Labour releases official ‘music video’

Inspired by Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, the Labour Party has released its official music video.

22 January 2013, 12:00am
by Jurgen Balzan

1 min read

Labour has finally released its official music video for the 9 March elections, and at a first glance... it truly brings to mind Barack Obama's 'Yes we can' video, an initiative by a number of artists with worldwide fame to endorse him.

But the video - which has already attracted 16,000 views - is undeniably different from the usual tacky campaign songs that the electorate is accustomed to. You might cringe at the mix of local celebs strutting their stuff alongside some party candidates and other anonymous members of the public miming Joseph Muscat's own quotes, but the aesthetic of this video reflects the youthfulness of the Labour campaign and its fresh approach.

Of course, Obama had Will.i.am, Scarlett Johansen and John Meyer, while Muscat gets William Mangion (who you can find twirling his fist for the Nationalist Party in this video for 2008's Flimkien Kollox Possibli), Jane Marshall and Aldo Spiteri.

While the Yes We Can video boasts of artists like John Legend, Nicole Scherzinger and Herbie Hancock quoting Obama's 2008 memorable speech in New Hampshire, the Obama campaign had no involvement in the video's production.

Labour's official video sees local personalities miming some of Joseph Muscat's quotes such as" "I wish that wealth is divided better among the many" and "I want our children brought up in a society where it's what you know, and not whom you know, which counts".

The Labour Party is expected to issue more such videos as the campaign unfolds.

Jurgen Balzan was a MaltaToday reported from 2011 to 2017.

More from Jurgen Balzan

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il pl tghidx kemm jghajjar lill pn ghax mhux originali u jikkopja. issa sar jikkopja hu ukoll u anke jikkopja lil pn qieghed. dak li kien jghamel il pn ghaxar snin ilu issa qed jghamlu il pl. li tikkopja m'hemmx xejn hazin, pero nixtieq infakkar punt wiehed......tiftakru meta chiara kantat fil kanzunetta IVA fil kampanja tar referendum tal ewropa, kemm ghaddiet min martirju minhabba l-attitudni tal prtitarji laburisti. X'DIFFERENZA. BILHAQQ GHAX MALTA TAGHNA ILKOLL.

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Mr. Jurgen Balzan Allow me to say your write was worth reading, thanks also allow me to admit that I feel sorry for those who cared to write to disagree in a particular way. I have to say it may be the choice of someone else, a choice of someone who happen to be somewhere in the U.S. of A. I submit as one who will not vote and care less of offensive remarks, I say this tune is another nail hammered into the coffin of our fathers who really fought the corruption of their times and I feel today's New Progressive is trying to sweep them under the carpet.

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@il-bully And so the great musical critic (alias il-bully) has spoken. His opinion is gospel; so all tghe rest shut up. And speaking of copycats, il-bully, have you seen those two prats looking at the sky splashed all over the place? And Labour are the copycats? Get a life il-bully. Or a chalice of sour grapes.

Emmanuel Mallia •

I would rather listen to what Joseph has to say about the so called domestic gas distribution competition and the Arriva issue. We have heard nothing yet !

Luke Camilleri •

TRULY INSPIRED and inspiring... and what a beat! Like Like Like & Like :)

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@Bully is it possible that you don't like the song because you saw "WILLIAM MANGION"????,it is a way better than seeing the usual PN propaganda song,"finanzi fis-sod"in their own pockets.

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Mr Jurgen Balzan could you kindly explain why anyone would cringe when see the video? What is wrong with the people appearing in it. Are you implying that you are better or even superior to these mere mortals? Such remarks are not called for and show a lack of emotional intelligence

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@bully, sour grapes and idiotic statements will get you nowhere. Now let's see what gonzipn comes with, maybe it would be Claudette Pace with a spanish copied song like she took to the eurovision some years back mimicking Ricky Martin. PL did not copy Obama's music but just used the style like all singers do.

Micheal Bonanno •

What's wrong with that? It is easy on the ear and very contagious. It reminds me of the beginning of one of Queen's songs. It's got rhythm and you end up going with the beat. Bully, you really should let go, or else you're not a labour supporter. It's neither, dumb, nor stupid. It's a real spirit booster! Sorry to contradict you!

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Sorry! I heard it for the first time today and it took me as a surprise. I found it dum, stupid, and non spirit booster. Gone are those patriotic labour songs. For God sake do we really have to copy Obama who have more than 50 per cent against him and more if you count those that did not vote?