American Prayer: Dave Stewart and Many Friends

Here are the youtube liner notes.
AMERICAN PRAYER SONG on iTunes: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZ...

RINGTONE
http://www.myxer.com/CHANGE or text "CHANGE" to 69937 to get your "American Prayer" ringtone

FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT SONG
http://www.myamericanprayer.com

Earlier this year when I was recording American Prayer, a song I originally co-wrote with Bono, the phrase, "When you get to the top of the mountain, remember me" seemed to take on a whole new resonance, given the inspirational candidacy of Barack Obama. The song always contained one of my favorite passages from Dr. King, which was hauntingly delivered the night before he was assassinated. King says: "I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I've looked over. And I've seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land!" People long for a connection— whether it is to music, to their country, or to a big idea. Regardless of what happens in November, Senator Obama has reminded millions of people that they have the power to connect to bigger ideas. He is, in essence, the embodiment of a new anthem for change. He has continued King's narrative from what was once thought of as a dream to a reality. I find it especially relevant that Barack Obama will accept the Democratic Party Nomination for President 45 years to the day of King's "I Have a Dream" speech.
When we were originally writing the song, Bono was crafting the words in a way that would make people think about the fact that 'America' as a concept was a truly great idea, based on the bedrock of equality. I find it more pertinent than ever to release it now; to the moment America finds itself in, daring to re-imagine itself and its place in the world.
When I set out to make a video for the new version of this song, I wanted to honor all of those millions of people, especially young people, who are, for the first time, feeling empowered to voice their beliefs. I wanted to capture how Obama's message of change has echoed across the broad fabric of what is America. To do that, we've cast the film with an eclectic array of personalities, including Forest Whitaker, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Cyndi Lauper, Barry Manilow, Joan Baez, Macy Gray and Joss Stone. They appear alongside veterans, teachers and everyday citizens— all of whom have been touched by this simple idea of change. As an Englishman, I'm not an expert in all the intricate details of American politics. But as an artist, I understand how rare it is to inspire a connection to a bigger idea or purpose. This video isn't so much an endorsement of Barack Obama as much as it is a celebration of all those who have picked up a sign, who have registered to vote and are working to make the world a better place. So as Senator Barack Obama ascends to the mountain top, let us not forget all of the others who for the past 40 years have sung anthems of change to make this moment possible.

LYRICS

This is my American Prayer
This is my American Prayer

This is the time to finish what you started
And this is no time to dream
This is the room
We can turn off the dark tonight
Maybe then we might see

American Prayer
American Prayer

And this is the ground
That keeps our feet from getting wet
And this is the sky over our head
And what you see depends on where you stand
And how you jump will tell you where you're gonna land

American Prayer
American Prayer

My oh my
Couldn't get much higher
Lets not kick out the darkness
Make the light brighter

And these are the hands
What are we gonna build with them?
This is the church you can't see
Give me your tired, your poor and huddled masses
You know they're yearning to breathe free
This is my American Prayer
American Prayer
American Prayer

When you get to the top of the mountain
Will you tell me what you see
If you get to the top of the mountain
Remember me

LIST OF GUESTS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
Dave Stewart
Forest Whitaker
Amy Keys
Macy Gray
Jason Alexander
Colbie Caillat
Whoopi Goldberg
Joss Stone
Buju Banton
Ann Marie Calhoun
Barry Manilow
Linda Perry
Cyndi Lauper
Sergio Mendes
Herbie Hancock
Mike Bradford
Margaret Cho
Cindy Gomez
Speech
Joan Baez
Daedelus
Pamela Anderson
Peter & Gordon
Sierra Swan
Nadirah X
Perez Hilton

http://davestewart.com/

Beautiful Photos, Beautiful Music

This is one of the most beautifully done 'photos with music' youtubes I've ever seen.

Shanghai, March 2003

The piano piece I listened to over and over again.
"Some Children See Him" by Dave Grusin

Thank you 'geeflat' for this wonderful thing you created.

Is this possible now?



James Taylor
Belfast To Boston (God's Rifle)

There are rifles buried in the countryside for the rising of the moon
May they lie there long forgotten till they rust away into the ground
Who will bend this ancient hatred, will the killing to an end
Who will swallow long injustice, take the devil for a country man
Who will say "this far no further, oh lord, if I die today"
Send no weapons no more money. Send no vengeance across the seas
Just the blessing of forgiveness for my new countryman and me
Missing brothers, martyred fellows, silent children in the ground
Could we but hear them could they not tell us
"Time to lay God's rifle down"
Who will say this far no further, oh Lord, if I die today.

MOM sent this, she said to also check out the ones in the side panels from the original page.


Called Where the Hell is Matt?

www.vimeo.com/1211060



Well, he's dancin'. Hopin' Suzanne is doing the same thing as she is making her way North along the California coast. Wagon's Ho! Oregon here she comes!






Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

Still at the 'ol Homestead-John, bff since high school, gave me his old ipod, and one of my favorite 'PETE' songs was on it, along with 734 other songs.....oh my. All of these new TOYS!!!!!!



Blue, Red and Grey from Who By Numbers

The Who

Who? THUH Whooooo

Extremely difficult song to perform.


This is the one i wanted to post, but the embedded link is gone. He's the only one who got the lyrics 'right'...including PETE's version of his own song.

Please go look at it. He sent his 'cover' to a friend and the friend sent back Art with it.

REallly nice.
Click on his picture, he plays a custom stringed instrument, wonder if he made it. Work of Art.Never seen anything like it. He's from Australia. 'Pete' lovers all over the world.

update: he sent me the link!!


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









Then I found this-a first youtube post by a man who obviously loves his family. And obviously does what the song says.



So, am posting his version

sung by 'pete' (my #1 favorite of all time musician, artist, etc.)





Then, these guys, missed a few lyrics, but at the end they tell us why....

The spirit of it they got right. And so did their friends.

John Hartford and Johnny Cash
Bluegrass Medley-Bill Monroe songs
early-don't know the year.




'The Ladies'
One Week
done bluegrass style



And I'm starting another blog for political stuff. After hearing him on the house floor last Thursday attaching his 'let us make more money or the Vet's Bill won't pass'-John Boehner has inspired me to do it. First post? hmmmm, couldn't find the one I wanted, but found one that will do. Can get there through the link on the right. Will be under construction for a while.

It's All in the Attitude

Mom played this for me when we got back from pizza-making fundraiser night--we made 37 pizzas.....370 dollars!

Anyway, I said g'night, and she said, "Wait Dayne, come and watch this."

Changing/affecting something doesn't have to cost a penny. Just a moment of your time. And a pen. Easy as saying "thank you" at the drive-thru.

Fourth annual Short Film Online Competition - Cannes 2008. The NFB, in association with the Cannes Short Film Corner and partner YouTube, is proud to announce that the winner of the NFB Online Competition Cannes 2008 is Alonso Alvarez Barreda for his short film Historia de un Letrero (The Story of a Sign) produced in Mexico/U.S.A.

Director : Alonso Alvarez Barreda
Running Time : 04:50
Year : 2007
Country : Mexico/ U.S.A
Category : Short film

With a stroke of the pen, a stranger transforms the afternoon for another man in this emotionally stirring short film by Alonso Alvarez.

HISTORIA DE UN LETRERO (THE STORY OF A SIGN)

(Then I accidentally found these right after Mom and I agreed it's all in the attitude.)

Seems like the man in the nice suit saw
Gene Kelly
Singin' in the Rain

these three versions could have played as the soundtrack to this short clip....

first version, kinda not too peppy sounding, sounds like gene's TRYING TO BE happy.....cannes short video--man glad money is coming, but would be nice if someone meant it. respect, compassion, none there, really....


Singing in the Rain

This one, cheerier, notice the key change?
and the arrangement? more hopeful, this is where the guy in the suit changes the sign, but you don't know why.


Escena cantando bajo la lluvia

Gene Kelly-hip hoppy Michael jam version.
What my friend Jean and I call "doin' cartwheels".She says she 'doesn't do' cartwheels, well, I DO!!


Anuncio golf GTI cantando bajo la lluvia


Too funny.

(This was the original post I thought wiped out on the computer --so, it's replaced the one from Saturday morning.)

Figured out how to 'delete'. And what did I delete? Me/my posts trying to figure out why my youtubes were 'no longer available'. Ends up ok. Old page from last night. Duh.
But forgot to check for comments before I deleted the posts, so, if you left one, thanks.


I put this in one of the deleted posts-but now added to it.

Paul Potts from the British version of American Idol. Got Talent
Nessun Dorma
One of my favorite songs when sung by Luciano, and this man with a natural gift. Even if you don't like opera I think you can appreciate what he's doing/offering. Blew everyone away. Standing ovation.



(edit 8-17-08; found this from the semi-final, different 'song', can't remember the name of it. and 'more info' on the link-top right has info on where to order potts' new cd.)



Here's the night of the finals





Here's him winning, overwhelmed and then singing right after winning. I have no idea how he sang with all of that adrenaline chain-reacting throughout his body, no idea.wow. What control. What Art. Must have felt stupendous to release that joy full blast.

My First Post. Saved it for after midnight for this reason-HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANEY-FAYNEY!
Wanted to mark the occasion on a special day.

Ok, Kicking It Off with Songs that make me cry, touch my heart and fill me up with hope-all at the same time.

In my world, It's all about LOve and Compassion. Things that matter in the long run always have to do with those things. And what kind of effort you made using those weapons. Takes strength and perseverance to really go about doing it that way. To get it right. Lifelong project. I like a challenge.



Here goes






Mercy Now
Mary Gauthier (go-shay) with Marty Stuart on mandolin

I wish everyone on Earth could hear this song.

if you liked it, email her and let her know-I did.
marygoshay@mac.com
or go buy some of her music-amazon has single songs-i love 'it ain't the wind, it's the rain' rock'n tune.
http://www.marygauthier.com/site.php


Dixie Chicks
More Love (live-perfectly executed)



that's what we need, pass it on. more love.



and do what James says:

Shower the People (live-1988)



No one touches/reaches/bonds with an audience better than James Taylor, except maybe his brother Livingston Taylor.

Good Friends
Livingston Taylor



Pay attention at the beginning, this person did a clever thing, suggests we listen to this song as if the dog is singing it. wow. And that Livingston is a gift to us all. And he is, a Good Friend reminding us what that is so we can be one.
here's the same version with video of Liv playing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLf368IbryU&feature=related

Here's Liv's website.
http://livtaylor.com/
Let him know his music touched you.I did.
mail@livtaylor.com
Sign up for his newsletter. Buy music! Listen to three previously unreleased songs! Link there to Wolfgang's Vault for a live Liv concert. Plenty of toys in there. Nice video interview where he shares his great storytelling skills.



There, I did it, my first post; Music like theirs keeps me strong, and honest. Just like the people I love and the people who love me do.

I am hitting submit now, really, I AM........