Hawaiian Guitarist Wears ‘Occupy With Aloha’ Shirt While Playing For Obama, Other World

[cal04]

Hawaiian Guitarist Wears ‘Occupy With Aloha’ Shirt While Playing For Obama, Other World Leaders
http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/11/13/367283/hawaiian-guitarist-wears-occupy-with-aloha-shirt-while-playing-for-obama-other-world-leaders/

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum is currently being held in Honolulu, Hawaii, bringing together many of the world’s leaders in both the public and private sectors. Last night, APEC held a gala attended by President Obama and his wife in addition to a number of other world leaders.

Hawaiian guitarist Makana, who had previously played at the White House in 2009, was slated to play at the gala. Rather than play his normal routine, Makana decided to make a statement. He opened his suit jacket to reveal a shirt that read “Occupy Aloha.” He then proceeded to play a protest ballad title “We Are the Many,” wherein he blasted corporate lobbyists and called on Americans to occupy “the streets.” He played this protest song for 45 minutes in a room full of the world’s elite.

He later uploaded a video where he talked about why he did what he did, including some footage of him playing for the world leaders.

Watch Makana’s video
http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/11/13/367283/hawaiian-guitarist-wears-occupy-with-aloha-shirt-while-playing-for-obama-other-world-leaders/

“It was an incredible experience to sing those words to that group of people,” said Makana.




video:We Are The Many
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq3BYw4xjxE&feature=relmfu

[tridim]

1. I'm fascinated with his acoustic guitar.

Specifically the pickup and the split bridge.

Occupy Hawaii.

[Tsiyu]

15. Yeah caught my eye too

eq and a soundhole rig.

custom cool :D

[lebkuchen]

16. I love his voice

and his message

[Fumesucker]

2. Video por favor?

[cal04]

3. you tube video link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq3BYw4xjxE&feature=channel_video_title

[Fumesucker]

5. Thanks..

ETA: He has a great voice, I liked what he said about fear..

[cal04]

6. sorry the first was the same. I hope this one is the correct one

:hi:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq3BYw4xjxE&feature=channel_video_title

[Fumesucker]

7. You really have to wonder just *who* booked him to that event...

That's amazing..

[cal04]

11. Maybe someone in the administration, since he sang at the White House in 09

:shrug:

[frazzled]

9. I don't know Makana's music, but

Gee, from listening to the beginning of the YouTube video, this song sounds awfully derivative of Dylan, doesn't it? In lyrics as well as tune. You know, "Come gather round people, wherever you roam ..."

Anyone else?

[sabrina 1]

14. Yes, it does sound a bit like Dylan.

[sabrina 1]

4. Good for him.

Sooner or later, they will have to start talking to the people, instead of first, ignoring them, then attacking them. They are not going away until the corruption and crime has been dealt with and the money removed from politics.

Would love to hear his song.

[cal04]

8. great song. here's the youtube link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xq3BYw4xjxE&feature=channel_video_title
:hi:

[sabrina 1]

13. Thank you. That gave me goosebumps, especially near the end

showing the occupiers around the country combined with the music. Very moving and a perfect song for this movement. I am surprised he was invited, maybe they did not know about this song?

I love the words too, and wonder if he wrote them?

We Are The Many

Ye come here, gather 'round the stage
The time has come for us to voice our rage
Against the ones who've trapped us in a cage
To steal from us the value of our wage

From underneath the vestiture of law
The lobbyists at Washington do gnaw
At liberty, the bureaucrats guffaw
And until they are purged, we won't withdraw

We'll occupy the streets
We'll occupy the courts
We'll occupy the offices of you
Till you do
The bidding of the many, not the few

Our nation was built upon the right
Of every person to improve their plight
But laws of this Republic they rewrite
And now a few own everything in sight

They own it free of liability
They own, but they are not like you and me
Their influence dictates legality
And until they are stopped we are not free

We'll occupy the streets
We'll occupy the courts
We'll occupy the offices of you
Till you do
The bidding of the many, not the few

You enforce your monopolies with guns
While sacrificing our daughters and sons
But certain things belong to everyone
Your thievery has left the people none

So take heed of our notice to redress
We have little to lose, we must confess
Your empty words do leave us unimpressed
A growing number join us in protest

We occupy the streets
We occupy the courts
We occupy the offices of you
Till you do
The bidding of the many, not the few

You can't divide us into sides
And from our gaze, you cannot hide
Denial serves to amplify
And our allegiance you can't buy

Our government is not for sale
The banks do not deserve a bail
We will not reward those who fail
We will not move till we prevail

We'll occupy the streets
We'll occupy the courts
We'll occupy the offices of you
Till you do
The bidding of the many, not the few

We'll occupy the streets
We'll occupy the courts
We'll occupy the offices of you
Till you do
The bidding of the many, not the few

We are the many
You are the few

It definitely took courage for him to sing that song right there where they all hoped to get away from 'the people'.

[proud patriot]

10. My dad played with him a few years back..

great kid he says ....Got an email from him this morning.

[cal04]

12. that's great

that your dad plays
love the video and the song
:hi: