Yes We Can

On January 8th, 2008, presidential candidate Barack Obama gave a speech during the New Hampshire primary that went viral. The speech "Yes We Can" ignited the spirits of the American people with the hope and beliefs that a better version of the United States is possible through the efforts of Obama, and ultimately all of us. 

"For when we have faced down impossible odds, when we've been told we're not ready or that we shouldn't try or that we can't, generations of Americans have responded with a simple creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can. Yes, we can. Yes, we can. It was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation: Yes, we can. It was whispered by slaves and abolitionists as they blazed a trail towards freedom through the darkest of nights: Yes, we can."  ("Yes We Can" YouTube) 

These words inspired the nation, especially the artist will.i.am who is recognized as the former rapper of The Black Eyed Peas. Will.i.am has described himself in interviews as being far from a politically driven citizen, but Obama was able to capture his attention, despite it costing the artist fans. Will.i.am viewed Obama as the next great, influential leader that children should aspire to be. During a Q&A session hosted by Newsweek, will.i.am explained that his song about Obama is his own social agenda colliding with music ("will.i.am Q&A on Barack Obama and 'Yes We Can'", 2009). The artist touched on Obama's black and white heritage in the interview, but went on to explain how the candidate's inspiration was his strong suit and the tool that could bring America together as one, and "to realize the commonality between blacks, whites and rich and poor, yellow, green, fat and skinny" ("will.i.am Q&A on Barack Obama and 'Yes We Can'", 2009). Will.i.am chose turn inaction to action through music, and in the name of social equality and pride of a nation that could be a nation once again. 

To be clear, the lyrics are simply constructed from Obama's speech, but delicately chosen to reemphasized the power of spoken word. Numerous musicians and celebrities are also featured in the video who share the same social agenda as will.i.am. Although will.i.am claims to have no political intentions, this piece speaks volumes to the affect a candidate, now president, can have on its citizens. Equality, justice, and freedom are values embedded in our country's history no matter the political affiliation or political appetite. 

Will.i.am Q&A on Barack Obama and 'Yes We Can' (2009, January 17). Newsweek. Retrieved from http://www.newsweek.com/william-qa-barack-obama-and-yes-we-can-78369