Who should sing "America the Beautiful" at the inauguration?

[blondeatlast]

Mavis Staples. It's a shame that Pops is kickin' gospel ass in the Hereafter--wouldn't that be something to see?

[Shakespeare]

1. I'd be torn between her and Willie Nelson.

Willie would be awesome, too.

[blondeatlast]

2. Would a duet be too much? emotionally, it just might kill off my last remaining tear duct! nt

[Shakespeare]

4. Aw, that would be awesome.

I'm REALLY looking forward to watching the inauguration festivities. :patriot:

[Bluzmann57]

3. I recommended Ms. Mavis Staples in an ealier thread!

Not for that song in particular, just to be an honered performer at the inaugaration. But Mother Mavis singing "America the Beautiful" is perfect since Ray Charles is dead. But she should also do "Freedom Highway", which was written and performed by her late great father during marches with Dr. Reverend King in the '60's. I don't have a link handy, but there is a video of her performing this song on youtube.

[undeterred]

5. Clay Aiken

:hi:

[Danger Mouse]

6. Lee Greenwood and Hank Williams Jr.

:evilgrin:

[lizziegrace]

7. Hehe...

That'd probably kill them. ;)

[CatholicEdHead]

8. 'This Land is Your Land'

Using all the Woody Guthrie lyrics.

http://www.woodyguthrie.org/Lyrics/This_Land.htm

[dana_b]

38. as done by Tom Morello!!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=8222065&mesg_id=8222065

[Lil Missy]

9. Roseanne Barr

:hide:

[DS1]

10. Bruce Springsteen

Just to stick it to all the right-wingers who play the first few bars of "Born on the 4th of July" during their anti-american campaigns.

[mwdem]

11. Oh fuck yeah!

:thumbsup:

[realisticphish]

14. this

[camera obscura]

39. That was my first thought

[Midlodemocrat]

12. TeenMidlo. I know, I know. But I LURVES her and she has a beautiful voice.

:bounce:

[Aristus]

13. The Dixie Chicks.

Three-part harmony from three gorgeous, patriotic liberal ladies. Who could ask for more?

[Janice325]

24. I think the Dixie Chicks would be a great choice.

Besides, I feel that would be a little of "neener, neener" to Dimson after he's gone.

Or Bruce Spingsteen.

[Genevieve]

15. K.D. Lang

eom

[lost-in-nj]

16. the DU CHORUS

we should REALLY
get together....

it would be

awesome

I'm in

an ALTO/SOPRANO


:hi:

lost

[dawgmom]

17. Gladys Knight -- link inside

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0NTp1V1Tlo

(However, I also love the suggestion of Mavis Staples.)
On edit, here she is singing "Eyes on the Prize." Wow, just wow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZWdDI_fkns

[blondeatlast]

19. I considered her as well.I always thought she was way underrated.

She's still my favorite "Grapevine" even more than Marvin Gaye's (Heresy, I know, but :shrug: )

[dawgmom]

23. Not heresy at all -- and I LOVED Marvin Gaye

I, too, have always thought she was underrated. She has an amazing timbre to her voice that is so unique -- I just love her.

[whistler162]

18. Kathleen Battle if not the inaugration at the

rededication of the Lincoln Memorial.

[Midlodemocrat]

20. OMG!!!! I LOVE Kathleen Battle!!!! I heard her here about 1 1/2 years ago.

She is simply friggin' amazing. Her spirituals will bring you to your knees.

She's probably too controversial though, after her firing from the Met. :(

[flvegan]

21. Zach de la Rocha

[Book Lover]

32. I like the way you think... (nm)

[LeftyMom]

34. You're teh smrt.

That would be awesome.

But it'd never happen be because too many sheltered crackers would shit their pants.

[flvegan]

36. Except that by the time de la Rocha got to "In liberating strife"

he'd be in mad-lib mode about Iraq, etc.

It would still be awesome.

[LeftyMom]

37. That reminds me

I need to tell you about the whole "is this a political rally or a concert" experience from the other night. I think I skipped over that part in my hurry to tell you about the whole breathing-is-not-overrated part.

[NNadir]

22. Smokey Robinson did a beautiful one at a sporting even a few years back.

He broke into it half-way through the Star Spangled Banner.

Although I am an atheist and object on some level to the "God shed his grace on thee..." line, I believe that "America the Beautiful" is a much more beautiful and positive song than the "Star Spangled Banner."

One song is about peace, the other about war.

[Whoa_Nelly]

25. Dixie Chicks

They fought the fight, stood their ground.
And everyone else!

Make it a "We Are the World" version of "America the Beautiful"!

[jobycom]

26. Can we play a recording of it? Because this is who I want.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CILIBlQ2D0Q&feature=related

[Flaxbee]

30. damnit, every time I hear him

sing anything I start to cry. Saw RC at the Greek Theater in the mid-90s and just blubbered the whole time. The guy I was with thought I was crazy :D

[jobycom]

31. He has the opposite effect on me.

Makes me smile, even utter small cheers.

Recently found out my mother hates him. Sad. :(

[Flaxbee]

33. I really like him, looooove him, actually, but

something about his voice just moves me to tears. In a good way.

Why does your mom hate him? My mom used to play his music all the time when I was young ...

[jobycom]

35. Not sure why Mom hates him

She says she doesn't like his singing. She grew up in New Orleans and loves Louis Armstrong, so it's not the scratchy voice thing or his styling. Though if I had to guess, I'd say she probably thought of him as a weaker Sachmo when he came out, and never got over that. I've always hated Pattie Labell because I thought she was a failed imitation of Aretha Franklin. I can understand that she's got her own strengths, but I can't get over that initial impression. Maybe that's my mother's problem with Ray.

[curse of greyface]

27. What no Lee Greenwood Love? Oh and Thomas Kincade to do the official portrait.

(Do I really need the sarcasm simile?)

[rocktivity]

28. Slayer.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Book Lover]

29. Buddy Guy and Koko Taylor

Oh by my lack of god, please let there be Chicago Blues at the inauguration!

[Bertha Venation]

40. Denyce Graves. Hands down the best choice. HANDS DOWN. n/t

[fed_up_mother]

55. I loudly second Denyce Graves!

[blondeatlast]

41. MAVISMAVISMAVIS. Sorry, gang, but what would be better than a good ol' gospel rendition

with that voice?

since it can't be Ray Charles (or Curtis Mayfield--that woulda been awesome too) it's GOTTA be Mavis.

[dropkickpa]

42. Christina Aguilera

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiber7na2dA

[Frank Cannon]

53. Seconded

I typically don't care for singers of that generation (get off my lawn!), but it can't be denied that Christina has an awesome voice.

[Orsino]

43. Ree-Ree.

Mavis or Gladys would do very nicely, but Aretha might be the best choice.

[surrealAmerican]

44. Is this some kind of trick question?

That's not our national anthem. Why should anyone sing it at the inauguration?

[Bertha Venation]

47. No one's saying the national anthem won't be played, too.

IMO "America the Beautiful" should be the anthem, but that's moot.

[SoxFan]

45. Gilbert Godfreid

[Sequoia]

46. Green Day

or Paul Simon

[LaydeeBug]

48. maybe Chicago native Jennifer Hudson, if she's up to it. nt

[Tektonik]

49. I wonder if Malia or Sasha have a decent singing voice, I'd like to see either one sing it

[Doc_Technical]

50. Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens.

and Tommy Chong could read a poem.

[Mendocino]

51. James Taylor and Emmylou Harris

[SteppingRazor]

52. The correct answer to this question is Aretha Franklin. n/t

[Fran Kubelik]

54. Mavis indeed

And she should get an appointment in the Obama administration. Ambassador of Soul. She's a good south-side Chicagoan like Obama. He would do right to treat her right.