Today sees the inauguration of Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States of America. There’s a whole heap of issues to welcome him into office, what with the world cracking up and it being America’s fault and that, but for now it’s all about smiling for the cameras, making sure he’s moisturised and tuning in to some of the biggest and best musicians in the world. When Tony Blair swept into Downing Street back in 1997, he was accompanied by the dulcet tones of D:Ream’s Things Can Only Get Better - and that was it. In America they do things differently though and stars who have turned out to welcome Obama into office include Aretha Franklin, U2, Beyonce, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and Shakira…
Rolling Stone magazine reported on the contents of Obama’s iPod last year, which included the likes of Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, The Rolling Stones and the star-spangled Bruce Springsteen. He also has a leaning towards Earth, Wind & Fire and Elton John, as well as Miles Davis, John Coltrane and Charlie Parker. Sheryl Crow snuck in too, but Obama was torn on the topic of rap music: “I am troubled sometimes by the misogyny and materialism of a lot of rap lyrics,” he said. “However, I think the genius of the art form has shifted the culture and helped to desegregate music.”
Whatever your poison though, inauguration week has seen a host of musicians traipsing to Washington to sing their support. Sunday saw Obama’s Welcome Concert whipping up the capital crowds with Bruce Springsteen leading the way followed on-stage by a slew of artists including Beyonce, John Legend, James Taylor, Mary J Blige and U2. In between the musical onslaught, Obama squeezed in a few words to the gathered crowds, saying: “The dream of our founders will live on in our time… What gives me hope is what I see when I look out across this mall.”
Rock icon Aretha Franklin is set to perform for the incoming president on the steps of the Capitol building on Tuesday as part of the swearing-in ceremony. She’s said to be “excited to be part of this special moment in American history and in African-American history.” A host of other concerts also took place last night, featuring the likes of Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers, the Beastie Boys, Jay-Z , Santogold, Moby and De La Soul. Frankly, if you haven’t been asked to perform in the captial this week, your career’s either on the slide on you’re a die-hard Republican - and neither one is a positive in our book.
Listen to Obama Radio on RealMusic
Watch the inauguration LIVE for FREE between 2-8pm
(Clare Lydon)
