World Power is the debut album by German-American Eurodance project Snap!, released in May 1990 by Logic Records. 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, number 25 on Australia's ARIA Charts, number four on the Ö3 Austria Top 40, number 20 on the Topplistan chart in Sweden, number four on the Swiss Music Charts, number 10 on the UK Albums Chart, and number 30 on the US Billboard 200 chart. Although it did not chart on the Dutch MegaCharts, 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, 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.

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Chicago Tribune
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Entertainment WeeklyA−
laut.de
Melody Maker(favorable)
Select1/5
The Village VoiceA−

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". 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. 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". 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". 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.

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

Chart (1990)Peak position
Weekly charts Chart (1990) Peak position Australian Albums (ARIA) 25 Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) 4 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 12 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 11 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 7 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 2 Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) 20 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) 4 UK Albums (OCC) 10 US Billboard 200 30Year-end charts Chart (1990) Position Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) 11 Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) 54 Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) 52 German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 30 Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) 10 US Billboard 200 80 Chart (1991) Position German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 68 New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) 38
Australian Albums (ARIA)25
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)4
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)12
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)11
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)7
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)2
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)20
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)4
UK Albums (OCC)10
US Billboard 20030
Chart (1990)Position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)11
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)54
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)52
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)30
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)10
US Billboard 20080
Chart (1991)Position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)68
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)38

SinglesBillboard (United States)

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

Certifications and sales

Certifications for World Power
RegionCertificationCertified units/sales
Austria (IFPI Austria)Gold25,000*
Germany (BVMI)Platinum1,000,000
Netherlands (NVPI)Gold50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)Gold7,500^
Spain (Promusicae)Platinum100,000^
Sweden (GLF)Gold50,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)Platinum50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)Gold100,000^
United States (RIAA)Gold500,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

External links