World Power Explained

World Power
Type:Studio Album
Artist:Snap!
Cover:WorldPower-Snap.jpg
Released:15 May 1990
Length:52:53
Label:Logic
Producer:Snap!
Next Title:The Madman's Return
Next Year:1992

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. World Power has also been certified gold in Australia,[10] Austria, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States, while it has received platinum certifications in both Germany and Switzerland. Worldwide, the album sold in excess of 5 million copies as of June 1992.[11]

Critical response

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".[12] 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.[13] 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".[14] 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".[13] 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.[15]

Personnel

Charts

Year-end charts

Chart (1990)Position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[16] 11
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[17] 52
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[18] 30
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 10
US Billboard 200[20] 80
Chart (1991)Position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[21] 68
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[22] 38

SinglesBillboard (United States)[23]

YearSingleChartPosition
1990"The Power"The Billboard Hot 1002
Hot Rap Singles1
Hot R&B Singles4
Hot Dance Music/Club Play1
"Ooops Up"The Billboard Hot 10035
Hot Rap Singles3
Hot R&B Singles18
"Ooops Up"/"Believe the Hype"Hot Dance Music/Club Play4
1991"Mary Had a Little Boy"Hot R&B Singles56
Hot Dance Music/Club Play4

External links

Notes and References

  1. New Generation. Billboard. 27 June 1992. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.. Google Books.
  2. Web site: Top 100 Longplay Official Media Control (10-9-1990). German. charts.de. 2010-07-27.
  3. Web site: Interpret: Snap!. Hung Medien. 2010-07-27.
  4. Web site: Artist: Snap!. German. Hung Medien. 2010-07-27.
  5. Web site: Artist: Snap. Hung Medien. 2010-07-27.
  6. Web site: Artist: Snap. Hung Medien. 2010-07-27.
  7. Web site: UK's Singles/Albums Positions to Snap!. Official Charts Company. 2010-07-27.
  8. Web site: [{{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the snap|chart=Billboard 200}} US Albums Positions to Snap!]. Billboard Magazine. 2010-07-27.
  9. Web site: Artiest: SNap!. Dutch. Hung Medien. 2010-07-27.
  10. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.
  11. Web site: New Generation. 27 June 1992. Billboard Magazine. 2018-08-28.
  12. Web site: May. Mitchell. https://web.archive.org/web/20120527133146/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-08-09/features/9003060711_1_star-snap-raps. Snap: World Power (Arista). Chicago Tribune. 9 August 1990. 22 August 2010. dead. 27 May 2012.
  13. Web site: Christgau. Robert. Robert Christgau. Consumer Guide. The Village Voice. 31 July 1990. 22 August 2010.
  14. http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-cg90/grades-90s.php CG Grades 1990– : Key to Icons
  15. Web site: Hamilton. Andrew. World Power – Snap!. AllMusic. 22 August 2010.
  16. Web site: Jahreshitparade Alben 1990. austriancharts.at. 21 June 2021.
  17. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Album 1990. dutchcharts.nl. 21 June 2021.
  18. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. 21 June 2021.
  19. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1990. hitparade.ch. 21 June 2021.
  20. Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1990. Billboard. 21 June 2021. 23 January 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150123035744/https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1990/the-billboard-200. live.
  21. Web site: Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts. de. GfK Entertainment. offiziellecharts.de. 21 June 2021.
  22. Web site: Top Selling Albums of 1991. Recorded Music NZ. 11 February 2022.
  23. Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Snap! – Singles