Power Power

"Power Power" is a controversial EP released by recording artists Alesha, Buffi, Shell Ruin and Taylor Brookes on June 9, 2007, by Ensemble Entertainment. Self-described as an "epic tour de force," the EP was fronted by a title track written by Alesha and Ruin. The single came after or in the midst of successful album campaigns for each artist — Alesha's Alesha Is the Queen (2007), Buffi's Pill Queen (2006), Shell Ruin's Kill Pop (2007) and Taylor Brookes' Diamond In the Dirt (2006). Two tracks from each album were included on the EP, in addition to the title track and "Cherry Bomb," written by Buffi.

Initially, the premiere of "Power Power" was met with a great deal of hype, bolstered by Channel 4 adverts and heavy airplay. While promoting "Power Power," all four artists came under extreme media scrutiny for their controversial antics, which included what some described as bullying and emulating Myra Hindley. The accompanying music video for "Power Power" was also polarizing, showing the women hellbent on world domination. Alesha has performed "Power Power" on three of her world tours.

The EP failed to enter even the top ten. "Power Power" become famed as a trainwreck and one of the most shocking singles of Urapopstar. While fans and some fellow celebrities felt that the low charting was undeserved, a large number of people thought it was justified. The song was voted the Worst Single of the Year, Worst Collaboration, and Most Deserved Flop at the 2007 Shit Awards. Alesha maintains that the single is one of her favourite memories. While Alesha, Shell Ruin and Taylor Brooke's careers recovered, Buffi continued to suffer setbacks.

Background and composition
In spring of 2007, Alesha began writing and recording new material in the first of many sessions that would later contribute to her fifth studio album The Second Coming (2008). Alesha was particularly excited about a song titled "Power Power," which she shared with Shell Ruin who contributed additional lyrics. "Power Power" is an uptempo track inspired by electronica and dancehall music. The song revolves around a hook that boasts, "I've got the power power."

Alesha and Shell Ruin had the idea to release the song as part of a "supergroup" with Buffi. After considering Josie Matthews, Kati and Putanovska, the songwriters settled on Taylor Brookes. Buffi later contributed the song "Cherry Bomb." All four artists agreed that "Cherry Bomb" would be too good to "waste" as a B-side, so they decided to make "Power Power" an EP and feature songs from their respective albums.

Collaborative versions of two tracks from each artist's album were recorded: "Delicious" (penned by Buffi) and "Stopping Time" (penned by Kati) from Alesha's Alesha Is the Queen (2007), "Two of Hearts" and "Jimmy" (both penned by Alesha) from Ruin's Kill Pop (2007), "Gun to My Head" and "Ballad of Tuesday Sparkle" (both penned by Buffi) from Buffi's Pill Queen (2007), and "Smeared Lipstick" and "Around My Finger" (both penned by Brookes) from Brookes' Diamond in the Dirt (2006). One song per artist was included on the CD and as a digital download, while the other song was featured on a limited edition CD featuring the song's respective original artist.

Critical reception
Initial response to the song was overwhelmingly positive. Isaac McCalla of About.com praised the energy of the track as "bound to set feet on fire." The Guardian Guide named “Power Power” their Single of the Week, calling it "a riotous blitz of jerky military riddims.” Julianne Shepherd of Spin appreciated the album's fusion of "hip hop's cockiness with dancehall's shimmy and the cheap and noisy aesthetics of punk." As public opinion of Alesha, Buffi, Shell Ruin and Taylor Brookes waned, music journalists began to review "Power Power" less favorably. Lauren Murphy of Entertainment.ie called the song "a cacophonous mess." In a review of Alesha's 2010 greatest hits Last Judgment, Peter Robinsn of music website Popjustice commented: "It's a shame that 'Power Power' doesn't get the praise it deserves as a song, because the song has aged better than most." He noted that the musical style of "Power Power" served as a prototype for some of Alesha and Shell Ruin's more successful singles.

Music video
The music video for "Power Power" was directed by David LaChapelle and filmed at a studio in London, England on May 23 — 26, 2007. With a story concept by Buffi, the music video was just as controversial as most other antics from the four recording artists. The concept was described as a "twisted" take on the Spice Girls' "Spice Up Your Life" music video. The music video cost £10 million to produce, creating a huge loss for Ensemble Entertainment.

The video begins with a pair of young girls who are excited to see the premiere of Justin Case's new music video. The broadcast is interrupted by a PSA from Alesha, Buffi, Shell Ruin and Taylor Brookes, declaring their world domination. Perhaps most controversially, Alesha is seen in the image of Myra Hindley and it is implied that she hung children from a lamppost. Buffi is seen in command of thousands of "BuffiBots," while Shell Ruin is in charge of an army tank. Taylor Brookes hijacks a commercial airliner. The video was digitally edited to depict scenes of destruction in major cities like London, New York and Tokyo.

The most outspoken critics called the video "irresponsible" and a "sheer mockery of morality," while others appreciated the dark comedy and off-colour humour typical of the recording artists.

Live performances
Alesha performed solo versions of "Power Power" on 2007's The Queen Tour and 2008's Jesus Christ Supertour. In 2009, Alesha performed the song with China, Emily Henning and Putanovska at the All That Glitters: A Tribute to Shell Ruin charity concert, held after Ruin faked her death (unbeknownst to anyone at the time). Alesha resurrected the infamous anthem for inclusion in a medley on her 2010 greatest hits tour The Reckoning. "Power Power" was included in the Judgment Day set list, a live concert at Wembley Stadium billed as Alesha’s “final concert” in 2010 (Alesha later returned to the industry after retiring six months earlier).

Impact
After failing to enter the top ten, "Power Power" was deemed a commercial failure and a trainwreck for all parties involved. The song was severely damaging to the reputation of all four primary artists. While fans and some fellow celebrities felt that the low charting was undeserved, a large number of people thought it was justified. The song was voted the Worst Single of the Year, Worst Collaboration, and Most Deserved Flop at the 2007 Shit Awards. Buffi released just two more singles after "Power Power," neither entering the top five despite following the hugely successful Pill Queen (the first album to sell over 2 million copies). Taylor Brookes' next single became her lowest-charting solo single, but she bounced back with a string of top five hits.

In an attempt to regain the public's support, Alesha targeted a new audience with her next single, a crunk-inspired track named "The OH in Ohio". Following a Urapopstar Awards 14 performance and a clothing line at high-street retailer River Island, Alesha proved her career was still thriving when "The OH in Ohio"/"Candy Cigarettes" became her best-selling single ever at the time (and her first to sell over 300,000 copies). Shell Ruin released her critically-acclaimed third studio album The Dirty Is Done (2007) and its lead single "My Teaches."

For Alesha and Shell Ruin, "Power Power" marked the start of many collaborations between the pair. Following the release of The Dirty Is Done, which received notoriety for its unique lyrics, Alesha and Ruin collaborated on Alesha's fifth studio album The Second Coming (2008). As a songwriting and production team, Alesha and Shell Ruin pioneered what many described as the "Shellesha" sound with their trademark lyrical and production styles.

Alesha referenced the fallout from "Power Power" on a number of songs, particularly "The Pretty Ones." Taken from her sixth studio album Bigger Than God (2009), the song laments three women with striking similarities to Alesha's "Power Power" collaborators. Alesha featured three younger starlets, China, Emily Henning and Romo.