Declan McManus plays the White House

LASteve · July 28, 2021, 02:01:37 AM

OK, so Elvis Costello more accurately, to use his stage name.

Barack Obama, shortly before he packed up at the White House, hosted a music evening in 2016 where Sir Paul "Macca, alright like, Liver-pewl" McCartney was the guest of honor.

Costello played. This is very old news I'm sure, and I expect I live under a rock.

He is one of my favorite musicians. I saw him play at the Royal Albert Hall and at a scruffy pub in Camden Town a few years before that. He can stand on the outsides of his ankles. His father sang "I'm a Secret Lemonade Drinker" on the R. Whites commercial, with Elvis doing backing vocals ("R. Whites, R. Whites") when he was a youngster. He wrote and performed "Oliver's Army" with the Attractions, one of the best three minutes of music ever.

Anyway, he chose to perform "Penny Lane" to the guy that wrote it, who in turn was sitting next to Barack and Michelle. And he nailed it, along with some help from a Master Sergeant of the Marine Corps who played the piccolo trumpet. And he said "finger pie" in front of the President and the First Lady. What a guy.

I loved it. If you missed it, as I did, here it is on YouTube:

Bealman · July 28, 2021, 02:09:50 AM

Yeah, I have seen it, but still cool.

Flange Squeal · July 28, 2021, 08:51:05 AM

I find him to be the epitome of lucky sod but if we all appreciated the same artistes the world would be a dull place indeed

RailGooner · July 28, 2021, 08:59:44 AM

Quote from: LASteve on July 28, 2021, 02:01:37 AM
.. His father sang "I'm a Secret Lemonade Drinker" on the R. Whites commercial, with Elvis doing backing vocals ("R. Whites, R. Whites") when he was a youngster...

What a fantastic fact - that's definitely going in the pub quiz!

joe cassidy · July 28, 2021, 11:30:06 AM

He is one of my favourites - a great songwriter and a not bad singer.

A bit like Ray Davis of the Kinks.

cycletrak9 · July 28, 2021, 03:48:24 PM

His father, Ross McManus, was a resident singer with the Joe Loss Orchestra at thr Hammersmith Palais in the 1950's

jpendle · July 28, 2021, 04:25:22 PM

In my second year at the University of Liverpool, I was planning on sharing a flat with some friends at the top of Penny Lane.

But my mate Des, who was meant to be spending time chasing up the landlord, was trying to chase down a girl called Anne-Marie instead.

We didn't get the flat, but he didn't get the girl either

Poetic justice!

John P

acook · July 28, 2021, 05:24:56 PM

Love Elvis, especially Alison.

Barack also had these on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07rT1t2hkDU

Enjoy

Alan