Obama Inauguration concert

[GrayMouser]

Alright, I'll withdraw my nasty remarks about Copland's music backing Tom Hanks after reading this:

In January 1953, Copland's "Lincoln Portrait" was scheduled to be performed at Dwight Eisenhower's inaugural concert but was banned at the last minute when an Illinois congressman complained about Copland's liberal politics. Later that year, Copland became a target of Joe McCarthy's Communist witch-hunt.

In time, Copland was "completely rehabilitated," Williams noted, performing at the White House and eventually receiving the Congressional Gold Medal. The performance at this inauguration of "Simple Gifts," a piece widely associated with Copland, "describes a completed circle of events that is nice to think about," the composer said.

Still not a fan, though.

Though I have no idea who these people are, Shakira and Usher did a great job playing with Stevie Wonder on "Higher Ground"