[Special thanks to Stacey H. of Gather]
will.i.am, for those who do not know, is the creator of the group "Black Eyed Peas", and is a Grammy Winning artist, who was worked and performed with so many famous, and other Grammy winning artists that I can not even begin to name them all.
I laughed when I first learned he had even cut a CD with Sergio Mendes. will.i.am is a young artist, but he does not care; where there is talent -- young or old, you shall find will.i.am.
Stacey emailed me this much better, higher quality version of the video than YouTube provides, and you may even embed it, something that you really cannot (effectively) do with YouTube. Go for it! Click here
will.i.am offers his explanation for WHY, WHY he chose this candidate. The explanation is below. Didn't you all get a kick out of all the celebrity included in the video?
____________________________________________________
The Yes We Can Song
by will.i.am
I was sitting in my recording studio watching the debates...
Torn between the candidates
I was never really big on politics...
and actually I'm still not big on politics...
but 4 years ago, me and the black eyed peas supported Kerry...
And we supported Kerry with all our might...
We performed and performed and performed for the DNC...
doing all we could do to get the youth involved...
The outcome of the last 2 elections has saddened me...
on how unfair, backwards, upside down, unbalanced, untruthful,
corrupt, and just simply, how wrong the world and "politics" are...
So this year i wanted to get involved and do all i could early...
And i found myself torn...
because this time it's not that simple...
our choices aren't as clear as the last elections ...
last time it was so obvious...
Bush and war
vs
no Bush and no war...
But this time it's not that simple...
and there are a lot of people that are torn just like i am...
So for awhile I put it off and i was going to wait until it was decided for me...
And then came New Hampshire...
And i was captivated...
Inspired...
I reflected on my life...
and the blessings I have...
and the people who fought for me to have these rights and blessings...
and I'm not talking about a "black thing"
I'm talking about a "human thing" me as a "person"
an American...
That speech made me think of Martin Luther King...
Kennedy...
and Lincoln...
and all the others that have fought for what we have today...
what America is "supposed" to be...
freedom...
equality...
and truth...
and thats not what we have today...
we think we are free...
but in reality terror and fear controls our decisions...
this is not the America that our pioneers and leaders fought and
died for...
and then there was New Hampshire
it was that speech...
like many great speeches...
that one moved me...
because words and ideas are powerful...
It made me think...
and realize that today we have "very few" leaders...
maybe none...
but that speech...
it inspired me...
it inspired me to look inside myself and outwards towards the world...
it inspired me to want to change myself to better the world...
and take a "leap" towards change...
and hope that others become inspired to do the same...
change themselves..
change their greed...
change their fears...
and if we "change that"
"then hey"..
we got something right...???...
1 week later after the speech settled in me...
I began making this song...
I came up with the idea to turn his speech into a song...
because that speech effected and touched my inner core like nothing in a very long time...
it spoke to me...
because words and ideas are powerful...
I just wanted to add a melody to those words...
I wanted the inspiration that was bubbling inside me to take over...
so i let it..
I wasn't afraid to stand for something...
to stand for "change"...
I wasn't afraid of "fear"...
it was pure inspiration...
so I called my friends...
and they called their friends...
in a matter of 2 days...
We made the song and video...
Usually this process would take months...
a bunch of record company people figuring out strategies and release dates...
interviews...
all that stuff...
but this time i took it in my own hands...
so i called my friends sarah pantera, mike jurkovac, fred goldring, and jesse dylan to help make it happen...
and they called their friends..
and we did it together in 48 hours...
and instead of putting it in the hands of profit we put it in the hands of inspiration...
then we put it on the net for the world to feel...
When you are truly inspired..
magic happens...
incredible things happen...
love happens..
(and with that combination)
"love, and inspiration"
change happens...
"change for the better"
Inspiration breeds change...
"Positive change"...
no one on this planet is truly experienced to handle the obstacles we face today...
Terror, fear, lies, agendas, politics, money, all the above...
It's all scary...
Martin Luther King didn't have experience to lead...
Kennedy didn't have experience to lead...
Susan B. Anthony...
Nelson Mandela...
Rosa Parks...
Gandhi...
Anne Frank...
and everyone else who has had a hand in molding the freedoms we have and take for granted today...
no one truly has experience to deal with the world today...
they just need "desire, strength, courage ability, and passion" to change...
and to stand for something even when people say it's not possible...
America would not be here "today" if we didn't stand and fight for
change "yesterday"...
Everything we have as a "people" is because of the "people" who fought for
change...
and whoever is the President has to realize we have a lot of changing to do
I'm not trying to convince people to see things how i do...
I produced this song to share my new found inspiration and how I've been moved...
I hope this song will make you feel...
love...
and think...
and be inspired just like the speech inspired me...
that's all...
Let's all come together like America is supposed to...
Like Japan did after Hiroshima...
that was less than 65 years ago...
and look at Japan now...
they did it together...
they did it...
"We can't?...
Are you serious..?..
WE CAN!!!
Yes we can...
A United "America"
Democrats, Republicans and Independents together...
Building a new America
We can do it...
"TOGETHER"
Please visit www.yeswecansong.com
Thank you for reading and listening...
will.i.am
_______________________________________
U.S. Copyright applies. All Rights Reserved. will.i.am
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Comments: 51
Martin Luther King didn't have experience to lead...
Kennedy didn't have experience to lead...
Susan B. Anthony...
Nelson Mandela...
Rosa Parks...
Gandhi...
Anne Frank...
and everyone else who has had a hand in molding the freedoms we have and take for granted today...
no one truly has experience to deal with the world today...
they just need "desire, strength, courage ability, and passion" to change...
and to stand for something even when people say it's not possible...
America would not be here "today" if we didn't stand and fight for
change "yesterday"...
Everything we have as a "people" is because of the "people" who fought for
change...
and whoever is the President has to realize we have a lot of changing to do
Are you getting it yet?
Are you starting to UNDERSTAND just how young people are thinking and feeling?
It is NOT about EXPERIENCE
BETTER WAKE UP, FOLKS!
[I know I am probably wasting my time.]
CHANGE is the PREVAILING thought of the day. . .
it is the 21st century mindset.
Standing up for what you believe in is never a waste of time even if others do not agree with you.
but, now I moved where i am, i dont see that same kind of spirit in young people. not all young people can afford to go to college where they campaign, so, they got to recah them with a song. I hope more young people not in college show up to vote.
Let me see if I can do this correctly:
Ferret Story
Chris,
Chick,
Sharon,
Baiden,
Elaine,
Michael Harvey,
J Corn,
and Bruce.
_______________________
Let's see if I get it correctly Bruce:
The Virgin Islands,
Washington State,
Nebraska, and
Louisiana --
correct?
There is more to come -- much, much more.
Hillary is running out of funds. Obama cup runneth over.
Our next President is Senator Barack Obama.
I think I summed it up nicely, except to say he leads in delegates as well.
It is wonderful to see us all uniting together under one common cause, although it looks as though Jeff's agenda might -- key word being "might" Jeff, be Scarlett Johansson. Still, it is wonderful to see people of differing philosophies ready to work together for this country under the banner of "one AMERICA"
YES WE CAN!
Indeed, we can!
That Buddy is so smart. You need to bring him with you to San Francisco. It's a dog's haven, you do know that, don't you? We may not be so up on Hillary, but dogs rule. There was a fight, not so long ago between parent and dogowners and the dogowners ALMOST won.
Imagine that!
Still, Buddy would be very welcome.
I am merely picking on you about Scarlett, Jeff. You see my fascination with Denzel, don't you?
Well. . .don't you?
(hint,hint)
Denzel Rocks. I liked every movie he has been in except "training day".
. . .and I shall not bicycle with you in Golden Gate Park, either Jeff. It is not MY fault that you live in Wisconsin. . .COME to California! We do not give many invitations into our state; consider it a rare honour.
However, you had better watch it with the "Nality". You have been warned.
Ah, sometimes. . . Jeff, you want to take advantage of the family relationships. . .
I won't though.
thank you for your comments and friendship too...
There is a change a comin" I know it ,
I feel it. Hope springs eternal!!!
:)
Had to get another look at this one when my brain cells were more awake.
I agree that change is needed, but what I don't know is what kind of change Obama himself represents.
What do you expect from his presidency, Nalita?
I "HOPE" or would hope that one thing that people would do is go beyond the colour of Senator Obama's skin, that is ONE thing that I would hope.
It (colour) was not primary or secondary consideration when I chose him for a candidate; it was no consideration at all. I believe that chosing a candidate for that reason is actually a PRIMITIVE basis for making a choice, and indicates a Neanderthal type of belief system. I keep hoping -- audaciously -- that we have journeyed beyond that.
That being said. . .
Then you said, Rory:
Also, it would be an important symbol for your children of colour everywhere to have a black man holding the highest office in the most powerful nation on Earth.
Hmmm.
MY CHILDREN???
I do not understand that statement, either. I do not want to speculate on what that means, either.
Let me be frank about it. I do not have any children. Many in my family do. My aunt has children, some of which are adopted, and some of them are White. That would make them my cousins; they are much younger than I, but adoption makes them no less my cousins. Then I have blood relatives of Asian, White, and obviously Black heritage.
Keeping in mind the philosophy of Dr. King -- which hopefully need not be quoted -- I would think that Senator Obama would be "an important symbol" for children throughout the world -- PERIOD.
Based on my discussions with people of other national origins (countries), and my ever-growing Yahoo! email box, which is headed toward 30,000 in the inbox, I do not believe that Senator Obama's appeal and importance is and/or should be limited to one specific group.
The whole world needs him, and he can accomodate the whole world. By the looks of things, they are in eager anticipation of it. Ness, from England is just one from Gather who made very kind comments on this very thing.
Thank you, Rory. :=)
I too agree that Senator Obama is the next President of the United States.
The use of the word "your" was probably ill advised on my part. I didn't mean your personal children (and had no idea whether you had any or not). I meant "America's" children, and used "your" because I am not an American. I mean all children of all racial minorities. (And, in fact, I think this does extend beyond America's borders as the office of president of the USA gets a lot of global attention.)
Why racial minorities in particular? Because society projects certain images and not all of them are good images, not all of them are good role models. Unfortunately, the role models that are popularly projected for black children and other non-white children are rather limited. Too often they are negative (the gangsta rapper, the gang member, the petty criminal, the kind of images that result in young black men getting pulled over by the police -- driving while black -- because they are driving a nice car and the police don't think it likely a young black man would legally own such a thing) or else they are positive but in a limited way (so many elite black athletes to admire). There are few examples of successful black businessmen and women, leaders, etc. that are popularly promoted in the media. For Obama to become president would be a symbol that the media could not ignore or play down, and every young black child would look at his success and say: "Nothing can stop me, because nothing could stop him."
I realized this when my daughter, at the age of four, was inspired by the fact that a woman had become prime minister of Canada. Her response was to express a newfound conviction that she could become anything she wanted to be. It was amazing, really. Symbols matter.
I did not intend to suggest that your reason for supporting Obama was that he was black and that you, as a black woman, were "siding" with him out of ethnic loyalty. I'm sure you have very good reasons for being so inspired by the man and his obvious leadership skills. In fact, that was what I was asking: what specifically do you expect from him? The question is not intended to be sarcastic or anything of the kind, just a frank curiousity about your expectation from the man. He will change things, he says, but how? What changes will he bring about?
I expect, however, that as a black woman who has grown up in a culture where there is significant lingering prejudice, where you have doubtless had racial intolerance expressed against you more than a few times, where you have seen so many black men thrown in prison (out of all proportion with their overall population), where sentences for crimes committed by blacks are much higher than for the same crime committed by whites, where ghettoes which continue to trap poor blacks exist in many of your cities, that you would be proud to have such a competent and inspiring leader arise out of your community and see him win the support of a wide cross-section of Americans.
Since Martin Luther King Jr. and the many dynamic black leaders of his generation there has been a vacuum of leadership in the black community, at least at the national level. Barack Obama, whatever the outcome of this election, has already turned the tide on that.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
If You Really Want To Know The Truth About Barack Obama
Look for what is discussed on these issues. I support his platform.
The Iraq war
The Economy
Health care
Engaging the American people in their own government
Etc.
About those precincts in Harlem, I truly hope no Democrat was behind the obvious shenanegans going about, but time will indeed tell.
Here I am again.
I support you Neet .
OK !
there it is done !
It sounds a lot like the kind of skullduggery that went on in the last two presidential elections where Republicans had a lot of suspicious vote counts go in their favour.
I wonder, were Diebold electronic voting machines used in those precincts?
As far as Hillary Clinton goes, I don't favour her as a candidate over Obama on her own merits at all, but see them both as the two best alternatives left in the field (and anything beats any Republican after what they've done to the country). If Clinton has been involved in voting irregularities then she deserves to lose.
Clinton would also, like Obama, be an important symbol aside from her personal contribution as president, for women instead of visible minorities. It seems to me that women are in even greater need of such a symbolic victory than the black community is (though both are in dire need of breaking the social barriers against them), especially on a global scale rather than just inside the USA. The other reason I'd rather see Clinton win this election (if she isn't guilty the voting fraud stuff) is that this will be her only kick at the can, while Obama will likely have at least one more shot at the Oval Office.
In a perfect world they could serve consecutive presidencies, but we don't live there.
I'm happy with either of them winning.
John McCain scares me.
Huge holla at you for all the contributions you have made to my articles, without even being here on Gather. . .
a thousand humble and heartfelt THANK YOUS ! ! !
we may even make it simpler than that. . .
Who stands to benefit from this outrageous and illegal activity?
The Republicans?
possibly.
They definitely fear Senator Obama, and have made that clear in no uncertain terms.
They have made it clear since Obama announced his bid on February 10, 2007.
I heard it last on CNN a few days ago when they hatched a plan to forego their own primaries to vote in the Democratic primary for Hillary, in order that she might win; she is beatable -- they believe -- but Obama is far more formidable.
The other likely suspect is Hillary and/or the Hillary people and/or a Hillary sympathizer.
Possible? Of course. But it would need be someone with a far reach to affect 80 precincts, wouldn't you say? Now, who -- just who would have THAT kind of reach. Plus, who is to say this thing is more far-reaching that 80 precincts, and it just has not been made known to the public? Do not forget that all that goes on is not made privy to the public -- oh yes, it is true, and for a variety of "rationalized" reasons.
Come up with your own "conspiracy theory"; I have mine, which I shall keep to myself.
One thing is for certain: I think anyone who would accuse Senator Obama of being behind this is . . .nothing short of stupid, but even that accusation -- in the light of so many other accusations against Obama I have heard -- would not surprise me.
It takes me back to the day I was talking in public to some people on BART about Hillary and Obama. A young lady walked over to us, and said (not her exact words), but something like:
"Excuse me, EXCUSE ME! I do not mean to butt into your conversation, but I heard you talking about Hillary Clinton and the election. Well, I am a New York resident. I live in Queens, and I am just here visiting. I cannot stand Hillary Clinton. I voted for her the first time, but I shall NOT ever vote for her again. She has not done any good for my state. She has passed a few unimportant bills, and is using my state as a stepping stone to the White House. Do not mention her around me. We hate her."
Apparently, there may be other New Yorkers -- no, no -- obviously, there ARE other New Yorkers who feel the same way.
Yes, we Americans can. We always have, in spite of some of the profiteers we've seen elected to "rule over us."
We can pull back from the edge of illegal, hopeless, terrified and fearful human condition. My heart sings out with the video, and my eyes dream; but my brain feeds on the idea of a united UNITED States.
Be strong, fight hard and fair, and let them not sling their "old school" filth on such a stellar light and the bell ringing out loud and clean and clear that "We can."
We have lost that, and I want it back--so much.
Willfully signing on for change, and growth, as a nation.
Wilka