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WASHINGTON — The president just couldn’t say no: Mick Jagger held out a mic almost by way of command, and soon Barack Obama was belting out the blues with the best of them.
The East Room of the White House was transformed into an intimate blues club on Tuesday night for a concert featuring blues all-stars of the past, present and future — and the president himself.
The surprise performance by Obama came at the end of the playlist when the blues ensemble was singing “Sweet Home Chicago,” the blues anthem of Obama’s home town.
Buddy Guy prodded the president, saying he’d heard that the president sang part of an Al Green tune recently, and adding, “You gotta keep it up.”
Then Jagger handed over the mic, and Obama seemed compelled to comply.
“Come on, baby don’t you want to go,” the president sang out twice, handing off the mic to B.B. King momentarily, and then taking it back to tack on “Sweet Home Chicago” at the end.
That was how Obama ended the night.
This was how he began it: Obama said sometimes there are downsides to being the president. You can’t just go for a walk, for example.
And then there are the times that more than make up for all those frustrations, he said, like Tuesday night, when Jagger, King, Jeff Beck and other musical giants came by the house to sing the blues.
“I guess things even out a little bit,” Obama joked at the start of a rollicking East Room concert that was electrified by Jagger and the rest.
“This music speaks to something universal,” Obama declared. “No one goes through life without both joy and pain, triumph and sorrow. The blues gets all of that, sometimes with just one lyric or one note. “
King, 86, arrived in a wheelchair but rose tall to kick off the night with a raucous “Let the Good Times Roll,” quickly joined by other members of the ensemble. And he followed with “The Thrill is Gone.”
From there, Obama and his wife, Michelle, were swaying in their seats and singing along to an all-hits playlist including “St. James Infirmary” and “Let Me Love You.”
Beck slowed things down with an instrumental “Brush With the Blues,” as anticipation built for the arrival of Jagger, who did not disappoint.
The longtime Rolling Stones frontman delivered on “I Can’t Turn You Loose” and then teamed up with Beck on “Commit a Crime.” Jagger got the president and his wife up out of their seats, swaying and clapping to the music, and picked up the pace with “Miss You,” performed with Shemekia Copeland and Susan Tedeschi.
Obama was clearly savoring the moment, closing his eyes at times and nodding his head as he lip-synced the words.
The president rose at the end to introduce the ensemble as the “White House Blues All-Stars” for the final song of the night, “Sweet Home Chicago.”
“For Michelle and me,” the president said, “there’s no blues like the song our artists have chosen to close with — the blues from our hometown.”
With that, the ensemble wrapped up the evening with “Sweet Home Chicago.” And then Jagger handed off the mic to Obama for his presidential coda.
In advance of the concert, Grammy-winner Keb Mo had joked during a rehearsal break that Obama himself would perform, and there could even be a record in the works. He joked that Obama’s record would be called, “After the second term, now I can finally get my groove on.”
Maybe he wasn’t joking after all.
The lineup for Tuesday’s concert spanned multiple generations, from legends like King and Guy to young faces such as 26-year-old Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews and Gary Clark Jr., whose style blends hip hop, contemporary soul and indie rock. Also performing were Warren Haynes and Derek Trucks, with actress Taraji P. Henson as the program host and Booker T. Jones as music director and band leader.
The blues concert will be part of the “In Performance at the White House” series that airs on PBS. This one, designed to recognize Black History Month, will be broadcast on Monday on PBS stations and aired later on American Forces Network.
Isn’t it great being the “KING”. While millions of people are suffering under his “I don’t give a damn” attitude, he parties on. He is too narcisistic to realize that the morons that told him he can sing are only kissing his behind. LOSER
You need to get a life & sing! Then maybe that stick will come out of your behind
Great to see Mick in the White House! Amazing performer for decades.
The man can sing. Wish he could have keep going a little longer.
Again, the DEMs are turning the presidential election into to
“who-is-cool-not-the-issues-contest”.
He can lead, much better than Bush. He walked into the worst mess in American history. Everyone agrees with that. The economy is getting better. He is Cool and can relate to the people, unlike any of the GOP candidates, and he can sing. Watch the haters attack this today because its not about has any answers for this country its about getting Obama out of office. And we all know way, and it has nothing to do about whats best for America!!!
Yeah, like birth control and religion???
Another party, another round of golf, another vacation. This guy is an arrogant POS and needs to go. Nobody cares if he can sing, he definitely doesn’t know how to lead or unite. Which is more important?
Gong him!
While America suffers The prez parties, nice!
What is everyones problems?! Do you really think being President means you never smile or sing again. Get a life. I bet you did something to relieve your stress while America is suffering. I’m sure you are not doing anything to help America.
Awesome dude!
He’s losing it.
Lets see. Obama is singing, Michelle is in Aspen skiing and Iran is threatening everyone!!!!!! Whats wrong with this picture?
TODAY is General Washington’s official 280th Birthday….He and the Founders must be doing back-flips in their hallowed graves……………Vote Republican on November 6, 2012…..
The picture is partial. That is what is wrong with it.
BB King sings ‘The Thrill Is Gone’…
Jagger sings “Commit A Crime”…
http://drudgereport.com/flash3wh.htm
meanwhile, Gas is near $4 a gallon, soon to be $5 by summer..
GALLUP: Unemployment back up to 9% In February…
http://cnsnews.com/news/article/gallup-finds-unemployment-climbing-nine-percent-february
U.S. troops now in 4 African countries…
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AF_AFRICA_LRA_FIGHT?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2012-02-22-08-55-56
btw, The housing crisis was caused by Barney Frank and the dems, not Bush..
I’m ashamed to say that I voted Republican for 8 years. I finally woke up and realized I don’t agree with a thing they stand for. They need to quit harping on Religion and Womens reproductive organs and start saying what their ideas are so people can make an informed decision. Everyone should pay their fare share of taxes but they will never go for that one. Just keep tapping the little guy. I will proudly vote for Obama in November. The whole Republican primary is the biggest joke I have ever seen.
What a fabulous celebration for not only Black History Month, but of Music and the wonderful music derived from the Black experience in the United States and how the Blues evolved to Rhythm & Blues and what uplifting music it is. And how the entire U.S. society was enriched by this music.
Come on guys, everyone has to celebrate sometime. The President is very well aware of the serious problems in the United States and in the world and he’s working on them but, how wonderful that he can take a moment to enjoy music, with some of the finest musicians in the world. How cool is that. A world without culture, without the arts is a very sad word, The United States is better than that.
Barack Obama has my vote not because he can sing the songs that I like. He has my vote because of what he is doing to restore the American dream to all people. To get people back to work. To bring jobs back to the U.S., to reform Wall Street, to bring Health Care to all the people, to keep the country’s promise to seniors, to attend to the needs of returning veterans ad college students. I’m too tired to list all the Presidents achievements and programs but, this is a good President and a good leader. A celebration once in a while is a good thing–for all of us.