"Bang Bang" | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Single by will.i.am | ||||||||
from the album #willpower and The Great Gatsby: Music from Baz Luhrmann's Film | ||||||||
Released | June 26, 2013 | |||||||
Recorded | 2012 | |||||||
Genre | ||||||||
Length | 4:38 | |||||||
Label | Interscope | |||||||
Writer(s) | William Adams, James P. Johnson, Cecil Mack, Sonny Bono | |||||||
Producer(s) | Maarten Vorwerk & will.i.am | |||||||
will.i.am singles chronology | ||||||||
|
||||||||
|
"Bang Bang" is a song recorded by American producer and rapper will.i.am featuring the vocals of Shelby Spalione. The single features as the third track on the soundtrack album of the 2013 Baz Luhrmann film The Great Gatsby. "Bang Bang" is also featured on the deluxe edition of will.i.am's fourth studio album #willpower. The song peaked within the top ten of the charts in Belgium (Wallonia) and the United Kingdom. In the latter country, will.i.am is a coach on the country's version of The Voice and an alternate version of the song featuring vocals from Leah McFall ― the runner-up on season two of the show ― is included on the compilation Now 86.
"Bang-Bang" is an up-tempo fusion of 1920s jazz instrumentals along with synthpop elements. The track features partially Louis Armstrong-inspired lead vocals by will.i.am and additional sing-along by guest vocalist "Shelby Spalione". It incorporates elements of the 1923 Cecil Mack–James P. Johnson composition "Charleston". Lyrics include the line "My baby shot me down" from the 1966 song "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" by American recording artist Cher, written by Sonny Bono.
will.i.am performed "Bang Bang" live on May 2, 2013 during the season 12 finale of American Idol. He also performed the song in the United Kingdom with Leah McFall during the final of the second season of The Voice UK (will.i.am is a coach on the show). The original version of "Bang Bang" rose to a peak of number three on the UK Singles Chart following the performance. will.i.am later hinted that a duet version of the song with McFall would be officially released.