat. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley) [Remixes] - EP by Major Lazer on Apple Music". iTunes. Retrieved June 28, 2019.[permanent dead link‍]
  12. ^ "Major Lazer feat. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley – Powerful". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  13. ^ "ARIA Dance Singles Chart - 15/6/15" (PDF). ARIA Charts. June 15, 2015. Archived from the original on June 22, 2015.
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  16. ^ "Major Lazer feat. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley – Powerful" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved October 23, 2015.
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  22. ^ "Major Lazer feat. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley – Powerful" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 21, 2019.
  23. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
  24. ^ "Chart Track: Week 32, 2015". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  25. ^ "Major Lazer feat. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley – Powerful". Top Digital Download. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
  26. ^ "Major Lazer feat. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley – Powerful" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved August 29, 2015.
  27. ^ "Major Lazer feat. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley – Powerful". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  28. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  29. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay New. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
  30. ^ "Top 5 Airplay TV". Polish Video Chart. ZPAV. Retrieved 6 February 2017.
  31. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  32. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 20167 into search.
  33. ^ "Major Lazer feat. Ellie Goulding & Tarrus Riley – Powerful". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  34. ^ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  35. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 7, 2015.
  36. ^ "Major Lazer Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  37. ^ "Major Lazer Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 20, 2015.
  38. ^ "Major Lazer Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 8, 2015.
  39. ^ "ARIA Charts - End of Year Charts - Top 100 Singles 2015". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved January 6, 2016.
  40. ^ "Airplay – podsumowanie 2015 roku" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  41. ^ "Hot Dance/Electronic Songs – Year-End 2015". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2019.
  42. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2016 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  43. ^ "Danish single certifications – Major Lazer – Powerful". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  44. ^ "Italian single certifications – Major Lazer – Powerful" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
  45. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Major Lazer – Powerful". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 2024-11-20.
  46. ^ "British single certifications – Major Lazer – Powerful". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  47. ^ "American single certifications – Major Lazer – Powerful". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  48. ^ "Top 40/M Future Releases - Mainstream Hit Songs Being Released and Their Release Dates ..." All Access. Archived from the original on 2015-08-29.