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Artist News
Bono gushes at inauguration gig
By CMU Editorial | Published on Monday 19 January 2009
That previously reported official concert to celebrate the inauguration of Barack Obama as new US president has taken place, and Bono has been gushing about it all.
The event, which featured performances by the likes of Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen culminated in a two song set from U2. As the band took to the stage, Bono said: “Let freedom ring. On this spot where we’re standing 46 years ago Dr King had a dream. On Tuesday, that dream comes to pass”.
He added that the election of Obama is: “not just an American dream but also an Irish dream, a European dream, an African dream, an Israeli dream and also a Palestinian dream”.
Not having yet gushed quite enough, he continued, addressing Obama, sitting in the front row: “What a thrill for four Irish boys from the north side of Dublin to honour you sir, Barack Obama, to be the next president of the United States”. To be fair to Bono, all that talk was punctuated by the two songs, so he’s perhaps not quite the windbag I’m making him out to be.
Obama himself made a brief speech at the end of the concert, but he didn’t specifically mention Bono.
He told the audience: “I want to thank today’s speakers and performers for reminding us through song and word what it is we love about America. Americans of every race, creed and station came here because you believe in what America can be and you can help us get there. If we can recognise ourselves in one another…no obstacle can stand in the way of millions of voices calling for change”.
Obama gets inaugurated tomorrow.
