The video "I’ve Got a Crush," featuring the online celebrity now known as Obama Girl, was one of the hottest videos of 2007, racking up over 9 million views at only one of its YouTube URLs.
Amber Lee Ettinger, the actress/model/fashion student who portrayed the character, lip-synched her way through the video. But in between Obama Girl appearances and recordings, she’s been working on a solo album called Queen of the Web, slated for a November release on iTunes and other digital outlets.
Never afraid to delve into the most serious issues surrounding music today, we interviewed Ettinger about her music background, her double life as an online sensation and actual person and whether it’s true that she wasn’t an Obama supporter before taking on the Obama Girl mantle.
Ettinger spoke via cellphone as she made preparations for a full week at theDemocratic national convention in Denver, where she’ll perform and interview attendees for Spike TV.
First, here’s an excerpt from the single, "Second Time."
Wired.com: So, what was your background before the whole Obama Girl thing? Have you been involved in music before?
Amber Lee Ettinger: I’ve been involved in entertainment my whole life, starting from the age of three on (in beauty pageants). Before Obama Girl, I was focused primarily on college here in New York; I went to F.I.T. (Fashion Institute of Technology) to study fashion design. And while there, I started pursuing the modeling and the acting more heavily. Being Obama Girl this past year definitely opened a lot of doors for me and made me want to release an album on my own since half the world thinks I’m a lip-syncher and the other half maybe thinks I really sing the "Crush" song, so it’s the natural next step for me to want to pursue.
Wired.com: I’ve heard the single, and you can sing, so why did they have you lip-synch that video? Is it because Leah Kauffman wrote the song?
Ettinger: Yeah, Leah Kauffman wrote the song with (advertising executive) Ben Relles. When they approached me with it, it was just something I couldn’t turn down. I love her voice, and her song and how catchy it was, and I thought Obama was a great candidate, so I jumped at the chance to play the Obama Girl. It’s just that I wanted to have my own singing career afterwards and separate that voice from my own, because lots of people still think that’s me singing. Leah and I have actually been performing the song live together, and we will be doing it in Denver (at the Democratic national convention) this week coming up. That’s been really fun, me and her doing that together.
Wired.com : Are you worried about people not taking you seriously (with this solo album)?
Ettinger: Thoughts like that do cross my mind. Everything I do — eventhe Obama Girl videos — I always try to mention that Obama Girl is a character, although she’s somebody that I feel verystrongly about. It’s not just an acting role for me — I do have greatrespect for Barack Obama. But at the same time, a lot of people don’trealize that these videos are political satire. So I think thenext step is to make sure that I keep fulfilling the dreams that I wantto do as far as acting and singing, and I think that if people are mytrue fans, and they like the music, I shouldn’t have any problems.
Wired.com: Speaking of true fans, who are your musical idols?
Ettinger: My musical taste is so huge. I’ve been listening to all typesof music since I was a young girl. I went through my phases of rock n’ roll with my dad, listening to Zeppelin and The Doors, and then gotinto hardcore music at one time. I like rap, there’s some country I like, and I like opera, so my taste in music is so wide, and I’m hopingthat when I continue working on this album, I can show my eclectictaste — it’s not just going to be one style. As far as femalesingers, Mariah Carey is someone who I think is absolutely amazing. Hervoice is just unstoppable. I also like Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, stuff like that.
Wired.com: A friend of mine told me last night that you weren’t originally for Obama. Is he full of it?
Ettinger: (Laughs.) Yes, he’s full of it. Back when this all first started, I gotinterviewed by Steppin’ Out magazine. They asked me about HillaryClinton, and I (mentioned a few things I thought she had done well). The next thing you know, it’s me on the cover saying "Obama Girl isactually Hillary Girl." It’s funny how misconstrued my words get. If I talk as the Obama Girl character, they think I’m fake. But I wasn’tborn with the name "Obama Girl." My name is Amber Lee Ettinger — theyare two different people, but the same people. It’s a hard thing tograsp. But yes, I am definitely a full-on supporter for Obama. If someone asked me to do a video about McCain, the answer would havebeen no.
Wired.com: The new album’s going to be under your own name. Thetemptation might have been to call it "Obama Girl Sings" or somethinglike that, but it seems like you’re trying to stake out your ownmusical identity here. Is that the idea?
Ettinger: Yeah, I’m definitely trying to stake it out. A lot of peoplewould think, "Well, are you singing about Obama in these songs?" No. Obama Girl’s going to sing about Obama, but Amber Lee Ettinger’s goingto sing about other things that are going on in her life… We’re doingObama Girl right up until the election. Whether he wins or not, I haveno idea what’s going to happen to Obama Girl. Eight more years? Fourmore years? Or no more years? I wish I could look into a glass balland find out what’s going to happen in two months, but I’m in the darklike everyone else.
Photo courtesy of Amber Lee Ettinger
