Obama - The WorldBeat Album
One of the most exciting and progressive aspects of Senator Barack Obama's candidacy is the incredibly wide range of people he continues to energize and inspire. He has become a true world figure now. One way this can be seen is in the music Obama is inspiring globally. Here is a sampling of some of the tastiest worldbeat music currently being produced as tributes to the hope Barack Obama is bringing to people everywhere.
Track 1: Mighty Sparrow - 'Barack the Magnificent'
First up from Trinidad, is Mighty Sparrow, the Calypso King of the World, whose career spans over five decades and whose music spans the globe.
Barack the Magnificent
The respect of the world that we now lack,
If you want it back, then vote Barack!
Because this time we come out to vote!Stop the war!
Stop genocide in Darfur!
No matter what,
Get health care for who have not!
The Foreign Relations Committee,
Can attest to his tenacity,
For homeland and job security.He stood his ground
When the war was a conception,
Said it was wrong,
So he didn’t go along,
Jim Baker and Lee Hamilton
They said of Barack’s opinion,
"He’s a man of resplendent vision! ...Barack! Barack!
On the Senate Affair Committee he’s a giant!
Barack!
Dignifiedly resilient,
And with rock star status he’s Barack The Magnificent! ...Barack! Barack!
The first black President to lead this mighty nation!
Barack!
We’ll regain worldwide respect
with Obama’s vision and excellent comprehension!
Track 2: Fojeba - 'Fired Up & Ready to Go'
'Fired Up & Ready to Go' is by Fojeba, who is an Afrobeat musician born in Cameroon and now lives in Canada. His song is a Central African makossa. Fojeba uses samples from Obama's speeches in the music including his signature "Fired Up, Ready to Go" as a refrain. It's mixed together with intricate rhythms of the makossa and Fojeba's wonderful guitar work.
Track 3: Mariachi - 'Viva Obama'
Here we have a dashing mariachi band singing in pure Mexican country style with cuts between the lead singer and people on the street holding up 'iViva Obama!' signs. The video has the lyrics in subtitles so you can sing along!!
Track 4: Miguel Orozco - 'La Caminata'
Orozco says his imagination was captured by a self-described, 'skinny dude with the funny name'. "It doesn’t matter that I’m Mexican-American, born in East LA, raised in Utah, lived in DC and worked on the South-side of Chicago. What matters is what I’m doing now and how I’m helping my neighbor, my brother."
La Caminata
Oye mi gente este es un hombre preperado.
La esperanza ha llegado.
Como Se Dice…Como Se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Dicen que no contamos…
Invisibles porque no votamos…
Pero aqui estamos y todo esto va cambiar…
We did the marchas y ahora vamos a votar.
Listen to me gente, es tiempo para algo diferente..
What we need is un nuevo presidente…
Como Se Dice…Como Se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA! (Repeat)
Mexicanos como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Puerto Rique_os, como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Peruanos, como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
En esta gran nacion ya no existe una buena educacion,
Dicen que todo el dinero va a la imigracion
Es facil culpar el que no vota
El gigante Latino esta que brota
Despierta!
Vamos a eligir alguien que de veras entienda…
Colombianos, como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Dominicanos, como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Los Cubanos, como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Los Brasilieros, como se llama?
OBAMA! OBAMA!
Salvadore_os, como se llama?
Latinos!!!
Es un Hombre preparado…
La esperanza ha llegado…
Obama! Obama!
Track 5: Coco Tea - 'Barack Obama'
Jamaican singer Cocoa Tea said this about Obama, "This is not about class nor color, race nor creed, it's about the changes, what the Americans need." His song goes on to call Obama a "trendsetter" and urge Americans "to unite as one" behind him.
Track 6: Will.i.am - 'Yes We Can'
One of the best is this offering by will.i.am, founding member and frontman of Black Eyed Peas. His "Yes We Can" song was inspired by the speech Obama gave following the New Hampshire primary. Will.i.am states, "It made me reflect on the freedoms I have, going to school where I went to school, and the people that came before Obama like Martin Luther King, presidents like Abraham Lincoln that paved the way for me. . . ." The music video includes excerpts from Obama's speech and appearances from several celebrities: Scarlett Johansson, John Legend, Herbie Hancock, Kate Walsh, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Adam Rodriquez, Kelly Hu, Adam Rodriquez, Amber Valetta, and Nick Cannon. "I'm blown away by how many people wanted to come and be a part of it in a short amount of time. It was all out of love and hope for change and really looking at the world."
Yeah. Get rid of the commercials. Play these songs. We need hope!
Posted by: Bob | May 15, 2008 at 02:58 PM
It is about time Obama left the grave reserve of A. Gore behind, picked up the impassioned, compassionate torches of A. Lincoln and King, and called us all from sea to shining sea to aim for the moon of Kennedy and charge up to the very mountain top and see the change that we need to be. Yes, we can be Hope.
Posted by: chantze Kin | May 17, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Liz, this is such a great entry. Thanks for putting it all together. Edie Cheng (Jack's cousin).
Posted by: Edie | May 21, 2008 at 01:27 PM
To Will.i.am and all those involved in the 'Yes We Can' project --
Your music video is stirring, moving and beautifully produced. Thank you. Please do it America -- change the world and send Obama to the White House. You will bring hope to people everywhere and redeem yourselves in the eyes of many Canadians.
Thanks again for a sensational video.
May it all come true,
Lorraine in B.C.
Posted by: lorraine winter | May 22, 2008 at 12:57 PM
Wow, amazing site guys. I am definitely linking up to you and directing people over here first! Forget my page ;)
Posted by: Hans H | May 29, 2008 at 06:01 PM
You guys need to put all this stuff on Obama Music Arts and Entertainment website. http://obamamae.ning.com/
Posted by: Noel | June 06, 2008 at 09:14 PM
Dear Editor,
There's one glaring omission in your otherwise excellent coverage of the music Barack Obama has inspired all over the world. This is a beautiful song written by Alex Pascall, a British-Grenadian songwriter and cultural activist. The piece, "Give Time, a Change is Coming", was originally written for the children of Northern Ireland during the period of the bloody sectarian war in that troubled province of the UK. It has been updated and re-aranged for the current period to reflect the hope for a new direction in US relations with the rest of the world which Obama represents.
The song is published by Good Vibes Records and Music and is available on iTunes. Please email [email protected] and I'll send you a free download.
Best regards
Joyce Pascall
Posted by: Joyce Pascall | June 18, 2008 at 07:00 PM
Dear Editor,
There's one glaring omission in your otherwise excellent coverage of the music Barack Obama has inspired all over the world. This is a beautiful song written by Alex Pascall, a British-Grenadian songwriter and cultural activist. The piece, "Give Time, a Change is Coming", was originally written for the children of Northern Ireland during the period of the bloody sectarian war in that troubled province of the UK. It has been updated and re-aranged for the current period to reflect the hope for a new direction in US relations with the rest of the world which Obama represents.
The song is published by Good Vibes Records and Music and is available on iTunes. Please email [email protected] and I'll send you a free download.
Best regards
Joyce Pascall
Posted by: Joyce Pascall | June 18, 2008 at 07:01 PM