Its rare that these tributes are ever good, can we say Trey Songz singing Purple Rain? However maybe its a TALENT thing, last nite i tuned in to see the Kennedy Center Honoring Paul McCartney, now i was worried, but amazingly surprised, however it started slow, very slow. No Doubt led by Gwen played well as a band, but vocally, Gwen is way off, HOWEVER things shot through the roof when Dave Grohl and Norah Jones, OWNED "Maybe im Amazed" Grohl and Jones amazing vocals, and Grohl matching the guitar solo, was one of the best things id seen, next up Mr. Stevn Tyler kicking ass with his Abbey Road medley, and then Mavis Staples doing Let It Be, amazing, James Taylor and then ending it all on Hey Jude to an audience all standing for Sir Paul!

I'm a little surprise that No Doubt was there , sounds like it was a good show though. I forgot to watch it lol.

Rare? The Kennedy Center Honors performances always kick arse and this years was no exception.

My fav:

Last years fav:

The year before

Another highlight:

A blast from the past. This one is so touching once you realize that Desi Arnez had died a few days prior to the awards. The look on Ball's face is heartbreaking:

I am a hardcore Kennedy Center Honors geek. Eating up every youtube clip I can find. Now, I do believe that proper social protocol is to remain seated while a US President is sitting and that you only stand following the president. This rule, I do believe, was first broken during Kid Rock's (believe it or not---and it might not be the case once additional clips are released) are released.

President Obama was the first president to lead a standing ovation (uhh, err, clap-dance) during Sting's rousing performance of Springsteen's The Rising. Too bad he doesn't seem to be able to clap on the beat. LOL

IMHO, The Kennedy Center Honors should be viewed by more people than The Oscars. They are the highest honor an artist can receive and they make a huge effort to put the artist's work into a perspective that all citizens can appreciate. When my old boss was elected to Congress, I foolishly asked for help to get tickets to the show. He shared that he doubted even he could get in. That's how valued this show is to America's culture.

sosgemini said:

Rare? The Kennedy Center Honors performances always kick arse and this years was no exception.

IMHO, The Kennedy Center Honors should be viewed by more people than The Oscars. They are the highest honor an artist can receive and they make a huge effort to put the artist's work into a perspective that all citizens can appreciate. When my old boss was elected to Congress, I foolishly asked for help to get tickets to the show. He shared that he doubted even he could get in. That's how valued this show is to America's culture.

150 million percent agree with you. There was a tribute to Stevie Wonder done some time in the last decade that was off the charts brilliant.

It featured two of my least favorite Stevie songs, All In Love is Fair sung by Smokey Robinson(yes i'm sure the fact that I dont't care for this song takes away from my Stevie-cred in some people's eyes) and I Just Called To Say I Love You sung by a blind woman who I was not familiar with, but I believe she was an opera singer.

Any way, when I say Smokey killed All In Love is Fair, he KILLED it. He took a song I don't really care for and sung it so beautifully I was literally crying.

And the I Just Called song was sung in such a somber fashion, it actually had Stevie crying.

Of course, I can't find either of those clips on You Tube, so if someone else can locate them, I would LOVE to see them again.

Oh yeah, and as far as the Paul McCartney triibute, I thought it was all brililant. I agree No Doubt was the least inspired, but I still thought it was good.

Steve Tyler, douchebag that he is, killed the Abbey Road medley. Brilliant.

The Merle Haggard one was pretty good also. I didn't even know he was still alive.

Wow. Didn't know about this before. Thanks for the clips, guys!