President Obama Pays Homage To Beyonce's Single Ladies

Beyonce can rest a little easier now that she has the President's seal of approval. Singer John Legend has captured video of the President Obama working the crowd and greeting the R&B siren at the Concert on the Mall. The Huffington Post reported the following exchange after some light prodding from the First Lady about his enthusiasm for the ubiquitous hit "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It"):

Michelle Obama says, "Mr. President, you didn't tell Beyonce about 'Single Ladies'? Your rendition?"

"I'm not like Justin [Timberlake]" Obama says laughing, referencing the SNL spoof. "I didn't put on the outfit... [but} I didn't want my girls thinking that I couldn't, you know... I got a lil something."

And with that, he did the hand flip and added, "This part I get."

Two days later he again danced to Beyonce, along with wife Michelle, at his first inaugural ball.

Now, about that ever elusive Oscar................

My Eyez Are On: Trish featuring JDiggz & Oh! - "Don't Watch Me"

I'm liking the Neptunes-inspired production on this one. Looks like Trish is the one to watch for next summer. Based on this first video directed by Little X (where ya been?) I get the impression that she might serve up something a little more diverse than your usual R&B chick.

Music Throwback Sunday: Snuggle Up To This

Dalvin DeGrate - Long Day (2000)

a.k.a. Mr. Dalvin from Jodeci

Anita Baker - Body and Soul (1994)


Tatyana Ali - Through Life Alone (1998)


Sam Salter - After 12 Before 6 (1997)


Sweet Sable - Old Times Sake (1994)


Monica - Before You Walk Out My Life (1995)


Mary J. Blige - My Life (1994)


Outside Your Door - Me'Shell Indegeocello (1993)

This one caused a bit of controversy as Me'Shell accused Brian McNight of lifting the melody from this song and using it in his hit Anytime

Heaven Knows - Luther Vandross (1993)

2009 Sundance Festival: Push Starring Mo'Nique and Mariah Carey Receives Standing Ovation

A screening of the powerful film Push received a standing ovation and has already garnered rave reviews and talk of a possible Oscar nomination for one of it's stars, Mo'Nique. Also starring newcomer Gabourney Sidibe, it is perceived as being the first bonafide hit of the 2009 Sundance Festival. This is undoubtedly good news for director Lee Daniels, who previously cast Mo'Nique in the cult hit Shadowboxer, opposite Academy Award winning actors Helen Mirren and Cuba Gooding Jr.


Daniels, who is no stranger to controversy, is known for tackling taboo subject matter head-on. As the sole producer of the Oscar-winning Monster's Ball, he's shown a deft hand at dealing with racism and interracial love. His next stint as a producer was for The Woodsman, starring Kevin Bacon, which was focused on the portrayal of a pedophile and his re-adjustment to society after being released from prison, followed by the aforementioned Shadowboxer, a hard-boiled noirish thriller that explores May-December romance, incest, interracial relationships, and features unapologetically graphic sexual situations, another recurring theme in his work.

Following in the same tradition, Push, which is based on the 1996 novel written by Ramona Lofton under the pseudonym Saffire, tells the story of Clareece "Precious" Jones (Sidibe), a young, illiterate Harlem teen with HIV, who's pregnant for the second time with her father's child, and is also bullied by her horribly wretched mother played by Mo'Nique. The movie, like the book, is said to pull no punches, but the combined performances of Mariah Carey as a social worker, Lenny Kravitz (in his movie debut) as a nurse and Paula Patton (Idlewild) as a teacher all take an interest in her plight and will hopefully lend a much-needed balance to the horrific proceedings. Subject matter aside, Mr. Daniels' work is also known for its complex layers, character development and dialogue, so this is definitely a treat for those who yearn for the return of grittier and more topical fare, which is sorely missed and much-needed in black cinema. There is no set release date, but I'll most definitely keep an eye out for this one.

UPDATE: Push has also won the Grand Jury Prize.

Photo credit: Getty Images
Pictured: l. to r., Mariah Carey, Gabouney Sidibe, Lee Daniels, Mo'Nique, Paula Patton

NYC Bigot Baker Sells Racist Cookies, Allegedly Threatens President

You know, sometimes it's the seemingly blissful ignorance of some racist assholes, whom I've been constantly advised to ignore, that really kick up my shit. And the sheer audacity of this one in particular drove me to hit the keys so hard, I think a few of them popped out of the board.

Ted Kefalinos, proprietor of the so-called trendy (It was featured on Sex and the City!)Lafayette French Pastry in Greenwich Village, has created a cookie called Drunken Negro Head honor of the President. Okay, now before I start to rip, let me first tell you a story which will explain my initial distrust of any Trendy Bakery That Was Featured On Sex And The City!

Several years back, a friend of mine insisted that I do them a big favor a trek down to Bleeker Street in The Village and stand on a ridiculuously long line at the Magnolia bakery and procure a few cupcakes which were supposed to be the shit because it existed at a Trendy Bakery That Was Featured On Sex In The City! So I wait on line for about an hour, and then jet downtown with the precious cargo of cupcakes secured in a cute white box, tied with a cute colorful ribbon.

Soon after I arrived at my friend's house, we opened the box, and there they were; the cupcakes that every trendoid north of WeHo had cancelled pap smears, dental appointments and cancer biopsy appointments for in order to stand in line. After what seemed like endless anticipation, we both reached into the box for a precious treat and lifted it to our mouths. I realized after taking a big bite that I had been punked. The shit was not only stale, it tasted like dry sugar bomb. I pictured a 3 year old who had been experimenting with a recipe that consisted of a 20 year old bag of flour, a five pound box of sugar, Play Doh and dot candy, and then shoved the mess into an Easy Bake Oven. And I still, to this day, want the money back that I wasted on a Metrocard.

So fuck trendy bakeries.

Okay now, back to Ted, The Racist Asshole Baker. Supposedly, he casually asked a customer if she would like a Drunken Negro head with her coffee. And that like Lincoln, President Obama will get what's coming to him. After being interviewed by Fox 5 NY's Arnold Diaz, Ted, The Racist Asshole Baker increduously insisted, at length, that he did nothing wrong. I guess you'll just have to see the newsclip to believe it.

Fisrt Lady Michelle Obama Says Sasha and Malia Dolls "Inappropriate"

The First Lady has expressed her displeasure at the company that marketed dolls based on the names of First Daughters, Malia and Sasha. Ty Dolls has reiterated their claim that "There's nothing on the dolls that refers to the Obama girls," spokeswoman Tania Lundeen said. "It would not be fair to say they are exact replications of these girls. They are not."

It is mere coincidence, apparently, that the dolls, which bears the names of Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia surfaced soon after the inauguaration ceremonies. A spokesperson for Ms.Obama has released the following statement:

"We believe it is inappropriate to use young private citizens for marketing purposes,"

I previously posted an item on my skepticism about the dolls a couple of days ago.

Photo source: Huffpo

Paris Fashion Week 2009: Kanye West And Crew At Comme Des Carcon Show

My good friend Antoinette hipped me to this shot from Jak & Jil Blog. Yes, that's homeboy and his crew at the Comme Des Carcon show.

Say what you want about Mr. Kanye West, and his ego, but I like a brother who keeps his mind squarely focused on the abstract. I also like the fact that he redefines so-called hardcore rap fashion and embraces and endorses change and makes no apology for his taste in clothes and art. But his detractors seem to want to give him a hard time for it. Recently, a rumor involving Kanye wanting to do bi-porn hit the internets and Kanye posted a disclaimer on his blog, attributing the rumors to hackers who got into his My Space and gmail accounts:

YOOOO WHY WON'T YOU LET ME BE GREAT!!! I HAD THE TWO GREATEST DAYS OF MY LIFE AND WHEN I GET BACK FROM THE LOUIE SHOW I READ SOME SHIT CLAIMING I SAID I'M DOWN TO DO PORN AND SOME BISEXUAL PORN!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE THE AVN WOULD POST FIRST PEOPLE BELIEVED THE TWITTER/STEVEN COLBERT THING, ROLLING STONE EVEN PRINTED IT!!!! NOW SOMEBODY HAS BEEN HACKING INTO MY MYSPACE AND SOMEBODY'S ACTUALLY HACKED INTO MY PERSONAL GMAIL ACCOUNT AND HAS BEEN EMAILING PEOPLE FROM IT... HEY WORLD I NO LONGER HAVE A GMAIL! I FOUND OUT I HAD TWELVE UNAUTHORIZED SKYPE ACCOUNTS UNDER MY NAME!!! THIS ALL IN THE PAST FOUR DAYS. WELCOME TO KANYE WEST WORLD! .... IT'S NOT OFFICIAL. I JUST GAVE THE PERFORMANCE OF MY LIFETIME FOR OUR NEW PRESIDENT ... THEN I FLEW TO PARIS AND THEY DEBUTED MY NEW SHOES THAT I DESIGNED WITH LOUIE VUITTON WHICH WAS A DREAM COME TRUE. PLEASE I BEG YOU, GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LET ME BE GREAT!!! WHO HAVE I HURT SO BAD THAT THEY WANT TO DESTROY ME? WHO HAVE I EVER SPOKE ABOUT SO NEGATIVELY?

Why Can't You Let Me Be Great?! You gotta LOVE a motherfucker who has the temerity to make such a statement in the blogosphere, especially in this, The Age of Snark. And I will say this: Not since the heyday of Prince has there been a major black artist who gives you the unexpected, isn't afraid of innovation and evolves with each recording project, like it or not. So thanks, Kanye for at least having the BALLS to be different. It takes a real man to pull it off.

That said, I also have a bone to pick. I don't think that he makes it easier on himself by being so dramatic about this shit. A lot of forward-thinking rock and pop stars like Prince, David Bowie and even to some extent, Michael Jackson, didn't give a good goddamn what people thought about bisexual and gay rumors, and although there was some strong evidence against them in some cases, I believe they had fun with it. In fact, I'll bet they even encouraged it. The women ate that shit up. Maybe it's harder for him since he's in the rap game, which is historically homophobic and relies on a strict set of paramaters when it comes to defining and portraying one's manhood. But perhaps it's time to bust out of that box and breathe some new life into a genre that hasn't really evolved or shown any substantial innovation since the advent of gangsta rap, in my opinion. If you're going to portray yourself as someone who doesn't follow the status quo, then just relax and go with that shit. Your audience as a whole might not like it, but most of them will eventually accept you for what you are as long as your producing good art. I've been quite bored with the last 10 years of the same shit said over and over and over and again, so it's great to be surprised once in a while.

So do what you do and chill, man. You know peoples are gonna get all ill about colors and clothes that be fitting. What did you expect? Stay true to you, and those who get it, will, and those who don't, will fall by the wayside. In time, perhaps, they'll look back and acknowledge that you was ahead of the game. And if they don't, fuck them.

BONUS BEATS:

Concrete Loop gots some dope pics of Kanye and Marc Jacobs debuting some fresh Louis Vuitton sneakers.

Beyonce Wants To Be Higher Edumacated

In this clip, Beyonce got all flustered and stuff as she struggled to articulate a concise thought to convey how she felt about singing at the Inaugural Ball. As she navigated through raw emotional waters, she gushed about her "emabarassment" at expressing said emotion, and her desire to be "more smarter" (good stuff!), I couldn't help but feel as if I was right there with her, wanting to help her throughout it all, wanting to save her. Then she lied. At one point she said, "You know, honesly, of course I voted before, but I never really watched the ceremonies". Now I was gonna leave this poor child alone, but then I came across this comment on a post over at Crunk + Disorderly:

"doesn't anybody remember destiny's child performing at bush's inaugration party? they were yelling "bush! bush! bush! texas! texas! texas!"

Why must she make it so easy? You sang at a inauguration ceremony before! A REPUBLICAN inauguration! For BUSH!!!!!!

Help me, Jeebus.

More Sasha Fierce News: Introducing - The Sasha Fierce Doll

First daughters Malia and Sasha Obama, who will from now on be referred to here as The Real Sasha Fierce here at Beezo Blue, have been immortalized as Beanie Babies. According to an article on The Huffington Post, the manufacturer, Ty,Inc. appears to cashing in on the girls' major popularity and influence. The dolls, named "Sweet Sasha" and "Marvelous Malia." (I dunno, they kinda sound like stripper names to me) supposedly do not refer to President Barack Obama's daughters, a spokeswoman for the company says, and are part of a collection called "TyGirlz Collection." Yeah, note the "z", y'all. The Sasha doll has pigtails and wears a white and pink dress with hearts. The Malia doll has a side ponytail and a long-sleeve shirt with capri pants.
They also say they chose the names because "they are beautiful names," not because of any resemblance to Malia and Sasha Obama, said spokeswoman Tania Lundeen.

Read more about it here.

"There's nothing on the dolls that refers to the Obama girls," Lundeen said. "It would not be fair to say they are exact replications of these girls. They are not."
The dolls have bronze skin and "real doll hair," Lundeen said. They were introduced in early January and a limited supply has been shipped to retailers.

2009 Academy Award Nominations: Taraji P. Henson And Viola Davis

Congratulations to Viola Davis and her nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her much-talked about, albeit small and powerful supporting role in Doubt, which also stars Meryl Streep, (who was also nominated for Best Actress), former Best Actor winner Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams. Taraji P. Henson has also been nominated for her crucial supporting role in the Brad Pitt/Cate Blanchett starrer, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button. This is going to be a tough choice, as both actors are said to have brought their A-Game to the table, but the clear choice as far as reviews go, has Viola as the favorite, so far. Her performance is said to be devastatingly effective and a focal point in the dramatic narrative of the movie, or the Big Payoff as they say, which is saying a lot for a movie that includes such heavyweights like Streep and Hoffman.

I'll be seeing TCCOBB this evening along with Best Picture nominee Slumdog Millionaire, and I've already watched Milk, The Visitor, Changeling, Tropic Thunder, I've Loved You So Long, Vicky Christina Barcelona, Batman Returns and The Wrestler, and hopefully will get to see a few of the other nominated movies and weigh in with some predictions next month, but I will say that so far, I'm surprised that Kristin Scott Thomas (remember her from Prince's Under The Cherry Moon?) didn't make the list for her strong, yet understated perfomance in I've Loved You So Long. More on that later, but in the meantime, here's a list of some of the main categories:

BEST PICTURE

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

"Frost/Nixon"

"Milk"

"The Reader"

"Slumdog Millionaire"

BEST ACTRESS

Anne Hathaway, "Rachel Getting Married"

Angelina Jolie, "Changeling"

Melissa Leo, "Frozen River"

Meryl Streep, "Doubt"

Kate Winslet, "The Reader"

BEST ACTOR

Frank Langella, "Frost/Nixon"

Sean Penn, "Milk"

Brad Pitt, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Mickey Rourke, "The Wrestler"

Richard Jenkins, "The Visitor"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Amy Adams, "Doubt"

Penelope Cruz, "Vicky Cristina Barcelona"

Viola Davis, "Doubt"

Taraji P. Henson,

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Marisa Tomei, "The Wrestler"

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Josh Brolin, "Milk"

Robert Downey Jr., "Tropic Thunder"

Philip Seymour Hoffman, "Doubt"

Heath Ledger, "The Dark Knight"

Michael Shannon, "Revolutionary Road"

BEST DIRECTOR

Danny Boyle, "Slumdog Millionaire"

Stephen Daldry, "The Reader"

David Fincher, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

Ron Howard, "Frost/Nixon"

Gus Van Sant, "Milk"

BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

Dustin Lance Black, "Milk"

Courtney Hunt, "Frozen River"

Mike Leigh, "Happy-Go-Lucky"

Marttin McDonagh, "In Bruges"

Andrew Stanton,

Jim Reardon, "WALL-E"

BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAYS

imon Beaufoy, "Slumdog Millionaire"

David Hare, "The Reader"

Peter Morgan, "Frost/Nixon"

John Patrick Shanley, "Doubt"

Eric Roth, Robin Swicord, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"

BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM

"The Baader-Meinhof Complex" (Germany)

"The Class" (France)

"Departures" (Japan)

"Revanche" (Austria)"Waltz with Bashir" (Israel)

BEST ANIMATED FILM

"Bolt"

"Kung Fu Panda"

"Wall-E"

BEST ART DIRECTION

"Changeling"

"The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button"

"Dark Knight"

"The Duchess"

"Revolutionary Road"

BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE

"The Betrayal (Nerakhoon)"

"Encounters at the End of the World"

"The Garden"

"Man on Wire"

"Trouble the Water"

BEST ORIGINAL SONG
"Slumdog Millionaire," "Jai Ho," A.R. Rahm

"Slumdog Millionaire," "O Saya," A.R. Rahman & M.I.A.

"Wall-E," "Down To Earth," Peter Gabriel & Thomas Newman

Video: Jay Z and Young Jeezy - My President Is Black

Check out this clip of Jigga and Jeezy at the Inauguration Pre-Party.

THIS...........IS SASHA FIERCE

Face it. She has no equal.

Mission Accomplished! Barack H. Obama, 44th President of the United States

I was inspired to start writing this blog on a whim the morning of November 5, 2008, after President Obama's election night victory speech. Although I felt euphoric, I don't think it truly hit me until I watched the inauguration ceremony. My mother and I watched in silent tearful joy as he was sworn in, gave an impassioned speech on where we've been and where we will go from here, escorted former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura to their farewell flight and then sat and signed some offical documents flanked by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Diane Feinstein, among others. It is now official. For today, I'm not thinking about myself or my own selfish wants and desires. Or whether Beyonce is a suitable choice to sing a damn song, or any of the other follies of celebrities. I just want to bask in the glow and appreciate how far we've come as African Americans and Americans as a whole.

That is all.

Here is the transcript of President Obama's speech, as well a clip from the inauguration.


Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many.

They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met. On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn. Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.

The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.

We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.
Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet. We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.

To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us today, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.
This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Live Post: HBO's We Are One, Obama Inauguration Celebration

I came in late on this - I had some computer glitches, but I managed to come in at about 2:45.

2:45: Bruce Springsteen sings "The Rising" accompanied by a choir.

2:48: Actor Laura Linney and Martin Luther King Jr. both recall FDR's and JFK's famous speeches, focusing on the iconic quoatables, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself", and "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country", respectively.

2:52: Mary J. Blige performs "Lean On Me". She looks especially good in a cream colored jacket and pants ensemble against the backdrop of the Lincoln Memorial. She does not disappoint. Obama gets his neck-roll on.

2:56: Steve Carell and Jamie Foxx give a speech about the Supreme Court. Jamie directs the cue card holder to "keep it down". Gotta love him. He tells Chi-Town in the house to stand up. Three times. Michelle Obama stands up, smiling. Jamie then imitates Obama's change speech. Obama likes this. Jamie now has a lock on playing him in the biopic. Will Smith should be very worried about this.

2:59: Bettye Lavette(!) sings "A Change Is Gonna Come". Her voice sounds crisp and rich. It's good to see her. Jon Bon Jovi joins her. Homeboy can blow! Who knew?

3:04: Tom Hanks gives a moving speech about Lincoln. My mother shouts, "How come he doesn't have a coat on?"

3:06: Marisa Tomei quotes Ronald Reagan. James Taylor, Jennifer Nettles and John Legend perform.

3:12: Vice President Joe Biden delivers a speech on the virtues of hard work and responsibility. He is shouting. I don't know why.

3:15: John Mellencamp sings "Ain't That America" with another guy, who I can't catch, because I'm typing. The song is accompanied by a montage of multi-ethnic blue collar workers.

3:20: Queen Latifah recalls Black opera singer Marian Anderson's historic performance of The National Anthem on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Josh Groban and Heather Headley then give their rendition. It sounds flawless.

3:25: Comedian George Lopez and Cal Penn reflect on the accomplishments of Dwight Eisenhower and Barbara Jordan.

3:28: Herbie Hancock, Will.I.Am and Cheryl Crow sing "One Love"

3:32: Tiger Woods speaks.

3:38: Jack Black and Rosario Dawson talk about Teddy Roosevelt's designation of our national parks. Garth Brooks, accompanied by a large choir, launches into a medley of American Pie, and Shout. What was once a somber and quiet affair, turns into a party. The crowd is getting into it. He came. He saw. He brought it. Applause. It's The Garth Show, y'all!

3:47: Ashley Judd and Forrest Whitaker provide a dramatic introduction to Usher and Shakira, who performed "Higher Ground". They sounded a little lackluster until Stevie Wonder joined them and provided guidance on how to Do It Properly. The First Family stood up and got into it. Nice.

3:54: The man. SamJack. Is here. Quotes Rosa Parks. Tells it about the Civil Rights Movement. Y'all best listen. I does so accordingly. U2 performs what is sure to be Obama's theme song, "In the Name Of Love".

4:07: Our country's mascot, a bald eagle by the name of Challenger, makes an appearance. It's strange and great to see the symbol in all it's breathing glory. Barack Obama takes the stage.
He thanks all the singers and speakers for coming together and symbolizing what we're about. He reflects on the economy, war and our families' struggles. He warns of setbacks and false starts in getting things done, but that we will endure. He talks again about us coming together for the sake of change.

"Our road will long, our climb will be steep".

The crowd chants O-ba-ma!
4:17: Bruce Springsteen introduces folk singer Pete Seeger in a rendition of Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land", backed by a choir. The audience joins in.
4:22: Beyonce comes on stage. She is singing "America The Beautiful", backed by the same choir. She invites the other singers and perfomers on stage. She looks beautiful. And gives a measured and tasteful performance. Well done. I will say that the moment called for a more gospel-tinged voice (Jennifer?), but I'm proud of her and all the other performers for braving the cold and paying homage to our New Leader.