World Power

World Power
Studio album by
Snap!
Released15 May 1990
Genre
Length52:53
LabelLogic
ProducerSnap!
Snap! chronology
World Power
(1990) 		The Madman's Return
(1992)
Singles from World Power
  1. "The Power"
    Released: 3 January 1990
  2. "Ooops Up"
    Released: 1 May 1990
  3. "Cult of Snap"
    Released: 10 September 1990
  4. "Mary Had a Little Boy"
    Released: 10 December 1990

World Power is the debut album by German Eurodance project Snap!, released in May 1990 by Logic Records.[1] The album received generally positive reviews from music critics, as the project's musical style and its vocalists, Turbo B and Penny Ford, were well received. It also achieved considerable commercial success with the help of four international top-ten hits, including its best-selling single "The Power".

Reception

Commercial performance

The album reached number seven on Germany's Media Control Charts,[2] number 25 on Australia's ARIA Charts,[3] number four on the Ö3 Austria Top 40,[4] number 20 on the Topplistan chart in Sweden,[5] number four on the Swiss Music Charts,[6] number 10 on the UK Albums Chart,[7] and number 30 on the US Billboard 200 chart.[8] Although it did not chart on the Dutch MegaCharts,[9] it earned gold certification from the NVPI, for sales in excess of 50,000 copies in the Netherlands.[10] World Power has also been certified gold in Australia,[11] Austria,[12] Sweden,[13] the United Kingdom,[14] and the United States,[15] while it has received platinum certifications in both Germany and Switzerland.[16][17] Worldwide, the album sold in excess of 5 million copies as of June 1992.[18]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[19]
Chicago Tribune[20]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[21]
Entertainment WeeklyA−[22]
Melody Maker(favorable)[23]
Select1/5[24]
The Village VoiceA−[25]

Upon its release, World Power received generally positive reviews from music critics. Chicago Tribune writer Mitchell May called it "a dance record you can listen to", noting that "pulsating synth chords, slashing guitar riffs, thundering drums and the gospel-like wails of Penny Ford combine to give Snap a riveting sound".[20] Greg Sandow of Entertainment Weekly called the album "smart dance/rap, full of surprises", giving it an "A−". Robert Christgau also gave World Power an A− rating in his consumer guide for The Village Voice.[25] indicating "the kind of garden-variety good record that is the great luxury of musical micromarketing and overproduction. Anyone open to its aesthetic will enjoy more than half its tracks".[26] Christgau noted it as "in the great transcultural Technotronic tradition" and described its music as "crazy and radio-ready at the same time. Also funny".[25] In a retrospective review, AllMusic writer Andrew Hamilton perceived rapper Turbo B's enunciation as a flaw, but commended his "energy" and singer Penny Ford's vocals.[19]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Benito Benites (Michael Münzing), John Virgo Garrett III (Luca Anzilotti) and Durron Butler, unless otherwise specified

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."The Power"B.Benites, J.Garrett, D.Butler5:44
2."Ooops Up"Benites, Garrett, Butler, Penny Ford, Lonnie Simmons, Rudy Taylor, Charlie Wilson, Robert Wilson, Ronnie Wilson6:42
3."Cult of Snap" 5:21
4."Believe the Hype" 4:50
5."I'm Gonna Get You (To Whom It May Concern)" 5:20
6."Witness the Strength" 4:57
7."Mary Had a Little Boy"Benites, Garrett, Butler, Penny Ford4:53
8."Blasé Blasé" 4:30
Reissue bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
9."Only Human"Butler3:11
10."The Power (Jungle Fever Mix)"Benites, C., Garrett7:23

Personnel

  • Artwork – Ariola-Studios, Tom
  • Lyrics – Durron Butler (tracks: 3 to 10)
  • Lyrics – Penny Ford (tracks: 2 and 7, and the single version of track 3)
  • Music – Benito Benites, John "Virgo" Garrett III
  • Original sound – Master Musikproduktion GmbH
  • Photography – Markus Löffel
  • Producer – Snap!

Charts

Singles — Billboard (United States)[43]

Year Single Chart Position
1990 "The Power" The Billboard Hot 100 2
Hot Rap Singles 1
Hot R&B Singles 4
Hot Dance Music/Club Play 1
"Ooops Up" The Billboard Hot 100 35
Hot Rap Singles 3
Hot R&B Singles 18
"Ooops Up"/"Believe the Hype" Hot Dance Music/Club Play 4
1991 "Mary Had a Little Boy" Hot R&B Singles 56
Hot Dance Music/Club Play 4

Certifications and sales

Certifications for World Power
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)[12] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[44] Platinum 1,000,000[16]
Netherlands (NVPI)[10] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[45] Gold 7,500^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[46] Platinum 100,000^
Sweden (GLF)[13] Gold 50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[17] Platinum 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[14] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[15] Gold 500,000^

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "New Generation". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 27 June 1992 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Top 100 Longplay Official Media Control (10-9-1990)" (in German). charts.de. Retrieved 27 July 2010.[dead link‍]
  3. ^ "Interpret: Snap!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  4. ^ "Artist: Snap!" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  5. ^ "Artist: Snap". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Artist: Snap". Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  7. ^ "UK's Singles/Albums Positions to Snap!". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  8. ^ "US Albums Positions to Snap!". Billboard Magazine. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  9. ^ "Artiest: SNap!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  10. ^ a b "Dutch album certifications – Snap – World Power" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 23 September 2021. Enter World Power in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 1991 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  11. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  12. ^ a b "Austrian album certifications – Snap – World Power" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 May 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2021. Scroll to position 549 to view certification.
  14. ^ a b "British album certifications – Snap – World Power". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  15. ^ a b "American album certifications – Snap – World Power". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  16. ^ a b Wolfgang Spahr (13 May 2000). Grammy's Two Way Street. Billboard. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  17. ^ a b "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('World Power')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  18. ^ "New Generation". Billboard Magazine. 27 June 1992. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  19. ^ a b Hamilton, Andrew. "World Power – Snap!". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  20. ^ a b May, Mitchell (9 August 1990). "Snap: World Power (Arista)". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 27 May 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  21. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. p. 578.
  22. ^ Sandow, Greg. Entertainment Weekly.
  23. ^ Smith, Andrew (5 May 1990). "Albums". Melody Maker. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  24. ^ Harrison, Andrew (July 1990). "Snap Crackle And Flop". Select.
  25. ^ a b c Christgau, Robert (31 July 1990). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
  26. ^ CG Grades 1990– : Key to Icons. Robert Christgau. Retrieved on 2010-02-15.
  27. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Snap! – World Power". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  28. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Snap! – World Power" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  29. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Snap! – World Power" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  30. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Snap! – World Power" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  31. ^ "Charts.nz – Snap! – World Power". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  32. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Snap! – World Power". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  33. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Snap! – World Power". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  34. ^ "Snap! | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  35. ^ "Snap! Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  36. ^ "Jahreshitparade Alben 1990". austriancharts.at. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  37. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1990". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  38. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  39. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1990". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  40. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  41. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts". GfK Entertainment (in German). offiziellecharts.de. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  42. ^ "Top Selling Albums of 1991". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  43. ^ Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Snap! – Singles
  44. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Snap; 'World Power')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  45. ^ "New Zealand album certifications – Snap – World Power". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  46. ^ Sólo Éxitos 1959–2002 Año A Año: Certificados 1979–1990 (in Spanish), Iberautor Promociones Culturales, 2005, ISBN 8480486392, retrieved 25 April 2018