Our most recent project has been the creation / composition of a new American epic song called "I Am An American". The purpose of this music is to provide a key piece to a new documentary being released this winter about Barack Obama. The story behind this piece of music is that the day after we returned from the Democratic National Convention in Denver where we released our new album 'Seven Songs For America & One For The World', we were contacted by a film producer named Maria Arita-Howard from Texas. They had come across our "Fired Up, Ready To Go" and "Making Fired Up, Ready To Go" videos and wanted to use the music and footage in a documentary called "Barack Obama: Who is this guy?". Since then, the film has been released in Blockbuster stores Nationwide. A few weeks after the film released to Blockbuster Maria had an idea of creating a piece of music for the extended version of the film that is being released this winter by Vivendi Entertainment and Universal Music. We thought about the idea and proposed an idea of creating a piece of music that brings together three key themes, while telling the story of how great this country and its people are as told through Baracks own experience. This recording happened over a four day period. By providence we found ourselves in the recording studio on Election Night 2008 (November 4th, 2008) that amazing night that our country elected Barack Obama as president of the United States.
Excerpts of American Classics:
LIFT EV'RY VOICE AND SING (by James Weldon Johnson) - Also known as the Black National Anthem
THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER - (by John Stafford Smith & Francis Scott Key) Also known as the National Anthem
AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL (lyrics by Katherine Lee Bates; music composed by Samuel A. Ward)
We certainly feel blessed by the greatness of the country and its people and are the benefactors of the key principals that make this land great. The entire piece of music was written, arranged and recorded and filmed in 14 days. We want to thank the entire team of people that helped make this happen including our families and especially our wives for supporting us through this immense amount of work it has taken to arrive at such a beautiful conclusion to the amazing campaign of Senator Barack Obama. Thanks to this amazing crew of people for helping us create this music.
Composition: Bergevin Brothers Music (Lyrics & Music Joe, Music & Arrangement Jon)
Musical Direction/Conducting: Jon Bergevin
Lead Vocals: Holly Phillips
Choir Direction: Pastor Patrinell (Pat) Wright
Choir: The Total Experience Gospel Choir and Friends
Solo Vocals: Pastor Patrinell (Pat) Wright
Piano: Jon Bergevin
Electric and Acoustic Guitars: Frank Seeberger
Electric Bass: Osama Afifi
Drums: Scott Mercado - Candlebox
Percussion: Arturo Rodriguez
Violins:
Ashley Sullivan
Eric Rynes
Rebecca Fischer
Cellos:
Walter Gray - Cellist Seattle Symphony
Emily Peterson
Trumpets: Jake Bergevin, Jimmy Sisco
Trombone: Greg Schroeder
Saxaphone: Jon Goforth
Videography:
Jay Alan - Avenue Films
Joshua Stanton - Avenue Films
Sound Engineering (London Bridge Studios, Seattle):
Jeff Ott
Jonathon Plum
Josh Evens
David Miner - intern
Jake Thompson - intern
Photography, catering and support:
Julie Bergevin
Jonna Bergevin
Joy Bergevin
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One of the greatest things that Barack Obama taught us is that all of us "can" and you guys keep finding brilliant ways to remind us of that. Awesome good job!
Uhave2laff 3 years ago
*****
ubuibiok 3 years ago 2