On his inauguration day, President Biden was able to make a wedge in a recent campaign announcement.
Instead of the usual inaugural ball coverage, you know, a beautiful ballad by BeyoncIs it like that while the president and first lady danced slowly: we had a sober, celebrity-filled concert called “Celebrating America” that aired on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, and MSNBC in prime time.
Hoping Rachel Maddow would sing “You’re a Big Old Flag” while spinning fire sticks, I was disappointed by the less exciting but equally transparent 90-minute program. The night was little more than a public relations opportunity for the new administration.
A press release said the program “will show the resilience, heroism and unified commitment of the American people to come together as a nation to heal and rebuild.”
Calm down, guys. This showed Jon Bon Jovi on a Florida dock.
Okay, from time to time he did what his title claimed he would do. The songs were introduced by front-line workers, teachers and volunteer children. No one would deny his heroism or dignity. But those segments, of course, were narrated by Biden and looked like the kind of 30-second spot that would be seen on an Ohio TV on November 6th.
A few hours after the most important speech of his life, Biden came to deliver another. And this time, instead of being introduced by Amy Klobuchar, it was upgraded to Tom Hanks.
“[We] he wanted to make sure our inauguration was not about us, but about you, ”the president said as he stood at the humble and disinterested Lincoln Memorial.
“Because of you, democracy has prevailed,” he added. So if the other one had gotten more votes, would democracy have been fucked up? It does not matter. Bring the songs.
In recent days, politicians and experts have told us that the darkest days of the pandemic are still in full swing. You wouldn’t know it for the more select musical options: Jon Bon Jovi dealt with “Here Comes The Sun,” Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemons dueted on “Better Days,” John Legend sang Nina Simone’s classic “I’m Feeling Good ”and Foo Fighters lamented“ Times Like These ”(“ I’m a new day coming up! ”, Say the lyrics).
Demi Lovato was later left with “Lovely Day,” while Biden and First Lady Jill Biden were awkwardly confused around the White House and Katy Perry girded “Firework” as the DC sky filled with light at the end. As of today, things are going very well.
Tomorrow, the networks should stop giving free time to their boyfriend to throw empty feelings and demand real action. You hold the powerful accountable, don’t you? Or was it just for the last four years?