"Let's Get It Started," originally titled "Let's Get Retarded," appears on the Black Eyed Peas' 2003 album Elephunk. It is the fourth single from the album.
The song was included on the Barbershop 2: Back in Business and Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle soundtracks, as well as the soundtrack for the 2006 romantic comedy "It's a Boy/Girl Thing". The song was also STAR World's first SID. It gained popularity as the theme song for the 2004 NBA Playoffs on ABC and was performed live at the 2004 Democratic National Convention. It was also featured in the film White Chicks. It was used in UK advertisements for the game The Urbz: Sims in the City. This song was remixed for The Black Eyed Peas' fifth studio album The E.N.D. as "Let's Get Re-Started."
"Let's Get it Started" won Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 2005 Grammy Awards, and was also nominated for Record of the Year and Best Rap Song.
Lyrical controversy
"Retarded" is considered a derogatory term for the mentally impaired, making the song unsuitable for play on most radio stations and at sports games. In 2004 the song's lyrics were edited and the re-released single "Let's Get It Started" found its way onto radio airwaves, movie soundtracks, and video games.
Music video
The music video, directed by Francis Lawrence, takes place in a nighttime setting in an urban area. It features the Black Eyed Peas, particularly will.i.am, performing energetic dances while singing the song, while varying objects in the background (including a grand piano) smash against the ground in real-time, slow and fast motion, and in reverse. The choruses feature the band on stage singing to a large crowd.
The video went to #34 on "MuchMusic's 50 Most Controversial Videos" for its original song title.
Popular culture
Charts
"Let's Get It Started" was the first song to sell 500,000 downloads in the United States, and has so far sold 1,948,000 copies as of April 2009.[1]
Track listing
- CD Single
- "Let's Get It Started"
- "Let's Get It Started" (Spike Mix)
- "Let's Get It Started" (Party Mix)
- "Let's Get Retarded"
- "Let's Get It Started" (Clean Version)
- "Let's Get It Started" Clean Music Video
- The Urbz Edition – EP
- "Let's Get It Started" (Spike Mix) – 3:39
- "Ga Ra Ta Da" (Simlish Version) – 3:28
- "The Sticky" – 4:39
- "Friddy Dope" (Simlish Version) – 3:46
Personnel
- The Black Eyed Peas
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- Additional musicians
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- Production personnel
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References
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