Music in the Age of Obama, Part II

A year ago, I wrote about the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song being awarded to Stevie Wonder in a PBS Special. Well folks, they’ve given another award this year (though the PBS special has yet to air, I believe). The winner? Sir Paul McCartney. Not exactly earth-shattering, though some pointed out that a Brit had won an American prize.

I guess it’s always nice to see the U.S. government recognize the arts: “Here, arts! In lieu of money, we’ll give you this sweet prize!” But doesn’t it just seem completely meaningless? Here’s Paul McCartney, who at one point was the only billionaire musician (not sure where his finances stand these days) in the world, was long ago knighted by the Queen of England, loved by millions, yada yada yada. This prize doesn’t even qualify as the cherry on top of it all, it’s just superfluous. Future writers of McCartney biographies will brush over it, if they even mention it at all.

It basically seems like an excuse for a star-studded concert at the White House. And, I must admit, I would have loved to be there to see Stevie Wonder do “We Can Work it Out,” or to see McCartney charm the pants off of everyone by singing “Michelle” to the first lady. But the whole award part is boring. Why not just throw a dope concert every year that’s a celebration of music—of the art itself. Bring in young artists as well as old, doing covers as well as original songs. The concert could even tour the country (though I suppose it would have to somehow be deficit-neutral)!

But now I’m just dreaming. So here are a few great covers of McCartney songs. Enjoy!

Aretha Franklin - Eleanor Rigby (YSI) (filesavr)
Al Green - I Want to Hold Your Hand (YSI) (filesavr)
Stevie Wonder - We Can Work it Out (YSI) (filesavr)