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Shallow Nation

January 19th, 2009 at 8:32 pm

America’s Song Will.i.am Video

will.i.am at the Obama We Are One Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial, January 18, 2009

Will.I.Am debuted “America’s Song,” on Oprah in Washington, D.C.: The Inaugural Celebration on January 19, 2009. He performed the song, which he co-wrote with composer David Foster, live on the program, along with Seal, Bono, Mary J. Blige and Faith Hill. A music video of the song also had its debut. Watch the video and see the lyrics. The song is available as a free download until 5pm ET. January 20, 2009 on Oprah.com.

”The meaning of this song is being proud of America,” Will told Oprah. “I wanted to write the new American anthem for this day and age — for this generation.”

Source: Will.I.Am Premieres Latest Barack Obama-Inspired Anthem ‘America’s Song’

You can also see behind the scenes video of the taping of the song. Celebrities who were present at the taping included Justin Timberlake, Usher, Scarlett Johansson, Forrest Whitaker, Glen Close, Angela Bassett, Bebe Winans, along with WMG head Lyor Cohen and WMG executive Kevin Liles.

“We all of a sudden have swagger. America, we’re cool now,” Timberlake said of his feelings about the inauguration of President Barack Obama.

Source: Stars Debut ‘America’s Song’ On ‘Oprah’

Will.i.am debuts America's Song on Oprah, January 19, 2009

This is the latest of several songs the Black Eyed Peas frontman has released in support of Barack Obama. His first song Yes We Can, was based on the speech Obama delivered on January 8, 2008, after his second-place finish in the New Hampshire primary. The video incorporates excerpts from Obama’s speech set to will.i.am’s musica nd its video featuring numerous celebrities, including John Legend, Scarlett Johansson, Common, Kate Walsh, Tatyana Ali, Herbie Hancock, Hill Harper, Amber Valletta, Aisha Tyler, Nicole Scherzinger, Nick Cannon, Bryan Greenberg, Common, and others. It quickly went viral getting millions of viewings on YouTube within a short time.

His follow-up song was “We Are the Ones,” with another video featuring several celebrities, including George Lopez and Jessica Alba. After Obama’s historic election as the first black U.S. President, Will.I.Am debuted another song live on the Oprah Winfrey Show, It’s a New Day, and premiered the accompanying video.

Top photo: Will.I.Am on stage during the “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial” on January 18, 2009. (Photo credit Getty Images North America). Additional photo source: Rap-Up.com

Here is the America’s Song video. Check back for America’s Song Lyrics which include the chorus: America is beautiful/ My America, your America, our America is beautiful.”