Give it Up!

King Wonkette Ken Layne puts the snark on pause for a moment and gets it exactly right:

Maybe, after eight years or so, we will not be particularly moved by, say, Stevie Wonder playing for the president and first lady. But for now, we will enjoy this pleasant novelty, especially when your Barack Obama is singing along.

Head on over to see a great performance of "Signed, Sealed, Delivered" and "Superstition." And then watch a video of Barack Obama presenting Stevie Wonder with the Library of Congress Gershwin Award. Quite moving.

And you gotta love a president who can say "give it up" and "cover band" unselfconsciously.

Or, if you prefer, head on over to PBS's site, and watch the hour-long video, "In Performance at the White House – Celebrating the Music of Stevie Wonder," featuring both Wonder and other artists singing his songs.

Good sound quality in all cases -- it looks like the YouTube clips on Wonkette were made from the PBS show.

[Added] Sadly, the producers of the show did not see fit to invite the best choice for covering "Higher Ground" -- the White House perhaps not quite ready to embrace slam-dancing -- but Mary Mary tore it up pretty good.