A beautiful inauguration!

Amanda Gorman certain made an impression!

Gaga!

J Lo

Garth


I can't believe you never had a National Poet Laureate before Amanda Gorman!


Yeah, I didn't understand Blount's comment either.

ETA: Wrong Blunt.


Yes, it was wonderful from start to finish. God Bless America. 


The the National Youth Poet Laureate started in 2017 - so it hasn't been around for too long.  And there wouldn't have been many opportunities for one to have a national stage during the Trump years.


Amanda Gordon is on YouTube. Our grandson is a senior at Harvard and I texted him to ask whether he knew her when she was at Harvard. He said he didn't know her but some of his friends told him about her in his freshman year and he listened to her on YouTube.


Ahh... I must have missed the word "youth".


At 3:15 there is going to be a virtual procession in D.C. as part of the inauguration. It is being hosted by Tony Goldwyn who years ago I would often see him pushing a baby carriage down Maplewood Avenue. He married Jane Musky, a Columbia High graduate and they would visit her mother on Durand Rd. Jane is a movie production designer and worked on many movies including When Harry Met Sally. 


I believe he misspoke. He left out “Youth” Poet Laureate. 


Amanda Gorman says she wants to run for president in 2036. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amanda_Gorman


What a wonderful day!


blackcat said:

I believe he misspoke. He left out “Youth” Poet Laureate.

Yes, Blunt mistakenly skipped the word and introduced her as "the first national poet laureate."

ETA, just for trivia: The first national poet laureate was Robert Penn Warren, 1986-87. Before that, there were "consultants in poetry to the Library of Congress."


I did not know that. In my head I always thought Robert Frost was poet laureate and read at Kennedy's inauguration. Checking wikipedia now, I see that he did read at Kennedy's inauguration, and was poet laureate...of Vermont.


That was a spectacular show tonight. It was produced by Ricky Kirshner, whose father was Don Kirshner, and grew up in South Orange. 


PVW said:

I did not know that. In my head I always thought Robert Frost was poet laureate and read at Kennedy's inauguration. Checking wikipedia now, I see that he did read at Kennedy's inauguration, and was poet laureate...of Vermont.

 what's your beef with Vermont?


ml1 said:

PVW said:

I did not know that. In my head I always thought Robert Frost was poet laureate and read at Kennedy's inauguration. Checking wikipedia now, I see that he did read at Kennedy's inauguration, and was poet laureate...of Vermont.

 what's your beef with Vermont?

 The ice cream?

Just laughing at myself for being correct that Frost was poet laureate, but still being wrong.


What a day!

What's this unfamiliar feeling?

JOY!


Morganna said:

What a day!

What's this unfamiliar feeling?

JOY!

 music. 

Today reinforced the vital importance of music, art, and poetry. 


PVW said:

ml1 said:

 what's your beef with Vermont?

 The ice cream?

Ewww. 


PVW said:

ml1 said:

PVW said:

I did not know that. In my head I always thought Robert Frost was poet laureate and read at Kennedy's inauguration. Checking wikipedia now, I see that he did read at Kennedy's inauguration, and was poet laureate...of Vermont.

 what's your beef with Vermont?

 The ice cream?

The creepy teddy bears. 


I missed watching live, so we watched some highlights on YouTube. I also missed the virtual parade stuff as well as the big gala last night, mostly due to forgetting to turn on the TV.

I loved the three musical performances at the actual inauguration. I think the symbolism of Jennifer Lopez singing "This Land Was Made for You and Me" ...

(Sorry needed to get a tissue)

...was brilliant. 


I was very impressed and moved by Amanda Gordon, even more so when I learned that she is only 22.


The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

I was very impressed and moved by Amanda Gordon, even more so when I learned that she is only 22.

You have to watch this interview Anderson Cooper had with her last night. Anderson was almost at a losss for words - he was completely blown away. So was I. She's amazing! 


cramer said:

The_Soulful_Mr_T said:

I was very impressed and moved by Amanda Gordon, even more so when I learned that she is only 22.

You have to watch this interview Anderson Cooper had with her last night. Anderson was almost at a losss for words - he was completely blown away. So was I. She's amazing! 

 Wow, Thanks for posting that. I see what you mean. She's amazing. So bright and articulate and considered and poised. At 22! And he's awed. Rightfully so. 

I'd like to subscribe to Amanda Gordon so I can see whatever she does next. 


mrincredible said:

I missed watching live, so we watched some highlights on YouTube. I also missed the virtual parade stuff as well as the big gala last night, mostly due to forgetting to turn on the TV.

I loved the three musical performances at the actual inauguration. I think the symbolism of Jennifer Lopez singing "This Land Was Made for You and Me" ...

(Sorry needed to get a tissue)

...was brilliant. 

 This Land Is Your Land might be the most misunderstood American song.  Most public performances of it leave out Woody's "commie/socialist" verses and remove the real intent and spirit of the song. And yesterday was no different.


ml1 said:

 This Land Is Your Land might be the most misunderstood American song.  Most public performances of it leave out Woody's "commie/socialist" verses and remove the real intent and spirit of the song. And yesterday was no different.

All these years, I never knew of the last three verses.  Even when you google the lyrics, the top site doesn't show them.  Thanks for teaching me this.  I'm embarrassed.


ml1 said:

 This Land Is Your Land might be the most misunderstood American song.  Most public performances of it leave out Woody's "commie/socialist" verses and remove the real intent and spirit of the song. And yesterday was no different.

 Yep.  I'm aware of this.  It doesn't change how I feel about yesterday's performance.


mrincredible said:

ml1 said:

 This Land Is Your Land might be the most misunderstood American song.  Most public performances of it leave out Woody's "commie/socialist" verses and remove the real intent and spirit of the song. And yesterday was no different.

 Yep.  I'm aware of this.  It doesn't change how I feel about yesterday's performance.

I can understand that. It was beautiful in its own way. 

But I imagine Woody was doing 360s in his grave  cheese


ml1 said:

But I imagine Woody was doing 360s in his grave

cheese

Imagined that'd have to be. Paradoxically, Guthrie's cremated remains were scattered at sea.



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