AVAILABLE ON iTunes NOW: http://itunes.apple.com/album/expect-it-have-you-prepared/id410248315
FUSIONpresents Expect It. Have You Prepared?
An Emergency Preparedness Song
Lyrics by Sami Ghawi, Nathalie Bernard & Daniel Yamamoto
Music by Sami Ghawi
Vocals by Sami Ghawi, Nathalie Bernard, Daniel Yamamoto & the Kilmer Elementary School Choir
COPYRIGHT FUSIONpresents - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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MEDIA RELEASE: NEW SONG SPREADS EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS MESSAGE IN PORT COQUITLAM SCHOOLS, COMMUNITY
Port Coquitlam, BC -- December 13, 2010 ... When the world is shaking, drop, cover hold on! When it's time to get out, just grab and go!
These and other emergency preparedness messages will soon be delivered through the power of song in Port Coquitlam schools and the community, thanks to a partnership between the City and local musician Sami Ghawi of FUSIONpresents.
Expect It. Have You Prepared? blends pop, rock, choral and even rap influences to promote emergency preparedness and the proper response to an earthquake (drop, cover and hold on). The song can be heard at www.portcoquitlam.ca/ep and www.fusionpresents.com/ep
The City has free use of the song in perpetuity for community events, such as May Day, and emergency preparedness activities. As well, Port Coquitlam schools will receive a package in January with a CD of the song, lyrics and piano score, a licence to use the song, and ideas for how to incorporate the song into their emergency preparedness curriculum.
"This is a great example of how we're looking at different and unique ways to communicate with our citizens," Mayor Greg Moore said. "It's also a good reminder that everyone has a role to play in being prepared. People need to be prepared to look after themselves for at least 72 hours after a major disaster while the City works to restore services."
The debut Port Coquitlam performance of Expect It. Have You Prepared? took place Thursday night at the City's annual appreciation dinner for its emergency preparedness volunteers. Close to 30 students in the Kilmer Elementary choir, led by music teacher Greta Lajeunesse, performed the song with Tri-City musicians Ghawi, Nathalie Bernard and Daniel Yamamoto -- and earned resounding applause from the audience of about 100.
Ghawi, a professional singer/songwriter, approached the City with the song idea in May after reading about the City's EP program in the local newspaper. He worked with the City for three months to hone the lyrics before putting them to music. The recording features Ghawi, Bernard and Yamamoto, along with 35 students in the Kilmer elementary choir.
"I think music has the largest reach of any medium. People can remember musical hooks and lyrical hooks much more easily than something they read," Ghawi said. "Music is emotional expression, and we tried to connect that with this song. We wanted to express the sense of urgency and still be relevant."
Expect It. Have You Prepared? has already received attention outside the Tri-Cities. Ghawi and Yamamoto performed it Nov. 24 at an emergency preparedness conference in Vancouver, and have signed an agreement for its use to promote the ShakeOut BC earthquake drill (set for 10 a.m. on January 26, 2011), in which the City of Port Coquitlam will participate.
Ghawi hopes to eventually have his song performed in schools across the country -- starting with Port Coquitlam. The City will be working with FUSIONpresents in January to roll out the song packages to Port Coquitlam schools in coordination with School District 43.
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Living in Emergency: Stories of Doctors Without Borders 2010 Movie Online Part 1by scooprian2,491 views
Hi Sami its me ariana... A choar member at kilmer elementry.. It soands really good and the tune is good to
arianazandi 11 months ago
Good tune.
chapmanyasuki1 1 year ago