Obama + The National = ringtones!

I learned last night how stupidly easy it is to make ringtones for the iPhone. That, coupled with how stupidly easy it is to strip audio from videos on YouTube makes this little project possible: 3 ringtones for the iPhone built from the Obama campaign video “Signs of Hope and Change.”

The video is great because it uses a fantastic song (“Fake Empire,” by the National) with fantastically inspiring audio. The thing sort of makes me cry a lot to the point where I’ve weaned myself off the video by forcing myself to donate $5 to a Democrat every time I watch the video. That adds up.

But that’s not important. Here are the three ringtones:

1. (14 seconds) Two supporters speaking: “I think for a long time I had given up that… that we could work together to make change in this country.” “Now I’ve been involved in politics–I’ve seen politicians–but this is different.” (This one loops very nicely) [.m4r for iPhone] [.mp3 for other phones]
2. (14 seconds) Joseph Biden, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up: “Ladies and gentlemen, this is no ordinary time. This is no ordinary election. And this may be our last chance to reclaim the America we love.” [.m4r for iPhone] [.mp3 for other phones]
3. (26 seconds) Barack Obama, making me cry: “We are one people. We are one nation. And, together, we will begin the next chapter in the American story with words that will ring from coast to coast–from sea to shining sea! Yes! We! Can!” (Audience follows) [.m4r for iPhone] [.mp3 for other phones]

Installing for the iPhone is a snap and requires no hacking/jailbreaking:

1. Download the above .m4rs, usually by right-clicking or control-clicking and choosing “Save Link As…” or whatever.
2. Open up iTunes and drop the m4rs into the library. They should immediately get copied into the ringtones Library.
3. Sync. Cry.

Installing .mp3 ringtones on Motorolas, etc., varies widely. Your best bet is, where possible, to use Bluetooth File Exchange program.

I think I will next tackle other Obama YouTube clips and post the results up here. I have no idea, of course, about the legality of any of this. I have not sought permission, etc. But spread the word!

Tags: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, nationalism, The National