Name: "Empire"
Album: The Past, The Present and The Future of Pop Vol. 2
Recorded: April 2014
Writer/Composer: Stephanie Fierce, Timbaland, Mr. Vegas
Producer: Stephanie Fierce, Timbaland, Danny Browne and Cleveland ‘Clevie’ Browne.
Length: 4:07
Genres: Electropop, Reggae Fusion
Release: June 8, 2014 (Digital Download, Streaming + Airplay)
Record Label: North Hill Records



"Empire" is the first single taken from Stephanie Fierce's eight studio album "The Past, The Present and Future of Pop Vol. 2" which is set to be released July 27, 2014 through the support of North Hill Records. The song was written and produced collaboratively by Stephanie Fierce and Timbaland. This marks their first and only collaboration since "Pop World" which was featured on the first album "The Past, The Present and The Furute of Pop". The song also exclusively features Mr. Vegas, who partakes in writing credits for his bit of the song. The song will be available for download, radio airplay and streaming on June 8, 2014.


Background

The song consists of a mixture of electro pop and reggae. Dancehall elements are presented as well. The song features two interludes. One wish includes Fierce rapping in Spanish and the other Mr. Vegas is heard briefly through a more rooted dancehall beat. The 28 year-old began recording the original version of "Empire" in the studio with Timbaland who had orgininally began developing the demo for Tisha Jackson but felt like Fierce would fit it best. The original contained many of the elemets of the final, but it didn't contain a bass filled beat and didn't contain the dancehall and reggae influences that of the final.

"The song has a bright spirit and it has that good feel to it, so it was interesting to see Fierce who's been doing so much dark stuff have a spin on it. I hadn't worked with Fierce in a really long time. I'm talking maybe 7 years, so I didn't know what kind of energy she was going to walk in with when she expressed interested in working together again. The song, itself though is just something fun. I think when the fans listen to it, they are going to be surprised in a good way. It's simple, but infectious and effective. Especially with the fact that Fierce is going back to her pop roots. That's exciting". - Timbaland

After the first demo was completed, Fierce felt like the song was missing that extra oomph she always looks for, so she suggested to have a reggae sound mixed in with the original song's composition.

"After hearing the song over and over and listening more closely to the lyrics and the melody we had written I brought it to to Timbaland that the song at heart is in fact a reggae song and he immideately felt the connection that I was feeling. That honestly just brought the song to a whole new level because I never done anything reggae in my career. In top of that I wanted the song to be multicultural and to also go into my latin roots, because I never really have done that aside from a song I did on my third album called Cacafuego. The reggae beat allowed me to go in like that and bring out the latina in me that's been hiding over the years" - Stephanie Fierce

The song is the first reggae inspired song Fierce has recorded in her career and her second to include Spanish lyrics.

"As soon as I heard Fierce speaking Spanish into that mic, I began to lose it. There's something sexy about it, it's like it brought a whole new confidence to her, it's like something took over her but In a good way. I could see her heritage going crazy after listening to that and I definintetly see the crossover appeal in the dance clubs. Clubs will be eating this up." - Timbaland

With the song being a reggae fusion, Fierce and Timbaland shared interest to North Hill Records with the idea of featuring a real reggae artist on the track. The label eventually then approached Mr. Vegas about "Empire".

“Fierce was wanting a real reggae artist to be featured on the track, so she approached me and I was flattered by her request. I never thought in a day of my life Fierce would be interested in me to be in one of her songs. But I was actually first approached by her label to do a remix to the song and I insisted that I would love to do anything Fierce's name is attached to but I also wanted to be included on the original, so I fought as hard as I could and that's when I managed to get a hold of Fierce. ” - Mr. Vegas.

Mr. Vegus "Turn Up" verse was the included in the original, taking the song to a more original dancehall sound.

"The single is definitely unexpected, since I've been doing records that are a bit less commercial and I've been doing rock ballads for quiet a while the past few albums. It was fun recording Empire because it's one of those songs I didn't really took myself too seriously, I just had fun and did it. It's very easy going and pop friendly. I think my fans missed that from me, so that's why I wanted the song to really develop to what it is today. When you listen to it, you feel vibrant, you feel the summer, and it just makes you want to dance and have fun" - Stephanie Fierce


Composition

The song opens up with a bombastic bass filled electro-pop beat, which begins to develop into a more urban-reggae flare. Fierce is heard panting is a sexy seductive manner. That notion is continued throughout the song. As the percussion begins to kick in, the song . Fierce voice is relaxed but determined. As the song reaches its first interlude, you hear Fierce rapping her lyrics in Spanish. The first part in Spanish translate to "When I get on the mic, you know I represent my district and my people, killing all of my enemies, if you try me, poor you! I have curved paths hips, butt cheeks large as the sun, poor you! All men look, lick their lips! With my Goya and Sazon, you know how I cook it on the dance floor, Fierce". Most of the words used are lingo terms used in the island of Puerto Rico. The second bit translate to "Again and again we find ourselves hip to hip, I want your lips sucking on me, make this body your empire". The chorus then sneaks it once again leading up to the second interlude which feature Mr. Vegas. The Intro and Chorus then repeats as the song comes to an end. A haunting piano is heard additionally in the outro.



"Empire" Lyrics


"This Body, is your empire
rule my world, send me on fire
This body, is yours tonight
fill me up, with your delight

Your burn, your desire builds on my anticipation,
so come and make this body your nation
you're the ruler upon true loves first kiss,
now watch as I drag you in,
your world becomes a bliss

Can't you feel our bodies closing in
Can you washaway all my sins,
This body, is your empire
can't you feel our hearts yearnig
can't you see all my lovin
This body, is your empire
this body baby
is your empire
this body babe
is your empire
this body babe
is your empire
this body babe
is your EMPIRE!

Cuando llego en el micrófono
ya tu sabe que yo represento a mi barrio y mi pueblo,
matando a mis enemigos,
si me tratas
pobre you
Tengo las caderas de los caminos curvos
nargitas más grande del sol
pobre you
todos los hombres miran
se lamben los labios
tengo mi Goya y sazon,
ya tu sabes como en el piso de la disco yo cosino,
Feroz (FIERCE!)

I know a woman like me is hard to find,
but I too got you on my mind
want you to watch my dirty wine
I know that makes you lose your mind
watching me non stop from behind
over and over you like

Una y otra vez nos encontramos
cadera a cadera
Quieros que me chuppes con tus lavios
hacer mi cuerpo tu imperio

Can't you feel our bodies closing in
Can you washaway all my sins,
This body, is your empire
can't you feel our hearts yearnig
can't youfeel all my fierce loving
This body, is your empire
this body baby
is your empire
this body babe
is your empire
this body babe
is your empire
this body babe
is your EMPIRE!

Your body turn up, me say "Turn up, turn up"
like a Goddess, so you turn up, turn up
Your body turn up, me say "Turn up, turn up"
like a Goddess, so you turn up,
Stephy, stephy, stephy

Your burn, your desire builds on my anticipation,
so come and make this body your nation
you're the ruler upon true loves first kiss,
now watch as I drag you in,
your world becomes a bliss

Can't you feel our bodies closing in
Can you wash away all of my sins,
This body, is your empire
can't you see our hearts yearnig
Make you feel all my good loving
This body, is your empire
This body, is your empire
can't you see our hearts yearnig
Make you feel all my good loving
This body, is your empire
this body, is your empire
this body baby
is your empire
this body babe
is your empire
this body babe
is your EMPIRE!"