- Songland returned for episode two on Tuesday night with Will.i.am as the celebrity guest judge.
- The seven-time Grammy winner listened to new songs by Adam Friedman, John Lohan, Charisma Dixon, and Ray Goren for consideration as the latest Black Eyed Peas single.
- And while Friedman's "Be Nice" was selected, will.i.am. threw us off with a major surprise twist.
If you couldn’t help but jam to Black Eyed Peas hits like “Where Is the Love?” “My Humps,” “Let’s Get It Started,” and “I Gotta Feeling,” we’ve got good news: the beloved 2000s hit-makers are about to make a huge comeback.
On Tuesday night’s episode of Songland, will.i.am. joined the show’s judges (Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, and Shane McAnally) to critique the work of four songwriters hoping to have their song selected as the next Black Eyed Peas single. During the episode, contestants Adam Friedman, John Lohan, Charisma Dixon, and Ray Goren eagerly pitched their ideas to the panelists, but only one track came out on top.
The winning soon-to-be-hit? “Be Nice” by Adam Friedman! The tune, which will surely make you tap your toes, sends a positive, uplifting message, with lyrics like, “Be different! Be nice! Just smile! I promise it’ll change your life.”
And moments after the show aired on Tuesday, the Black Eyed Peas released the jam as their brand new single (it features Snoop Dogg) along with a music video that accompanies it.
Yes, we fully expect to add this song to our playlist—much like we did John Legend’s “We Need Love” from the premiere episode—however, episode two finished with one unexpected twist: will.i.am. decided to pick other songs as winners, too.
While “Be Nice” is for sure the new Black Eyed Peas single, he loved the work of the finalists so much that he removed three tracks from the upcoming Black Eyed Peas album to make room for “Be Nice” and two others. Specifically, he also chose John Lohan’s “Boxes” and Charisma Dixon’s “Invincible” as songs that’ll get featured on the new album, for which details remain scarce.
Adam Friedman
In an exclusive interview, Ester Dean opened up about working with Friedman to perfect the new single. “I pray [audiences] love it because I love ‘Be Nice,’” she said. “It’s not only needed because we need the message, but God, I needed some will.i.am., Black Eyed Peas in my life, some ‘I Gotta Feeling.’ He’s making that music—the kind I like: fun, happy, energetic songs. I’m dying for that.”
And previously, will.i.am opened up about the types of songs that get him excited.
“I’ve always been about love and joy and just being happy. I think the world needs pick-me-ups. The things that we like right now are dark music,” he said. “I like to feel in love again. And love is when I can’t figure it out but I just like it. If your significant other says, why do you love me? I don’t know why I love you, I just love you. Well, s***, if I knew, I wouldn’t love you…and that’s how music should be.”
Listen to "Be Nice" above.
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As the Senior Editor of OprahMag.com, I'm a jack-of-all-trades, overseeing our entertainment coverage (we cover TV shows like The Politician and Big Brother, movies such as J.Lo's Hustlers and Lena Waithe's Queen and Slim), features, news items, and— as her number one fan—all of Lady Gaga's whereabouts. I proudly edit Coming Out, a series where LGBTQ+ change-makers reflect on self-acceptance. And I edit our Weird or Wellness series, which I highly recommend you read on the weekend. Prior to O, I began my career in the fashion department at Marie Claire, and eventually moved on to InStyle, where I dabbled in social media and covered events such as the Grammys, Toronto International Film Festival, and New York Fashion Week. A native of Miami, I received my journalism degree from the University of Miami. One time, Rosario Dawson complimented my hair and asked to touch it. I let her.
