On Friday the 29th, leap day, some members of my a cappella group and I did a benefit show called Barackappella at my college in Portland, Oregon. It was so much fun, I wanted to share the story with you.
I support Barack Obama. I am very happy about the phenomenal voter turn out and political participation his campaign for the presidency is inspiring, and I am so excited about what I believe he will do as president. One of the many things I like about Obama is that he inspires action among really diverse groups of people. He inspires different people in different ways, but a lot of us love his speeches. A few weeks ago a group of famous artists put portions of some of his speeches to music, and made a very cool video called Yes We Can. Millions of people have watched it at the original site and also on YouTube, where it was re-posted.
I cried the first time I watched this video, and I know I was not alone. It is so nice to hear a “We” instead of an “I”. It is so nice to be so proud of a person who represents our country as a senator, and who I believe will be our President. Words do matter. I feel empowered when I say “Yes I Can,” and I feel even more empowered when I feel connected to something large enough to say “Yes We Can”. I believe more empowerment and civic engagement would be great for our country, and our world.
Just days after first watching this video, some friends and I wondered if we could arrange an a cappella version. I was already in an a cappella group at my school called MoMo and the Coop, and I knew that most of the other members were also Obama supporters. Long story short, most members of our group and another friend decided to do a benefit concert, and to call our concert Barackappella. Our performance was one of many “Leap for Change” events nationwide. About eighty people attended, including some of MoMo and the Coop’s fan base, and many Obama supporters we had not seen before. Some in the audience were much younger than me, and others could have been my grandparents. The video above is our version of Yes We Can, we also posted videos of the seven other songs we sang that night.
I am the guy with pink pants in the video, in case you were curious. I hope you enjoy it, it was so wonderful for me. By the end of the song my normally confident voice was quivering - definitely a symptom of my strong emotions, not stage fright. The audience really loved it, but I cherish most the proud and excited expressions of my friends who helped build this version of Yes We Can. Thanks guys.
The original Yes We Can speech was phenomenal, and the Yes We Can video is probably a lot more impressive musically, but I think our project is special. We are not famous or powerful, I think we are an interesting bunch, but all things considered we are ordinary Americans. But, we are participating in this movement in a way we would not have for any other politician since we were born. We are participating in our own way because a very inspiring person told us that ordinary Americans could do extraordinary things, and now our YouTube video is getting an awesome ton of views.
It’s been 24 hours since we performed (to the minute…as I write this), and we have already received some pretty awesome press. The Oregonian covered the event in an article that hasn’t been published yet. The Youtube video already has over 300 views and a bunch of great comments. The site that originally published the Yes We Can video linked to us along with other Dip Inspired projects. We have already received a request to perform this song in other parts of Oregon, and I hope we will. I am so excited. I would like to thank Jon Wash (red shirted guy in video)et al. for arranging this piece, Ben Brysacz (leader of Lewis & Clark students for Barack Obama) for helping promote the event, the lovely audience, Wil.i.am (main creator of the Yes We Can video), and Barack Obama, for inspiring all of us. If you hear of any press/publicity that I have not mentioned in this blog, please do leave a comment to let me know. If you like this story, please post it to your Facebook profile, blog, del.i.cious, etc. Please send us an email at momoandthecoop [at] gmail [dot] com for questions or performance requests.
cheers
Update: We are now approaching 50,000 views on YouTube and more than 20 comments on my blog here; we really love that people are enjoying the video. Our YouTube fans are leaving some really nice comments, and it looks like we will definitely continue to work on this song, and plan on performing again. A few people have even suggested that we try to sing at the Democratic National Convention. I think people really like that we are just a group of relatively ordinary folk being part of something extraordinary. People seem to be enjoying our efforts more because we are less famous, and closer to the grassy roots - that’s pretty different from traditional campaigns isn’t it? What do you all think? DNC?
Update II: Barack the Vote! Over 65,000 views and we recently performed again at a Barack the Vote rally at Lewis & Clark College. I think Obama is more than popular enough to win Oregon, our great challenge right now is registering voters. I grew up in conservative central/eastern Oregon, and I now attend one of the most progressive schools in progressive Portland Oregon. The Obama campaign is really the first time I’ve been able to talk with friends from school, friends from home, and family, and everyone is excited about the same thing. This movement for change has captured the attention of a very broad swath of Oregon’s great political diversity, and so now we really just need to focus on getting everyone registered to vote (due to Oregon’s mail in ballot, you must be registered by April 29th, 20 days before the actual primary, find more info on registering to vote here).
We were also honored to have Congressman Earl Blumenauer speak about why Obama inspires him. After it was all over we had pizza and doughnuts with the Obama logo on the frosting. It was a fun and I think successful event. Thank you so much everyone for encouraging me and my group to keep being part of the Obama movement.
Wonderful! I am sitting here with tears running down my face. I am a 58 yr. old grandmother. I read the Audacity of Hope before most people ever even heard of Barak Obama and recognized a wise and wonderful man. I began then speaking to others about him.
When I was 14 yrs. old ( eons ago) we still had air raid drills where we had to get under our desks. Bomb shelters were prevailant. JFK had given us hope. Then one day with the blink of an eye he was gone. In highschool I remember talking about the book by H.G. Wells, “1984″ and we spoke about it. All I kept thinking was, “I will never be alive in 1984″
I have watched the youth of today, the attitudes of discontent and an unsure future in and for society always there. My own children, never having hope for the future. I am so overwhelmed that so many young people are being uplifted and getting involved today due to Barak Obama! That alone says so much for this man and what he can do with our help!
Thank you all! I wish I could have been there to see you perform!
Mary,
A grandmother and a lover of youth and free thinking!
Bless all of you!
I listen to the Yes We Can Song daily. I was moved by your beautiful version of the stirring words. I also enjoyed reading about how it was made. Thank you so much for your effort! It’s very encouraging to see and hear your enthusiasm.
I watched this with my wife in Nashville, Tennessee and we were moved. We’re big Obama fans and have seen the “yes we can” song dozens of times. But I saw this one on YouTube and had to check it out. What moved me was that young people like yourselves were invested enough in the hours it took to learn this and passionate enough to sing it so strongly that truly there must be a resonant hopefulness in this. And that dozens more showed up to watch you sing! Mountains were moved with beginnings like this! Si se puede!
Oh my gosh,you guys are wonderful.I nominate your group to do this song at the Democratic National Convention-if not sooner!!
Thank you so much. You made my day.
We are going to win this thing.
America is going to be a good place again.
I love you kids. Please accept my best wishes. Have a wonderful life.
It was a pleasure to stop in and listen to such talent and witness first-hand the wonderful abilities of Lews & Clark’s local student organizers.
Yes, We Can!
Si, se puede.
Obama ‘08.
Fantastic job guys! I was thinking of arranging it for my acapella group as well here at Simmons College in Boston; love the arrangement! Very well done :)
This video is now posted on TeacherTube, a safe YouTube alternative that teachers and students can access from school or home.
http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=1ce50f8a510e663f4a64
Wow, you guys are awesome! I love your cover of the Yes We Can Song. This definitely should be sung at the Democratic National Convention. Yes We Can! :)
How cool. Watching your video gave me the same rush of feeling and watery eyes I had the first time I saw the original Yes We Can song. You guys did such a good job with it!
Yes, “Yes We Can” says it all, and I too love the “We” part of it–no appeals to victimhood or claims of heroism there. No, just a call to reclaim and re-own our collective sanity. I made my own bumper sticker out of it. I’ve been living here in Europe for a very long time now, utterly dismayed at the role U.S. foreign policy has been playing in the global community during the last 8 years, personally witnessing the damage done to foreign attitudes to the U.S.
As a 50-something, I am so glad to see evidence of young people being inspired by a vision of something better, a new paradigm, rather than politics as usual. I’ll take being inspired by hope and vision–rather than fear hiding behind hubris–any day!
Thanks for doing this song, and thanks for posting this!!!!
“We are not famous or powerful. . .”
You are powerful. Your beautiful singing moved me to tears.
If Obama is elected president, we need to keep the spirit and energy of this song alive. If he loses, we need to continue to believe in our ability to affect change. Already this movement can boast of so many victories: it has inspired people to create beautiful art, get involved in their communities, and believe in the democratic process again.
It is important that this movement continues to grow and flourish.
Thank you for the inspiration.
Thank you everyone so much for your wonderful comments. They really mean a lot to me, and to our whole group. Performing this song was really fun, but watching so many other people enjoy it over the internet has really inspired us to keep working on it, and to perform again in other places.
Thank You.
This song is incredible. I know I can’t do much as one person but working with other
people across the country can make a change, good or bad.
What a wonderful way to start my day. The results of Tuesday night were somewhat challenging, as I want us to move forward from this particular fight. But your video and your version of Yes.We.Can and your words about it … that it is the WE part of all of this that inspires many of us.
Thank you. I hope to see (and hear) you again!
To the student in Oregan, you guys were inspired by Obama just like Obama was inspired by Martin Luther King, or the “King who took us to the mountain top.” I am inspired by you, how you guys are students like me (I’m in middle school) and thought of such a brilliant idea. Thank you for sharing this for people like me.
u guys were really awsome and inspiering.
You are really awesome. I really enjoyed your version of “Yes We Can”. You inspired me to think about how I can do things in my life. I’m in middle school and one day I want to go to college too. I know I can. Thanks.
As I worked on a poetry unit for my middle school language arts classes, I was looking for something relevent, a way to engage the kids from day one yet challenge them to think beyond themselves. We live in a small, rural community yet through blogging almost every week, my students have enjoied a greater community on the net. However, I want them to contribute, not remain passive sponges. When I saw will.i.am’s “Yes We Can” followed shortly by Barackappella’s version, I knew what to do. We discussed inspiration on the teaching blog tracing the links of inspiration Obama lists in the poem will.i.am created from the now famous speech. The founding fathers, the pioneers, the break from slavery, women winning the vote, achieving the moon, “I Have A Dream”–how all of these events and people inspired Obama to say we can made the world better. Obama then inspired will.i.am, who in turn inspired Barackapella, who inspired me to contact Matt through this blog page and ask him to post the video to TeacherTube so I could show it to the kids at school. (YouTube is blocked.) The kids loved the “links of inspiration” lesson and the follow-up we did describing how they inspire me and others to greatness as well as what inspires them. Most of them embedded your video into their blogs and a few (like DebbieR, Julia J, and bethanyb, Jillian) posted to this blog as well. In our discussions in class the kids have recently expressed fears about the future. They hear their parents talking and are worried, especially at their age when everything in the world is still big and scary and new. But seeing people collaborate, express hope, and work together positively does inspire them to keep trying, to dream big, and to look for a brighter future. Thanks so much for keeping the inspiration going.
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to thank everyone again for commenting. Especially Jillian, Debbie, Julia, and Bethany. You are great and I am so glad to hear that you are already thinking about inspiration and how you can make the world a better place. Our generation has a lot of work to do, but when I hear that people like you can take part in and be inspired by something I helped do way over on the other side of the country, I think we are going to be alright. DRook, you are wonderful. Both of my parents are public school teachers, so I have a special place in my heart for youth and education, and I respect so much that you are engaging your students with this topic. My group and I feel very honored to have been part of it.
cheers
Yes you can and you should !!
Its time for a change and a fresh perspective to the politics.
Lets get away with family politics. This is not a third world country where rein is transferred to a family member. This is US of A, the greatest nation in the world.
Go Obama!!
Wow!
You guys are amazing! I’m from Portland and stumbled across your video on youtube while searching for Barack Obama videos. I shared this video on facebook so other people could see it! Keep up the amazing work!
That was so amazing! Found it randomly while searching for Obama videos, too. I’m probably going to be attending LC next year and I received a (vocal) music scholarship and this makes me so happy because I really would want to do something like this! Its pretty brilliant. And of course the message it great also- si se puede!!!
Claire,
I am really glad you found the video, and what a cool coincidence that you are coming to LC. Momo and the Coop, the group that birthed Barackappella, started my freshman year. My sophomore a second a cappella group, Section Line Drive formed because too many people were auditioning for Momo and the Coop, and this last year a third all womens a cappella group started up. So there is a lot of interest in fun a cappella music here at LC, and I definitely encourage you to audition for one or more of these groups when you get to campus. You should check out Momo and the Coop’s facebook page if you want to hear more of our music.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Momo-and-The-Coop/6679328771?ref=ts
cheers
Thanks, I’ll check it out! I’m happy there are opportunities like that at LC, I was starting to waver about my decision but I’m pretty certain that’s where I’ll end up now.
It sounds like you’ve done a lot at LC…I love the idea of working in Guatemala/Cuba and I’m jealous that you’ve been to so many places abroad. This kind of community organization stuff is really interesting to me; did you see Obama in Portland, wasn’t he just there? I saw him in Seattle- he is really thin.
This video and your group kick **s! Your interpretation of “Yes We Can” is wonderful and inspiring - and I am hoping to hear you guys barack out at the DNC, on the anniversary of MLK’s “I have a dream” speech.
You guys really do represent the youth, freshness, grass-roots and renewed hope of the Obama movement. Keep it up - great work!
DNC OR BUST! BARACKAPELLA RULES! :)
hey i just turned 13 so im not sure if i am allowed to leave comments or whatever, but your video made me cry. i am a proud supporter of barack obama and if i can get enough people (older, too) to request, it would be great if you could perform in Eugene. also, do you guys do concerts a lot in Portland? I would like to bring my friends to see you guys. you are really inspirational to us (We are all around 13 and we sing a lot together… I have videos of our group under a youtube account.) thanks so much.
pretty awesome piece….i listened through about 10 times and loved it each time… i found your video by chance when i was looking for will.i.am’s version to forward to a friend of mine that lives there in PDX…i am glad i found your blog and think that you sum up the feelings of a lot of obama supporters succinctly…
we just had our organizational mtg 2 days ago in our small town in NC and the numbers were huge, the atmosphere electric, and the support profound!…all from a conservative county in a conservative state that hasn’t carried a democrat since 1976! CHANGE is coming¡ PS: you guys should definitely sing at the DNC…that’s what this movement is all about
I’m a 17-year-old boy from Porto Alegre, Brazil. And as you know I’m not American but I support Barack Obama for president! And I’ve listened to the Barackapella millions of times. The Yes We Can speech was really phenomenal as well as the video! The performance was amazing, I really enjoyed it! You guys are really awesome!
Yes, We Can!
Si se puede!
Sim, nós podemos!
Hey there!
Your song performance was awesome! I’ve been volunteering for the Obama campaign in Washington county. We’re planning events and you guys should totally perform at something. The office is on Beaverton-Hillsdale near Zupan’s, not to far from L&C! I’m sure they’d be happy to hear from you, even if just for volunteers, the number is 503-292-4600.
Your group convinces me that we should let 14 to 25 year olds vote, and exclude the rest of us old fogies. Sometimes I think young people keep their eye on the ball, and remember what really matters better than the rest of us.
This is a beautiful rendition of the song.
Thank you.
I just found your version of the song last night, and think it’s even more powerful than the original - at least measured in number of tears shed. Amazing. Be very, very proud.
Hey! Word on the street is that there is youtube footage of the most recent Barack Rally at LC - care to link to it on your site?
Thanks!
Abi
I just wanted to say that I stumbled across the “Yes We Can” video last night on YouTube and I thought it was phenomenal. To see such a colorful group up there, singing such an amazing song, was nothing short of inspirational. I can’t even begin to figure out how you arranged the song into an a capella piece, but you did it and it’s amazing. Senator Obama should be proud. :)
Kristi
Spokane, WA
No problem is so formidable that you can’t just walk away from it.
– C. Schulz
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http://xanga.com/christopercashvf
Thank you so much for the gift your songs bring to our world! Thank you!!!
Someone just sent me your “Yes We Can” video on YouTube… I love the song, and yours was so gorgeous, it gave me chills. Y’all are awesome! Thanks for putting it up, and GObama!
Great idea! Great voices! As an LC alum who was there during the depressing handing-over of our government to the current demonic administration, I have to thank you for keeping the progressive spirit alive and working to get a great president elected. Keep it up!
I just saw the video on Youtube and wanted to pass on my congratulations to you all on a job very well done. It really is amazing how three simple words can inspire so many, not only in the US but also around the world. So from Canada, I say great job and keep spreading the message!
I, like many of those that have commented, watch the Yes We Can video daily. But I think I enjoy your version more because like you said, you aren’t famous people (yet!) and you have such passion.
Thanks the joy. Yes We Can!
Hi friends! the day has come! Good luck from Spain!
Yes we can!
I love you folks!! Great singing and YES WE CAN, and YES WE DID!!!
this was absolutely amazing. I think I watched this four times in a row with tears streaming down my face. Amercia.. we did it!!!!
The passion in this performance is beyond moving.. As I commented just now on this video on youtube, I would have been so proud to be any one of these kids parents watching this from the audience… but for now I’ll settle for being overwhelmingly proud politically of my country for once in my lifetime.
i really liked your rendition of “yes we can” u more than did it justice and shud rightly be very pround of your contribution and involvement in which was most probally one of the most important and critical elections of our generation. that said i do have to question would u have worn those pink pants had u of know how many people would go on to see it! but all jokes aside although im not american i did follow barack obama’s election race with a close eye and read his ook and was fascinated at his ability to inspire and stir up emotion on many levels through is speaches, from his book he is able to communicate a complex message with great thought put into the subject matter and never comes across as irrelevant, he manages to interact with the reader with inteligence. the next 4 most likely 8 years will be interesting and i hope change comes to america
mr m smith
23
manchester
england
Hi! I am doing a research paper on the influence of politics and civil rights on music, and I am using the original will.i.am song as one of my examples. The video is the reason that I formed that topic to research. I was glad to see that this video inspired others as much as it inspired me. You did a great job :)
Hey Portland,
It’s been a while since I’ve watched for the first time this song by will.i.am. And I should say, this is quite an amazing cover. And I shouldn’t say cover, because it’s more than just cover.
You made it your way, and I had my share of gooseflesh. I just want to congratulate all of you for this amazing job.
I ‘ve watch other tunes from you on youtube, and you’re good. Real good.
Good luck along the road, yes, you did.
Seb, France.
The video was forwarded to me by a friend earlier but I just connected to your story and the 2nd performance. I still get goosebumps to see such beautiful energy from any group of folks. I have watched over and over and am still uplifted by this great gift to HOPE. Thank you so much for the inspiration, talent, and intention to give this to us.
Yes, even North Carolina finally saw the light!!
Hey Barackappela
We are watching you everyday from France and we really appreciate your vibes and your fabulous cover of YWC. We have a little band of vocal music, and we would like to create some link with you.
See you and have fun
Congratulations again
Mehdi and Jean-Charles, the MB
I saw your video on youtube. It is so inspiring, gave me chills, goosebumps and made me cry. Thank you for posting it