American Tune (by Paul Simon in a New Progressive Future Ad for Obama)

[maddezmom]

Run time: 01:01 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbuLchsauKs   Posted on YouTube: November 01, 2008 By YouTube Member: Views on YouTube: 0   Posted on DU: November 03, 2008 By DU Member: maddezmom Views on DU: 6067

 
American Tune
Americans are struggling.


RealtyTrac® reports that from October 2008, home foreclosures have increased 21 percent from September 2007; one in every 475 U.S. housing units received a foreclosure filing in September 2008. The Bureau of Labor Statistics unemployment numbers stayed at over six percent, or nearly 10 million, unemployed in September. The National Coalition on Health Care reports 47 million Americans are without healthcare insurance.

We need a new direction.

That's why we're supporting Barack Obama for President, and that's why we're running this ad on CNN and MSNBC this weekend.


http://www.progressivefuture.org/american-tune%22

[Cetacea]

1. One of the best songs ever written. Fantastic AD

We discussed this song here a few weeks ago. Team Obama does everything right!

[pamela]

6. Absolutely.

I love this song. It is definitely one of my favorites. I always wondered why Paul Simon didn't sing this when he appeared on SNL right after 9/11.

[ProgressiveReb]

29. FYI - ad wasn't created or aired by Obama's team

The ad was paid for and aired by Progressive Future

[Duncan]

2. Thanks for posting.

[lamp_shade]

3. I wonder if they saved this one for last... because it's so perfect and says so much.

[bsiebs]

4. awesome...brought tears to my eyes

I just saw this on MSNBC and had to see it again...sure enough, here it is. thanks for posting this.

[Journeyman]

5. Here in California, I don't hear too many Obama ads. . .

Well, I don't watch much TV or listen to the radio, I'll admit, but I do my share and I've got to say, I haven't heard many ads for Obama here in the general election. No need, really -- he's going to take California by a margin greater than Reagan had in both his wins, so money's better spent elsewhere.

That said, I happened to hear this ad the other day while I had Olberman on in the background as I worked on the computer. i found myself first humming, then singing along with Simon, and looked up just in time to see the softball scene followed by McSame together on the screen. I've gotta say, that's one great ad.

[spelldmilk]

7. Holy Moly, if they play this tonight and tomorrow,

I don't think anything else needs to be said. That is surprisingly affective. Sheesh. Thanks for the post.

[ProgressiveReb]

27. Will be running many times today on CNN

You can expect to see it multiple times on CNN today -- national ad time.

[geekgrrl]

8. this is an extrodinary ad-- had me in tears!!! Aired here in WI twice half an hour!

nt

[bsiebs]

9. k&r

[phusion]

10. I think this song defines this election

Here is the full version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE3kKUEY5WU

[checks-n-balances]

11. Thanks for posting, makes me cry. So does this version by the late

Eva Cassidy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyOSLgMZmp4

Ever since the first time I heard this song, it's given voice to my grief about what's happened to this country. The fact that the campaign is using it should really resonate with the voters, and it's proof that they or Obama or whoever chose it are intelligent and compassionate Americans.

Hope nobody minds that I'm posting this other version - it's on one of her postumous albums also titled "American Tune." I'm glad they're using the original version, but thought I'd share this one because Eva Cassidy's voice was so beautiful. Simon himself has been quoted as saying he liked her version as well or better than his own. Sad that she didn't live to hear the ad herself or to be able to follow this campaign *sigh*

This ad is just so appropriate, and I have the feeling that Barack Obama has only just begun to inspire us as a people..!

[Lorien]

12. Very moving. n/t

[BlueGirlRedState]

13. this gave me goosebumps

I've always loved this song -- the tune is an adaptation of a hymn. It's perfect, just perfect.

[getting old in mke]

31. Stealth Hymnody

I think the _O Sacred Head Now Wounded_ that underlies it just strengthens the overlay of words for now. Agreed, perfect.

[Honeycombe8]

14. Powerful. One of the best ads I've seen. Thx. nt

[Kindigger]

15. Oh noes I have to

:cry: again.

[Highway61]

16. Just sent this to everyone on my email

made me get tears in my eyes...VERY moving. Thanks for posting

[southpaw]

17. This is an incredible ad, and a nice way to put things in perspective

They are even running this in Alabama.

[tosh]

20. And in Georgia.

It's beautiful. I saw it for the first time on Saturday night. I played it back twice.

[Doodler71]

18. I saw this last night while watching MSNBC

IMHO - It is the best campaign ad put out this year.

[nolabear]

19. Finally...

I was practically a kid whe this song came out. I lived in the deep South and though it was my culture and my people and I loved their richness, the things they did often left me shocked and embarrassed. "America" seemed like a dream land, and Paul Simon like a voice that sang to me about its weariness and hope. When the towers went down on 9/11 I played this song for weeks to remind myself to keep going, that we were nearly broken but not quite, that tomorrow would be "another working day," and we had work to do against the prejudice, the fear, the classism and repression that, more than thirty years after American Tune came out, still made it hard for the struggling and downtrodden.

Now, at this incredible moment, here it is again, simultaneously comforting us and making us cry, an appropriate response to pain. I'm sorry the world is sad, and I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking that tomorrow's going to be a VERY SPECIAL working day, and that we can make a difference.

Thanks to Paul, thanks to Barack, thanks to all of who've been weary to our bones but still go on. I think it might finally pay off.

[Johnny Noshoes]

33. The Journey

One step at a time, one mile at a time, we walk the trail together. The trail is often rough but with friends at our side to help us when we fall the journey is worth our every effort - because the journey is all there is and the trail will teach us all we need to know. All we need to know about ourselves, each other, and what's important in life. Tomorrow we will begin a new part of that journey - out of this long and dismal night into the soft light of dawn.

[snappyturtle]

21. We saw this last night and were blown away....love it!!! K&R nt

[Ian David]

22. Was that Michael Moore playing softball? n/t

[Constance Craving]

23. Like many others . . .

this brought me to tears. :cry: In a good way of course. I love both this song and the movement that Obama's campaign has represented.

[KsStorm]

24. Thanks for posting this!

All we see here in Kansas are the same dang anti-Obama crap ads,over & over & over & over!!!

[xxqqqzme]

25. This is my all time favorite Paul Simon song.

As another California DUer stated up thread, we don't see many Obama commercials out here but that's OK, there are plenty Prop commercials to take up the slack. Thanks for posting.

The baseball game is genius.

[Oilwellian]

26. They've captured the essence of America today

Very powerful and well done. This looks like a fairly new organization...they have videos up that started in January. If you're a YouTube member, be sure and subscribe to their channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/ProgressiveFutureVid

[ProgressiveReb]

28. There is way more to Progressive Future than ads

Check out Progressive Future's website at http://www.progressivefuture.org. They are actually primarily focused on promoting progressive values through grassroots activism.

[tucsonlib]

30. 37 Years Ago....

..I was privileged to attend a George McGovern benefit concert in Cleveland which featured solo sets by Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell and James Taylor. I can't recall whether Paul performed "American Tune" (though it was composed around that time), but (sadly) it's as relevant today as it was back then.....

[HerbieHeadhunter]

32. I posted on this yesterday...

within minutes of seeing it in on MSNBC. Fantastic ad....but I wonder if it is because I love American Tune? I had somebody tell me this morning that they don't like Paul Simon (how, I don't know) and didn't really get anything out of the ad.