As far as good taste goes, I think it was just fine. Not over the top at all.
I gotta say though, I did not like the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir’s rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Too much musical riffing, changing keys and all that. I much prefer the song as is.
That said, at least they sang the right words. Unlike Judy Collins singing “…let us live to make men free…” in a soundtrack special for Ken Burns’ Civil War series.
Agreed!
Yes.
Speaking of Scalia (he segued deftly), what century did that hat come from?
The thing I found baffling was the whole speech about the peaceful transfer of power. For the re-election of an incumbent. What was that all about? Is it a standard speech for every inauguration or something?
It was a little churchy, of course. But I’ve pretty much become accustomed to it. I liked the Myrlie Evers-Williams’ prayer okay, but Luis Leon’s benediction at the end just pissed me off. “Bless us, Lord, please, 'cause otherwise we’ll suck.” What? Fuck you. It felt waaaaaay too exclusionary and straight up Christian, where as the woman’s was vague enough to feel pretty ecumenical.
And regarding all the comments about the “peaceful transfer of power,” perhaps that was unusual when the country was new or young, but today most countries have such a peaceful transfer. I wish we Americans would stop patting ourselves on the back so much.
Ronald Reagan’s inaugurations, IIRC, more resembled a Royal Coronation. As a matter of fact, so did his week-long funeral.
You can also watch it in full (as well as most/every? other recent Presidential speech) online at the White House’s website.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2013/01/21/2013-inauguration-ceremony
Yeah, but those two balls are going to be MEGA-sized according to Dr Maddow.
Did they airlift in a 12’ tall chocolate Obama sculpture and have everyone in the audience lick it until their tongues revealed the shining gold tabernacle hidden within?
Because if not, I think the ceremony may have actually been a little too sedate.
That would have been a terrible idea, Colander. Surely you’ve heard about the flu epidemic.
Imma let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best inagurations of all time.
Seems like too much to me, but I never have been a fan of inaugurations. I think the concept is a great thing, peaceful transition of power, but that really doesn’t need to be more than a 30 minute ceremony with a speech.
Could we have some airing of grievances instead of Beyonce and Kelly Clarkson?
I’m glad I’m not the only one who noticed/hated that change!