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| The best (and worst) of the Concert for Valor | The best (and worst) of the Concert for Valor |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| It wasn’t clear who would headline the Concert for Valor when it began. Would it be Bruce Springsteen, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and has lent his celebrity to veterans charities for years? Would it be Metallica, the heavy metal heroes whose music has resonated with this generation of American service member? | It wasn’t clear who would headline the Concert for Valor when it began. Would it be Bruce Springsteen, who was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and has lent his celebrity to veterans charities for years? Would it be Metallica, the heavy metal heroes whose music has resonated with this generation of American service member? |
| But rapper Eminem took the honors, fresh off the release of a freestyle in which he suggests he’ll punch singer Lana Del Ray “in the face twice like Ray Rice.” That already was controversial, but then Shady added fuel to the fire with his salute from the stage to those who have served. | But rapper Eminem took the honors, fresh off the release of a freestyle in which he suggests he’ll punch singer Lana Del Ray “in the face twice like Ray Rice.” That already was controversial, but then Shady added fuel to the fire with his salute from the stage to those who have served. |
| “Happy motherf—ing Veterans Day,” he said — and then Twitter exploded. | “Happy motherf—ing Veterans Day,” he said — and then Twitter exploded. |
| Ear muffs! #Eminem giving families on the mall some explaining to do. #ConcertForValor #VeteransDay — Heath Druzin (@Druzin_Stripes) November 12, 2014 | Ear muffs! #Eminem giving families on the mall some explaining to do. #ConcertForValor #VeteransDay — Heath Druzin (@Druzin_Stripes) November 12, 2014 |
| Ear muffs! #Eminem giving families on the mall some explaining to do. #ConcertForValor #VeteransDay | Ear muffs! #Eminem giving families on the mall some explaining to do. #ConcertForValor #VeteransDay |
| — Heath Druzin (@Druzin_Stripes) November 12, 2014 | — Heath Druzin (@Druzin_Stripes) November 12, 2014 |
| Would it be too much to ask for @Eminem not to drop so many f-bombs on the National Mall at the #ConcertForValor? — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) November 12, 2014 | Would it be too much to ask for @Eminem not to drop so many f-bombs on the National Mall at the #ConcertForValor? — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) November 12, 2014 |
| Would it be too much to ask for @Eminem not to drop so many f-bombs on the National Mall at the #ConcertForValor? | Would it be too much to ask for @Eminem not to drop so many f-bombs on the National Mall at the #ConcertForValor? |
| — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) November 12, 2014 | — Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) November 12, 2014 |
| Just for reference – to those shocked to hear @Eminem swearing at #ConcertForValor… way less than you'll hear during a military watch. — Pax Americanna (@AmericaHipple) November 12, 2014 | Just for reference – to those shocked to hear @Eminem swearing at #ConcertForValor… way less than you'll hear during a military watch. — Pax Americanna (@AmericaHipple) November 12, 2014 |
| Just for reference – to those shocked to hear @Eminem swearing at #ConcertForValor… way less than you'll hear during a military watch. | Just for reference – to those shocked to hear @Eminem swearing at #ConcertForValor… way less than you'll hear during a military watch. |
| — Pax Americanna (@AmericaHipple) November 12, 2014 | — Pax Americanna (@AmericaHipple) November 12, 2014 |
| A loud, profane & awesome bridge across the civ-mil divide: @Eminem: "Happy Motherf$&king #Veterans Day!" http://t.co/cKY917Pi67 — Phillip Carter (@inteldump) November 12, 2014 | A loud, profane & awesome bridge across the civ-mil divide: @Eminem: "Happy Motherf$&king #Veterans Day!" http://t.co/cKY917Pi67 — Phillip Carter (@inteldump) November 12, 2014 |
| A loud, profane & awesome bridge across the civ-mil divide: @Eminem: "Happy Motherf$&king #Veterans Day!" http://t.co/cKY917Pi67 | A loud, profane & awesome bridge across the civ-mil divide: @Eminem: "Happy Motherf$&king #Veterans Day!" http://t.co/cKY917Pi67 |
| — Phillip Carter (@inteldump) November 12, 2014 | — Phillip Carter (@inteldump) November 12, 2014 |
| Never mind that the foul-mouthed salute was greeted by plenty of cheers. Or that Eminem swearing is about as common as a 19-year-old lance corporal standing watch somewhere. The faux-controversy erupted anyway, and was one of the worst things about the show. | |
| Here are some of the other best (and worst) things that happened, as seen by Checkpoint. I was standing among the crowd off of 4th and Independence streets, with a lot of veterans. | |
| Metallica brings dozens of veterans on stage for performance Anyone doubting whether Metallica would have its heart in the concert was quickly answered. The band came out with a thunderous performance of “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and had dozens of veterans on stage during the performance. | Metallica brings dozens of veterans on stage for performance Anyone doubting whether Metallica would have its heart in the concert was quickly answered. The band came out with a thunderous performance of “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” and had dozens of veterans on stage during the performance. |
| The band followed with two more classics, “Master of Puppets” and “Enter Sandman.” In between, frontman James Hetfield offered this: “We finally get to play for our heroes.” | The band followed with two more classics, “Master of Puppets” and “Enter Sandman.” In between, frontman James Hetfield offered this: “We finally get to play for our heroes.” |
| Man, I wasn't upset I'm not at the #ConcertForValor. And then Metallica started their set. I'm watching on HBO, and it looks electric. — Andrew Exum (@ExumAM) November 12, 2014 | Man, I wasn't upset I'm not at the #ConcertForValor. And then Metallica started their set. I'm watching on HBO, and it looks electric. — Andrew Exum (@ExumAM) November 12, 2014 |
| Man, I wasn't upset I'm not at the #ConcertForValor. And then Metallica started their set. I'm watching on HBO, and it looks electric. | Man, I wasn't upset I'm not at the #ConcertForValor. And then Metallica started their set. I'm watching on HBO, and it looks electric. |
| — Andrew Exum (@ExumAM) November 12, 2014 | — Andrew Exum (@ExumAM) November 12, 2014 |
| Metallica just sang "Enter Sandman" on stage in Washington D.C. and France surrendered. #ConcertForValor — NotKennyRogers (@NotKennyRogers) November 12, 2014 | Metallica just sang "Enter Sandman" on stage in Washington D.C. and France surrendered. #ConcertForValor — NotKennyRogers (@NotKennyRogers) November 12, 2014 |
| Metallica just sang "Enter Sandman" on stage in Washington D.C. and France surrendered. #ConcertForValor | Metallica just sang "Enter Sandman" on stage in Washington D.C. and France surrendered. #ConcertForValor |
| — NotKennyRogers (@NotKennyRogers) November 12, 2014 | — NotKennyRogers (@NotKennyRogers) November 12, 2014 |
| Anti-war music at a show for valor One of the biggest surprises of the night was Dave Grohl, Zac Brown and Springsteen combining to perform Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1969 hit, “Fortunate Son.” Written during the Vietnam War, it’s a raucous takedown of blind patriotism, class warfare and those who are quick to send troops to war without going themselves. | Anti-war music at a show for valor One of the biggest surprises of the night was Dave Grohl, Zac Brown and Springsteen combining to perform Creedence Clearwater Revival’s 1969 hit, “Fortunate Son.” Written during the Vietnam War, it’s a raucous takedown of blind patriotism, class warfare and those who are quick to send troops to war without going themselves. |
| The song was greeted with energy by much of the crowd, as this video shot on site shows: | The song was greeted with energy by much of the crowd, as this video shot on site shows: |
| But the third verse in particular — in which Springsteen sings that he “ain’t no military son,” is taking heat. Some questioned whether it was the appropriate choice, as my Washington Post colleague Justin Moyer already noted. Reactions are mixed: | But the third verse in particular — in which Springsteen sings that he “ain’t no military son,” is taking heat. Some questioned whether it was the appropriate choice, as my Washington Post colleague Justin Moyer already noted. Reactions are mixed: |
| @foxandfriends Choosing to sing Fortunate Son at #ConcertForValor shows how little the elite musicians understand veterans, valor, & honor. — Dave Chitwood (@davechitwood) November 12, 2014 | @foxandfriends Choosing to sing Fortunate Son at #ConcertForValor shows how little the elite musicians understand veterans, valor, & honor. — Dave Chitwood (@davechitwood) November 12, 2014 |
| @foxandfriends Choosing to sing Fortunate Son at #ConcertForValor shows how little the elite musicians understand veterans, valor, & honor. — Dave Chitwood (@davechitwood) November 12, 2014 | @foxandfriends Choosing to sing Fortunate Son at #ConcertForValor shows how little the elite musicians understand veterans, valor, & honor. — Dave Chitwood (@davechitwood) November 12, 2014 |
| Yeah, dummies, they played “Fortunate Son” at the #ConcertForValor. It’s pro-soldier & anti-chickenhawk. As usual, outrage over nothing. — Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) November 12, 2014 | Yeah, dummies, they played “Fortunate Son” at the #ConcertForValor. It’s pro-soldier & anti-chickenhawk. As usual, outrage over nothing. — Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) November 12, 2014 |
| Yeah, dummies, they played “Fortunate Son” at the #ConcertForValor. It’s pro-soldier & anti-chickenhawk. As usual, outrage over nothing. — Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) November 12, 2014 | Yeah, dummies, they played “Fortunate Son” at the #ConcertForValor. It’s pro-soldier & anti-chickenhawk. As usual, outrage over nothing. — Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) November 12, 2014 |
| Springsteen’s performance got additional scrutiny because he not only played his 1984 mega-hit “Born in the U.S.A.,” but stripped it down into an bluesy, acoustic version that highlighted its dark lyrics. Decades after its release, casual fans still confuse it with being an upbeat patriotic sing-along. But it actually includes lines like “I had a brother at Khe Sanh fighting off the Viet Cong / They’re still there, he’s all gone.” Reaction, again, was mixed: | Springsteen’s performance got additional scrutiny because he not only played his 1984 mega-hit “Born in the U.S.A.,” but stripped it down into an bluesy, acoustic version that highlighted its dark lyrics. Decades after its release, casual fans still confuse it with being an upbeat patriotic sing-along. But it actually includes lines like “I had a brother at Khe Sanh fighting off the Viet Cong / They’re still there, he’s all gone.” Reaction, again, was mixed: |
| Acoustic Bruce gives me the chills. Epic performance. Makes me proud to be another Jersey boy born in the U.S.A #ConcertForValor — Phil Bank (@PhilBank1) November 12, 2014 | Acoustic Bruce gives me the chills. Epic performance. Makes me proud to be another Jersey boy born in the U.S.A #ConcertForValor — Phil Bank (@PhilBank1) November 12, 2014 |
| Acoustic Bruce gives me the chills. Epic performance. Makes me proud to be another Jersey boy born in the U.S.A #ConcertForValor — Phil Bank (@PhilBank1) November 12, 2014 | Acoustic Bruce gives me the chills. Epic performance. Makes me proud to be another Jersey boy born in the U.S.A #ConcertForValor — Phil Bank (@PhilBank1) November 12, 2014 |
| #ConcertForValor #BruceSpringsteen playing Born in the USA on an open tuning slide. Never listened to that song more intensely than tonight — Jeff Michael (@JeffMichaelNews) November 12, 2014 | #ConcertForValor #BruceSpringsteen playing Born in the USA on an open tuning slide. Never listened to that song more intensely than tonight — Jeff Michael (@JeffMichaelNews) November 12, 2014 |
| #ConcertForValor #BruceSpringsteen playing Born in the USA on an open tuning slide. Never listened to that song more intensely than tonight — Jeff Michael (@JeffMichaelNews) November 12, 2014 | #ConcertForValor #BruceSpringsteen playing Born in the USA on an open tuning slide. Never listened to that song more intensely than tonight — Jeff Michael (@JeffMichaelNews) November 12, 2014 |
| That was the oddest version of Born in the USA I’ve ever heard. #ConcertForValor — Joe D. Horse Capture (@NativeCurator) November 12, 2014 | That was the oddest version of Born in the USA I’ve ever heard. #ConcertForValor — Joe D. Horse Capture (@NativeCurator) November 12, 2014 |
| That was the oddest version of Born in the USA I’ve ever heard. #ConcertForValor — Joe D. Horse Capture (@NativeCurator) November 12, 2014 | That was the oddest version of Born in the USA I’ve ever heard. #ConcertForValor — Joe D. Horse Capture (@NativeCurator) November 12, 2014 |
| @HBO how on earth did you book springsteen for this? i never knew he was political in any way. must be his first charity show — dan (@denialtwister31) November 9, 2014 | @HBO how on earth did you book springsteen for this? i never knew he was political in any way. must be his first charity show — dan (@denialtwister31) November 9, 2014 |
| @HBO how on earth did you book springsteen for this? i never knew he was political in any way. must be his first charity show — dan (@denialtwister31) November 9, 2014 | @HBO how on earth did you book springsteen for this? i never knew he was political in any way. must be his first charity show — dan (@denialtwister31) November 9, 2014 |
| As noted previously, Springsteen has been involved in veterans charities for years. | As noted previously, Springsteen has been involved in veterans charities for years. |
| The Black Keys not mentioning the reason they were there | The Black Keys not mentioning the reason they were there |
| The Black Keys took the stage relatively early in the concert, playing hits “Howlin’ for You,” “Fever” and “Lonely Boy.” Notably missing, however: Not once did they give the veterans and active-duty troops present a shout-out. Wasn’t that half the point? | The Black Keys took the stage relatively early in the concert, playing hits “Howlin’ for You,” “Fever” and “Lonely Boy.” Notably missing, however: Not once did they give the veterans and active-duty troops present a shout-out. Wasn’t that half the point? |
| To be fair, though, their performance was popular: | To be fair, though, their performance was popular: |
| The Black Keys kill it every damn time. #ConcertForValor — Matthew (@Matthops82) November 12, 2014 | The Black Keys kill it every damn time. #ConcertForValor — Matthew (@Matthops82) November 12, 2014 |
| The Black Keys kill it every damn time. #ConcertForValor — Matthew (@Matthops82) November 12, 2014 | The Black Keys kill it every damn time. #ConcertForValor — Matthew (@Matthops82) November 12, 2014 |
| The Black Keys Metallica Eminem Zac Brown Band They were all great! #TheConcertForValor — 18 (@Ponder___) November 12, 2014 | The Black Keys Metallica Eminem Zac Brown Band They were all great! #TheConcertForValor — 18 (@Ponder___) November 12, 2014 |
| The Black Keys Metallica Eminem Zac Brown Band They were all great! #TheConcertForValor — 18 (@Ponder___) November 12, 2014 | The Black Keys Metallica Eminem Zac Brown Band They were all great! #TheConcertForValor — 18 (@Ponder___) November 12, 2014 |
| Carrie Underwood brings out the “Singing Sergeants” | Carrie Underwood brings out the “Singing Sergeants” |
| The Singing Sergeants Choir joins @CarrieUnderwood to perform “Something in the Water.” http://t.co/Nf1n5ki03o — HBO (@HBO) November 12, 2014 | The Singing Sergeants Choir joins @CarrieUnderwood to perform “Something in the Water.” http://t.co/Nf1n5ki03o — HBO (@HBO) November 12, 2014 |
| The Singing Sergeants Choir joins @CarrieUnderwood to perform “Something in the Water.” http://t.co/Nf1n5ki03o — HBO (@HBO) November 12, 2014 | The Singing Sergeants Choir joins @CarrieUnderwood to perform “Something in the Water.” http://t.co/Nf1n5ki03o — HBO (@HBO) November 12, 2014 |
| Country star Carrie Underwood’s performance turned into a sing-along for many, especially during her hit “Before He Cheats.” But it was another song of hers — “Something in the Water” — that gave the Air Force’s chorus, the Singing Sergeants, a chance to shine. | Country star Carrie Underwood’s performance turned into a sing-along for many, especially during her hit “Before He Cheats.” But it was another song of hers — “Something in the Water” — that gave the Air Force’s chorus, the Singing Sergeants, a chance to shine. |
| The group is based at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, and includes 23 musicians, Air Force officials say. | The group is based at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, and includes 23 musicians, Air Force officials say. |
| Reaction to videos of inspiring vets In between performances, the crowd — and viewers on HBO at home — were shown videos of inspiring veterans who are profiled in the new book “For Love of Country,” by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and Washington Post journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran. | Reaction to videos of inspiring vets In between performances, the crowd — and viewers on HBO at home — were shown videos of inspiring veterans who are profiled in the new book “For Love of Country,” by Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and Washington Post journalist Rajiv Chandrasekaran. |
| Several of them, including Medal of Honor recipient Leroy Petry, were greeted with a warm ovation when it was revealed to the crowd they were in attendance. Petroy, who lost his right hand while throwing an enemy hand grenade away from two fellow soldiers, appeared to get emotional at the response. | Several of them, including Medal of Honor recipient Leroy Petry, were greeted with a warm ovation when it was revealed to the crowd they were in attendance. Petroy, who lost his right hand while throwing an enemy hand grenade away from two fellow soldiers, appeared to get emotional at the response. |