A popular Hawaiian singer used his performance at a dinner of world leaders hosted by President Barack Obama to voice his support for the 'Occupy' movement.
美国总统奥巴马举办晚宴招待参加APEC峰会的各经济体领导人时,夏威夷当红歌手利用献唱的机会,表达了对“占领”运动的声援。
Makana was enlisted1 to play a luau(夏威夷式烤野猪宴) , or Hawaiian feast, for members of the Pacific Rim2 who had gathered in Obama's birthplace Honolulu for an annual summit formulating3 plans for a Pacific free-trade pact4.
During the meal on the resort strip Waikiki Beach, he proudly pulled open his jacket to reveal a T-shirt which read 'Occupy with Aloha' - using the Hawaiian word which include love and peace.
He went on to sing a 45-minute version of his new song We Are The Many, which features the refrain(叠句,副歌) : 'We'll occupy the streets, we'll occupy the courts, we'll occupy the offices of you, till you do the bidding of the many, not the few.'
Makana said the song prompted awkward stares from a few in the audience, but the Obamas appeared too engrossed5(专心致志的) with their guests to even notice what was happening.
The attendees may also not have noticed the 'challenging' nature of Makana’s lyrics6 because the music was so mellow7, it was mooted8 on CNN.
Reports that, halfway9 through the performance, President Obama yelled 'Play Freebird!' have not been confirmed.
After the performance, Makana, 33, said: 'I was pretty nervous. In fact I was terrified. I kept thinking 'what are the consequences going to be?'
The performance occurred at a dinner on Saturday night for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation summit participants from 21 economies around the Asia-Pacific, including Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, amid a security lockdown in Waikiki.
As Makana sang, about 400 protesters including anti-globalisation and native Hawaiian rights activists10 staged a protest march toward the dinner site, but turned back after encountering the smothering11(窒息) security.
Makana released the song on the Internet the day before and decided12 to play it at the behest(命令,请求) of fans, he said.
He sang it 'over and over' for 40 minutes, varying his tempo13 and delivery to avoid triggering an overt14 reaction.