Obama Bumps Al Green's 'Let's Stay Together' Sales by 490%
Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" got a sales boost last week from an unlikely source -- President Barack Obama.
A video of the president singing the first line of the song at a Jan. 19 fund-raising event went viral the next day, sparking a 490% weekly sales increase for the song. It sold 16,000 downloads in the week ending Jan. 22 according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Al Green, A&R Execs & Artists Sound Off on Obama's Performance
It's the best sales week for the song since SoundScan began tracking downloads in 2003.
The fundraiser took place at New York's Apollo Theater, where Green was also making an appearance. As Obama took to the stage, he noted Green's presence in the room and surprised the crowd (and his aides) with a bit of his crooning.
Watch: President Obama Sings Al Green's, "Let's Stay Together"
"Those guys didn't think I would do it," joked Obama, gesturing to his staffers on the side of the stage. "I told you I was going to do it. The Sandman did not come out."
While there are multiple videos of the moment on YouTube, the most-viewed clip has been watched more than 4 million times.
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Who knew the President would be a one-man stimulus package for the music industry?A day after President Obama sang a bit of Al Green's classic "Let's Stay Together" from the podium at a January 19th fundraising event in Harlem, videos of the crooner-in-chief went viral on YouTube, racking up millions of views. But it wasn't just Obama's version of the song that the web's music fans sought out: according to Nielsen (via The Hollywood Reporter), digital download sales for Green's version of the song jumped up 490% in the period ending on January 22nd.
With 16,000 downloads, the song had its most successful online sales week since Nielsen began keeping track of web transactions in 2003. It's good news for Green's wallet, just as the President's cover was music to his ears.
"He nailed it," Green told TMZ, praising Obama's rendition. In fact, the singer was just "thrilled that the president even mentioned my name."
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I'm, I'm so in love with you
Whatever you want to do
Is alright with me
'Cause you make me feel, so brand new
And I want to spend my life with you
Me sayin' since, baby, since we've been together
Ooo, loving you forever
Is what I need
Let me, be the one you come running to
I'll never be untrue
Ooo baby
Let's, let's stay together
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Oooo oooo ooo ooo, yeah
Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad
Why somebody, why people break up
Oh, and turn around and make up
I just can't seeeeeeeee
You'd never do that to me
(Would you baby)
'Cause being around you is all I see
It's why I want us to
Let's, let's stay together
Loving you whether, whether
Times are good or bad, happy or sad
Let's, let's stay together
Loving you whether, whether
