If you were President, which musicians would you have play at The White House?

[eeyore]

I'd go with The Who , The Kinks, Wilco, Spoon, XTC, a Replacements reunion show, a Talking Heads reunion show, and REM playing only music up until Fables of the Reconstruction (anything later and off with their heads). Elvis Costello would be considered, then rejected, based upon his weak output for the past 20+ years.

What say you?



http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/latin-music-night-planned-at-the-white-house/

The next entry in the White House’s music series will feature Latin artists to honor Hispanic heritage, The Associated Press reported. Among the performers who are expected to appear at the Fiesta Latina event on Tuesday night are the singers Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefan, José Feliciano, Thalia and Tito “El Bambino,” as well as the groups Los Lobos and Aventura, the actor Jimmy Smits, the comedian George Lopez and the percussionist Pete Escovedo. The concert will also feature a house band led by Mr. Escovedo’s daughter, Sheila E. The concert will be shown on PBS on Oct. 15, on Telemundo on Oct. 18 and on V-me on Dec. 25. The White House has previously hosted jazz and country music concerts as well as a poetry jam, and is planning a classical music event in November.

[paulsby]

1. i dig muse

also, i saw the who in concert and it was easily the best concert i ever saw

the who, muse, live, the foo fighters, bowie, the stones, X, social distortion and oasis

[eeyore]

3. Of course, Bowie...

Fuck it, let's bring in Gary Glitter for good measure. And the Ghost of Marc Bolan!

[paulsby]

8. well, this was a hypothetical

where i was president.

is bowie dead?

i can't find it on the web.

[C_U_L8R]

21. and Sweet !!

Glam night at the White House.

Next Week.... The Stooges

[Lasher]

2. The Dixie Chicks.

At least once a year.

[eeyore]

4. That would be very cool.

They deserve it.

[donheld]

53. Those ladies need to get back in the business

I miss them.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. Muse!!!

And if I could get the Smiths back together and have them promise they'd be as good as they were when they were in their prime, I wouldn't want anything else....

[Johnny Noshoes]

6. Any number of jazz combos or artists

Joshua Redman,Annat Cohen,Charlie Haden....too many to mention.

[Ron Green]

77. + 4/4

Jazz IS America's music, our artistic contribution to the world, though virtually ignored here in its own country. The most musically appropriate thing the White House can do is to feature it live at every opportunity.

[Zoeisright]

7. Green Day, the Dixie Chicks, Mark Cohn

[Violet_Crumble]

10. Green Day and the Dixie Chicks? That's a crime against humanity! n/t

[Zoeisright]

50. I love their music!

And I was picking based on political slant, mostly.

[notesdev]

9. Stanley Jordan

but were I President, I would have a lot better things to do.

He doesn't have time to make decisions on Afghanistan, while our soldiers die, yet he's got time to host a private talent show. No time to figure out how to bring down a $1.8 trillion dollar deficit, but time to dance with Thalia.

With that sort of judgment perhaps we're best off that he is doing nothing.

[RadicalGeek]

11. OK

Dave Matthews Band
Tori Amos
Indigo Girls
John Mayer
Jack Johnson
Coldplay
Bruce Springsteen
Counting Crows

[saltpoint]

12. Emmylou Harris.

[Tejas]

13. Allman Bros. - nt

[saltpoint]

14. This post is a delight.

If Duke Ellington and the musicians he hung out with were still around, they'd top the list, and then Emmylou Harris as posted above.

Then also Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, Natalie Cole, and several return trips by Stevie Wonder.

I'd have the staff compile a list of great artists from other countries. No sense keeping it stateside. Let the toes of many cultures tap their butts off to a global beat, etc.

I'd pass on Lee Greenwood, the Archies, Paul Anka, Toby Keith, and Debby Boone.

[GoCubsGo]

31. Toby Keith...

You do know he'll be playing at the Nobel Concert the day before President Obama receives his Peace Prize, don't you? :-)

http://nobelpeaceprize.org/concert/index.php

[Tanuki]

36. Good heavens, how did that happen?

That is truly incomprehensible. I hope he doesn't sing "Courtesy of the Red White and Blue."

[saltpoint]

44. Bllleecchhhhhhhhhhhhh

[eeyore]

47. What the hell?

I can't even imagine why anyone would want him play in Oslo to a global crowd of intellectuals.

What a sorry representative for our country, although fairly reflective of a good portion of our population - the stoopids.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

15. A night of Depression Era music. nt

[sendero]

16. Squarepusher, Boards of Canada

maybe what's left of Telefon Tel Aviv

[MagickMuffin]

17. David Sylvian

He would be my first guest. I'd even let him stay in the Lincoln bedroom :blush:

[Bluenorthwest]

27. ! Yes !

[Codeine]

89. Oh HELL yes.

Orpheus is one of my favorite vocal perfances by anyone on Earth.

[ret5hd]

18. MotorHead

[Fumesucker]

19. Steppenwolf would perform "Monster"..

A fucking history lesson and a glimpse of the future all in one..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpuyXdKx9Ws

Words and music by John Kay, Jerry Edmonton, Nick St. Nicholas and Larry Byrom

(Monster)
Once the religious, the hunted and weary
Chasing the promise of freedom and hope
Came to this country to build a new vision
Far from the reaches of kingdom and pope
Like good Christians, some would burn the witches
Later some got slaves to gather riches

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

And once the ties with the crown had been broken
Westward in saddle and wagon it went
And 'til the railroad linked ocean to ocean
Many the lives which had come to an end
While we bullied, stole and bought our a homeland
We began the slaughter of the red man

But still from near and far to seek America
They came by thousands to court the wild
And she just patiently smiled and bore a child
To be their spirit and guiding light

The blue and grey they stomped it
They kicked it just like a dog
And when the war over
They stuffed it just like a hog

And though the past has it's share of injustice
Kind was the spirit in many a way
But it's protectors and friends have been sleeping
Now it's a monster and will not obey

(Suicide)
The spirit was freedom and justice
And it's keepers seem generous and kind
It's leaders were supposed to serve the country
But now they won't pay it no mind
'Cause the people grew fat and got lazy
And now their vote is a meaningless joke
They babble about law and order
But it's all just an echo of what they've been told
Yeah, there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watchin'

Our cities have turned into jungles
And corruption is stranglin' the land
The police force is watching the people
And the people just can't understand
We don't know how to mind our own business
'Cause the whole worlds got to be just like us
Now we are fighting a war over there
No matter who's the winner
We can't pay the cost
'Cause there's a monster on the loose
It's got our heads into a noose
And it just sits there watching

(America)
America where are you now?
Don't you care about your sons and daughters?
Don't you know we need you now
We can't fight alone against the monster

[Vickers]

20. Silversun Pickups, Melody Gardot, & Sigur Ros

:thumbsup:

[LeftHander]

22. Young people from various Performing Arts schools...

Across the country.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

65. yes. String quartets, chamber music, choral music, classical & opera.

Still relevant!

Anonymous Four
Chanticleer
The Tallis Scholars
Pat Metheny
Lyle Mays
Mickey Hart
The Bulgarian State Women's Chorus
The Prince Myshkins
Susan Graham
Bryn Terfel
Roberto Alagna
Natalie Dessay
Gustavo Dudamel
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Tom Paxton
Space City Gamelan
Thomas Handsome (Hampson)
Joshua Bell


==========
NOTE: Andrea Bocelli is NOT an opera singer; he doesn't have the technique. Charlotte Church is bad, she can't sing opera properly either.

:hide:

[Cid_B]

23. George Strait and Brad Paisley would have alternating Wednesdays...

nt

[TwilightGardener]

70. Love Gorgeous George. Brad Paisley already performed at the WH with Alison Krauss.

[Cid_B]

76. I wasn't there so it doesn't count...

duh..... :patriot:

[negativenihil]

24. SLAYER! n/t

[Beer Snob-50]

25. the grateful dead with jackie greene taking the place of jerry garcia

well if it is possible to take the place of jerry garcia

also maybe a jimmy buffet acostic set wuld be cool.

[bunkerbuster1]

26. Pete Seeger. Duh.

[GoCubsGo]

35. Him and...

Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, Willie Nelson...

[Whisp]

28. Rusted Root, Annie Lennox, Robbie Robertson Red Road Ensemble

[datasuspect]

29. willie nelson

[GoCubsGo]

38. And, the rest of the Farm Aid crew

John Mellencamp, Neil Young. the Dave Matthews Band, along with Bob Dylan, whose words at "Live Aid" started the whole thing.

[Swamp Rat]

30. Die Berliner Philharmoniker mit Claudio Abbado

[maxpower]

32. My list exactly

Although R.E.M. can still bring it. Throw in a little Beatles and Grateful Dead and you got it.



Peace,
Max

[NashVegas]

33. Lou Reed Would Be My First "Get"

Los Lobos would be a quick #2

[Forkboy]

34. Deathspell Omega

[SidDithers]

37. Neil Young, Graham Nash, Stephen Stills, David Crosby...

but mostly just Neil Young :)

Sid

[jakefrep]

39. Neil Diamond

[Mad_Dem_X]

40. Pearl Jam and Dixie Chicks. n/t

[donheld]

54. Together? That would make quite a combo

Could be good, could be bad. I know you didn't mean together but it got me thinking.

[Wiley50]

41. Pink Floyd with Richard Wright reinccarnated n/t

[L0oniX]

42. Ozzy

[Wizard777]

64. For State dinners. Absolutely!

[L0oniX]

74. Let me add the theme song- "No More Tears"

[-..__...]

43. AC/DC, Motorhead,

[eShirl]

45. Huun-Huur-Tu

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huun-Huur-Tu

[Canuckistanian]

83. Great minds think alike

I suggested the very same thing.

[RB TexLa]

46. I would hope the hiring of entertainment is delegated to someone other than the president

[Morning Dew]

48. First up, The Dead ( with Warren Haynes sitting in)

Ghostland Observatory

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

Poet Taylor Mali

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU

Michelle Shocked

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLhHF_Ei7Dg&feature=related

Ralph Stanley

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUOfaIyv4Bs

Namoli Brennet

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zddc7IUtN3Q

Barb Cohen (from brother sun, sister moon and farm accident)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ynz4yYX8T4&feature=related

[bbernardini]

49. Wait wait wait...have you not hear Costello's recording of "My Funny Valentine"?

One of the greatest performances of ANY song EVER. Seriously, it makes me want to weep every time I listen to it. And it came out in the last 20 years. (Admittedly, the song is much older.)

[ddeclue]

51. Assuming living artists:

1) The Eagles.
2) The Rolling Stones.
3) Paul McCartney.
4) Sheryl Crow.
5) Gloria Estefan.
6) Jackson Browne.
7) Dianna Ross.
8) Aretha Franklin.
9) Stevie Wonder.
10) Alison Krauss

[kjackson227]

52. Janet Jackson, Gladys Knight and the Pips, and Earth, Wind...

and Fire, the Ojays, and Whitney Houston. I've seen them in concert, and all of them put on great shows :)

[Arkana]

55. Every offensive rap artist I could think of.

And I'd invite Flavor Flav.

The next day I'd sit back and watch Fox News shit itself, but I'd tell CNN and MSNBC that it's a prank and that they can have an exclusive with me if they keep their mouths shut.

The end result is not only does Fox News shit itself and run headlines like "WHITE HOUSE OVERRUN BY NEGROES!" and "IS THIS THE END OF ARYAN...ER, WHITE CIVILIZATION?", but they pat themselves on the back because CNN and MSNBC aren't covering it. Then, when they finally blow their wad, we tell them.

EDIT: Seriously, though.

I love folk music, so I'd invite James & Livingston Taylor, James' son Ben and the Ben Taylor Band.

Also Social Distortion (because they're awesome), and a few acapella groups like the UWisconsin MadHatters, the Freshman Fifteen, and the Dear Abbeys.

[taterguy]

56. Alejandro Escovedo, Victoria Williams, Vic Chestnutt

And any other uninsured musician that's facing bankruptcy since they made the mistake of choosing a career they loved instead of a career that assures they have health insurance.

[Taverner]

57. I would leave much of the selection to the staff

As in ask them "who would YOU want to listen to if you could?"

[piratefish08]

58. Clinton

George, not Bill.

[Turborama]

59. Beck, just for the heck of it. Plus

Booker T and the MGs, Taj Mahal and Led Zeppelin.

[tekisui]

60. Tom Waits, John Prine, Pat Metheney, and Wilco.

[ArnoldLayne]

61. Pink Floyd with Rick Wright and also Syd Barrett Reincarnated as

The opening performer pre 1968 before Syd's mental collapse.

[Arugula Latte]

62. World Party (Karl Wallinger)

Because the world loves him, and I love Karl's music. :)

[Wizard777]

63. I would save money by having KISS headline 4th of July celebrations.

They come with their own fire works and what a show that is.

[Joe the Liberal]

66. Some very dark, hardcore, satanic, death metal bands......

to piss off the repubs.

[11 Bravo]

67. West, Bruce, and Laing (Hey, I'm old!)

[kgnu_fan]

68. Flobots!!!!

Flobots - Rise
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0XmsUlz2hI&feature=channel

THE FLOBOTS: We Are Winning
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xY-kEfvAakA&feature=related

[kgnu_fan]

69. Flobots!!!!!

"Stand Up" by the Flobots
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8xTOadn1n0&NR=1

[Codeine]

91. +1

[cynatnite]

71. Jackson Browne! n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

75. Oh yes.

And Bruce.

And lots of the other good suggestions here!

[dana_b]

72. Rage Against the Machine

that would REALLY piss of the Repubs!

Oh, and Pearl Jam. Love them.

[Scarsdale Vibe]

73. GWAR, Les Savy Fav, and Girl Talk

[BOG PERSON]

78. I would hire somebody to play very loud organ music

“Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” or “Come Sweet Death” or really any of Bach's organ works, it doesn't matter which. All that matters is that it is very loud, and nobody is allowed to leave.

[BOG PERSON]

79. Diamanda Galas

[ArnoldLayne]

80. The Clash with Joe Strummer reincarnated

[dysfunctional press]

81. porcupine tree, catherine wheel, garbage, concrete blonde, and moose.

for the first weekend.

[Canuckistanian]

82. Well, let's see

I'd start with Hun Huur Tu for an opening act, followed by the Bulgarian Women's Choir.

The headliner would be Ry Cooder, in concert with Wynton Marsalis.

Then, maybe a performance with Garrison Keillor and his choice of musical accompaniment.

And finishing up with Emmylou Harris and Leon Redbone.

But that's just me.

[flvegan]

84. Beastie Boys, Rage Against the Machine and Rise Against.

[depakid]

85. Pearl Jam, Modest Mouse, Decembrists and of course....

Dixie Chicks!

[Eric Condon]

86. Your list is pretty on point

I would have Mike Watt perform, and then appoint him to the National Council for the Arts.

I'd also get Hüsker Dü to reunite. Maybe at an event honoring LGBT contributions to the arts? Either way, awesome.

[alfredo]

87. I would bring back Esperanza Spalding. She played for Obama and kicked ass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lNE7jWA5AE

[bermudat]

88. Dianne Reeves

[Codeine]

90. Current 93 and Cake. Not on the same night. ;) nt