Kennedy Center Honors

[greatbear]

I always make it a point to watch the annual Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts show bestowing the Kennedy Center Honors on very deserving and diverse individuals for their contributions to the performing arts world. This time, the honorees were prima ballerina Natalia Makarova, actor Dustin Hoffman, blues man Buddy Guy, late-night host David Letterman, and rockers Led Zeppelin. Aside from the obvious presence of the honorees, the roster of greats in the respective fields of the recipients is nothing short of incredible. The performances given to each of the honorees not only highlight the peak of each artists' careers, but the mutual respect between them and their peers is obvious and beautiful. This night was no exception. In fact, it was almost magical.

I sat myself in front of the television last night and let myself become completely wrapped up in the show. I had familiarity with all of the honorees, even Natalia Marakova, getting a bit choked up as a number of familiar dances were performed reminded me of Mom and her constant immersion in opera and ballet. I became giddy and amazed at all the performers, as they followed each other during the show. The performances given in honor of Buddy Guy were outstanding, with Jeff Beck and Beth Hart, Tracy Chapman and Bonnie Raitt bringing down the house. I could not wait to see what awaited Led Zeppelin, who were being inducted as a band and with Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones as individual artists.

Lenny Kravitz performed "Whole Lotta Love." The Foo Fighters did "Rock and Roll." Then Jason Bonham, son of late Zeppelin drummer John Bonham was called to the stage, and, well, I'll let the video speak for itself:

Yeah, color me blown away. I hope these videos aren't nuked by YouTube for some silly infringement bullshit. I saved my own local copies.

One more thing. Throughout the performances President Obama and First Lady Michelle are seen thoroughly enjoying each performance, either engaged in the speeches given both seriously and comedic, and completely into the music. They get it. I cannot for the life of me imagine a Mitt Romney and his wooden wife even pretending to enjoy the songs for the scary bluesman or those drugged out rockers. Stairway to Heaven? That'll be a minimum of ten percent of your salary, please. Thankfully, tonight was all about art (of all kinds) in excellence, mutual respect, and a whole lotta love.

Comments

[mikiedoggie.livejournal.com]

I was watching the Kennedy Center Honors too, and I agree with you about the evaluation of the First Family. They do get it, and love it, and I just don't see Mitt Romney and his family honestly relating to that.

When they said Heart was performing I was like "really?" They did an amazing job, and as the arrangement expanded I just kept grinning ear to ear. A very nice evening.

[greatbearmd.livejournal.com]

There was a wonderful subtlety about that performance. Heart were known in the beginning as "the Female Led Zeppelin" and indeed they covered lots of Zep songs in concert and albums, no to mention being heavily influenced by them. I saw Heart in '77 (damn I'm old) and they did "Rock and Roll" during that show. The steady building arrangement was amazing. Jason Bonham, son of the late Zep drummer John Bonham, wears a bowler hat, as you saw. I didn't think anything of that until the mass choir near the end is revealed wearing the same hats. John Bonham would occasionally wear one back in the day:



A wonderful tribute inside of a tribute, subtle and loving.