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Comment by Nikki on December 5, 2011 at 4:23pm

OCCUPY WITH ALOHA: Makana at the APEC Dinner, Hawaii

In this version Makana tells the FULL STORY as well as sings the full version of the song, "We Are The Many."

Makana's guitar tech shot this with a camera phone during his performance for the World Leaders Dinner at APEC, which was hosted by the First Family.

Makana wore an "Occupy with Aloha" t-shirt under his black blazer and sang his newest song, "We are the Many," an anthem of sorts for Occupy protestors.

He had to be extremely discreet as Secret Service had warned those on site that any phones used to capture photography or video would be confiscated. Since the technician has a guitar tuner app on the phone they were able to justify having it out, but grabbing video was not easy. They were under constant surveillance. Makana likes to have video of his every performance saying, "It's my art and my right."

About an hour into his set of generally ambient guitar music and Hawaiian tunes, he felt inspired to share some songs that resonated with the significance of the occasion.

He sang a few verses from "Kaulana Na Pua" (a famous Hawaiian protest song in honor of the anniversary of our Queen's passing), then segued into Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower," Sting's "Fragile," and finally his newest song "We Are The Many."

Makana's goal was not to disturb the guests in an offensive fashion but rather to subliminally fill their ears and hearts with a message that might be more effectively received in a subconscious manner. He sweetly sang lines like "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." The event protocol was such that everyone there kept their expressions quite muffled. Now and then Makana would get strange, befuddled stares from Heads of State. It was a very quiet room with no waiters; only myself, the sound techs, and the leaders of almost half the world's population.

If he had chosen to disrupt the dinner and force my message I would have been stopped short. He instead chose to deliver an extremely potent message in a polite manner for a prolonged interval.

I dedicate this action to those who would speak truth to power but were not allowed the opportunity.

The lyrics include, "Ye come here gather 'round the stage; The time has come for us to voice our rage."

The morning before the performance, Makana said he was initially afraid about singing the piece, but decided to do it anyway because he believes APEC's leaders are not representing common people.

"It was my message that they are occupying Hawaii right now and they need to do it with aloha and not just say it," he said. "I don't personally feel they've done that. They are not representing the people they purport to represent."

* http://MakanaMusic.com
* http://youtube.com/MakanaVideos
* http://yeslab.org/APEC

Comment by Anonymiss Express on December 5, 2011 at 8:22am

Comment by allan fairbairn on December 4, 2011 at 7:55pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uam8Wcqxkks
seems the ocean of difference is well advanced in tempest...the ship of fool's...well advanced in shipwreck...the hosts of consequence...advancing from the emptiness...and the master chanting unconcerned

Comment by Nikki on December 4, 2011 at 7:45pm

Who knew that Jesse could sing?

Jesse Ventura sings Eve of Destruction

 

Comment by guest_blog on December 4, 2011 at 1:36am

Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit

Comment by Tara on November 28, 2011 at 3:59pm

Thanks for the adds all :) @Quietlike.... you can add as many of your vids as you'd like. It's very good stuff btw!

Comment by allan fairbairn on November 27, 2011 at 7:08pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YR5ApYxk...!

there must be tune for seven billion significator skeletons

move us in utter harmony...that will shatter all unsound

Comment by truth on November 27, 2011 at 4:45pm

Maher Zain - Freedom (Official Music Video) | ماهر زين - الحرية

Comment by Lisa K on November 23, 2011 at 8:03am

Bob Dylan's "Masters of War"     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBkhXtgqyps

Comment by bryan l on November 23, 2011 at 3:40am

http://www.vevo.com/watch/foster-the-people/helena-beat/USSM21100904

 

http://youtu.be/oLSOzcEQjiE

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