"Yes We Can" Music Video: A Pre-Election Reprise
A week before Super Tuesday last February, a bunch of inspired Americans got together over two days to make a music video. Will.i.am had just written a brilliant song based on Barack Obama's speech following the New Hampshire primary. As a long-time supporter of Barack, I had been encouraging Will to write a song for several months before that because I felt strongly that music had never been used to maximum effect before in political campaigns. I believed that if there could be an original, anthemic song that would support Barack's underlying message (like an end title song does on a film soundtrack or "We Are The World" did in the 1980s), it could actually change people's minds. I thought this would be particularly effective in the viral, connected age of the internet in which we now live. But it wasn't until we sat down in Will's home studio on Friday morning, January 29th to re-watch the Iowa and New Hampshire speeches on YouTube that Barack's words hit Will like a wave and his creativity went into overdrive.
I remember Will saying to me that he had grown up in school listening to Dr, King's "I Have A Dream" speech, Kennedy's "Ask Not" inaugural address, and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address; his little brother and his friends were in school memorizing those same words today because there had been nothing as memorable or inspiring from our national leaders since. After listening to Senator Obama's speech, Will felt it could be as important to future generations as those other speeches were to ours, and by putting it to music, people would be drawn in and would actually listen to Barack's words. I knew we were on to something when my younger daughter listened to Will's song over and over again that Friday night in her room, and the next morning came down to breakfast and recited the speech word for word.
It was our hope that the song and the video -- and with it Barack's message of hope and change -- would become indelibly etched in people's psyche walking into the polls on Super Tuesday and beyond. With one day left until this historic presidential election, we invite you all to watch the video one more time as a reminder why so many Americans were inspired by Barack Obama in the first place.
Remember Hope -- and Vote!
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This is just another example of the many ways in which this presidential campaign was about 21st century vs 20th century. It may not be an exaggeration to say that Barack Obama should have included will.i.am in his list of thank-yous last night, since this song and video surely inspired many of our young generation to engage in the process rather than be cynical and stay home.
I'm not a member of that generation, but I tear up with hope and pride when I see them, techno-savvy, color blind, uninterested in superficialiities like gay or straight, unafraid of change. Barack Obama understands that they truly are the future. Now contrast that with a candidate and party who are still fighting the Cold War, and I think it's easy to understand what happened last night.
We in the older generations can either cling to our fears or we can join our young people in the work of reshaping the world. One choice will be infinitely more exciting. Can we do it?
You know the answer.
Yes we can.
Yes we DID! and yes we WILL! I'm so happy, I'm crying. I'm biracial, half black and half white, and now there is a president LIKE ME! Not just some old white dude(no offense to anyone) Barack Obama has become my hero. I can't wait until January 20th.
The first thing I looked at when I got up this morning. I can't stop this feeling...
I cry every time I see this!
I think I've already cried about 5 times today. And I've only been up for an hour. It's going to be a long (wonderful) day filled with lots of tears (of happiness!)
Yes we can....live to see the day when the United States of America TRULY becomes united! That day is tomorrow!! For my fellow Obama supporters I walk proudly with you. For the McCain supporters I walk proudly with you as well; for we are all one in this great moment in history.
I still choke up when I listen to this.I have a feeling this speech will outlive us all in the minds of future generations.What a pleasure to have a candidate in my lifetime that inspires me.I voted for Obama,not against the lesser of two evils.
Si se puede!
Is there anyway I can get this on my mp3 player?
I don't think so, and I don't understand why. When this first came out, you could listen to it on itunes (but not buy it) for a period of several days. Then it disappeared from itunes. I don't understand why it isn't on the Yes We Can CD and why you can't download it anywhere.
Yes you can.
(Sorry, couldn't resist)
Go here: http://djdurutti.blogspot.com/2008/02/barack-obama-has-posse.html
and you'll find a link for the song about 1/3 down the page. Clicking on the link will give you a dialogue box to download the song as an mp3 file.
I've been listening to it in the car every day!
This was to me the most inspiring thing I saw during this long and interesting campaign. Yes, it brings tears to the eyes. It is beautiful. He is a true leader.
YES, WE CAN. AND WE WILL. TOMORROW.
VOTE OBAMA.
I still get tears in my eyes every time I watch this.
YES WE CAN!... YES WE WILL!
Obama/Biden- for a better tomorrow, starting tomorrow!
Me too! Watching that video never fails to inspire or to get me all soggy.
I am so excited about Election Day!
YES WE CAN!
Today we say yes we can...tomorrow we will say...Yes we did!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obama/Biden '08...voted early in Ohio
Tomorrow we will say "Yes we will", and start the tremendous job of planning our future.
Voted O/B early in NC.
So beautiful and it sends chills down my spine every time I watch and hear it.
I put it up on my blog a week or so ago. I can't wait to hear it over and over after we know we have truly begun our journey, once the election is won. This is just the first step.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLVXxGMG3Fw
This is terrific, as well !!
Yes we can, and we DID!
I can't freakin WAIT to party with the world tomorrow night!
Si! Se puede! Still brings tears to my eyes. Hope remains alive.
I think this video was one of the biggest turning point in Obama's quest for the presidency.
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