The performer who mattered most was Pete Seeger.  Considering are the hardships visited upon him back in the days of our fears of “Un-American Activities,” I was glad to see that he was neither sad nor dead (although age had weakened his voice):

http://therehearsalstudio.blogspot.com/2009/01/timely-celebration-for-times.html

His name was not included in the above-cited VARIETY article.  However, the VARIETY reporter who covered the event gave him more than adequate attention.  It is nice to know that there are still a few reporters out there with a sense of history!

I happened to meet a woman the other day who was telling me of how she’s famous. I had no idea until she informed me.

I recognize most names here, which is what I’m supposed to do. Presumably. Of the ones I recognize, three or four have some idea as to what they do: Hancock (sole stand-out), Springsteen and Wonder (who’re pretty good, if not in Hancock’s league). Henwood called U-2 “bombastic” a couple years ago. I’d say, “Romantic.” Same thing. But band’s okay after I get to drinking.

The rest are manufacturers of noise, and—apparently—donners of curious garments, judging by photo of Beyonce (just imagine the accent) here. I’m fairly sure I could fit through the earrings, but my real fav is the wing thing. She appears owl (see eyebrows), albeit a particularly silver-feathery one. Sings like one too.

Of course birds of a feather will all BE THERE, along no doubt with countless other birds of lesser feather.  Where’s Warhol when you really need him? None of those mentioned is ironist, but then irony went out with post-Modernist eclecticism. That’s the trouble with imitation for imitation’s sake, no matter number of sources jumbled all together. Okay, maybe meaninglessness really is meaningful.

Welcome to pop culture, which is not so much celebrated as equal to high-brow as presented as highest-brow precisely because supposedly “democratically” lower brow. This would be democracy at its most formally absurd. And as though same old rules of entry no longer apply. All that’s really changed is quality—from great/good to mediocre/bad, the second celebrated as astonishing. One could tolerate this nonsense for the nonsense it is were it not for claims to what amounts to new-fangled Popular Front. And people thought “socialist” painters were bad? At least they demonstrated a modicum of ability.

Moving on to fact they’ll all be there, all these people claiming to be OF the people, down-wit-us consumers every one of them. I can’t recall Grace Slick and Neil Young sucking up, much less Dylan and Baez. Ginsberg? Earlier? Or later? Yeah, THAT was gonna happen! But what’s a counter-culture? Who needs it. (I know, I know, Dixie Chicks said something, but they’ve long been back. Besides, that was just some stuff about Dub who, ladies, isn’t actually FROM Texas.)

But I complain of the superficial, of those listed, when deeper issue is what they (like certain other representatives) represent. Not at all different from that Bush and his followers represent, except more disguised: same old nationalism combined with symbolism, both dressed up as do-goodism. No matter singing words advocating social-justice agenda, as though that were the purpose of any art form. (“But my art is political, man.” If you say so, pal.) They do not point toward but distract from (while charging $16 to $20 for a lousy CD—stamped-out plastic disk about six inches in diameter, or available via download for a buck a song. Can anyone say, “rip-off”?). Pretense is monumentally insulting.

Dear, Janis (who’d not have been caught dead at one of these silly flauntings of power), if you can hear me from your sweet grave: By now, “freedom,” sans responsibility, is just another word for selfishness.

We need another Janis—hard drinkin’, smokin’ (in more ways than one), GREAT singin’ woman who’d sing it like it is—about the everyday bullshit that endlessly plagues. Of how hard it can get to be for those never invited, not hardly either in need of patronizing. Another Jimi and another Jim too would be swell.

Now, try and imagine—though impossible to imagine—Janis decked in owl costume to attend inaugural ball (not to worry of chain when so willing to perch alongside). Maybe she would have attended just to hoot. “But there’s Hip-Hop,” you say? Not even close.

“HOWL”!

How sad (my generation most especially) we’ve become.

Stephen,

We’ve already paid for this,(campaign contributions) and no…it wouldn’t make a flippin’ ping in the economic woes, because it wouldn’t BE ‘redirected’ that way. If anything, this provides some temporary work for a several hundred folks.

I sure wish I could be there. I have fond memories of similar types of occasions back in the day, but this beats them all.

I can’t imagine a better time for us and the rest of the world to celebrate. We haven’t had anything to celebrate in, well….decades!!! Seriously, NOTHING that we can be even remotely pleased with as a ‘body politik’. For anyone over the age of 10, this is the most difficult time we’ve ever experienced as Americans, with the exception of those still living in a bubble somewhere.

So yeah, we actually NEED this ‘throw down’ as some might call it. (among other things).

It’s gonna be the first time I’ve tuned into HBO in at least 20 years. Maybe longer.

In fact, since my birthday is next Wednesday, I’m gonna use these Inauguration festivities as my own birthday party. I’m just now thinking of how we can do it. All we really have to do is rig up all of the TV’s in the house (or the computers) and everybody can just gather ‘round and party. We’ll cook up some food and maybe whip up a batch of fire water, (rum punch, or plain old whiskey - wine for the light-weights) and there’ll be dancin’ in the streets I tell ya…dancin’ in the streets!!

You don’t want to get caught between Hollywood types and a TV camera.

Has anyone done the math on how much the whole package of festivities will cost and what impact it might have on improving the economic crisis if so redirected?

and President Obama will usher in new era of American Renaissance and Enlightenment. The dark ages of the Christian Reich are over!!!