We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Concert from the Lincoln Memorial
FRIDAY NIGHT, JANUARY 16th
It's 10 degrees in Washington D.C. A village of trailers, tents and satellite trucks occupy an acre just south of the stately memorial to Abraham Lincoln. A crew of two hundred in parkas, mufflers, winter underwear and ski hats are at work - musicians, stagehands, crew members and a host of security officials and National Park Service police in fur hats with gold badges.
At eight p.m. - on the stage that has been built on the steps of the memorial by designer Steve Bass - Beyonce holds forth in her own stylish cold weather gear, rehearsing her number with 225 members of the Naval Academy Glee Club, each singer emitting frosty air along with the notes. Minutes later Jon Bon Jovi and Bettye La Vette take the stage as the temperature drops a couple of points - but everyone has a joyful approach, animated by the feeling of being involved in making a little history.
The public is invited free to the concert that will take place at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. A million people are expected to be on The Mall lined with Jumbotrons to watch the show, and people across the country will see it live on HBO which is providing an "open feed" so all cable and satellite subscribers can tune in. NPR will provide a live radio feed to their listeners and there will be a special feed to the U.S. Armed Forces around the world. We Are One will be shown on HBO overseas, and repeated by HBO in the U.S. at 7 p.m. eastern time.
The theme of this opening event of Inaugural week is that this is a coming together to face a challenging future, not a celebration of victory. We will remember presidents who led us through difficult times and recall the historic occasions that took place at the Lincoln Memorial. All this interspersed with music that connects to these themes from many of the greatest artists of our day.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17th
It is sunny today -- 17 degrees and twenty-four hours to show time. Mary J. Blige was the first on stage today and was a pretty picture singing a hundred feet down the steps from the magnificent statue of a seated Abraham Lincoln. Soon Springsteen will arrive for his rehearsal in the music tent before going on stage, followed by John Mellencamp, then James Taylor, Jennifer Nettles and John Legend who are performing as a trio.
Bono and The Band arrive from Dublin at five o'clock and they will rehearse in the evening. Then Garth Brooks, followed by Usher, Shakira and Stevie Wonder together, and then Renee Fleming. Everyone looks like they're ready for the ski slopes.
The President-elect and the Vice President-elect, who will attend with their families, don't get to rehearse. They are on a train from Philadelphia to Washington and are getting ready to run a country.
On Sunday morning the speakers and readers will rehearse, many of them arriving on overnight flights (two from Sundance) -- Denzel Washington, Tom Hanks, Laura Linney, Samuel Jackson, Rosario Dawson, and Steve Carell, among them.
Don Mischer and Michael Stevens are producing this with me. We received a greenlight from the Presidential Inaugural Committee on January 2nd. We've done a lot of shows but never one that came together this quickly -- or one in which everyone involved is so caught up with the privilege of being part of an occasion that has such special meaning to each of us.
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Thank you George & Michael Stevens. I loved the HBO coverage of the Lincoln Memorial Show. It was a show for everyone... and I especially loved Pete Seeger, representing the Folk Music era and leading us in "This Land is Your Land". So many knew the song from when they were kids. I was singing verses at home and my favorite shot of the whole thing was an unscripted moment when George Lucas in the audience was singing for all his worth.... as if he had reclaimed a spot to he wanted to acknowledge. He doesn't always look so thrilled... and you caught it. In fact I watched the 2nd showing, waiting for that song. Pete Seeger AND George Lucas, Amazing Grace.
Of course the hard core, represented by Garth Brooks: "A little bit Louder now" amid others was such a burst of puffy strong air! I know you do lots of Hollywood award shows, but the part with Tom Hanks and Aaron Copeland was so great. James Earl Jones would have added some Shakespearian heft to the Lincoln Portrait. But Hanks was ok.... Hector Elizondo would have done the piece well, also.
It could only have been better with more Hispanics.... George Lopez does not speak for all Hispanics.
And I know Carlos Santana would have been an excellent singer.
The Sunday afternoon concert on HBO was spectacular save for the embarassing performances by Usher and Shakira. Neither were up to the task of singing along with the great Stevie Wonder.
It was a masterpiece. I could not stop crying - living just 12 miles from the memorial - I am so
upset I had another event to attend.
I hear we get to see it again tomorrow when we are @ the inaugural - I can hardly wait.... OH I need to go get water proof mascara....
Thank you for a moment that reflected the joy in my heart
It was a fabulous, memorable and moving event. THANK YOU to the organizers and producers for it. I am not particularly a country-western fan but I have to say that Garth Brooks' performance may have been the highlight among many. At first I thought his choice of "Bye Bye Miss American Pie" was strange especially with those "Good old boys drinkin' whisky and rye, this'll be the day that I die." But then when I saw the performance again I realized that he's kissing Southern crackers good bye, then following it with "Shout" with a a chorus in gospel style, and finally the song about "We shall be free" including lyrics about looking past color of skin to content of heart, was a brilliant montage for this day. And to see a country-western singer in a cowboy hat remove it and bow deeply to the Obamas was a fantastic symbol itself.
Good post woody, I know what your saying.........if we could all look past color........maybe starting tomorrow.
How ever you want to look at it to undermine the evil white man. Hurray for our first half Kenyan/half white President!
I won't comment on what I DIDN'T see, but have some comments on what I did see:
First, Renee Fleming was simply incredible. She's an American treasure. I saw her in concert once where she did a whole range of vocal pieces and she was just awesome. I thought she was great yesterday.
Second, I was surprised how entertaining Garth Brooks was. His stint was a great break of fun during the concert.
Third, seeing Pete Seeger onstage with his grandson and Springstein singing "This Land is Your Land" was a special treat. This old activist deserved a place on stage.
Fourth, I was surprised and a little disappointed that nobody sang "We Shall Overcome" - I thought it would have been fitting to have that somewhere near the end of the program.
Why?
Have you been paying attention the last year or so "AsISaid"?
We overcame...
Brooks' performance may have been the highlight among many. At first I thought his choice of "Bye Bye Miss American Pie" was strange especially with those "Good old boys drinkin' whisky and rye, this'll be the day that I die." But then when I saw the performance again I realized that he's kissing Southern crackers good bye, then following it with "Shout" with a a chorus in gospel style, and finally the song about "We shall be free" including lyrics about looking past color of skin to content of heart, was a brilliant montage for this day. And to see a country-western singer in a cowboy hat remove it and bow deeply to the Obamas was a fantastic symbol itself.
If Pete Seeger deserved a place, so did Bishop Robinson. If discrimination against political leftists is wrong, if discrimination against black people is wrong, then so is discrimination against gays.
Dear George Stevens Jr.
In recognition of excellence celebrating the best of humanity in the mass media, The MY HERO Project would like to award you with the MY HERO Media Award for your outstanding program, We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial, which aired January 18, 2009 on HBO. We at MY HERO commend you for the unity you have inspired through this piece.
The MY HERO Project http://myhero.comm) is a not-for-profit educational Web project that celebrates the best of humanity with an ever-growing archive of hero stories, art and short films. Educators around the world use this free project-based learning resource to provide a unique educational experience that promotes media literacy and cross-cultural communication. Students and professionals create their own personal Web pages, artwork and short films to honor their heroes and bring new hope to the online global community.
Thank you for creating We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial to recognize the heroes in American history who have inspired hope for a unity that embraces diversity.
On behalf of The MY HERO Project, I am pleased to award you and HBO with the 2009 MY HERO Media Award!
I hope that you will contact us so we can provide you with more details about this award
and The MY HERO Project.
Sincerely,
Jeanne Meyers
Director and Co-founder
http://myhero.com
myheroproject.orgect.org
Why is Stevens a "hero" for collaborating in the exclusion from the program of a representative of a minority of Americans? Why is homophobia and Stalinesque censorship "heroic?"
The REAL disgrace occurred when the New York Times referred to Josh Glowworm's voice as "operatic". He couldn't pass the audition for an opera company's chorus. If you heard Renee Fleming sing "You'll Never Walk Alone", then you heard the real thing.
God and Country is ALWAYS INVOLVED. We live in a country and we believe in a God. Plain and simple.
"We"? You can have that myth.
Um, speak for yourself. There are millions of people who do not believe in a God or a church and they are just as American as anyone else. To each their own, but people need to stop suffering under the delusion that:
a) America is a Christian country
b) church and state should be all up in the other's business
c) organized religion is a purely benevolent entity
d) that human kindness/goodness are somehow owned by religious faith
The sooner we stop applying faith-based labels the sooner we can create a more peaceful world.
"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers."
I clapped for this part.
I'd rather if there were no prayer before a concert.
And I'd rather if there were no national anthem before a game.
A concert is a concert and a game is a game. Keep God and Country out of them.
I searched in vain for Asian American talent on that stage. Maybe one kid way in the background singing a song.
CT, I think if you believe the inclusion or lack of inclusion of Asian American talent has a direct impact on equality for Asian Americans, you should definitely raise a complaint. The concerns myself and others have raised are in reaction to the faux inclusion to of the gay bishop that seems disingenuous because it was not actually broadcast, and seems to be in direct response to the outrage of Rick Warren's participation in the actual inauguration.
Some of us think that there are reverberations for the entire country when one group is treated like 2nd class citizens. If indeed you feel that Asians are treated as 2nd class citizens, I respect your right to raise your concerns.
The talent may not have been on stage, but "Confucius'" principles were abound. The spirit of peace, truth, justice and love for one another was definitely in the air.
Actually, there were several on stage. During the inauguration ceremony there are some musicians that you will want to see also.
The folks who are tired of hearing complaints from the GBLT community are the ones who should get over it. Raising concerns about inclusion, or lack thereof, is not the same as suggesting that we are more important than any other group. Any individual who has common sense can process more than one piece of information at once. We can be simultaneously excited about the inauguration AND angry about what feels like a slight. Regardless of the circumstance or the context, GLBT folks who are concerned about being seen as equals and not just be tolerated must raise these concerns. No group - women, black people, latino people, has ever achieved anything by simply shutting up and being happy with what they got. The struggle must continue...and it will. Before people shoot off at the mouth, they think about how it feels to be marginalized and then told to shut up whenever you decide to speak up. I will not shut up.
Well you need to and speak when there are real injustices taking place JMNHO.
I'm no heterosexual and I'm not upset. I guess because I know that bovine scat happens and I don't wear my sexuality on my bloody sleeve! Stop acting like this was some big conspiracy!
You don't see/hear atheist and agnostics making a loud stink about religion being involved in this historical event do you?
Well you need to and speak when there are real injustices taking place JMNHO.
I'm no heteros e xual and I'm not upset. I guess because I know that bovine scat happens and I don't wear my sexuality on my bloody sleeve! Stop acting like this was some big conspiracy!
You don't see/hear atheist and agnostics making a loud stink about religion being involved in this historical event do you?
TLaw...
1. I don't carry what you wear on your "bloody" sleeve - though I think you might want to soak it cold water before you wash it.
2. My post was not about any conspiracy, rather what I see. In America, we can make observations about our elected leaders - because we...elect them. My post was about being vigilant. During the Bush era, anytime anyone said anything in opposition to the war, people were told that they were being unpatriotic. It would seem that everyone is caught up in the glee of a new black President, and as an African American, I am proud. But I am also gay...and I know how this all feels to me.
3. Your response suggests that because atheists haven't "made a stink" that I shouldn't. That's easily among the dumbest things I've ever heard.
TLaw it is a BIG thing as a matter of fact it's HUGE! If we are ALL Americans then by that word we should all be treated as Americans. It isn't about religion either! It's about a group of people left out out of the words "We Are One!" Being Gay or Staright is wearing ones sexuality on ones sleeve either. It's wearing ONES identity!
Actually I think atheists still have a long way to go in terms of getting the respect from the government as well as the religious folks. How many times has atheism been equated to a lack of morals or goodness? How many times in recent years have christians complained about the 'war on christmas' when they turn around and freak out whenever another religious or particularly athiest group wants their own equal treatment?
For the most part I really don't care what most religions do as long as they aren't hurting anyone, but yes sometimes I do get angry that people like me are treated in the media and politics as unAmerican and morally bankrupt. Still to this day we cannot elect a non-christian President, each candidate must prove their christianity to all and sundry.
From AfterElton.com:
"Sunday afternoon, HBO televised the Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial — a concert planned by the Presidential Inauguration Committee — to kick off the festivities surrounding Obama's inauguration on Tuesday.
Openly gay bishop Gene Robinson delivered the opening prayer before the start of the concert, but the prayer was not included as part of HBO's broadcast. Contacted Sunday night by AfterElton.com concerning the exclusion of Robinson's prayer, HBO said via email, "The producer of the concert has said that the Presidential Inaugural Committee made the decision to keep the invocation as part of the pre-show."
Uncertain as to whether or not that meant that HBO was contractually prevented from airing the pre-show, we followed up, but none of the spokespeople available Sunday night could answer that question with absolute certainty. However, it does seem that the network's position is that they had nothing to do with the decision."
An All-American Inaugural celebration--except for the second-class citizens of the GLBT community.
Listen... I believe that the GBLT community is entitled to equal rights. BUT my reason is because whatever your sexual orientation, preferences, fetishes, etc. are personal and have NO place in a public forum, or in societal judgements. That said, why GLBT want to be acknowledged as such all the time bugs me. Aren't you just people first, isn't that the whole point??? Whatever someone's personal beliefs are, the point is they are their's, and they are entitled to them. No matter how nuts someone else's beliefs may be. To bash people's personal beliefs when they are not being used to commit a crime or in the disrespect of another human, is not justified. That seems to me what is going on from the GBLTcommunity. Pick your battles wisely GBLT community, If you are always shouting, no one will hear you.
Rebrarenee, I would submit that we haven't shouted enough. There are so many things that are problematic in your argument, I don't know where to start.
First, sexual orientation is not a fetish or a preference. I also reject your assertion that sexual orientation has no place in public forum. To the extent that straight couples can safely embrace one another--a hug, a kiss on the cheek, an arm over the shoulder, sexual orientation is actually very public. We want to be safe...we want to be ok. We want to serve our country without shame. We want to get married and raise families. We want to live the American Dream.
When someone's personal beliefs imply that my being born gay is the same as someone being born a murderer, or child rapist - they are committing a crime. They suggest by their actions that it is still ok in 2009, to treat GLBT folks differently...they signal to hateful segments of our population that it is OK to attack us and beat us down literally and figuratively. We cannot overemphasize the power of symbols. The full inclusion and broadcast of the Bishop's speech would have been a great symbol.
Maybe you should do a bit more research on the civil rights movement, woman suffrage movement, or really any fight for equal rights. Nobody got there by sitting back and not shouting to the world that they deserved equal treatment under the law. There are plenty of biographies on MLK today, take a look at one.
If the anti-gay crowd would just shut up and stop trying to hold rights back from the gay community the GLBT crew wouldn't have to be so loud about it. So yes, they (the haters) are doing it to themselves.
Great Show, Mr Stevens! Thanks!
yes, I would have preferred to see Robinson's prayer open the telecast.
but I did enjoy the show very much, and hope that many others did, as well.
To those complaining about HBO premium elitist channel -- HBO was free to all American households this weekend, and the concert was also available live online.
Its unfortunate that all the GLBT community can feel about this event is how the invocation from a gay preacher was not part of the main event. It's becoming annoying to read the constant complains about being slighted. Instead of focusing on what you DIDN'T get, why not show some appreciation for what you DID get. Why aren't the Latinos complaining about a prayer from a Latino, Or Native Americans, or A disable preacher. Please give it a rest already. There's so much complains about preachers lately from the GLBT community. The most complains has been about being slighter from a religious leader either black, white, gay or straight.
Just exactly what did we get?
Oh yeah, our marriages invalidated. Thanks.
Are you a person who can only feel one emotion or process one thought at a time? NO? Then stop making idiotic statements like the above. There is a reason for expressions like 'bittersweet' or 'conflicted' because they imply the ability to have mixed emotions.
Well, we did get an invocation by a disabled preacher- morally disabled, that is, e.g. Rock "Elmer Gantry" Warren.
The point is that Bishop Robinson was cynically used and disrespected. The "complaints about preachers" from the GLBT community are complaints about bigots who actively work to deny the rights of citizenship to those who are complaining. Their complaints are every bit as valid as the complaints Emmet Till's mother had about the good Christian white men who brutally murdered her son. I suppose you would've told her to "give it a rest" tioo.
Let's not bite the hand that fed us. Yes they CERTAINLY have shown the minister and they CERTAINLY should have stated that it was the Gay Mens Choir. But we did get to see it for free. For that I am grateful.
No, HBO is a premium channel--not everyone got to see it--and then to discover that Bishop Robinson's invocation was not heard, because there was trouble with the microphone, and that HBO didn't broadcast it, is one more indication that GLBT people are *still,* even in the early stages of Obama's tenure, second-class citizens. And likely to remain so.
it was apparently available for free to anyone who had cable...still that was exclusionary.
AND to exclude all the gay material was highly suspect.
Apologies are due from HBO which botched this big time.
if there were any issue about it being shown for free it should have been shown on a reg tv channel.
It's only correct that everyone should be able to see it for free, duh.
BUT not to show RObinson and the gay chorus, and rumors that Josh was not allowed up with the others at the end.
Separate but Not Equal all over again.
HBO owes a BIG FAT APOLOGY to the gay community.
And those of you who think we should shut up about it... should blacks have just stayed in the back of the bus too?
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