McCartney sings before the Obamas
03 Jun 10
Sir Paul McCartney performed his famous hits before the US president after receiving an award.
The former Beatles singer courted the First Lady with “I love you, I love you, I love you”, even as Barack Obama swayed to its rhythm.
The singer joked that he could be the "first guy ever to be punched out by a president" after performing the number.
McCartney was honoured with he Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, awarded by the Library of Congress. The president said McCartney had "helped to lay the soundtrack for an entire generation".
McCartney said it was a momentous occasion and volunteered a regular gig at the White House, saying: “I don't think there could be anything more special than to play here. Lunchtimes, we could come around, We're cheap.”
A 90-minute concert by various artists who sang their own versions of famous McCartney hits was held.
Stevie Wonder had the Obamas clapping to We Can Work It Out, the Jonas Brothers did Baby You Can Drive My Car and Corinne Bailey Rae slowed things down with Blackbird.
Elvis Costello crooned Penny Lane, and called it a "thing of wonder and beauty", noting that his mother grew up not far away from the now-famous street in Liverpool.
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