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After the event the White House released a transcript of President Obama's introductory speech.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you, everybody. (Applause.) Please, everybody have a seat. The show is not over. (Laughter.) To all the tremendous artists from all the genres and backgrounds who’ve joined us tonight to pay tribute to the one and only Sir Paul McCartney, thank you so much. (Applause.)Stevie Wonder -- (applause) -- the Jonas Brothers, Faith Hill, Emmylou Harris, Lang Lang, Herbie Hancock, Elvis Costello, Jack White, Corinne Bailey Rae, David Grohl, and the funny man, Jerry Seinfeld -- give it up for them. (Applause.)
We also want to thank the Gershwin family, as well as the Library of Congress, and Dr. James Billington, as well as PBS, for helping to put this together. Dr. Billington has done extraordinary work at the Library of Congress, and his deep commitment to preserving America’s cultural heritage for future generations is something that we all treasure.
We have a number of members of Congress, number of dignitaries here tonight. I want to make special mention of our outstanding Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. (Applause.) You will not find a bigger supporter of the arts than Nancy Pelosi, and so we're grateful for that.
Even as we gather here tonight to present this annual award for extraordinary contributions to American music and culture -- that's right, we stole you, Paul -- (laughter) -- it goes without saying that this has been a very difficult time. We've gone through a difficult year and a half, and right now our thoughts and our prayers are with friends in another part of the country that is so rich in musical heritage -- the people of the Gulf Coast who are dealing with something that we simply had not seen before. And it’s heartbreaking. And we reaffirm, I think together, our commitment to see to it that their lives and their communities are made whole again. (Applause.)
But part of what gets us through tough times is music, the arts, the ability to capture that essential kernel of ourselves, that part of us that sings even when times are hard. And it’s fitting that the Library has chosen to present this year’s Gershwin Prize for Popular Song to a man whose father played Gershwin compositions for him on the piano; a man who grew up to become the most successful songwriter in history -– Sir Paul McCartney. (Applause.)
By its very definition, popular music is fleeting. Rarely is it composed with an eye towards standing the test of time. Rarer still does it actually achieve that distinction. And that’s what makes Paul’s career so legendary.
It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly half a century since four lads from Liverpool first landed on our shores -– and changed everything overnight. And I have to share this story. While we were sitting here I learned that the bass that Paul was playing on stage is the same bass that he played at The Ed Sullivan Show, which he told me it cost him 30 pounds. He says he suspects it’s worth a little more now. (Laughter.)
But the Beatles, they weren’t the first rock stars. They’d be the first to say that others had opened that door for them. But they blew the walls down for everybody else. In a few short years, they had changed the way that we listened to music, thought about music and performed music forever. They helped to lay the soundtrack for an entire generation -- an era of endless possibility and of great change.
And over the four decades since, Paul McCartney has not let up -- touring the world with the band Wings or on his own; rocking everything from small halls to Super Bowls. He’s composed hundreds of songs over the years -– with John Lennon, with others, or on his own. Nearly 200 of those songs made the charts -- think about that -- and stayed on the charts for a cumulative total of 32 years. (Laughter and applause.) And his gifts have touched billions of lives.
As he later confessed of the Beatles’ first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show -– where he carried that bass out -- that one evening that changed everything –- Paul said, “Luckily, we didn’t know what America was. We just knew our dream of it, or we probably would have been too intimidated.”
Tonight, it is my distinct pleasure to present America’s highest award for popular music on behalf of a grateful nation -- grateful that a young Englishman shared his dreams with us -– Sir Paul McCartney. (Applause.)
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Maybe Paul can get Obama to do something about the oil spill in the gulf. http://www.spinner.com/2010/06/03/paul-mccartney-bp-oil-spill-disgrace-white-house/
"Sir Paul", how dare you come to my country, stand in front of a current president to receive an award from my country, and have the audacity to insult a former president, You should at least have a clue to who you were speaking of. I guess you weren't aware that Mrs. Bush was a school teacher, and her focus during the Bush years in office was literacy. You must have thought you were soooo cute with that snarky remark, but you were nothing but ignorant. Why not go home and crack on your dowdy old queen!!
His remark wasn't aimed at Laura Bush - it was about George W, who could clearly learn a thing or two about grammar and literacy.
"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test." - George W Bush, 2001
But you've got to admit that it was unnecessary. Sadly, the press will choose to focus their attention on this, and not much else.
You are the one that is ignorant!
What Paul said was definitely in bad taste, no matter which president he was talking about. Great music, but I really don't care about what he thinks.
I understand the White House concert was filmed and will be broadcast in July. I'd love to see Paul singing "Michele" to the First Lady.
I saw bits of Paul singing Michelle to the First Lady and you could see she was totally flattered when Paul sang "I love you I love you I love you". It was nice and I hate her (LOL)
And I'm glad he mentioned the oil spill.
Very dissapointing to see my idol sit up there a act like some far left wing Holly Wood actor. Really hate seeing Paul stoop to that level.
I don't know what level you are coming from but if speaking his mind equates Paul with your stereotype of the "far left" than as a so called Beatle fan you haven't caught on.
When John Lennon made his Jesus remark over 40 years ago he was serving notice that some celebrities were not going to be boxed in to the general public's expectations and perceptions.
The exercising of freedom of speech is not stooping to any level.
Oh my goodness, I can't believe what Paul said. Not because I find it offensive, but because by the reaction of the American Conservatives I thought what he said was much more awful and inappropriate. Not sure why I'm surprised though, the Right never could take a joke.
I am surprised that there are so many Conservative Beatles fans, though, as they are the people who like to say that The Beatles were evil incarnate.
The Beatles are universal and their music is adored by all types of people.
Only someone who failed their high school exams would say such a thing to a Yale and HBS grad who was married to a librarian.
Only a graduate would initiate an unjust war while the failed student would give a musical legacy to the world.
Yeah, I'm with most of you...I kind of thought it was a low jab. Something not expecting of the king of class, Sir Paul.
Be careful Pauly, The Dixie Chicks did the same thing and it ruined their career!
Artists who come from rock n'roll can say just about anything about politics because rock n' roll is about rebellion and attitude.
For country artists such as the Dixie Chicks, they are supposed to abide by establishment rules because they depend on a fan base that is located in the traditional heartland of America.
Anyway, there is no swirling controversy here about Paul's comments that compare to the magnitude of the Dixie Chicks or John's Jesus remarks.
I don't think it's that much of a stretch to realize that Paul's comments about George W Bush, made in the White House, while receiving an honor from the current President were ungracious.
I love Paul and have since 1964. But discretion is still the better part of valor.
"After the last eight years, it's great to have a president who knows what a library is."
This from a man who thought 8 from 14 was 9. I am referencing Paul's lack of math skills he displayed while talking about how many original Beatle songs were on Beatles for Sale.
I agree with the comment above from c64wood - Great music, but I really don't care about what he thinks.
It was a valid comment. Good On Paul.