Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel Duet For Obama
Last night NYC's Hammerstein Ballroom hosted a "Change Rocks" fundraiser for Obama, featuring Class of '99 Rock Hall inductees the Boss and the Piano Man. Some tickets were priced at $25,000 each (preempting the World Series isn't cheap). Springsteen has of course played a number of rallies for the senator, but this was Joel's first political fundraiser for That One.
The setlist featured joint performances of each other's songs, and a few covers: watch them trade verses on "New York State Of Mind," "Allentown," and "Spirit In The Night." That's India.Arie, John Legend, and Patti Scialfa helping out on the latter. Also heard, according to this report:
"The Promised Land,""This Hard Land," "Miami 2017," "Baby Grand," "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out," "Movin' Out (Anthony's Song)," "Thunder Road," "A Matter Of Trust," "Spirit In The Night," "The Rising," "New York State Of Mind," "Glory Days," "River Of Dreams"/"A Hard Day's Night," and "Born To Run"
At least for $25k you get the hits. The night ended with a group cover of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I'm Yours)," featuring Barack and Michelle Obama on lead vocals. Just kidding. But Barack did appear onstange before the night concluded. Via MSNBC:
He called the event "a magical evening" and said he wouldn't ruin it with a long speech. Then he delivered a speech comparing the struggling, everyday people in Joel's and Springsteen's songs to the people he's met on the campaign trail.He warned supporters not to get overconfident because he leads in the polls.
"Don't underestimate the capacity of Democrats to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Don't underestimate our ability to screw it up," Obama said. "I want everybody running scared."
Meanwhile in Cincinatti last night, the Breeders and the National joined forces for their own Obama event. That one was free.
Posted at 10:37 AM by Scott in Video
Tags: Barack Obama | Billy Joel | Bruce Springsteen | India.Arie | John Legend
Also Obama and McCain roasting each other at the Alfred E. Smith memorial dinner last night:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5SWQJWm6Tg
funny
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haha john mccain is about 500 yards from me RIGHT NOW. he's having a rally at FIU and I am in political theory class. I was hoping for some protests but saw no such thing earlier today. lame.
we should get the boss and te piano man to come play for obama here. or maybe some conor oberst/jim james/m.ward
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Gobama! That's a sweet rally. I especially dig the Bob Boilen-sounding guy singing along in the crowd on Spirit in the night.
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