
Last night Arcade Fire played the Obama Staff Ball, the final official inaugural event and a celebration of the thousands of folks who campaigned tirelessly for the President. One year ago, Win Butler blogged, “Barack is the first candidate in my lifetime to strip some of the bullshit away.” In that spirit, last night’s setlist include a mandolin-led cover of Bruce Springsteen’s no bullshit “Born In The U.S.A.,” the anti-Vietnam anthem once clumsily co-opted by Ronald Reagan (CAMPAIGN SONG FAIL). It was a fitting goodbye to the Bush era, and a lot of fun to watch once the camera operator stops singing along.
Here’s “Intervention.”
Thanks Mariah for the heads up on the vids. And by the way folks, Win was born in Texas.
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these are some talented fellows. i really love arcade fire.
That’s a great cover… the instrumentation really makes it their own, though yeah, the cameraman’s backing vocals leave a lot to be desired. :P
LOL, nice Photoshop
Haha…at first I wasn’t sure what you were talking about, it took me awhile to notice that.
please point out that which has been photoshopped
oooooo, neon bible, HA!
is that ra ra riot in the crowd?
The guy singing in the crowd is a riot.
It’s official — Arcade Fire are the truth
I really enjoyed watching Intervention, despite of seeing a pic of john travolta’s crotch in the ad to the left
Kind of ironic considering the whole birth certificate debate and the fact that he quite possible was not “born in the USA”
Does his guitar say, “Take Video For Kaye?”
On this guitar, “sak vide pa kanpe” was written in duct tape across the front. A Haitian proverb meaning “An empty sack cannot stand up” in Creole, this was a reference to the extreme poverty of Haiti, the country of origin of RĂ©gine Chassagne.
*http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcade_fire
Nothing like an expatriate and his band singing a protest song about a country he loved so much, he left it. But hey, it’s always good to come back to something you hate so much and talk shit, because you know that plane is waiting to take you back to your country” I dunno, just seems like real americans singing songs of protest have a greater meaning
Win Butler is a REAL American; he was born in Texas and spent all of his adolescent years in the states. He moved to Montreal in search of higher education and love kept him there. He’s not “talking shit” and has as much right to voice his opinion about American politics as you, me or anyone else.
Wasn’t Win born in Canada?
I think he’s originally from Texas? I could be wrong though.
I was there. I wasn’t aware Arcade Fire would be there, and was incredibly surprised and subsequently blown away
Wow, should we all be thanking the cameraman for 3:48 on or what ?!
oh yes! that was a historical moment!ahahhhhhhhhahahahahahahhaaaaaaaaaaaaahah
looks like haitian creole. ‘an empty sack can’t stand’. ??
I can only imagine how boring the musicians would be for the balls if McCaine were elected.
LOL neon bible!
arcade fire is really a fantastic band, but seriously if anyone needs to strip away the bullshi*, it’s win. why do musicians think their opinion in politics belongs up on the stage? honestly, how many people live or think like famous musicians?
republican or democrat, your music is what people want to hear – unless of course mindless obama adulation is your jam.