The Bottom Line
"I’m so 3008 / You so 2000 and late / I got that boom boom boom." You tell 'em Fergie. The Black Eyed Peas return with a single that's a nod to the past while simultaneously grabbing hold of the future. It is the first single from the album The E.N.D. And just try to keep it from getting stuck in your head.
Pros
- Auto tune and 808 ecstasy
- Nod to the 80's electro revolution
- Mindless fun Black Eyed Peas style
Cons
- Shallow? Don't look for lyrical depth here
Description
- Written by Black Eyed Peas
- Produced by will.i.am
- Released March 2009 by A&M Records
Guide Review - Black Eyed Peas - "Boom Boom Pow"
Go back to the future with will.i.am and the rest of the Black Eyed Peas on "Boom Boom Pow." Kanye West brought us all back to a timeless admiration for the Roland TR-808 drum machine with his latest album 808s and Heartbreak. Here the Black Eyed Peas give us explicit references to the early 80's electro revolution largely fueled by the 808.
Apl.de.ap rolls out lyrical mention of Cybotron, pioneers of electro, as well as a nod to Kanye and his collaborators, futurist electronic duo Daft Punk. Cybotron were an electro group formed in 1980 by Juan Atkins the same year the TR-808 hit stores. The sound of futuristic tracks by the group like "Clear" have now become timeless. When Fergie claims "I'm so 3008" it may sound silly, but she is also embracing the foundation that "Boom Boom Pow" rests upon.
Listen again to "Boom Boom Pow" and take a step back from any concern about pop music history. It is simply a hot, beat crazy party track in the best tradition of the Black Eyed Peas. The break will drive you to the dance floor. "Boom Boom Pow" very effectively joins together the best elements of the Black Eyed Peas while avoiding heading over the top. This is one of the first great party tracks of 2009.
