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
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".CG Grades 1990– : Key to Icons. Robert Christgau. Retrieved on 2010-02-15. 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
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
Weekly charts Chart (1990)PeakpositionFinnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)31
Year-end charts Chart (1990)PositionAustrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)11Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)52German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)30Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)10US Billboard 20080 Chart (1991)PositionGerman Albums (Offizielle Top 100)68New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)38
Singles — Billboard (United States)[ Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Snap! – Singles] YearSingleChartPosition1990"The Power"The Billboard Hot 1002Hot Rap Singles1Hot R&B Singles4Hot Dance Music/Club Play1"Ooops Up"The Billboard Hot 10035Hot Rap Singles3Hot R&B Singles18"Ooops Up"/"Believe the Hype"Hot Dance Music/Club Play41991"Mary Had a Little Boy"Hot R&B Singles56Hot Dance Music/Club Play4
Certifications and sales
References
External links
World Power at Discogs