Bruce Springsteen is still the Boss and nine other talking points from a fireworks-packed inauguration concert
Katy Perry, Demi Lovato, and the Foo Fighters also performed at the concert, which marked the beginning of Joe Biden’s presidency
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Your support makes all the difference.Celebrities welcomed Joe Biden into the White House on Wednesday after he officially became the 46th American president.
The Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato and more performed during a 90-minute television special hosted by Tom Hanks from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The broadcast replaced the traditional inaugural ball, which couldn’t take place due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The event was in turn celebratory and solemn. Themes such as unity and the turning of a new leaf dominated the evening, including by way of musicians’ song choices. Jon Bon Jovi covered the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun”, John Legend reinterpreted Nina Simone’s classic “Feeling Good”, and Demi Lovato sang Bill Withers’ upbeat tune “Lovely Day”.
Review: Biden’s inauguration ceremony was a safe, soothing tribute to anti-fascism
Katy Perry wrapped up the broadcast with a spectacular rendition of her 2010 hit “Firework”, as a real-life fireworks display lit up the sky in the nation’s capital.
Here are the 10 main talking points from the evening:
Tom Hanks remains America’s sweetheart
In times of trouble or confusion, the nation knows it can always turn its lonely eyes to Tom Hanks. Back in March 2020, the actor and his wife Rita Wilson became the first high-profile US celebrities to announce they had been diagnosed with Covid-19. They recovered, and Hanks surprised America by hosting a remote episode of Saturday Night Live the following month. On Wednesday night, he proved a competent host – solemn but not severe, reflective but not grandiose. He was a perfect choice for the evening. (Clémence Michallon)
And Bruce Springsteen is still the Boss
Wednesday’s broadcast opened with Bruce Springsteen playing his 1999 song “Land of Hope and Dreams”. It was an emotional performance, and the tune set the right tone – one of careful, slightly weary optimism. “Land of Hope and Dreams” played after Barack Obama's farewell address in January 2017. Featuring it in first position on Wednesday night felt like a moving callback, and a nod to Biden’s past work as Obama’s vice president. (CM)
Jon Bon Jovi joined from Florida
Jon Bon Jovi, who, like his fellow performers Bruce Springsteen and Ant Clemons, hails from New Jersey, joined from Florida – incidentally the state where Donald Trump is expected to live now that he has left the White House. The location left some viewers puzzled (based on their social media comments), but the musician’s cover of “Here Comes the Sun” hit an emotional note for many as well. (CM)
John Legend should play at the Lincoln Memorial more often
John Legend’s rendition of “Feeling Good” was absolutely one of the highlights of the evening. Was it because he chose the perfect song? Was he energised to be performing at such a historical venue as the Lincoln Memorial? Or was it the energy Legend – a vocal critic of Trump’s – brought to the stage, hours after Joe Biden took the oath of office? Probably a mix of all these things, and more. Either way, it was the recipe for a spectacular performance. (CM)
Dave Grohl’s tribute to teachers
Dave Grohl, the son of a teacher himself, made sure to honour the country’s educators before he and the rest of the Foo Fighters launched into song. Grohl has advocated for teachers’ rights during the coronavirus pandemic. His address on Wednesday also resonated with Dr Jill Biden’s own background as a teacher. It was a smart introduction to a very satisfying performance by the band, who played the 2003 song “Times Like These”. (CM)
The song choices were on point
Let’s discuss the song choices for a minute. Musicians expressed hope and optimism on Wednesday, while also acknowledging the difficult times people in the US have faced in the past months and years. Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams”, as discussed, was a pretty perfect opener for the evening. Bon Jovi and Legend were more outwardly celebratory, with “Here Comes the Sun” and “Feeling Good”, respectively. Ditto Demi Lovato and the very energetic version of Withers’ 1977 tune “Lovely Day”. Foo Fighters’ “Times Like These”, meanwhile, brought an edgier touch. And Katy Perry’s “Firework”made for a spectacular finale for obvious reasons (more on that below). (CM)
Katy Perry closed out the night with a brilliant fireworks display
Who better to wrap up an already star-studded and very musical evening than pop titan Katy Perry? Dressed all in white and performing in front of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the Grammy-nominated radio mainstay broke out her 2010 chart-topper "Firework" for the occasion in a set that culminated with a huge display of actual fireworks. Maybe it was a little on the nose, but Perry’s never really been one for subtlety. “Firework” and Perry’s soaring delivery was the ideal closer for an already inspired evening. (Rachel Brodsky)
Broadway got a chance to shine
New York City’s beloved Broadway theatres have been closed since March 2020, as a necessary measure to slow the spread of Covid-19. How the city has missed the venues and their performers! Wednesday’s broadcast included a wonderful medley from various Broadway actors and singers. Together, they sang “Seasons of Love” from Rent, aka the hymn of theatre kids across the US, and “Let the Sunshine In” from Hair, another classic. It was so good to experience a taste of Broadway, if only for a few moments. (CM)
Yo-Yo Ma’s rendition of “Amazing Grace” was a thing of beauty
“Amazing Grace” occupies a prominent place in the American psyche – and beyond, actually. When the coronavirus pandemic first took hold, Andrea Bocelli sang it in a very emotional performance from the Duomo Cathedral in Milan. Somewhat understandably, most performances of “Amazing Grace” place an emphasis on the song’s lyrics. But on Wednesday night, cellist Yo-Yo Ma played a wonderfully pure, deceptively simple version that enabled viewers to enjoy it in a whole new way. (CM)
Lin-Manuel Miranda poignantly recites Seamus Heaney’s “The Cure at Troy”
If you've seen Joe Biden speak before, you'll know that he really likes to quote Irish poet Seamus Heaney's poem “The Cure at Troy.” In the opening moments of “Celebrating America”, none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda honoured both men by reciting an excerpt from the poem. It was a poignant reading that reflected the US's politically polarized moment, with Miranda concluding, “Once in a lifetime / The longed for tidal wave / Of justice can rise up / And hope and history rhyme.” The passage offered hope that the nation can heal and unite, just as President Biden has wished for on too many occasions to count. (RB)
See how the night unfolded in our live blog:
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It’s never a bad time to revisit Lady Gaga’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” today:
Bruce Springsteen, who will be performing tonight, is one of many artists featured on a 46-song inaugural playlist recently released by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. You can listen to the playlist right here:
Biden-Harris team releases 46-song inauguration playlist featuring Bruce Springsteen and Kendrick Lamar
Featuring a mix of current hits and classics, the playlist 'represents the diversity of our nation, and our strength and resilience as we look forward to new leadership and a new era in America’
Before Biden, Springsteen was favoured by another American president: Barack Obama, who included the Boss’s song “The Rising” in his list of songs that helped him throughout his presidency. Biden, of course, was Obama’s vice president, so it makes sense that he would have the same references.
You can see Obama’s playlist in full here:
Barack Obama shares playlist of 20 songs that helped him while he was president
He says he would listen to Jay-Z and Frank Sinatra before debates
Springsteen has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump. In October 2020, he shared a poem by Elayne Griffin Baker condemning the Trump administration, with lines such as: “There’s no art in this White House.There’s no literature, no poetry, no music.There are no pets in this White House, no loyal man’s best friend, no Socks the family cat, no kids’ science fairs.” and “We are lost. We have lost so much in so short a time.”
On his website, Springsteen urged Americans to “vote them [the Trump administration] out on 3 November” – a wish that ultimately came true.
Springsteen’s clear opposition to Trump didn’t deter some Trump supporters from playing his 1984 song “Born in the USA” in October 2020 outside outside Walter Reed Medical Centre. Trump was being treated at the facility after contracting Covid-19.
His supporters’ choice of song was net with derision on social media, where some people pointed out that the actual meaning of the song is quite different from the message Trump’s supporters were apparently hoping to send.
Despite its title, “Born in the USA” is far from being a patriotic anthem. The song is about the Vietnam War, and offers blistering criticism of the conflict’s impact on Americans, especially veterans returning home.
Also in October 2020, Springsteen seemed to ponder a potential move to Australia should Trump be re-elected.
“I love Australia,” the artist told the Australian press. “Every time, we have nothing but good times down there. It’s always a treat to come. Love the people, love the geography, great place for motorcycle trips, it’s close to our hearts.”
He added: “If Trump is re-elected – which he will not be; I’m predicting right now he’s gonna lose – if by some happenstance he should be, I’ll see you on the next plane.”
Look whose books are currently at the top of Amazon’s best sellers list! None other than inaugural poet Amanda Gorman, whose reading was a resounding success today.
It makes sense for the Foo Fighters to be performing tonight. Dave Grohl has been an outspoken critic of Donald Trump, telling GQ in a 2018 interview: “I am ashamed of our president. I feel apologetic for it when I travel,” and “Listen, who cares what I think about guns or religion, but the thing about Trump that stings the most is this: he just seems like a massive jerk.”
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