Bruce Springsteen kicked off Joe Biden’s inaugural concert as the first performer of the special “Celebrating America” hosted by Tom Hanks.
Accompanied only by a guitar on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, with the National Mall lit up and the Washington Monument facing him, Springsteen, 71, offered a “little prayer” for the country before to perform the serenade with his 1999 song “Land of Hope and Dreams”.
Hanks, who along with his wife, Rita Wilson, battled the coronavirus earlier last year, spoke of witnessing a “deep division” and “resentment” across the country in recent years.
“Tonight we reflect on the United States of America, the practice of our democracy, the foundations of our republic, the integrity of the constitution,” as well as the “dreams we share,” Hanks, 64, said.
After Springsteen and Hanks, New Jersey young Jon Bon Jovi, 58, and his band performed the hopeful Beatles tune “Here Comes the Sun,” from Miami.
Following an announcement by U.S. Army trumpeters, President Joe Biden offered his own salute from the base of the Lincoln statue.
“We have learned again that democracy is beautiful and because of you, democracy has prevailed,” he said. He went on to list the problems facing the nation (coronavirus pandemic, economic crises, racial injustices and more) and called for “unity” to defeat obstacles.
“The question is: Are we up to it? Will we know the moment as our predecessors did? He said, “I think we have to do it and I think we will.”
Biden’s speech was followed by Ant Clemons and Justin Timberlake, who joined a pre-recorded duet of animated tune “Better Days,” with Kirk Franklin and Black Pumas performing “Colors” from Austin, Texas. .
Dave Grohl, 52, of Foo Fighters, paid tribute to “unshakable teachers” like his own mother, Virginia, who “face unprecedented challenges” but still manage to “enlighten our children” before perform a slow “Times Like These”.
Broadway stars Betty Buckley, Vanessa Williams, Anthony Rapp, Wayne Brady and more, also joined an alarming mix of “Seasons of Love” (from “Rent”) and “Let the Sun Shine.”
Later, from Los Angeles, 28-year-old singer Demi Lovato, with her new short, pink pixie cut, energetically served “Lovely Day” with the help of celebrities and everyday Americans who go act as background vocalists.
And for the end, pop star Katy Perry, elegantly wrapped in white, launched her 2010 hit “Firework” while pyrotechnics lit up the Washington Monument.