Born Again American (awesome)

This video took the efforts of Director Mark Johnson of Playing for Change, Producer Brent Miller, and 16 performers and two choruses in 14 iconic locations around the USA . The singers and musicians, non-professionals all, were chosen because they are living the lyrics in these troubled times, not just performing them. It includes all races and creeds and the non-profit that organized this touching production is national, non-partisan and dedicated to increasing young voter participation and civic involvement. Got me.



http://www.bornagainamerican.org/index.html

 

There's only 2 words for that, and you said one of them!! IMHO...."TOTALLY AWESOME!!!

 

I think I just puked in my mouth a bit,I'm sorry I thought that was really lame:-D I expected Will Ferrel to jump in halfway through but it never came.

Tomato/Tomahhhto.

OK let me have it...

 

Really? Well I guess you have to be here. These are not professional entertainers which makes it cool I think. Plus a melting pot of ethnic , which is what America is/was supposed to be.

 

Well Rikky, each to their own! To shadow Darlene's thoughts, what made it so awesome was the fact that they were NOT professionals and if you listen to the words you'd see how fitting it was. Oh well, some people will like it while others won't, but it wasn't bad enugh to puke in your mouth!! Now that's a gross thought!!!:-D

 

I'm afraid I have to agree with Rikky. I would have a field day if I was Simon Cowell. No disrespect.

 

COUNT:

For:
2 Americans

Against:
2 British Subjects

Is it me, or is there a pattern emerging here?:-D

 

Make that 5 Americans. Brits count as 1/2 when it comes to patriotic.

 

That's more like it:-D

 

Reminded me of the Up With People shows that used to be so popular... Yuck.

I'm pretty sure you don't have to be a professional at anything to be good at it, so just the fact that they don't do this for a living doesn't impress me very much. Sorry. I just find it cheesy. I would have more respect for them if the time and money spent on that production had been used to, I don't know, feed the homeless maybe. Really, anything that is a bit more constructive than a "look how awesome we are"-type video would have been preferable.

 

Seems to me the UK folkes are still just a tad Jealous of the Good 'OL USof A. Get over it already.

Mimsy, The witchery, Really, LMAO Out of touch LOL. This isn't a Major Production put on by the money hungry ***holes of Hollywood. Thats why this is a little more impressive. This was done very inexpensively. A little bit of editing and your done. These are Proud Americans that did this on their on dime to show the Love and Pride that they have for their Country. You Don't see anyone from any other country doing stuff like this, Do you??? If so Please Show and Tell. God Bless The USA.

 

OK, we obviously need a non-partisan Aussie to step in here and adjudicate.
Wish I knew one. rolleyes

 

They ARE the homeless!

 

roflmao

 

No jealousy here, my friend, I like Americans, Canadians, Aussies, anyone, really.

No, leave Mimsy alone, she is entitled to an opinion as well.

I accept that. I can't fault the attitude and the obvious emotion. It's just that, well........the song sucks like a Dyson.

No, we get Phil Collins and Mel C to do it properly. Rule Britannia.

 

I am not an American (expat Brit) but i found it a truly awesome piece of sound engineering and it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
It is done in Gospel/country style and that's my kinda music so i maybe a bit bias.

 

And the prize for the dumbest statement of the day goes to........rolleyes

 

They spent their own time and money and recorded a song and did a video. Wohoo? How is that impressive?I find the video cheesy and a waste of resources. That's not your problem, or anything personal at all.

You have your opinion, I have mine (way to show some class by laughing your *** off at mine, btw). Love your country as much as you want, express it however you want. Just don't expect everyone around you to agree with you and immediately fawn over how awesome you or anyone else is.

 

I can understand the differences of opinions on this, and it's good to see those opinions differ greatly. After all, wouldn't this be a truly boring world if everyone thought the same way, liked the same things, liked the same cars? Let's face it, our differences is what makes us unique, regardless of what country we hail from!! BTW, I still think it's awesome:-D

 

Not to mention, everyone would be after my husband! :-D

You're absolutely right, we don't have to agree, and I have no problem with anyone here liking that video. I have a minor problem with certain posters implying that I am not allowed to dislike it just because it's patriotic though. That kind of mentality annoys me because it comes across as stupid. The link was posted in a public forum, that implies people can respond however they want, as long as they follow forum rules and guidelines.

A person that cannot stand being disagreed with should probably not be in an internet forum to begin with.

 

Mimsy, I couldn't agree with more! However, you can feel secure in the fact that I am NOT after your husband!! (sorry, I just couldn't resist!!)

 

No, you would be after me

 

You take a whole different view of the world when your laid off from work, loose your retirement fund, your house is in foreclosure, then add children who depend on you for their lives, yep whole different view.

 

You know, in all honesty, I think this is getting blown all out of proportion. I'm sure everyone here does feel for the plight of these people concerning the things you mentioned Darlene. The dissention is toward the VIDEO...NOT the people that made it. It is just their way of getting their point across and to let the ones who have their heads buried in the sand know that ..."hey, we do exist, we ARE real and our plight IS real!" They are letting you know, in their own way, that this could very well happen to anyone of us at anytime. We all watch the news and, I'm sure, we all had the feeling that this would never happen to me and there just letting us know that they felt the same way at one time and this was their way of giving us ALL a 'wake-up call.' Can we change the things that have happened to these people, my guess is no, we can't. But we can at least heed their warning.

That's what I got out of that video and my reason for thinking it was so awesome. Maybe I read too much into it, I don't know, but that's what I came out with.

As for you Darlene, trust me, I know what you're saying and I sincerly hope that the things you mentioned in your last post have NOT happened to you, or any of your loved ones. Some people may think that you're too sensitive toward less fortunate people but, you know, that's NOT at all a bad thing....not a bad thing at all Just do us all a favor....don't change, okay?!

 

I went through hard times when I was a young girl, a girl with babies. My husband and I were teens, we had no support from family (what there were of them) financially or otherwise. Thank God I was mature enough to put the babies first. I shoplifted at times for food for them and ate whatever was left.
One time the Salvation Army left a box of food at Thanksgiving without us even asking. We did need help with gas to the hospital which probably put us on their list. We never lived in one place longer then a month or two.
So yes I know what it's like to be down and out. You don't have to be lazy or a drug addict, you just have to be worthless to some people.

 

On a similar note to what Stubby said... yes, my dislike is of thee video. The song was not a good one at all; why anything and everything "patriotic" always has to have a country music soundtrack is beyond me. So while the message and the tragedies in the lives of whoever has to go through hard times no doubt is very real, I just don't luike the delivery of that message.

If nothing else, if you have the financial resources to make a video that is this good, from a production value standpoint, you just lost a whole bunch of credibility. You obviously have some sort of money. Buy food for those kids of yours instead of making a commercial for how bad your life is.

 

Taking this a little personally... and there's no need for that. No one is saying these people are worthless. I'm saying their video is. Big difference.

 

"This video took the efforts of Director Mark Johnson of Playing for Change, Producer Brent Miller, and 16 performers and two choruses in 14 iconic locations around the USA . The singers and musicians, non-professionals all, were chosen because they are living the lyrics in these troubled times, not just performing them. It includes all races and creeds and the non-profit that organized this touching production is national, non-partisan and dedicated to increasing young voter participation and civic involvement."

The south has always been in the center of hard times, farmers, ranchers, hence Country music. (which is derived from folk music from England, Ireland) The other hard pressed are inner city ghetto (rap music) which is either vulgar or intelligible to us.

There are also many preformers who sing for the causes
U2, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and about every blues singer there is.

 

Where DID I put that non-partisan Aussie...??? :innocent

 

here maybe you can relate to this better even sing along

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN0SpbLlybc

Da-da,
Da-da, Da-da, Da,
Da-da, Da-da, Da-da, Da

So I was thinking to myself when you passed me by
“Here’s what I like”
And you were with somebody else but you can’t deny
That’s me in your eye

Do you know
What it’s like
When it’s wrong
But it feels so right?

[Chorus]
Nothing in this world can stop us tonight
I can do what she can do so much better
Nothing in this world can turn out the light
I’m gonna make you feel alright tonight.
Da-da, Da-da, Da-da, Da, Tonight
Da-da, Da-da, Da-da, Da, Tonight

Baby, you and I, we got what will never be
You know I’m right
So tell me what you’re waiting for when you’re here with me?
Most guys would die

You should know
What it’s like
When it hurts
‘Cause it feels so right

[Repeat Chorus]

I gotta tell you somethin’
It’s somethin’ that you just might like
No, it’s not the same thing
Yeah, you’ll learn I’m not too shy
You and I, we can do this thing tonight

[Repeat Chorus 2x]

 

In all honesty Darlene, I admire you and the maturity you had to put your babies first, as it should be. As for shoplifting, you did what you had to do for the babies sakes...to hell if it was right or wrong! Now-a-days, when a teen gets in a motherly way, the first thing that comes to mind is 'now what do I do?' Here in MS, if a woman has a child and doesn't want it, they can just drop it off at any hospital and walk away, no questions asked.

Okay, you had a really rough time, but you had what it took to come out of it intact and I have no doubt that you are a better woman for it. You KNOW what the other side of life is and I can see now where your sensitivity comes from. Nothing like experience to open ones eyes!

Well, only one thing left too do......"GROUP HUG!!!!" :grouphug:grouphug:grouphug:grouphug:grouphug

Sorry, I was hunting for a LARGE group hug thinghy, but couldn't find any, so you'll just have to settle for a bunch of small ones:-D

 

For the love of... :banghead

I don't like the video, because I don't like the song, and I think the way they choose to present their message was cheesy and overly pretentious, and I really don't get why you are so bothered by that. It's just an opinion, and it is not in any way a personal attack on you or anyone else. If you choose to take it that way, that's your problem, not mine.

I'm done here. If you can't take it when someone disagrees with you in a civilized manner, there's no point in us continuing this discussion. Especially not if you're going to be as mature about that as you're starting to be now... Paris Hilton? Really?

like I said, I'm done here. This isn't worth the time and effort.

 

One last thing, time, the video is NOT the issue. Imagine ordinary people standing around and stating what they're going through, only they did it in song, not that I care for the song either, the message is awesome.
I believe it was done prior to the elections to catch the attention of people who do not ordinarily vote to do so.
Plus to join a pledge to make a difference, to help one another, to do what you can to make the US a better place.
Here this says it better. I signed it, now just have to find something to do.

http://www.bornagainamerican.org/sign.html


PS at the bottom of the page it gives you the opportunity to remix, write you own. Just noticed too that's Keith Carradine in the beginning (Kung Fu)

 

Ya know, I've always enjoyed this forum and with the amount of Great, and Helpful information from some of the Major Geeks, ie, Halo, and TimW, I've always found myself coming back.
I am a moderator at another help forum and don't get to spend as much time here as maybe I would like but after this thread, I've come to realize that if your not in the Major Geek Clique around here your opinion means absolutly nothing. You are also subject to ridicule by this Cliquish Group of long standing members and the Noobs that are Kissing **** to get in the Clique. Sorry but this is not the way I would have thought members would be treated here.
Wildwolf, you know what you can do with your award, and Mimsy, Please, No One wants you or your husband.
I'm sure that with this post I will get banned, so in ending, Lets just know that we all have opinions and have the right to voice them, and in my opinion there is NO other Country like the United States of America.

 

roflmao

 

Your absolutely right there and I apologize if I have offended any one although I'm not quit sure which end of the horse I have been placed.
There have been threads that made me go :mad so I make it a point to not voice my opinion and not look in there.
Stepping back now. :wave

 

Darlene, your a sweetheart and I have no question in my mind that you'll be here for as long as you want. Me on the other hand will Never Kiss **** to be a part of a forum. There are many forums out there that arn't so Cliquish that offer the same amount of info and free downloads. Some of the attitudes around here make me question how and why this is allowed. Love the site but......

 

Found him!

Sermon for the day - probably nothing new, but may be good to keep in mind.

One of the problems with forums, as with emails, is that it's VERY easy to get a wrong slant on what someone else is saying (as opposed to talking face-to-face). The emoticons help with this, but it's by no means certain that you're getting your meaning across, or that the meaning being received is what was intended. This is even more likely to occur when discussing topics of a sensitive nature, as here. And it only takes one small misunderstanding to get a war going.

I don't know if this has happened here, but it may be (I suspect it has, having watched from the outside, but I can't tell more than anyone else). I guess my point is, there's enough discord in this world as it is. Let's make sure that, if we're adding to it, it's for a good reason.

:grouphug

 

I stated my case in an earlier post and said i enjoyed the Music, I am certainly not a newbie kissing ***.

 

Remoc, you made a statement in your post that I wish you would clarify for me. You said that 'noobs' kiss the butts of the 'higher-ups' so they could be in this so-called clique. Could you please give us an example of that? Or better yet SHOW us an example. I've been here going on 5 years now and I have no idea what you're talking about. So, you made the statement and I'm just asking you to back it up, if you can.

 

This thread just went terribly wrong real soon and got worse.
I seriously regret starting it now.

 

This is the Interesting Links Forum, and this thread no longer falls under that category. In fact it doesn't even fall under "interesting" any more.

Your question Stubby simply revives what had already been agreed by everyone else to let drop, so unless anyone has anything to add to the original link and purpose of this thread, it is seriously done with.

 

Since this thread is still open I'll add my $0.02 here, I don't see what all the hoopla is about. It's a patriotic song done in the key of hope that with the current change in the administration brings (yes I lurked through the site) that hope is possible.

I don't know how many vets participated in that video but if the demographics of homeless people is correct then fully a third of them are vets. (Heard that on CNN) What a great way to reward the people who put their lives on the line for whatever reason eh?

The message that I get out of that video is let's change the current model of the US psyche from the 'me, me me wants it now' to 'we, we, we can get past this' or if you wish 'Yes We Can'. The music style, the video itself and its costs are irrelevant IMO.

Listen to the message please.

(OK, it's 3:30AM so I hope I didn't ramble on too much as I tend to at this time of night, I tried to make the post as succinct as possible.) :zzz

 

I have just signed up to MGs today and I am joey off the streets son. He has directed me to this discussion. He has posted a couple of comments on the video and I just wanted to say that I disagree with him I enjoyed this song and thought it was very good. If I was Simon Cowell and heard that great music they would have a #1 hit straight away.

 

A few of you have ignored my posting in #43 and continued to post comments that have no bearing on the OP's link and original intention, but more of the same ole stuff I expressively said must stop! Your posts have therefore been removed.

If you continue to disrespect the moderation here I can either close the thread, ban you, or bring in the big guns. Your choice.

Apologies to those of you who are using Darlene's thread as intended, for having to interrupt your regular scheduled programming once again. It is such a shame when a few spoil it for the majority.

 

I see my post has been removed, Lev. Sorry, didn't realise I was off track. Apologies