They All Want to Sing for Him

Barack Obama has become, reluctantly, the arm of a marketing musical. The multitude of organized events surrounding the inauguration ceremony of the American president (Le Monde-Jan. 9)-to be held on January 20 was opened to the managers of artists in entertainment areas.

Elated by Mr. Obama’s victory, various cultural circles, who were often brought in by the message and cause of the first black president of the United States, have right away wanted to be [there]. Taken in by the wave, Barack Obama’s entourage had at one point imagined a very R&B ceremony with America’s star couple of 2008-the singer Beyonce and the rapper JayZ. But, very quickly, the president’s advisors came to recognize reality: the glamour and bling-bling (shown off) would not go well with the current economic depression.

The musical program for the inauguration, reserved only for American artists and citizens, was thus reduced to the essential: military bands, soul singer Aretha Franklin, the violoncellist Yo-Yo Ma as interpreted by the composer John Williams. In revenge, and away from the official ceremony, the city of Washington has welcomed a mass of private musical events. It’s this, as well as the dozens of singers appearing in the newspapers supposedly chosen by President Obama, or those close to him, to show themselves during the inauguration.

The Unites States has avoided confusion: the balls, charity concerts currently have much support. But elsewhere, this is not the case. British internet sites announced in December 2008 that the singer Elvis Costello would head the concert bill for the inauguration. Then this information [was shown to be untrue] but little matter.

Same thing in France, where the record company Because Music saw an excellent opportunity to glorify Amadou Malians and Mariam by suggesting that the African duo would “sing at the inauguration.” The “blind couple of Mali” became the supposed darling of Michelle Obama said the magazine headlines. And like their album, “Sabaly, “which is about to come out, this [idea] fell quickly.