"Turtle Power!" (or simply "Turtle Power") is a song by American hip hop duo Partners in Kryme. The song was released by SBK Records from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles soundtrack. An early unfinished version without Shane Faber's production plays over the film's closing credits. In the United Kingdom, the film mix heard over the end credits uses the word "hero" instead of "ninja", even though the film was not retitled in the UK, unlike the 1987 cartoon series (which was titled Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles).

"Turtle Power" was released in April 1990 and reached number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks, making it the first hip hop single to reach number one in the UK and becoming the 13th-highest-selling single of the year in the United Kingdom. Additionally, the song peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number four in Ireland, and number seven in New Zealand.

Song information

Written by James Alpern and Richard Usher and produced by Partners in Kryme, "Turtle Power!" rode the wave of popularity of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. A rap record featuring the use of vocoder vocals for the chorus, it became a worldwide hit, reaching number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number seven in New Zealand, and number one on the UK Singles Chart for four weeks in July and August 1990. The song was also coupled with the single "Turtle Rhapsody" and included in the third Ninja Turtles film soundtrack.

Track listings 7-inch and cassette single "Turtle Power" – 3:50 "Splinter's Tale 1 & Splinter's Tale 2" (performed by John Du Prez) – 5:23

12-inch and German maxi-CD single "Turtle Power" (single edit) – 3:50 "Turtle Power" (album version) – 4:17 "Splinter's Tale 1 & Splinter's Tale 2" (performed by John Du Prez) – 5:23

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1990)PeakpositionCanada Retail Singles (The Record)6Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)2Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)13US Billboard Hot 10013US Hot Rap Singles (Billboard)2

Year-end charts Chart (1990)PositionAustralia (ARIA)72Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)43Germany (Media Control)77Sweden (Topplistan)92UK Singles (OCC)13

Certifications

Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesApril 13, 1990SBKUnited KingdomJuly 9, 1990July 16, 19907-inch picture disc Misprinted as July 9 on source.AustraliaJuly 23, 1990

References