ANNIE PALOVCIK: Changes

Annie Palovcik

Changes

© 2008 Anna M Palovcik (634479722103) (format: CD-R)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

"this tongue-in-cheek, quasi-love song paid tribute to Obama's home state of Illinois, and has since become somewhat of an allegory for his presidential bid."About.com. Canadian Songwriter Wrote First Ever Obama song.Welcome to Canada, Mr. President.

notes

Let's not wait for President-elect Obama to improve the economy, let's get on with it ourselves. Not business as usual, but business for Obama and the country! Take that extra step today. Believe you can do it.

****************************
Download the entire 5-song MP3, CHANGES, right here from http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/anniepalovcik. "Illinois Boy" is track #1. or on iTunes by individual song.


********************************************************
And, the beat goes on.

February 19, 2009
Ottawa, Canada

"I love this country" said President Barack Obama of Canada
as he made his first ever visit to a foreign country.

"Illinois Boy (A Barack Obama Song), the first ever Obama song written, by Canadian songwriter Annie Palovcik, foresaw this love affair between the President and people at home and abroad. The last line reads
"and the BOY FROM ILLINOIS loves me!."
**********************

February 13, 2009
Press Release
Canadian Songwriter Wrote First Ever Obama Song
Contact: annie palovcik anniep@saltspring.com

"Illinois Boy (a Barack Obama song)", is an allegory written by Annie Palovcik, who first heard of the Senator while on holidays in Honolulu where he grew up. According to Teresa Mendez of the Christian Science Monitor “she [Palovcik] was the first to set pen to paper in tribute to the Senator from Illinois” and that “the folksy tune she wrote is her way of political campaigning, envelope licking, door knocking.” I put the song up on an internet site in January, 2008 and urged voters, with various bulletins, to “Vote Obama”.

I first heard about Obama from some of our Hawaiian friends whose children had gone to school with him. They told me of their pride in this impressive young man. And that he believed in a Dream. And he titled his autobiography The Audacity to Hope.

Why Barack Obama? I grew up with the Beatles and Bob Dylan, the Kennedys and Trudeaumania. For me, it was all downhill after that, the decades of political disillusionment. Politicians all seemed to be liars and on the take. He has dared me to re-energize with politics.

In Illinois Boy, simple, everyday images are sprinkled with kernels of truth. Of course “we’ve been waiting so long” for a politician who “isn’t into lying” and who makes us believe that “Nothing’s ever gonna be the same.”

Illinois Boy is witty, whimsical" and fun. The song deals with real expectations—love, marriage, a good cup of coffee and a good time. An obvious allegory, it is about a dream, an Illinois Boy who can lead the American people through difficult years ahead and inspire them to be part of the solution.

Nekesa Mumbi Moody, The Associated Press music writer, wrote an article about “Obama songs” that went round the world. She wrote about Illinois Boy and quotes me as saying "He is energizing those around him, daring them to look for a new way to dream.” Google “Annie Palovcik” news.

In her article on the N.Y. Times internet site, About.com, Kim Ruehl, wrote:

“Ever since his entry into the race, Barack Obama has inspired millions of new voters, including several artists who have taken it upon themselves to write songs about him. Not for decades has there been a presidential candidate who inspired so much (positive) music to be written” On her list of five Obama songs, Illinois Boy is No. 4. She wrote: “This tongue-in-cheek quasi love song paid tribute to Obama’s home state of Illinois, and has since become somewhat of an allegory for his presidential bid.”
www.Folkmusic.about.com/od/toptens/tp/songsaboutObama.

Do check out the song and the site: www.cdbaby.com/cd/anniepalovcik. on iTunes.

I live on Salt Spring Island, BC. Email or call. Thanks.

Annie Palovcik 250 537 9571 anniep@saltspring.com

***************************************************
January 20, 2009. Annie Palovcik mentioned in VSD.fr by Marie-Adelaide Scigacz in her "Barack Obama: Un president qui connait la chanson"
*********************************************************.
January 20, 2009. Annie Palovcik and "Illinois Boy" were mentioned in the-trades.com in their "Editorial: Yes We Can..Recognize the Role of Music in the Rise of Barack Hussein Obama to the U.S. Presidency" by Paul Schultz.
********************************************************
October 31, 2008. from the Jamaica Observer's article:
Singing praises to Barack Obama
Basil Walters, Observer staff reporter
Lists ILLINOIS BOY "among the international acts who have given their voices in support"

*********************************************************
From the Direct Democracy Blog, Oct. 11,2008:"Illinois Boy" is #5 in a "list of the most prominent songs written in support of Obama". See Bulletin #10 below. on iTunes.

AMERICA FOR BARACK AND BIDEN
"Illinois Boy, he's comin' home to me
I've been waiting so long!" are the lyrics that open Annie Palovcik's ILLINOIS BOY (on iTunes), as Barack Obama returns to his home state of Illinois to introduce his running mate, Joe Biden. Barack and Biden, a Brilliant team! As the song goes, "Nothin's ever gonna be the same!" The indie political campaign continues on http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/anniepalovcik

AMERICA FOR OBAMA
THE NY TIMES About.com shortlists Illinois Boy #4 in Obama songs. See Bulletin No.5

AMERICA FOR OBAMA
ASSOCIATED PRESS article by Nekesa Mumbi Moody quotes Annie Palovcik, writer of ILLINOIS BOY. "He is energizing those around him, daring them to look for a new way to dream," she says. See Bulletin No. 4.



Annie Palovcik: CHANGES
featuring ILLINOIS BOY (A Barack Obama Song)
MP3 available from www.cdbaby.com/cd/anniepalovcik

Bob Dylan knew the power of song to influence the political climate. Now a new generation of songwriters is being inspired by Senator Barack Obama.

Among the collection is ILLINOIS BOY, a country allegory by Annie Palovcik, who first heard of the Senator while on holidays in Honolulu where he grew up. According to Teresa Mendez of the Christian Science Monitor in her February 28 article “she was the first to set pen to paper in tribute to the Senator from Illinois” and that “the folksy tune she wrote …is her way of political campaigning, envelope licking, door knocking.”

Her song is filled with simple everyday country images, a fun, whimsical and witty song about American values like love, marriage, a good cup of coffee and a good time.



BULLETIN #1
Barack Obama inspired the release of this 5-song Extended Play CD called CHANGES. I first heard about the Senator while on one of my annual holidays in Honolulu, where he grew up. Some of our Hawaiian friends' children had gone to school with him. They told me of their pride in this Senator from Illinois. And that he believed in a Dream. And he titled his autobiography THE AUDACITY TO HOPE.

I thought I would put out this song, ILLINOIS BOY, some time when he next ran a campaign. I guess this is that time. Hope it helps get him elected. This really is the time to make our dreams reality. All the songs in this collection are about CHANGE.

ILLINOIS BOY is witty, whimsical and fun, with a slight country flavor. A few friends have suggested that you can’t refer to a black man in America as a boy. But it’s not unusual in country music to call a youthful man a boy, and I think they are overlooking the change in race relations that Obama’s candidacy so clearly embodies. The title of my CD is CHANGES.

So, boys and girls, as it says in the last verse of ILLINOIS BOY, “Nothing’s ever gonna be the same!"

Annie Palovcik

P.S. Practice random acts of Daring and Hope today to make CHANGE happen. Listen to ILLINOIS BOY. Vote OBAMA.

P.P.S. Digitally download CHANGES: MP3 available from www.cdbaby.com/cd/anniepalovcik. Save the planet from plastic. That's your first act of hope.


COMMENTS RECEIVED
Bob Ray Sanders, Associate Editor, Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"Very well done Great Composition and great performance. Congratulations!"

Rick Santelli at NBC Universal, CNBC
"Thanx annie reallllly enjoyed it!!!"

Susan Campbell at Hartford Courant
"Hey, cool song!"

Eric R.Danton/Sound Check courant.com
"earnest acoustic number with folky leanings" "an allegory of sorts".

Thanks to all the blogs, including cityroom.blogs.nytimes/2008/02/06
Obama Girl Didnt Vote - City Room - Metro - New York Times Blog:
"The real Obama Girl, and the best Obama song, is the somewhat allegorical “Illinois Boy” by Annie Palovcik. Check it out at www.cdbaby.com/cd/anniepalovcik "

and to Aman Betheja of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for providing the link in his POLITEX - Presidential Campaign blog



BULLETIN NO.2 FEBRUARY 17, 2008

I am a Canadian who holidays each winter in Honolulu. In past years friends proudly told me of a senator from Illinois, who they saw as “their own”. Some had kids who had gone to the same school as had Senator Barack Obama. I wrote a song called ILLINOIS BOY and thought that it might help the Senator some time when he next ran a campaign. I guess that time is now.

It is a global universe today. I believed I had not only an opportunity to influence political choices in America, but had a responsibility to do so. Like the 60’s, I could do it with song.

Why Barack Obama? I grew up with the Beatles and Bob Dylan, the Kennedys and Trudeaumania. For me, it was all downhill after that, the decades of political disillusionment. Politicians all seemed to be liars and on the take. Senator Obama has inspired me to reengage with the political process. With him, idealism is no longer out of fashion. He has dared me to look at the infinite possibilities open to me and to the world; dared me to think of our potential.

I feel he cares about people, real people, country people. In my song, ILLINOIS BOY, my simple, everyday country images are sprinkled with kernels of truth. Of course “we’ve been waiting so long” for a politician who “isn’t into lying” and who makes us believe that (as it says in the last verse) “Nothing’s ever gonna be the same.” The song deals with real expectations—love, marriage, a good cup of coffee and a good time. The song, an obvious allegory, is about a dream, an ILLINOIS BOY who can lead the American people through difficult years ahead and inspire them to be part of the solution.

For me, putting out this song, ILLINOIS BOY, on cdbaby http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/anniepalovcik has been my form of political campaigning, my envelope licking, my door knocking. VOTE OBAMA

I am a songwriter, a published travel photographer, manager of country/folk singer, Alan Moberg (inducted into the BC Country Music Hall of Fame this fall); and world: aboriginal performer Ed Peekeekoot "8th wonder of the music universe" says Hugh McLennan, host, synidcated radio show Spirit of the West. I am married to author and journalist Tom Koppel,his "EBB AND FLOW" named a top global Science Book of '07 by Peter Calamai, Science Editor, Toronto Star.
See Links.


BULLETIN 3, FEBRUARY 29

One person CAN make a difference. Get out and do something.


ILLINOIS BOY (A Barack Obama Song)lyrics: a country allegory

ILLINOIS BOY’s coming home to me
I’ve been waiting so long
Wonder if he’ll marry me
I know we could get along

ILLINOIS BOY’s been gone awhile
He sent kisses in each letter
I know I can make him smile, when I say
Kisses on the lips are much better

Ch
And the BOY FROM ILLINOIS
Gonna stop his rambling, don’t go gambling
He gave up smoking, he’s always joking
He isn’t into lying, he keeps on smiling
And the BOY FROM ILLINOIS
He loves his cup of coffee
And the BOY FROM ILLINOIS
Loves me

ILLINOIS BOY brings his truck around
All shiny washed and vacuumed
He picks me up and we go to town
For dinner and drinking and dancing

ILLINOIS BOY loves the quiet
Of a country lane
He takes me there and he strokes my hair
Nothing’s ever gonna be the same

©APalovcik anniep@saltspring.com


BULLETIN #4, MAY 12

ILLINOIS BOY, a country allegory. Available on iTunes.

May 12, 2008
Obama leads the field in unsolicited campaign songs from supporters
By Nekesa Mumbi Moody, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


NEW YORK - Barack Obama is closing in on the Democratic nomination for president but he clinched the race for the best campaign soundtrack long ago - no superdelegates needed.

John McCain and Hillary Clinton also have plenty of musical support in the first presidential election of the YouTube era. But from will.i.am's star-studded viral hit "Yes We Can" to amateur odes, folk, Spanish-language tunes and even a Jamaican reggae tribute, Obama is the leader in what observers are calling a new form of political campaigning.

"Songs about candidates have really taken off," says Steve Grove, head of YouTube.com's news and politics division. "They've found a new way to support their candidates. . . . it stretches from regular average voters all the way up to somebody like will.i.am in terms of being kind of like a new, broader trend in political video."

Annie Palovcik is one of those regular people. She penned the prideful folk tune "Illinois Boy" for Obama when he first came to national prominence a few years back - then put it on the web when Obama became a serious presidential contender this year.

"The concepts of his character and the place of Illinois filtered through my mind into this allegorical country song," said Palovcik, a songwriter and manager of two musicians.

"He is energizing those around him, daring them to look for a new way to dream," she says.

Not that Obama has a lock on musical inspiration. McCain has had songs penned for him, such as "Lead the Way" by a lawyer named Judd Kessler. Clinton has inspired numerous tuneful tributes - no less than Sir Elton John gave her a benefit concert in April - and "Stuck on Huck" was recorded for Mike Huckabee. Even Republican long shot Ron Paul had a song about him that got 60,000 views on YouTube.

Obama has strong support among young people, which may explain some of his Internet music presence. While Grove says there's no specific statistical data to prove it, just on YouTube alone "it seems that (Obama) has really garnered a lot of songs. I think the early success of the Obama girl music video (the song by a scantily clad woman that became a national sensation last year) probably had something to do with that."

Even Dulce Maria Gonzalez, a musician who supports Clinton, notices an Obama imbalance: "When I started to write a song for her, I noticed that there weren't that many on YouTube, and then I saw a lot of them, but they're just not as popular as the Obama songs."

She's hoping her "We Need A Woman" will help reverse the trend. Featuring Gonzalez crooning about Clinton's feminine power, the midtempo tune has garnered about 5,000 views on YouTube (will.i.am's "Yes We Can," in comparison, has gotten more than five million).

"I wanted to do something special for her, and let her know that she did have a Latin vote, and a young vote as well, and give her this song as a gift," said the resident of Brownsville, Texas.

It's not just musicians writing songs to show their support for Obama. Rolling Stone put him on the cover when endorsing him for president, Bruce Springsteen has announced his support, while performers like OK Go and Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz have performed for his benefit. Jay-Z has been taking time out on stage during his tour to flash a picture of Obama and tell the audience, "It's time for a change."

"Musicians generally do not like authority, establishment or bureaucracy. Obama is the first candidate in my lifetime, certainly in memory, that represents any kind of new wave of change," said Craig Wedren of the rock group Shudder to Think, which was part of an indie-rock bill, including OK Go, that recently gave a concert for Obama.

It's hard to pinpoint whether the popularity of songs translates into any particular voting surge. will.i.am released "We Are The Ones" a few days before the Ohio and Texas primaries, but Clinton won both states.

But there has been record turnout in many states this year. will.i.am said he specifically used music to support Obama instead of just lending his celebrity because "people are tired of that."

His song "is driven by inspiration and it's creative and it's love, it isn't anything else," he said.

That's what makes the majority of these songs so key, especially for Obama, says Grove.

"The dream scenario, by the way, is what the Obama campaign has basically landed, which is to inspire a group of supporters to do this on their own without any real top-down campaign control," he said.

And if candidates can move the songwriter, they may be able to move the nation as well.

"I keep wondering, if (Obama) is inspiring so much creativity for songwriters," asked Palovcik, "what is he doing for farmers?"

*****************

BULLETIN #5, June

Hi, looks like the state of ILLINOIS will be in the spotlight now. Check out the #4 song on this list!!!, The song has already received coast to coast and international press with the AP article by music writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody and in the Christian Science Monitor by Theresa Mendez.
The song says “Illinois boy’s coming home to me. I’ve been waiting so long”, "He isn't into lying" and “Nothing’s ever gonna be the same.”


Folk Music
Songs About Barack Obama
New songs written for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama
By Kim Ruehl, About.com
Ever since his entry into the race, Barack Obama has inspired millions of new voters, including several artists who have taken it upon themselves to write songs about him. Not for decades has there been a presidential candidate who inspired so much (positive) music to be written. Here's a look at some popular and obscure pro-Obama songs.
1. "Looking for a Leader," by Neil Young1
Neil Young was a little more ahead of the game. This tune, from 2006's Living With War2 CD wasn't expressly written for or about Barack Obama, but it certainly gave him a shout out. Before the senator from Illinois had announced his presidential bid, even Young was looking forward to the possibility.
Buy Direct3
2. "Yes We Can," by will.i.am4
Probably the most popular song written for Barack Obama, will.i.am's "Yes We Can" hit the internet early on in the primary season. Featuring stars of film and music, the song put Obama's memorable "Yes We Can" speech to music, effectively emphasizing the words that much more.
Watch Video5
3. "Barack Obama Reminds Me of Howard Dean" - Papa Razzi and the Photogs6
This anti-folk tune likens the candidate favored by students and activists in the 2008 election to that of 2004. The difference, of course, is that Howard Dean didn't become the nominee, whereas Obama's grass roots coalition proved a little more fruitful.
Buy Direct7
4. "Illinois Boy," by Annie Palovcik8
Palovcik's tongue-in-cheek, quasi-love song paid tribute to Obama's home state of Illinois, and has since become somewhat of an allegory for his presidential bid. Like many of Obama's supporters, Palovcik was clearly looking forward to his run before it even began. She placed the song on her 2008 EP, Changes9, which she composed after hearing Obama speak.
Listen to Clips10
5. "Barack Obama," by Cocoa Tea11
One of the most popular songs inspired by Barack Obama's candidacy, Coco Tea's aptly titled "Barack Obama" is a catchy, dancey reggae tune paying tribute to the candidate's historic run for presidency. Of course, as World Music Guide Megan Romer noted12, Cocoa Tea isn't an American citizen, so he can't cast his vote in November. Obviously, he's hoping his music can inspire state-side fans to choose Obama.
Buy Direct13
This About.com page has been optimized for print. To view this page in its original form, please visit: http://folkmusic.about.com/od/toptens/tp/SongsAboutObama.htm
©2007 About.com, Inc., a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.


********
Bulletin No. 6, August

ARE you doing it for Obama? If not,why not? He needs you now. Get on the Obamatrain.
*************

Barack and Biden Bulletin No. 7 August 23, 2008

AMERICA FOR BARACK AND BIDEN, THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE

"Illinois Boy, he's comin' home to me
I've been waiting so long!" are the lyrics that open Annie Palovcik's ILLINOIS BOY (on iTunes), as Barack Obama returns to his home state of Illinois to introduce his running mate, Joe Biden. Barack and Biden, a Brilliant team! As the song goes, "Nothin's ever gonna be the same!"

**************

Bulletin No. 8, August

When Barack is President, he will have two houses. McCain will still have seven.

****************

Bulletin No. 9, September

Read This Book:

The Dream Begins: How Hawaii Shaped Barack Obama (Paperback)
by Stu Glauberman (Author), Jerry Burris (Author)


A Review from Amazon.com September 20, 2008
By Alan G. L. Loo "Alloo" (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I read the book and was facinated how the authors described Hawaii during the time of statehood through the 1970s. I grew up in Hawaii and have been wondering when will our country hear about his Hawaii roots and values. I always told people Obama's draw is the Aloha Spirit. He made a speech on his vacation in Hawaii in August. As a fellow, Hawaiian living on the mainland, I am proud of Mr. Obama and what he has accomplished. I was surprised and delighted to read Dr. Ronald Takaki's perspective on Barack Obama's campaign. Ronald Takaki wrote the theory of race in the US and created the first African American Studies Program at UCLA. Dr. Takaki is also from Hawaii.

I also learned more about Hawaii during the time that I lived there and was unaware of some of the political and social forces around the 1970s, and around statehood. I would encourage anyone who wants to learn about Barack Obama to read this book as it covers his first 18 years of life. Thank you for writing this book.

*****************
Bulletin #10 October, 2008
From the Direct Democracy Blog http://www.mydd.com/story/2008/10/11/123144/85

Obama Inspires Music in Support of his Campaign

by JFC7, Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 12:31:44 PM EST

Presidential candidate Barack Obama has inspired artists to create more unsolicited music than any candidate in American history.

Below is a list of the most prominent songs written in support of Obama.


1. "Barack Obama" by JFC Reggae Band from VA, USA

2. "Yes We Can" by will.i.am, of the band Black-Eyed Peas

3. "Barack the Magnificent" by The Mighty Sparrow Calypso artist from Trinidad & Tobago

4. "Barack Obama" by [[Cocoa Tea], reggae artist from Jamaica who is creating a whole album dedicated to Obama ]

5. "Illinois Boy," by Annie Palovcik, an independent songwriter

6. "Black Republicans" by Juelz Santana & Lil Wayne, from 2006, predicting Obama's nomination

7. "I_Got_a_Crush..._on_Obama" by 'Obama Girl' aka Amber Lee Ettinger, a Youtube video that went viral

YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE CAN YES WE CAN

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

email

Please log in to email this artist.