Wonkette
Maybe, after eight years or so, we will not be particularly moved by, say, Stevie Wonder playing for the president and first lady. But for now, we will enjoy this pleasant novelty, especially when your Barack Obama is singing along.
Better than CPAC? Possibly! This all happened on Feb. 26.
Here’s President Obama introducing the Library of Congress Gershwin Award winner, Stevie Wonder, who is responsible for a shocking number of American marriages and pregnancies over the past 40 years.
Via Tony Pierce.
Whither Kenny Chesney?
I’m trying to be cynical about ol’ Barack, but seeing him act like a normal human being still makes me smile.
One of these days a CD will turn up from the 80s where Barack sang back-up or played bass, you just know it.
has anyone else noticed how parliament funkadelic’s prophecy of a “chocolate city” has come true? (sorta almost not really…)
And when they come to march on ya
Tell ‘em to make sure they got their James Brown pass
And don’t be surprised if Ali is in the White House
Reverend Ike, Secretary of the Treasure
Richard Pryor, Minister of Education
Stevie Wonder, Secretary of FINE arts
And Miss Aretha Franklin, the First Lady
Are you out there, CC?
A chocolate city is no dream
It’s my piece of the rock and I dig you, CC
(gainin’ on ya!)
that’s what we need! Ike Turner head of the Treasure/y. hmmm, “B- better have my money!” (B- as in “banker”)
Stevie lived long enough to see a black man in the White House.
I can’t go through with this.
I’m bailing on the blind joke.
2druk2phluq: Stay the course! If you don’t mock the disabled the terrorists have already won.
2druk2phluq: I feel you. I get the joke without the punchline. Lincoln would have done the same thing.
What’s up with Stevie Wonder’s hair? Or is his forehead growing?
When will Andrew Card come out and remind us that George W. Bush would have never have allowed drug-fueled Jungle music in the Oval Office.
As great an artist as Steve is, I still can’t eat his bread.
OMFG! That was the most refreshing 8:10 minutes of WH footage I’ve ever seen. I’ll be goddamned if HIP and COOL is in da (White) House. I will never forget sitting transfixed in front of my stereo the first time I ever heard The Funkiest, Nastiest Jealousy Song Ever Recorded, “Maybe Your Baby,” with Ray Parker Jr. sitting in, from Talking Book. Stevie sang at my friend Stevie Ray Vaughan’s funeral (SRV did a fair cover of “Superstition” hisself). Buh-bye Lee Greenwood, Charlie Daniels and George-fucking-Strait. Could Parliament and Maceo Parker be next?
It is significant that the track after “Superstition” on Talking Book is a track called “Big Brother.” The 1972 lyrics refer to Nixon, but any unindicted Republican fucktard war criminal will do:
Your name is big brother
You say that you’re watching me on the tele,
Seeing me go nowhere,
Your name is big brother,
You say that you’re tired of me protesting,
Children dying everyday,
My name is nobody
But I can’t wait to see your face inside my door
Your name is big brother
You say that you got me all in your notebook,
Writing it down everyday,
Your name is I’ll see ya,
I’ll change if you vote me in as the pres,
The President of your soul
I live in the ghetto,
You just come to visit me ’round election time
I live in the ghetto,
Someday I will move on my feet to the other side,
My name is secluded,
We live in a house the size of a matchbox,
Roaches live with us wall to wall,
You’ve killed all our leaders,
I don’t even have to do nothin’ to you
You’ll cause your own country to fall.
Blind loyalty.
It’s morning in America.
lawrenceofthedesert: Your joke reminds me of one Springsteen cracked in LA. The first time he played at the Staples Center he remarked on being “moved that Los Angeles would name their new arena after Pa Staples.”
agitpropster: Thank you. “Big Brother” is one of the most chilling, depressing songs ever written. I listened to it every day when Cheney was Dark Sith. It fit perfectly. Talking Book. Secret Life of Plants is much more upfull, probably the best Steveland Morris recorded.
This performance kicked. Also.
But, did Barry wave at Stevie? No? Then Dubya still loves Stevie more.
HedonismBot: awesome. good point. i’m waving right now!
sanantonerose: “Not losing my hair, just getting more head,” nyuk yuk yuk.
There will have to be some comments about how this ‘disrespects’ the office of the president somewhere out there. If a lack of ties gets someone’s panties in a knot, what will this do?
This has got to be the first time that a preznit helped honor the artist who helped him get some.
At the rate Barry is going, I might actually have to respect (gasp) the president of the United States.
Was that tiny Paul Simon there? Maybe he and Joe shared hair plug tips.
So when does snoop dog get to do a show at the White House?
That was fantastic. And moving. Also, it’s good to see someone in the White House who can speak.
NB: Why should I snark? I only desire to snark the snarkable (which is where Denby gets it all wrong).
They have to be nice to him, so he doesn’t sue over this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kSJ9QYv5os
esperanza spalding also played and was amazing. she plays bass and sings at the same time - which is probably the 3rd most difficult thing to do in jazz, right behind selling albums and staying sober.
at 3:05 when Superstition is starting, you can just see for a second Barry starting to get his funk on. at 8:15, Joe Biden does the worm.
ManchuCandidate: you are forgetting when Reagan presented Barry White with the Congressional Medal of Freedom
no snark. i just love this. And I’m going to go have some adult relations backed by a Stevie Wonder soundtrack right now.
The Neoskeptic: oh god. i tried asking that girl out on a date back before she was famous. almost laid down music with her. shot down both times.
That was a true antidote to the cesspool of CPAC.
I love our president, but he has terrible taste in music. Stevie Wonder is talented but sheesh…….boring. Still, better than Beyonce. And someone needs to smack Stevie’s stylist for sending him out there with John Travolta’s hair from “Battlefield Earth”.
That is all.
I love that we have a president who can say “Give it up for Stevie Wonder”…and it doesn’t sound completely retarded.
Nice to see a Detroiter without FAIL written all over him. Nonetheless, I would have preferred soul brothers a little more old school, like Mad Dog And The Pups.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcbPLk1xg8s
ManchuCandidate: Merilyn Monroe?
Wow, so great to see a preznit who doesn’t look like a complete condescending douche when honouring African American artists.
The Neoskeptic: I just googled her and … she’s hotness personified. american mutt:At least you tried. I’ll have to go listen to some of her music now to see if it measures up, but in all honesty after seeing her face, I’ll probably like it even if she sounds like Sarah Palin covering the Beatles.
sezme: but this was before she was famous… then again she had a boyfriend at the time. i performed at festival with her. love at first sight. hmm. she’s extremely young though. let’s see, i’m 26. she might be like… 20 or 21. she’s one of those.
HedonismBot: win!
american mutt: Indeed… she’s babealicious…
windupbird: yeah… i think stevie was the same thing for my dad and my mom…
ugh. i was even named after stevie. that’s cool though, i guess.
windupbird: You must consider Barry’s teen-era… when he was 16 and trying to get some for the 1st time, it was 1977 in Hawaii - everybody was still just a bit to “mellow” (read:stoned) for disco, and Stevie “Sunshine of Your Love” Wonder was the soul-powered makeout music floating in the air. If His Serene Hopeyness were just a few years older, he might(should)’ve invited the Reverend Al Green to the Inauguration - way back when my late mother was in college, Al was making panties melt all across Black America…even now, Al’s “Love and Happiness” is still a popular tune at weddings.
This just keeps getting better and better.
Everytime I see Stevie Wonder, I can’t help but think they modeled the Predator dudes after him. Plus Bo Derek called & she wants her hair style back. Also.
sanantonerose: Better weave — Stevie or Axl?
windupbird: The president apparently lifts weights to Eminem’ “Lose Yourself,” so his musical taste, unlike himself, is not entirely unimpeachable.
Ah, Sunday:
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Business/story?id=6977202&page=1
Did you guys hear Stevie sing “Michelle [my belle]” to Michele Obama at 8:28 on the second clip. If I could do that . . .
facehead: It figures that red-staters would be more likely to pay for porn. Anybody with a brain and broadband can get all the porn he wants for free today, wouldn’t ya think? More proof, if any were necessary, that conservative = stupid (unless you’re just rich and don’t want the poors to have any of your money).
There are no words to describe the splendor of Stevie singing on my lap-top, as I hit the mute button when I see the fat man in black, Rush “bucket of crazy” Limbaugh himself on the T.V.
Thank you, Wonkette, for this perfect moment.
I am not ashamed to admit that somewhere during those videos I actually got up and grooved around in my underwear alone in my living room. I am trying to imagine the circumstances under which I might do that with a video that involves Preznit Bush. I cannot think of one.
Also, Stevie Wonder still ‘effin rocks. Like, for serious. He does. But the best part: Michelle teased him “Why do you always have to have a podium?”(!) Even if that is totally made up, it is ridiculously cute. And regardless of whether it’s true or not, they pull it off so effortlessly that they make it seem totally realsy reals. The Obamas totally should’ve been cast in the original West Wing.
Norbert: Joe Biden, America’s Favorite Crazy Uncle.
AxmxZ: Let us remember that Our Barry is half-white. And everyone has musical skeletons in their closet/iPods.
Superstitous should have been the theme song of the Bush administration.
Serolf Divad: Steele will turn the whole White House hip-hop when Newt gets elected.
sanantonerose: Fucker must be blind if he walks around with a do like that. Jesus jumped up Christ…doesn’t he have an entourage???
Bearbloke: I guess it goes back to my disdain for all things 70s. I’m 10 years younger than Barry, so a different perspective……..
“You Haven’t Done Nothin’” was my theme song for the Dubya years. I’m so glad the current one is now “Signed, Sealed, Delivered.”
One of my favorite Stevie Wonder moments: he joins Toots Thielemans on stage for a version of Bluesette and kicks ass as a jazz harmonica player . . .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uzln9jXrX_g
And another one - which I didn’t know of til someone here posted it last year - Stevie Wonder does Sesame Street:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ul7X5js1vE
thwanger: That’s exactly who Obama needs as treasury secretary, an Ike type. Anyway, thanks for your post. It was funny.
ManchuCandidate: That’s not true. Dubya honored Paul Harvey. …GOOD DAY!
Funky Days are Here At Last
The skies above are clear at last
So let’s funk to a song of cheer at last
Funky Days are Here At Last.
wheelie: Thanks for those links. I lived on the west side of Detroit as a kid and hung out with a blind kid who went to school with Stevie. Yeh, I’m that old. This kid, Pat, was totally jealous of him and therefore never had kind words for him but, even then, I knew better.
That said, Stevie’s harp playing and song writing always moves me more than the other stuff.
Too bad he didn’t take a turn at the drum kit. Stevie is one of the most astonishingly good drummers alive. Almost all of his 1970s stuff, like Superstition, is with him on the drums.
I saw the show on PBS a d enjoyed Stevie and others who played music. That appears the first White House event on PBS for over 8 years.
I just did not want to see the Smirking Chimp preside over an event. A village in Texas got their idiot back. Hehe.
Speaking of hair, Paul Simon shoulda borrowed the Afro wig that cute jazz singer was wearing. Cheezus, does he have like the ugliest hair on the planet?
I like this almost as much as the clip of Obama singing, “chain of fools” in a really sexy voice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jebeVd7bHq0
Sure beats the time Stepin Fetchit sang “I’ze Gwine ta get a Whuppin’” for the Eisenhowers.
sezme: I totally agree. I’m not a lezzy but I would totally hit that. Here’s a clip, she starts singing at about 1:33.
Oops - sorry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNw46j0nNOs
Argh - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNw46j0nNOs
windupbird: Wow, I didn’t know that Lee Greenwood posted here.
The Neoskeptic: Is it possible to play jazz and be sober?
SayItWithWookies:, SayItWithWookies: Ah So, Grasshoppers - you are closer to the target than you might think… “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” was Stevie Wonder’s Big, Black, Top-of-the-Charts, Grammy-winning FUCK OFF AND DIE to the Nixon/Cheney/Rumsfeld Crime Syndicate… even then, Stevie’s apparently clairvoyant third-eyesight showed him that these scumbags must be stopped and shamed out of existence; alas, it didn’t work, since Stevie (being a good-hearted, peaceful man) couldn’t have imagined the shamelessly monstrously Dark-sidedness of the creatures we know know as Darth Cheney and his master-cum-minion Rummy-the-Mummy… So yes, Grasshoppers, this song “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” was quite appropriately targeted to the G. Dumbya Bush years also. But personally, I’ve always thought of CCR’s “Fortunate Son” whenever I was forced to think about Dumbya himself…
bitchincamaro: You’re that old? Wow - from your handle I would’ve thought you were a 30-something Dead Milkmen fan… or maybe you’re this guy…
windupbird: Stevie, boring? Have to disagree with you strongly on that one, my friend. One of the greatest musicians of his (or anyone elses) generation. Even out here in far flung Australia, his ballads soar (and get you laid), his lyrics move and enlighten, and his grooves make concrete garden ornaments dance.
And seeing him honoured by a President who truly appreciates him (and the spirit of artistry he represents) just made it complete.
I haz the happys.
Now, Ken- Please post some more stuff about the current Republican Brainless Trust, so that we can return to snark as usual…
Captain Swing: O Captain, my captain - tell us about Right-wing Thugs in the magical land of Oz… if I remember, your former PM was quite the douchebag, no? Has his party been destroyed, or are they still around being as big of a pain to your new PM (Ruud?) as the US ReThuglicans are being to His Serene Hopeyness HSH O’Bama (mighty Sword of Socialist Islam)?
Also - being the cosmopolitan weirdo that I am, I just signed up for Setanta Sports so I can watch Aussie Footy & Sevens - so for which teams should I be a blindly rabid supporter?
Obama has got a great voice. I love his singing. He is even a good dancer. just check some of his dancing steps with his wife.
http://www.froggertv.com/content/barack-and-michelle-obamas-first-dance-neighborhood-ball-beyonce-singing
wheelie: I was just about to post that. Stevie also had muppet interaction on the same show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8lUnI35Sd8
I remember seeing that Stevie Wonder Sesame Street show as a kid - he sang a song he composed himself that went something like “1-2-3 Sesame/3-2-1 Having fun”. He sang the words into a Vocoder so it sounded scary as hell and frightened me. Ah, and here it is!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN_CIn7Z8rk
Nothing else to do on a snow day than post to teh Wonkettes…
WadISay: Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” was the unofficial soundtrack for the Bush administration.
I echo everyone else’s comments re this being the antidote to the Anti-American (Rush) baring his chest (EWWWW) at the CPAC circle jerk. Is PBS selling the DVD yet?
thanks for sharing the video…nice to see that our President knows how to have a good time…
AxmxZ: Wasn’t he Rick James’ bassist for a while? I can totally see Barry on “Superfreak.”
This is just great. It’s good to do the un-snark once in a while. I’m not going to agree with everything Barry does but Jesus, we actually have a president who seems to come from the same planet.
I know Mrs Randomsausage only married me because I said Songs in the Key of Life is a work of genius.
It’s a miracle. I can walk again. Cool. Thanks Ken.
Can we talk about how literal those backup dancers are being? They’re actually doing a dance that involves sealing an imaginary letter and handing it to the audience.
Deep.
My theory is that anyone who dislikes Stevie Wonder has a dark, evil soul. I went to his concert here in Boston this summer with my mom. She got drunk off a bottle of wine & I had to drive home. It was awesome! I think the concert brought her back to the 70s before my birth, hence the non-mumish behavior. The people in the seats next to me were blind. No kidding.
Bearbloke: Yes, fellow Wonketteer, the conservative douchebags (called in Australia, strangely enough, the Liberal Party) are still around and intent on causing P.M. Rudd as much trouble as possible. Given that Labor did not gain control of both Houses of Parliament, and must therefore woo the independents (a motley collection of Greens, Bible bashers and grandstanders) to pass their legislation, this is not proving difficult.
Their new leader (‘though how long he will last is a matter of some debate) is Malcolm Turnbull, a wealthy (make that seriously wealthy) ex-merchant banker who comes over like an upper class twat. While he has all the political finesse of a herd of wildebeest, he should not be underestimated. His wealth is self made and he is no-one’s fool. Interesting times indeed…
With regard to Setanta Sports- I don’t know what they run in the U.S., but here in Oz they run Soccer and Rugby (various codes) only – Rugby is NOT Australian Rules Football. Rugby League and Australian Rules are fanatically supported here, depending on the state you come from. Being a Victorian, it’s Aussie Rules for me- I’ve been a St. Kilda Saints supporter and member all my life. I believe there are networks in the U.S.A. that show it in season – which begins in three weeks time. GO SAINTS! (I never thought I’d get to write that on Wonkette.)
Captain Swing: I can NEVER tell when the seasons start - Setanta is just individual games, and even Wikipedia confuses the wombat shite outta me!
So, if you can, please tell me the START and END of the seasons for Footy, and Rugby League, and Rugby Union…. I want to know when to subscribe to Setanta and when to cancel it…
Thanks!
Bearbloke: The AFL -Australian Football League- (Aussie Rules) Premiership season is Mid-March to Grand Final Day, always the last Saturday Afternoon in September at the MCG (Melbourne Cricket Ground).
The NRL (National Rugby League) season is March 14 to Sunday, October 4th - Grand Final at Homebush Stadium in Sydney.
As for Rugby Union, that strange game is nearly as much a mystery to me as it is to you. The “Super 14’s” list their season as (started) 13th February 09 to 30th May 2009.
Happy Hunting!
Captain Swing: Thanks for the info, mate!
I guess we’re the only two people here - so now’s your chance to pass me all the secrets of Australia’s MASSIVE nuclear arsenal and First-Strike plans against the rest of the World… I’m listening…
GO SAINTS!… and grab me a Sav & a Bitter when you pass the ‘loo…