Great Times (song)

"Great Times" is a song by American recording artist will.i.am. Produced by will.i.am in collaboration with Freshman III and Damien Leroy, it was released as a single on November 29, 2011 in support of his fourth studio album #willpower (2013). The song, written by will.i.am about his experiences in Brazil, appears on #willpower in remixed form under the new title "Great Times Are Coming".

"Great Times"
Single by will.i.am
from the album #willpower
ReleasedNovember 29, 2011 (2011-11-29)
Genre
Length4:51 (single version)
4:36 (album version)
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • will.i.am
  • Freshman III
  • Damien Leroy
Will.i.am singles chronology
"T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)"
(2011)		 "Great Times"
(2011)		 "This Is Love"
(2012)

Background

will.i.am wrote "Great Times" as a dedication to the country of Brazil.[1] The song contains samples of Brazilian musician Jorge Ben Jor's "Taj Mahal".[1] Explaining the inspiration behind "Great Times", will.i.am stated:

I know a country where its people know how to celebrate. Even without a specific reason. And its inhabitants see themselves as the country's future, without even knowing that the future is so close. They live with hope without knowing that fate is inevitable. It must be nice being in a place where the whole world wants to be. Where the future is not only bright, but fun. My soul sings a song for this place.[1]

Release

An unfinished version of the song initially leaked to the Internet in September 2011, at which will.i.am expressed his dissatisfaction.[2] In a post to the social networking site Twitter, he wrote: "I never wanted that version released. Now I am very angry. Who leaked it? That's not how things should be. Not cool!"[2] "Great Times" served as the first single from #willpower in Brazil,[3] and was released as a digital single in the country on November 29, 2011.[4] To promote the single's release, will.i.am partnered with Anheuser-Busch InBev, who pressed magazine advertisements containing a playable vinyl flexidisc single featuring "Great Times".[5] "Great Times" was later released to Brazilian radio, peaking at number 59 on Billboard Brasil Hot 100 Airplay chart.[6]

Music video

The music video for "Great Times" was shot in the Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.[7] It was released on February 13, 2012 through will.i.am's VEVO channel.[8] The video depicts will.i.am partying and travelling around Brazil.[9] Reviewing the video, a critic for the website Idolator quipped that will.i.am "suggests that we all arrange our bags and we travel to Brazil."[9]

Charts
Chart (2012) Peak
position
Brasil Hot 100 Airplay (Billboard)[6] 59
South Korea International Singles (Gaon)[10] 12

Release history
Region Date Format Label
Brazil November 29, 2011[4] Digital download Interscope Records
May 2012[5] Vinyl flexidisc

References
  1. "Watch the new clip Will.I.Am 'Great Times', recorded in Rio and São Paulo". MTV Brasil (in Portuguese). Viacom Media Networks. February 27, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  2. "Will.I.Am fuming over leaked track". Delhi. Asian News International. October 20, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  3. "New Music: will.i.am – 'Great Times'". Rap-Up. New York. December 11, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  4. "Great Times – Single de will.i.am". iTunes Store (BR). Apple. January 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  5. Nudd, Tim (May 16, 2012). "Budweiser InBev Partners with Will.i.am on Playable Vinyl Magazine Ad". Adweek. New York. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  6. "will.i.am – Chart History: Brasil Hot 100 Airplay". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved August 30, 2012.
  7. "Will.I.Am grava clipe de 'Great Times' na orla de Ipanema, no Rio de Janeiro". Caras (in Portuguese). Brazil. October 20, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  8. "Will.i.am – 'Great Times'". Rolling Stone (in Portuguese). Brazil. Archived from the original on March 21, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
  9. "Will.i.am Shows His Love For Brazil In His 'Great Times' Video". Idolator. February 13, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  10. "South Korea Gaon International Chart (2013.01.01 – 2013.01.07)" (in Korean). Gaon Chart. Archived from the original on August 25, 2012. Retrieved August 30, 2013.
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