Let's Get It Started

Cover of CD Single "Let's Get It Started."

"Let's Get It Started" is the edited radio version of the Black Eyed Peas song "Let's Get Retarded", which appears on their 2003 album Elephunk. The phrase "Let's Get Retarded" is a term used on the West Coast of the United States that means to go crazy on the dance floor, synonymous with "Go Dumb," and "Get Stupid." The colloquial meaning of "retarded", as used in this song, refers to being very carefree and having a good time - and sometimes meaning intoxicated, similar to the colloquial use of getting "blind", "wasted", or "smashed". The phrase is chanted at clubs and dances and used in everyday slang, but the word "Retarded" is offensive to people who see it as put-down of those who are mentally challenged. It was edited because many people find this usage offensive, making the song unsuitable for play at some radio stations and sports games until it was censored. The 2004 song is the fourth single from their 2003 album, Elephunk, and was also included on the Barbershop 2: Back in Business and Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle soundtracks. It gained popularity as the theme song for the 2004 NBA Playoffs on ABC.

A cover by lounge act Richard Cheese and Lounge Against the Machine appeared on the 2005 album Aperitif for Destruction. Also, the song is featured in "Weird Al" Yankovic's "Polkarama!" on his album Straight Outta Lynwood

. The song was also played by the Francis Howell North High School marching band at the Bands of America grand national championships in 2005.

Music video

The Music video consists of a nighttime setting, in an urban area. Fergie's phone says let's get it started. The Black Eyed Peas, particularly will.i.am, are on a stage doing energetic dances while singing the song. The crowd has about 300 people, occasionally throwing someone into the sky. At the end, a broken piano rewinds how it fell from the sky.

Facts and trivia

• International hit song from the Elephunk album, released in 2003
• Radio-friendly version of "Let's Get Retarded," which appeared on the album, and explaining the (unchanged) line "In this context, there's no disrespect"
• The line "Let's get ignant..." is often written as "let's get pregnant" online. It instead is slang for "ignorant," as mirrored by the word "stupid"
• The line "Bob your head like me, Apl.de" is sometimes written incorrectly as "Bob your head like epilepsy"

Lyrics

Let's Get It Started, in here...

And the base keep runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and
runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and...

In this context, there's no disrespect, so, when I bust my rhyme, you break your necks.
We got five minutes for us to disconnect, from all intellect collect the rhythm effect.
Obstacles are inefficient, follow your intuition, free your inner soul and break away from tradition.
Coz when we beat out, girl it's pullin without.
You wouldn't believe how we wow shit out.
Burn it till it's burned out.
Turn it till it's turned out.
Act up from north, west, east, south.

[Chorus:]
Everybody, everybody, let's get into it.
Get stupid.
Get it started, get it started, get it started.
Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here.
Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here.
Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here.
Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here.
Yeah.

Lose control, of body and soul.
Don't move too fast, people, just take it slow.
Don't get ahead, just jump into it.
Ya'll here a body, two pieces to it.
Get stutted, get stupid.
You'll want me body people will walk you through it.
Step by step, like you're into new kid.
Inch by inch with the new solution.
Transmit hits, with no delusion.
The feeling's irresistible and that's how we movin'.

[Chorus:]
Everybody, everybody, let's get into it.
Get stupid.
Get it started, get it started, get it started.
Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here.
Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here.
Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here.
Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here.
Yeah.

Runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin runnin' and...

C'mon y'all, lets get woohoo!
Lets get woohoo! (in here)
Lets get woohoo!
Lets get woohoo! (in here)
Lets get woohoo!
Lets get woohoo! (in here) Ow, ow, ow!
Ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya...

Let's get ill, that's the deal.
At the gate, we'll bring the bud top drill. (Just)
Lose your mind this is the time,
Ya'll test this drill, Just and bang your spine. (Just)
Bob your head like me Apl.de, up inside your club or in your Bentley.
Get messy, loud and sick.
Ya'll mount past slow mo in another head trip. (So)
Come then now do not correct it, let's get ignant let's get hectic.

[Chorus:]
Everybody, everybody, let's get into it.
Get stupid.
Get it started, get it started, get it started.
Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here.
Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here.
Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started in here.
Let's get it started (ha), let's get it started
(woah, woah, woah) in here.
Yeah.

Lets get woohoo!
Lets get woohoo! (in here)
Lets get woohoo!
Lets get woohoo! (in here)
Lets get woohoo!
Lets get woohoo! (in here) Ow, ow, ow!
Ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya...

Runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin', and runnin' runnin'
[fade]