Сэр Пол Маккартни спел в Белом доме песню The Beatles Michelle в честь первой леди США. Президент США Барак Обама вторил ему, сидя в первом ряду зрителей и нежно глядя на супругу, так что песня битлов неожиданно превратилась в серенаду. А в финале другого хита - Hey Jude - все "первое семейство" Америки, включая детей, присоединилось на сцене к легендарному музыканту, сидевшему за роялем, и вместе с ним пело бессловесный припев - "На-на-на-на..." - и хлопало в такт.
Состоялся этот необычный "джем-сейшн" по случаю присуждения легендарному музыканту Библиотекой Конгресса премии имени Джорджа Гершвина за "личный вклад в дело превращения популярной песни в музыкальный инструмент культурного взаимопонимания". Концерт транслировали из Белого дома в прямом эфире телеканалы PBS.
Праздничный концерт, в котором, наряду с самим лауреатом премии, приняли участие многие музыканты, в том числе Стиви Уандер, Элвис Костелло, Джерри Сейнфелд, группа Jonas Brothers и Фэйт Хилл, не обошелся без грустных нот.
Обама, приветствуя Маккартни, вспомнил о штатах Луизиана, Миссисипи и Алабама, страдающих сейчас от последствий утечки нефти в Мексиканском заливе. Знаменитые своим вкладом в мировую музыку штаты переживают сейчас тяжелые времена, и музыка в том числе, отметил глава государства.
"Музыка также переживает тяжелые времена сейчас... Но всегда находятся люди, которые поют даже в трудное время", - сказал Обама.
"Отец Маккартни сам исполнял композиции Гершвина, а сам он стал самым успешным автором песен в истории... The Beatles за несколько лет изменили музыку, которую мы слушаем... Пол Маккартни и группа The Beatles создали саундтрек для целого поколения... Песни продержались в чартах, если считать все вместе, порядка 32 лет... Я считаю большой честью от лица благодарной нации вручить высшую награду Америки в области популярной музыки сэру Полу Маккартни", - сказал президент США.
Не менее знаменитые песни The Beatles исполнили и другие музыканты, приехавшие в Вашингтон поздравить коллегу, а многие - и кумира.
Стиви Уандер, лауреат премии Гершвина за прошлый год, дважды исполнил We Can Work it Out, а Jonas Brothers - Drive My Car, явно пришедшуюся по душе Малии Обаме.
Элвис Костелло перед тем, как исполнить Penny Lane, рассказал, что ливерпульская улица, давшая название бессмертному хиту The Beatles, находится неподалеку от места, где жила его мать.
"Когда эта песня, полная чуда и красоты, звучала по радио, мои мама, папа и кот все вставали и внимательно ее слушали", - рассказал Костелло.
Маккартни, лауреат множества премий, выражая благодарность Библиотеке Конгресса и президенту США за оказанную честь, признался, что для него нынешний приз имеет особое значение.
"Получить эту премию здорово само по себе, но получить ее от ЭТОГО президента... Вас поддерживают миллиарды, и мы знаем, через что вам приходится проходить", - сказал он, обращаясь к Обаме.
Известный своим остроумием музыкант отличился и на этот раз.
"После последних восьми лет классно, что есть президент, который знает, что такое библиотека", - сказал он под смех присутствующих гостей.
This first-person report comes from White House pool reporter Christina Bellantoni. You'll find pictures from the Associated Press and video from the White House further down in this page:
Event basics: Sir Paul McCartney was awarded the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song during a star-studded ceremony in the White House East Room. President Obama and his family sat in the first row, surrounded by politicians and big names in music.
News, sort of: Obama mentioned "difficult time" for the Gulf Coast, saying that his thoughts are with friends in an area "so rich in musical heritage." He said it is "herartbreaking" but said the group in the room is committed to help and see the community "made whole again." He said "Part of what gets us through tough times is music" and that there's always a kernel of ourselves "that sings even when times are hard."
Another bit: At the very close of the event after Obama had left the room, McCartney took the mic again and thanked the Library of Congress again for the award. He then said, "After the last eight years, it's great to have a president who knows what a library is."
Other than that as all color, with highlights being of course the music, McCartney's choice of song "Michelle" and some POTUS-FLOTUS hand-holding.Another highlight, during "Hey Jude" at the finale and for the "Na, na, na, na, na, na, na" chorus, McCartney got everyone, including the entire First Family on the stage. They clapped and everyone sang along as he sat himself at the piano.
I've got most of the songs and performers in the report below, but it was hard to see many of the guests since most of the viewing was done on the screen in the briefing room. Pool was led into East Room about 2/3 into the event for Obama's remarks and one song.
At 7:38 p.m., the President and First Lady joined the Obama daughters to sit in the front row. Michelle Obama sat to the president's left, and they frequently whispered to one another.
McCartney entered the room after the president, grabbed a guitar and took the stage, declaring, "Welcome to the White House," and then performing "Got to Get You Into My Life." He wore a blue jacket with no tie. When he finished, he joined the president in the front row and sat to his right. They also chatted back and forth most of the evening.
WH Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel also was in the front row, toward the right near Stevie Wonder. Also spotted: Speaker Nancy Pelosi, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, Marian Robinson, Sen. Dick Durbin.
The First Lady wore a short frock that is a color called "blush" and appeared to be made of satin. The designer is Byron Lars, a male designer who bills himself as making "twisted American classics." The dress had a cowl-necked collar and her belt was adorned with large jewels. As she sat, you could see a little pink petticoat peeking out over her knee.
The First Couple clapped and smiled throughout the evening. Malia Obama also seemed to be enjoying herself, especially when the Jonas Brothers performed "Drive My Car."
Stevie Wonder played "We Can Work It Out" - twice. He stopped half-way through the first time because his harmonica wasn't at the ready. When he played the harmonica solo the second time the crowd clapped and Obama was nodding.
Jerry Seinfeld made a joke about so many prizes, and quipped about the Nobel Prize. He also called McCartney an "unparalleled artist" and said he makes "the most beautiful music I've ever heard." He joked about some of the Beatles lyrics and cracked some jokes about marriage after which the First Lady laughed and clapped.
As Lang Lang performed a piano solo "Celebration," the President and First Lady held hands.
Elvis Costello offered brief remarks, telling the several hundred gathered there that music "is often an us-against-them proposition." He said that the song he would play, "Penny Lane," is about a place near where his mother came from, and that when "this thing of wonder and beauty came on the radio," his dad, mom and cat "all stood up and took notice."
He talked of the "beautiful way that Paul's songs united us," adding, "thank you, and I love you and thank you for your songs and your friendship."
Big cheers erupted from the audience after the trumpet portion in the song, and Costello gave the player a generous "Sgt. Pepper" shoutout - introducing him as "Matthew Harding of the president's own United States Marine Band."
Dave Grohl told the crowd he's a DC native and has played "every club, every basement, every arena and every stadium." But, he said: "All of that has nothing on Paul: You're definitely my hero. And Mister President, you're definitely my other hero." He then played "Band on the Run," by McCartney during the Wings era. Obama nodded his head to the beat, and I've gotta say, Grohl rocked it.
Pool was led in after Grohl as Stevie Wonder and McCartney performed a duet of "Ebony/Ivory." As we were led in we saw there was a bar and some chafing dishes set up in the foyer for what I presume is a post-concert reception.
Obama's remarks will be out via transcript in the morning, but he said the United States stole McCartney and singled out Pelosi for praise as being a champion of the arts. He said the Beatles "blew the walls down for everybody else" and "changed everything overnight" by appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show." Obama said McCartney and the Beatles "helped to lay the soundtrack for an entire generation."
