And it will be televised on HBO too! Too bad I dont get HBO

http://www.google.com/hos...QD95LTV900

NEW YORK (AP) — Judging by the lineup, Sunday's inaugural celebration for Barack Obama at the Lincoln Memorial is a coveted gig for music's top names.

Beyonce, U2, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp, Usher, Shakira, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban and James Taylor are among the musicians scheduled to perform Sunday afternoon. The president-elect and his family are due to attend, with Obama expected to speak.

Other performers include Stevie Wonder, Renee Fleming, Garth Brooks, Mary J. Blige, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend and Jennifer Nettles. Historical passages will be read by Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington, with other celebrities expected to join them.

HBO will televise the show at 7 p.m. EST.

After getting the go-ahead from the Presidential Inaugural Committee two and a half weeks ago to put the show together, executive producer George Stevens Jr. said he quickly learned it would not be like any other special event he's tried to book.

"On that first day, we asked Springsteen, Bono and Garth Brooks within a period of 45 minutes and got three `yeses,'" Stevens said. "We said, `This is going to be fun.'"

Stevens said he tried to reach out to a diversity of artists. The theme for the show, titled "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial," is less about celebration than national unification.

"The list of stars is impressive," he said. "But this is not a show biz, glitzy occasion. It's going to be rooted in history, remembering the great president (Lincoln) who led us through difficult times."

The artists won't be performing their big hits, but will be asked to perform material appropriate to the occasion. One musician will be asked to perform "A Change Is Gonna Come," the song made famous by Sam Cooke.

Springsteen will perform "The Rising," Stevens said.

Stevens is a producer of "The Kennedy Center Honors" and will be working Sunday with Don Mischer, who has produced Olympics ceremonies in the past. Stevens is a longtime Obama supporter. HBO televised a similar inaugural concert in 1993, for President Clinton's first term in office.

HBO will be offering an open feed to its cable and satellite distributors on Sunday, meaning the pay cable network will be given free to anyone who wants to watch it.

After a cold snap later in the week, Washington's long-range forecast calls for partly cloudy weather and temperatures in the mid-30s for the outdoor concert.

"We love it," Stevens said. "We're very Zen about this. We're just going to make it work."

Shakira

HBO will be free this weekend.....I think.

Presidential Inauguration: We Are One

Opening Ceremony at Lincoln Memorial: January 18, 2009

15Jan09 - The 2009 Inaugural celebration begins with a star-studded concert at the Lincoln Memorial on Sunday, January 18 at 2 p.m. The event will be free and open to the public, kicking off the most open and accessible Inauguration in history. It will be presented by HBO 7:00-9:00 p.m. ET/PT for Americans to enjoy across the country.

The combined choirs from USNA (Men’s Glee Club, Women’s Glee Club, and Gospel Choir) will be participating in the concert. The choir will be performing “You’ll Never Walk Alone” with classical artist Renee Fleming and “America the Beautiful” in a combined grand finale with a 500-voice choir and Beyonce.

The event will include an incredible lineup of celebrities. Additional performers include Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder. Among those reading historical passages will be Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington.

https://www.usna.com/SSLP...=&pid=7036


Beyonce to sing for Obamas' first inaugural dance


WASHINGTON (AP) — Beyonce will sing the first song that Barack and Michelle Obama dance to on inauguration night.

The name of the song? That's still secret.

But Beyonce is part of the star-studded lineup at the official Neighborhood Ball that will be televised on ABC, along with her husband Jay-Z, will.i.am, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, Shakira, Sting, Faith Hill, Mary J. Blige, Stevie Wonder and Maroon 5.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee said Thursday that presenters at the ball will include Denzel Washington, Jessica Alba, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ray Romano, Jamie Foxx, Queen Latifah and Kate Walsh.

http://www.google.com/hos...QD95NT1SO0

Both Usher and Beyonce are pathetic choices, seemingly chosen to cater to the masses of folk who watch tmz.com and other outlets dedicated to "Celebrity News" of one sort or another.

While they may represent some of the most "popular" artists of THIS generation, it is quite interesting that they have also been a part of many media driven stories or "useless news" segments that we have seen from time to time.

Change We Can Believe In? Your guess is as good as mine.
[Edited 1/16/09 7:21am]