Paul McCartney: Gershwin Prize

The big Paul McCartney/Obama mutual love fest at the White House last night was a decidedly partisan event.

From the Washington Post:

Hope may have gotten him elected, but in President Obama's White House on Wednesday evening, it was all love. The reverent, paralyzing, smile-until-your-face-cramps kind of love -- all of it aimed at Paul McCartney.

Correction: Much love was aimed at Obama. Naturally.

Arguably the most influential musician alive, the 67-year-old pop architect was in the East Room to receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, celebrating an unparalleled career that spans his years with the Beatles, Wings and on his own.

In my opinion, McCartney is not the most influential musician alive.

...The president also welcomed an array of artists to perform McCartney's tunes and genuflect before the maestro. Stevie Wonder, Dave Grohl, Faith Hill, the Jonas Brothers, Jack White, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Herbie Hancock, Corinne Bailey Rae and classical pianist Lang Lang each offered thoughtful reads on the McCartney songbook.

But McCartney was the first to perform, and despite feigning nerves at a Tuesday news conference, he waltzed into the East Room as if it were his living room. He dived into "Got to Get You Into My Life," plunking away on the same Hofner bass he played on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1964 -- his once-boyish yelp now an older, coarser shout.

Wonder came next with "We Can Work It Out." His 1970 version is the only Beatles cover ever to top the original. But the first take was a wash -- someone had misplaced Wonder's harmonica. "I don't see it!" he joked. With Take 2, Wonder tucked McCartney's melodies deep into the pocket. The cover still wins.

Wonder and McCartney would duet later in the program with "Ebony and Ivory," but first came Rae and Hancock for a poignant take on the Beatles' "Blackbird." Recorded in 1968, it was McCartney's gracefully melodic response to ugly racial discord then festering in the United States. Rae sang it for its author and for America's first black president with an elegance befitting the moment.

McCartney sang along as heartthrobs-in-his-image, the Jonas Brothers, delivered a punchy "Drive My Car." (A few seats down from McCartney in the front row, an even more enthusiastic response: glowing smiles from Sasha and Malia Obama).

It was nice that the Jonas Brothers were able to give some joy to poor Malia. I'm sure she needed a break from her worry over the hole that Daddy hasn't plugged yet.

Did any entertainer use the event to needle Obama about failing to stop the oil leak? After all, Obama did say he's responsible.

No way.

...McCartney, who will celebrate his 68th birthday in a few weeks, was accepting a relatively young award. Named in honor of songwriting giants George and Ira Gershwin, the prize was established in 2007 to honor la-la-la's the same way the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor honors ha-ha-ha's. Paul Simon won a Gershwin in 2007 and Wonder was honored in 2009. McCartney is the third recipient.

WETA filmed Wednesday's program, but it won't air on PBS until July 28. The 60-minute performance will also be intercut with archival footage, puffing it up to 90 minutes.

They shouldn't cut a note from McCartney's closing suite. "I hope the president will forgive me if I sing this song," he quipped after Obama presented him with the Gershwin, and began crooning "Michelle." During the I-love-you-I-love-you-I-lovvvve-you, the president leaned over to sing into the first lady's ear.

When it was over, McCartney joked under his breath, "I'm gonna be the first guy to get punched out by a president."

Then, "Eleanor Rigby," "Let It Be" and "Hey Jude" -- followed by what felt like endless applause.

A sweet moment, but McCartney topped it off with a bite. After thanking the Library of Congress one last time, he let it rip: "After the last eight years, it's good to have a president that knows what a library is."

What an utterly classless remark!

Obviously, Washington Post staff writer Chris Richards had an enchanted evening, and he found McCartney's bite noteworthy enough to include it in his article.

The event was "all love"?

Really?

I wonder if Obama and Michelle smiled and chuckled at McCartney's lame rip at President Bush. Did the room erupt with applause? Laughter?

I'm glad Richards mentioned McCartney's swipe at Bush. More than anything he wrote, that is the most revealing in terms of the tenor of the event. It's revealing in terms of the tenor of the Obama administration.