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| Beyoncé's performance a soaring highlight of older, greyer inauguration | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| At the first inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2009, Beyoncé sang the famous Etta James standard, At Last, as the Obamas danced together at an inaugural ball. Standing over the swaying couple, she seemed like the country's fairy godmother, letting us know that at last all things were possible. This time she appeared as queen, appointing the leader to his second term. | |
| For 2013, Beyoncé was promoted to the podium itself and handed the most prestigious – and difficult – assignment of all, singing the national anthem. She may have been a showbizzy choice to front the Star-Spangled Banner (The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters Chorus belted it out last time round), and perhaps she was inserted into the programme to boost crowd numbers, but, cutting a dignified, solitary figure, Beyoncé was all business. | For 2013, Beyoncé was promoted to the podium itself and handed the most prestigious – and difficult – assignment of all, singing the national anthem. She may have been a showbizzy choice to front the Star-Spangled Banner (The United States Navy Band Sea Chanters Chorus belted it out last time round), and perhaps she was inserted into the programme to boost crowd numbers, but, cutting a dignified, solitary figure, Beyoncé was all business. |
| Unaided by a backing choir, Beyoncé was poised and confident. Without flinching, she flicked out her distracting in-ear monitor as she reached the the crucial soaring notes of this most testing piece. It was not definitive, but it was appropriate. Pared down, wiser, a little older. | Unaided by a backing choir, Beyoncé was poised and confident. Without flinching, she flicked out her distracting in-ear monitor as she reached the the crucial soaring notes of this most testing piece. It was not definitive, but it was appropriate. Pared down, wiser, a little older. |
| The contrast between the glitz of 2009 and the older, greyer 2013 was striking. In 2009, for example, John Williams composed a piece of music, Air and Simple Gifts, which was pre-recorded, then controversially finger-synched onstage by Yo-Yo Ma (cello) Itzhak Perlman (violin), Gabriela Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet). In 2013 James Taylor accompanied himself on guitar as he sang America the Beautiful. | The contrast between the glitz of 2009 and the older, greyer 2013 was striking. In 2009, for example, John Williams composed a piece of music, Air and Simple Gifts, which was pre-recorded, then controversially finger-synched onstage by Yo-Yo Ma (cello) Itzhak Perlman (violin), Gabriela Montero (piano) and Anthony McGill (clarinet). In 2013 James Taylor accompanied himself on guitar as he sang America the Beautiful. |
| Senator Charles Schumer, Democrat from New York, played the role of cheerful, grizzled master of ceremonies, introducing the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Unfortunately, tabernacle choirs tend to make every piece of music sound like the final scene in an old MGM movie shot in glorious Technicolor. These guys were no exception. In their bright red robes they transformed the steps of the Capitol building to the vast prairie land of the magnificent mid-west. Across the country crowds choked up and cheered. | Senator Charles Schumer, Democrat from New York, played the role of cheerful, grizzled master of ceremonies, introducing the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Unfortunately, tabernacle choirs tend to make every piece of music sound like the final scene in an old MGM movie shot in glorious Technicolor. These guys were no exception. In their bright red robes they transformed the steps of the Capitol building to the vast prairie land of the magnificent mid-west. Across the country crowds choked up and cheered. |
| Finally, there was Kelly Clarkson, reprising the Aretha Franklin My Country 'Tis of Thee role of 2008. Her spot immediately followed the president's inaugural address – a sly piece of scheduling to make us all think American Idol. But unlike the commander-in-chief she was shrill and a little off-key. | Finally, there was Kelly Clarkson, reprising the Aretha Franklin My Country 'Tis of Thee role of 2008. Her spot immediately followed the president's inaugural address – a sly piece of scheduling to make us all think American Idol. But unlike the commander-in-chief she was shrill and a little off-key. |
| The best non-speaking role of the morning – and of this White House in general – went to the presidential mother-in-law, who, dressed in pale tangerine got in almost every picture. Unlike the celebrities, the powerful and the wealthy who breathlessly stood watching the events unfold, Mrs Robinson looked like she'd rather be Anywhere but Here. | The best non-speaking role of the morning – and of this White House in general – went to the presidential mother-in-law, who, dressed in pale tangerine got in almost every picture. Unlike the celebrities, the powerful and the wealthy who breathlessly stood watching the events unfold, Mrs Robinson looked like she'd rather be Anywhere but Here. |