Inaugural concert geared toward young, but Pete Seeger proves age doesn't matter

BE-ELECTED
by Chad Rubel

This was not your father's Inaugural concert. Sure, you had Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, John Mellencamp, and Stevie Wonder.

But will.i.am, Jack Black, Rosario Dawson, Steve Carell, Kal Penn (Kumar of Harold & Kumar fame), Tiger Woods, Usher, Ashley Judd, George Lopez, and Shakira were part of the festivities. And Beyonce kicked off the ending, leading a 2009 "We Are the World" version in a rendition of "America, the Beautiful."

But the highlight had to be 89-year-old Pete Seeger leading the crowd in a version of the Woody Guthrie tune "This Land is Your Land." Seeger had a lot of vitality, especially given the cold temperatures, though he was perhaps one of the smartest people out there for wearing a hat.

Wikipedia points out that "the performance was noteworthy for the inclusion of two verses not often included in the song, one about a "private property" the narrator of the song violates, and the other making a passing reference to a Depression-era relief office."

Those who didn't have HBO but had access to cable were able to receive the concert. The channel aired a rebroadcast later on Sunday, and presented the event in HD.

But you were one of the arch conservatives watching the program, you likely were bemoaning the situation. Artists you never heard of, screaming at the TV, "Who let that commie Seeger on television?"

My goodness, there was a cover of a Bob Marley tune, and he smoked the ganja!!

There were plenty of good speeches reminding us of democracy in times gone by. Oscar winners Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Forest Whitaker, and Marisa Tomei gave speeches.

In words and song, it was a nice way to get the festivities rolling. And a reminder that diversity, in color and age, is a good thing for democracy.

Technorati Tags: Be-Elected