Obama Sings Al Green

[Nzinga, Seated]

Here.
(http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/obama-al-green-lets-stay-together-sales-spike-285258)

I enjoyed this on a level that is hard to explain. Just hard to describe why this is so awesome.

[Two Many Cats]

I enjoyed this on a level that is hard to explain. Just hard to describe why this is so awesome.

Because he sang so awesomely. I was still surprised at the beauty of Obama's singing voice, even though his speaking voice is wonderful too.

[foxymoron]

Saw the clip a few days ago. I swooned.

[Idle Thoughts]

Going to move this over to Cafe Society.

[Biggirl]

Here.
(http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/obama-al-green-lets-stay-together-sales-spike-285258)

I enjoyed this on a level that is hard to explain. Just hard to describe why this is so awesome.

Seriously. Why was that so cool? Must be my Obamatron programing.

[ZipperJJ]

I saw the clip unexpectedly the other day on The Daily Show and didn't know what to make of it. I was like "wait, what?" but it was over.

Today I heard it on the radio and I too was all swoon.

[Sampiro]

I was really surprised at the quality of his singing voice.

What's incredible is how apeshit angry some conservative talking heads are about this. Apparently until the economy is fully recovered Obama should only be appearing in sack cloth and ashes and if he sings at all it should be a dirge. It really is amazing at just how little he has to do to piss off right wingers.

[MsWhatsit]

OBAMA IS NOT ALLOWED TO LOOK COOL. Especially not during a campaign season, god dammit.

OK, but seriously, how cool was that? At the Apollo, too!

[Runs With Scissors]

I wish he had done a few more lines. Not the entire song. Just a few more lines.

Crikey, what a great time to be an American :)

[Nzinga, Seated]

OBAMA IS NOT ALLOWED TO LOOK COOL...

Then he would be in real trouble, wouldn't he? I mean, this cat is made of cool.

[dropzone]

Seriously. Why was that so cool? Must be my Obamatron programing.No, it's your Al Green programming. I'm still singing along. When a president gets a white dude singing along it has to be righteous.

[dropzone]

Then he would be in real trouble, wouldn't he? I mean, this cat is made of cool.I'm stealing that.

[PeacePlease]

That was bitchin' on sooooo many levels!!!!!

[Sampiro]

A pity Cee Lo wasn't there; I'd love to hear him sing a couple of bars of Forget You, preferably the original, just to watch Hannity, O'Reilly, Santorum, and Glenn Beck all spontaneously combust.

[cochrane]

Phbttt! Let me know when he starts playing the saxophone, then we'll talk about cool.

[monstro]

He could have had a bad singing voice and it still would have been cool.

[gaffa]

Obama sings Al Green at the Apollo.

Why?

He was at the Apollo.

[randwill]

And suddenly Al Green's greatest hits album is back on the charts.

[not what you'd expect]

He is the coolest ever. I saw this days ago and I've watched it numerous times. How can people not like him? I truly don't get it.

[DonLogan]

How can people not like him? I truly don't get it.

He's black, smart, and The Boss of Everything.

Any one of those things is enough for some people to not like him.

[Queen Tonya]

I get it. Bush could have thrilled his core by trilling a line from some redneck song at a NASCAR event and they'd have been feeling the same way we're feeling now. They'd have been "Oh man, that was so righteously cool, he really loves Amurrica!" and we'd have been all "Jesus H. Christmas, when will this national embarrassment end!?"

[gaffa]

I get it. Bush could have thrilled his core by trilling a line from some redneck song at a NASCAR event and they'd have been feeling the same way we're feeling now. They'd have been "Oh man, that was so righteously cool, he really loves Amurrica!" and we'd have been all "Jesus H. Christmas, when will this national embarrassment end!?"
I would hope, for his sake, that Bush could have pulled it off. But even in a flight suit on an aircraft carrier, in front of a banner extolling his supposed accomplishment in front of the only group of American's under orders to respect him - he didn't get above 300 milliFonzies.

[Lok]

I get it. Bush could have thrilled his core by trilling a line from some redneck song at a NASCAR event and they'd have been feeling the same way we're feeling now. They'd have been "Oh man, that was so righteously cool, he really loves Amurrica!" and we'd have been all "Jesus H. Christmas, when will this national embarrassment end!?"

That depends. If he belted out a decent rendition of Pancho and Lefty (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvdmxszsDM8), I would think it was pretty cool. He would still have been a national embarrassment, but not for his singing. If on the other hand he went with Blue (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I62uwbyD2pU), well, just embarrassing all the way around. Our current president, OTOH, will force Jimmy Buffett to add a verse to We Learned To Be Cool From You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsZNmqVHjuY) if he keeps it up.

[Maiira]

Obama's hilarious. Like, actually, intentionally hilarious.

And yeah, Bush doesn't have the panache to pull it off.

[monstro]

Who said coolness is fair?

It's not and has never been.

I'd be lying if I said Bush singing a country song would make me think "cool cat." I don't like Bush and I don't find most country songs to be particularly cool. And? It's kind of like accusing people of hypocrisy if they think Angelina Jolie is hot, but not Brad Pitt in drag. It's all subjective and we can't help but like what we like. However, despite not liking Bush, I wouldn't have been embarrassed if he had decided to show his human side. Depending on how genuine the performance had appeared, I might have even said, "Hell, maybe he isn't that bad of a guy after all."

Now, if Bush had busted out with some 2pac or Jay-Z, then that would certainly raise an impressed eyebrow. But even then he'd better have some flow. :)

[Nzinga, Seated]

...Now, if Bush had busted out with some 2pac or Jay-Z, then that would certainly raise an impressed eyebrow. But even then he'd better have some flow. :)

Yeah, he actually did bust out with some Jay Z shit, though. A few years ago he made the 'brush your shoulders off' motion to demonstrate how he doesn't let his detracters affect him. And of course, it came of natural and unaffected, just like when he and Michelle fist bump. He just got steeze.

And for a bit of trivia, anytime Jay Z "dust your shoulders off" motion enters discussion, I try to inform people that he actually stole that move from Michael Jackson, who did it in his "You Rock My World" video.

[Cillasi]

What made it so awesome is that he sang just enough...just enough to make you wonder just how good he might be. I hope he never, ever sings again (at least while he's in office). It's good to keep us wondering, and it would be showing off if he did it again.

[Bridget Burke]

That depends. If he belted out a decent rendition of Pancho and Lefty (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvdmxszsDM8), I would think it was pretty cool. He would still have been a national embarrassment, but not for his singing. If on the other hand he went with Blue (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I62uwbyD2pU), well, just embarrassing all the way around. Our current president, OTOH, will force Jimmy Buffett to add a verse to We Learned To Be Cool From You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsZNmqVHjuY) if he keeps it up.

There's no way Shrub would have sung Pancho & Lefty (here's the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxzJAF1BxP4) featuring the song's writer, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt). Why would he learn a song about a Mexican & a Commie?

[Simplicio]

There's no way Shrub would have sung Pancho & Lefty (here's the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxzJAF1BxP4) featuring the song's writer, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt). Why would he learn a song about a Mexican & a Commie?

Same reason all those GOP campaigns keep using "Born in the USA" as their themes.

[Sampiro]

I'd be lying if I said Bush singing a country song would make me think "cool cat
'

I'd be lying if I said Bush raising a child from the dead would make me think "cool cat" or anything positive. It'd probably send me into a rant about his contribution to overpopulation, and this being Bush would probably unleash the Zombie apocalypse (especially if Halliburton had just launched a Home Bunker division).

[Lok]

There's no way Shrub would have sung Pancho & Lefty (here's the video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxzJAF1BxP4) featuring the song's writer, The Late Great Townes Van Zandt). Why would he learn a song about a Mexican & a Commie?

Gee, thanks for the link to the video. Too bad I didn't think to include anything like that in my post. :dubious: :D

As for why he would know it, it is a country song sung by Willie Nelson. Them there Texicans love their Willie. They don't even mind him smoking a little of that mary jane now and then.

[Chefguy]

He's credible as a singer, but his comedy act needs work. A LOT of work.

[Left Hand of Dorkness]

And for a bit of trivia, anytime Jay Z "dust your shoulders off" motion enters discussion, I try to inform people that he actually stole that move from Michael Jackson, who did it in his "You Rock My World" video.
There's a scene in Lethal Weapon 4 in which Jet Li discovers a sniper's laser sight centered on his chest. He looks down at it and pretends to brush it off his kimono. It was awesome. Just in case you were wondering.

[Nzinga, Seated]

There's a scene in Lethal Weapon 4 in which Jet Li discovers a sniper's laser sight centered on his chest. He looks down at it and pretends to brush it off his kimono. It was awesome. Just in case you were wondering.

Fascinating!

Time line for anyone who cares about the history of 'brush your shoulders off' (there are commercials before the vids)


Jet Li in Lethal Weapon 4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D1CqVrGXdo&t=0m45s) 1998

Michael Jackson You Rock My World (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-7ABIM2qjU&t=10m10s) 2001.

Jay Z Dirt Off Your Shoulder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz_-VaTHpc8&t=1m5s) 2003

Barack Obama Dirt Off Your Shoulder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZJex9Ge2-Q&t=0m15s) 2008

[Chronos]

Al Green-- He was that crazy guy who ran for Senate a couple of years ago, wasn't he?

[jjimm]

Didn't Al Green invent the internet?

At the beginning of Obama's political career he attended a stag night (bachelor party) in Wokingham, a boring commuter town near London, where he downed a load of pints and only left when the strippers turned up. That's not something that a young GWB would have eschewed, of course, but he wouldn't have left a sprinkling of coolness over the town.

After he's out of power I hope we can look forward to an Obama Sings Motown album.

[Bridget Burke]

Gee, thanks for the link to the video. Too bad I didn't think to include anything like that in my post. :dubious: :D

As for why he would know it, it is a country song sung by Willie Nelson. Them there Texicans love their Willie. They don't even mind him smoking a little of that mary jane now and then.

I prefer the original video, which I linked. And thanks for the information on "Texicans." I've only lived here since I was 4...

[dropzone]

I had forgotten about this thread, yet Rev Al is back on my speaker.

You can be a Tricky Dick and be on Laugh-in, or you can do a song that asks, "How could you not get laid playing this song?"

Obama, getting you laid in 2012.

[Becky2844]

He's smart, he sings AND he plays basketball.

[williambaskerville]

Then he would be in real trouble, wouldn't he? I mean, this cat is made of cool.

To throw another viewpoint in, I'm Irish, and I found that inexplicably and infinitely cool. As someone else said, just enough to keep you wondering if he could do the whole song.

Could someone better versed than me explain his Sandman reference ?

[WordMan]

And suddenly Al Green's greatest hits album is back on the charts.

A clear Demonstration of Obama's commitment to improving America by restoring our glories from the past ;)

[hogarth]

I saw the clip unexpectedly the other day on The Daily Show and didn't know what to make of it. I was like "wait, what?" but it was over.
I saw it too (or maybe it was on Colbert?) and I thought it was dubbed!

[Biffy the Elephant Shrew]

Didn't Al Green invent the internet?

No, no; he was head of the Federal Reserve.

[E-Sabbath]

He's credible as a singer, but his comedy act needs work. A LOT of work.

I dunno man, he owned pretty hard at that Correspondent's Dinner. Especially the video. Choice of Real American was inspired.

[gaffa]

I dunno man, he owned pretty hard at that Correspondent's Dinner. Especially the video. Choice of Real American was inspired.
The State of the Union is a difficult gig. The Capital is the very definition of a "tough room". You go in there knowing half of the audience hates you.

[JRDelirious]

Could someone better versed than me explain his Sandman reference ?

For many years, entertainer "Sandman" Sims (since deceased) was the guy who gave the hook to acts who were "dying" onstage at the Apollo Theater, site of the President's event (and a venue famous for a demanding audience who'll have no mercy if you're bombing).

[DiosaBellissima]

Fascinating!

Time line for anyone who cares about the history of 'brush your shoulders off' (there are commercials before the vids)


Jet Li in Lethal Weapon 4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D1CqVrGXdo&t=0m45s) 1998

Michael Jackson You Rock My World (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-7ABIM2qjU&t=10m10s) 2001.

Jay Z Dirt Off Your Shoulder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oz_-VaTHpc8&t=1m5s) 2003

Barack Obama Dirt Off Your Shoulder (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZJex9Ge2-Q&t=0m15s) 2008

Giiirl, Michael was doin' that move long before 98. First thing that comes to mind is the 95 VMAs-- About 2:50 is where he does it. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9M7-NgkI7c)

Also, I vaguely recall seeing video of the Bad tour from the mid to late 80s where he does it, too (during the performance of Smooth Criminal--- he doesn't do it in the long form version of the video however). Basically, any time Michael took on his cool guy gangster persona, he threw that move in.

Diosa
Resident Michael Jackson expert :D

[Simplicio]

I dunno man, he owned pretty hard at that Correspondent's Dinner. Especially the video. Choice of Real American was inspired.

He was pretty funny on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me back when he was a Senator. And unlike the Correspondent's Dinner, that wasn't scripted.

Not that I think he should quit his day job, but he has a decent sense for how to entertain a room.

[aceplace57]

I'd love to see Obama record a song for charity.

These days digital publishing is so quick. They could have him in/out of the studio in a couple hours. Then sell it on Amazon and ITunes that night. It would raise a lot of money for a charity.

[Onomatopoeia]

Here.
(http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/obama-al-green-lets-stay-together-sales-spike-285258)

I enjoyed this on a level that is hard to explain. Just hard to describe why this is so awesome.Cool personified.

[Ca3799]

"Chain, chain, chain.. Chain of fools..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jebeVd7bHq0

"Walk on by..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qo8nLMCLT60

[not what you'd expect]

Thanks for posting those, Ca3799. I love the second one. Good advice for the young brothers. :)

[Ca3799]

Well, he even took a tiny swing at "Boogie Back to Texas" with Ray Benson and Asleep At the Wheel- one of my favorite bands! Poor video, though. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ti3usmrqN4&feature=related

[dropzone]

I normally need my daughters to point this stuff out, but I figured this out on my own: Obama really is that hot, isn't he?

[Nzinga, Seated]

Giiirl, Michael was doin' that move long before 98. First thing that comes to mind is the 95 VMAs-- About 2:50 is where he does it. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9M7-NgkI7c)

Also, I vaguely recall seeing video of the Bad tour from the mid to late 80s where he does it, too (during the performance of Smooth Criminal--- he doesn't do it in the long form version of the video however). Basically, any time Michael took on his cool guy gangster persona, he threw that move in.

Diosa
Resident Michael Jackson expert :D


Well, that was fairly awesome.

[Miller]

What made it so awesome is that he sang just enough...just enough to make you wonder just how good he might be. I hope he never, ever sings again (at least while he's in office). It's good to keep us wondering, and it would be showing off if he did it again.

The video of him singing one line got over four million hits, and this is a re-election year. I figure it's only a matter of time before he cuts a full video.

[WhyNot]

I normally need my daughters to point this stuff out, but I figured this out on my own: Obama really is that hot, isn't he?

Yes. Yes, he is.

[EddyTeddyFreddy]

I normally need my daughters to point this stuff out, but I figured this out on my own: Obama really is that hot, isn't he?

Yup. But look who he has to keep up with. (http://fashionzonline.com/uploads/2011/04/michelleobama.jpg)

[dropzone]

Oh, and the Sandman didn't come out because he didn't need to come out Those were too many tons of awesome. All it takes is a couple bars of "Iiiiiiiiii'm" to slay me.

[dropzone]

Michele is several kinds of hot. There is a point at which you stop competing, but Barack hasn't hit it yet.