Yes We Can

The most popular slogan that comes to mind when we talk about Obama. It goes without saying and that might also be the case why I'm dealing with that fact after a few other posts.

The slogan got famous when Senator and now President Obama used it in his 2008 US presidential campaign following the New Hampshire Democratic Primary. But what most people do not know about is its origin: Obama did not make these words up on his own, they are the English translation of the slogan of United Farm Workers (UFW), "Sí, se puede" (Spanish for "Yes, it can be done"). This usage dates back to 1972 when Cesar Chavez and the UFW's co-founder, Dolores Huerta, came up with the phrase. That was during Chavez's 24-day fast in Phoenix.

So the context might be a bit dissatisfying because in a fast you have to get along having nothing (to eat) but stay on track. The idea that the U.S. finds itself in the same situation seems to be a bit dissatisfying. Though, it really delivers hope and strength on the other side, because one "can", even as a collective.

This is also brought about when you think of all the celebrities who stood/stand behind Obama and even saw themselves ispired to make a collage-system music video. The video was released on February 2, 2008, by the Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am on Dipdive.com and also on YouTube.com under the username "WeCan08". This work was honored with the first-ever Emmy Award for Best New Approaches in Daytime Entertainment.
The Obama Campaign had no involvement in the production process.

The video shows performers (celebrities including musicians, singers and actors) who echo Obama's words in a hip-hop, call-and-response manner as his voice plays in the background. Produced by will.i.am, directed by Jesse Dylan (the son of singer Bob Dylan) the video got a viral character: Other Users re-posted the original video so that on February 23, 2009, it had been watched a combined total of more than 22million times. Viewed on Dipdive more than 4 million times as well, these number make a combined web total of more than 26 million viewings. Will.i.am got a Webby Award for "Artist of the Year" throughout that production.

Still, conservative commentators critizided it for being worhsipfully over-the-top. Anyway, it inspired people across the globe.
John Legend and will.i.am performed the song on the final day of the 2008 Democratic National Convention at INVESCO Field, Denver, Colorado. This very fact strongly underlines the celebrities' support of Obama's policy and person.

Watch it yourself:



Sources: abcnews.go.com, kovideo.net, dipdive.com, mtv.com, youtube.com