Bruce Springsteen, U2’s Bono and the Edge, Eddie Vedder, Stevie Wonder and more were among the performers at Obama Presidential Center’s grand opening ceremony. Watch the footage below.
The concert marked the opening of former President Barack Obama‘s Presidential Center in Chicago, and took place yesterday (June 18) ahead of its official public opening today.
In addition to Bono, the Edge, Springsteen, Vedder and Wonder, the lineup included Christina Aguilera, Common, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Marc Anthony, Marsai Martin, the Roots, and Tems.
The Roots kicked the proceedings with a funky rendition of Donald Byrd’s ‘Change (Makes You Want to Hustle)’ that segued into their own ‘You Got Me’ before they launched into their take on Bob Marley’s ‘Get Up, Stand Up’ and a cover of Kool & The Gang’s ‘Jungle Boogie’.
Later, Jennifer Hudson performed the national anthem as well as The Man of La Mancha’s ‘The Impossible Dream (The Quest)’. She was followed by Christina Aguilera, who delivered a special arrangement of Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a Wonderful World’.
Chicago native, Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, then took to the stage alongside local musical non-profit Guitars Over Guns – an organisation that provides students from vulnerable communities with a combination of music and mentorship. Together, they debuted a new song he wrote with them called ‘Better Believe’.
John Legend was next up, covering Donny Hathaway’s ‘Someday We’ll All Be Free’, before being joined by Common for a version of their hit ‘Glory’.
U2’s Bono and the Edge, alongside with producer Jackknife Lee, then performed a stripped-back rendition of ‘City of Blinding Lights’, the track from ‘How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’ which featured prominently during Obama’s presidential campaign rallies. “We’re here representing the Irish in Chicago,” Bono joked before the performance.
Later, Springsteen took to the stage to perform ‘Land of Hope and Dreams’, after telling the crowd: “I’m so glad to be here this afternoon for President Obama and Michelle, Malia and Sasha, you know how I love you all.”
“Oh, what a glorious task we are given to continually strive to improve this great nation of ours.’ That was from President Obama’s speech in Selma,” he continued. “President Obama and Michelle, you have exemplified that ideal with lives that have served us all with heart and commitment, love and compassion.”
Stevie Wonder closed the show with lively renditions of ‘All I Do’ and ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I’m Yours)’, before inviting Hudson, Aguilera, Legend, Vedder, Springsteen, Common and The Roots on stage to perform ‘Higher Ground’.
“I want you to remember, all of you, never let fear put your dreams to sleep,” he urged the crowd during his portion of the set.
Watch below.
Springsteen’s performance comes after he’s been largely outspoken against Donald Trump over the years, and frequently used his time both on and off the stage to call out the President and his administration.
Heated disputes between the two of them include The Boss calling for Trump to be impeached and “consigned to the trash heap of history”, as well as describing the President as “corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous”.
He also penned the politically-charged song ‘Streets Of Minneapolis’ following ICE agents killing two civilians in Minnesota, called Trump a “President who can’t handle the truth” on stage, endorsed the No Kings movement against him, and slammed the POTUS’ so-called “anti-weaponisation fund”.
Trump has hit back too, branding The Boss a “pushy, obnoxious JERK”, as well as a “dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker”, and the White House slammed Springsteen’s tour before it had even started – writing that the singer has a “severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome that has rotted his brain”.
In a recent interview with Bono, Springsteen said that he wants to find some “common ground” with fans who have walked away from him due to his political stance.