A presidential dose of schmaltz

Toronto Star

A presidential dose of schmaltz

SUPPLIED PHOTO (From left) David Foster, Will.i.am, Faith Hill, Oprah Winfrey, Seal, and Mary J Blige premiere "America's Song" on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show' on Jan. 19, 2009 at the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington.

http://www.thestar.com/Entertainment/article/574413

Jan 21, 2009 04:30 AM

Our neighbours to the south have a sappy new anthem to go with their game-changing president. "America's Song," which features Bono, will.i.am, Mary J. Blige, Seal, Faith Hill and an unnamed choir, premiered on The Oprah Winfrey Show Monday.

It's got all the schmaltzy grandeur, but none of the hipness you'd expect from a tune penned by easy-listening guru David Foster and Black Eyed Peas front man will.i.am. Nonetheless, patriots are gonna love its soaring quality, plaintive piano and references to liberty, justice and dreams.

Will.i.am's earlier effort, the "Yes I Can" YouTube sensation, comprised of excerpts from then-candidate Barack Obama's uplifting New Hampshire speech, vocalists such as Nicole Scherzinger and John Legend, and other celebs, seemed more honest and uncontrived.

This ditty's refrain is "America is beautiful," rendering it a kind of international all-for-one given world attention to the political transition and the track's diverse lineup of an Irishman (Bono), an Englishman (Seal) and a Canadian (Foster). The inclusivity is in keeping with Obama's ideals, but one signature voice – say Whitney Houston of yore – could've really made this song memorable.