Sir Paul McCartney at the White House

Paul McCartney, known to the press as Sir Paul, recently garnered yet another award for a lifetime of outstanding music writing and singing -- the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.  He is the third recipient of this Prize.  To celebrate, he and several other well known musicians met the Obamas for an evening of music and praise at the White House on June 2.  The other musicians included Stevie Wonder (the first winner of the Gershwin Prize), Emmylou Harris, Lang Lang, Herbie Hancock, and Elvis Costello.  The entire concert will be broadcast by PBS on June 28, but until then, we can watch this video of Sir Paul leading everyone present in singing "Hey Jude."  

Paul McCartney sang a song that he said he was "itching " to sing, "Michelle," a Beatles song which he sang for Michelle Obama.  I think the fun part of this performance was the sight of President Obama singing along.  At some of the most romantic parts of the song, he leaned over to his wife, who was sitting next to him, and whispered in her ear.  I know that he was being a ham for the camera, but I'm sentimental, and I loved it.

Emmylou Harris said that she just had to sing a sad song, and she certainly did.  It was "For No One" by McCartney and Lennon.  Stevie Wonder sang something by himself, and then he and Sir Paul sang "Ebony and Ivory."  For a complete change of pace, pianist Lang Lang played a Polonaise by Chopin.

I think my favorite part of McCartney's performance was his statement, "After the last eight years, it’s great to have a president who knows what a library is."

I'm looking forward to seeing the whole show on PBS on June 28, but until then, I'll enjoy listening to what's on Youtube now.

The KIng over Troubled Waters

As I mentioned in my very first blog here on April 12, 2010, when I listen to something on Youtube, I keep following links, and I can stay up all night finding musical gems.  I just found a few that are so good that I have to share them.


Elvis Presley was incredibly good at singing many kinds of music.  Of course, there is the sexy, hip swinging, genre which brought him fame.  A good example is  "Jailhouse Rock."

He also had a clean cut genre, as shown in this clip, made when he was in the Army in 1960.  His leading lady here was a puppet, and his audience was children.  The song is a German folk song, but the tune is identical to a tune in Suzuki Book 1, which I teach to my beginning violin students.

I am very moved when I hear Elvis singing gospel music.  It's almost enough to make me a believer.  Here is a very poignant video of Elvis's funeral procession overlaid with a live recording of Elvis singing "Precious Lord Take My Hand."



Elvis also took a beautiful song by Paul Simon, "Bridge over Troubled Waters," and sang it like a gospel song.  I love the original Simon and Garfunkel version, but I love Elvis's version even more.  What soul! It reassures and inspires me.

It's no wonder that he's called "The King."