I'm supporting Barack Obama and I volunteer.
This video, a remix of Obama's "Yes We Can" speech, has been making the rounds today. I'm normally not that into inspiring songs or videos, but this is something else. It's the brainchild of the Black Eyed Peas' will.i.am, and it premiered on ABC yesterday.
Video after the jump.
I've always been fascinated by the interactive possibilities of the internet -- not only can you talk to other people, but you can create things based on other people's ideas. The most obvious examples of this, such as LOLcats, are generally universal in their appeal (e.g. pictures of cats looking weird are funny). But the point isn't to make one good picture -- the point is to make as many as possible; otherwise, you're just a person with a funny picture of a cat. The point is to remind other people that these pictures are funny, and to make them want to get involved in the cat-captioning community. While originality, technique, and even quality vary, the basic idea is the same. It sounds a little silly, but this video represents the very best possibilities of an internet meme: it's well-executed, it has a consistent message, and it uses a base of experience (Obama's speech) that people are either familiar with or can easily become familiar with. A quick survey of YouTube (and my inbox) shows that a lot of people are talking about this video; some of them will probably be inspired to make their own. Others might decide to volunteer, or do something else. Some will probably go back to their regular internet activities, but maybe they'll bookmark the video and watch it later. Part of the measure of a successful event -- a news story, a picture, a song -- is that it sticks with you.
Obviously, this technique is nothing new. I remember watching supporter-created videos of Dean in 2004 and loving them. And maybe it's easier to create memes if they're funny -- remember You Forgot Poland? But every once in a while, there's a perfect storm of energy, execution, and inspiration. That's what I think this video is.