Aiken Montage Honors Obamas

An Obama Love Story: Something About Us by Maplestik

'Renewing America's Promise'

Historic Inaugural Underway

On Tuesday, Jan. 20, the United States will inaugurate President-Elect Barack Obama, the first African American elected to the highest office in the land. As part of the celebration at one of 10 official inaugural balls that evening will be An Obama Love Story, a montage created by Maplestik with Clay Aiken singing "Something About Us."

The beautiful Something About Us montage, set to a track from Clay's On My Way Here album, had recorded 603,576 views by noon Saturday morning. In the works for weeks, this is an honor for both the video maker and Clay, who sings the love song with such passion.

A week of inaugural festivities literally left the station Saturday morning with a 120-mile whistle stop train tour into Washington, DC, by President-Elect Obama, Vice-President Elect Joe Biden, and their families.

President-Elect Obama Waves from Train (AP).

Beginning in Philadelphia, the birthplace of the nation, the 2009 tour mirrors the 12-day train trip taken by President Abraham Lincoln from Springfield, IL, to the nation's Capitol in 1861 during which he gave 100 speeches along the way.

Theme of Inauguration Week 2009 is "Renewing America's Promise," underscoring the commitment by President-Elect Obama and Vice President-Elect Joe Biden to restore opportunity and possibility for all and re-establish America's standing as a beacon of hope around the world.

Overview of Inauguration Schedule

Saturday, Jan. 17: Whistle Stop Tour - President-Elect Obama, Vice President-Elect Biden and their families will travel by train to Washington, DC and will host events reflecting their national service initiative along the way in Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore. See Whistle Stop Tour here.

Sunday, Jan. 18: Inaugural Opening Concert - Kicking off Sunday's inaugural celebration will be a star-studded concert at 2:30 p.m. on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

Performers include Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder.

Among those reading historical passages will be Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington. The Rt. Reverend V. Gene Robinson will give the invocation.

Monday, Jan. 19: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - In keeping with the national day of service that annually honors Dr. King’s legacy, the Obama and Biden families will participate in activities dedicated to helping others in communities throughout the Washington, DC area.

In 2008, 5,000 service projects honored the life and achievements of Dr. King nationally. Already, the number for 2009 has doubled and is growing daily.

Other tributes to Dr. King's legacy are choral concerts, including "Let Freedom Ring" at The Kennedy Center, and civil rights film festivals.

A NEW ERA - Vice President-Elect Joe Biden
and President-Elect Barack Obama (Reuters).

Tuesday, Jan. 20: Inauguration Day - Swearing-in ceremony, Inaugural Parade, and official Inaugural Balls.

The oath of office will be administered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, followed by the new president's inaugural address, parade, and balls and galas.

The 10 official balls to be attended by the Obamas and the Bidens include the Commander-in-Chief Inaugural Ball at the National Building Museum; the Youth Inaugural Ball at the Washington Hilton; Eastern Inaugural Ball at Union Station, and the Southern Inaugural Ball (AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, and TX) at the National Guard Armory.

Six will take place at the Washington Convention Center, including the first ever Neighborhood Inaugural Ball, Obama Home States Inaugural Ball (Illinois and Hawaii), Biden Home States Inaugural Ball (Delaware and Pennsylvania), Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball (MD, VA, DC, NY, NJ, and WV), Midwest Inaugural Ball (NW. KS, IN, IA, MI, MN, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI, and MO), and Western Inaugural Ball (AK, CA, ID, MT, OR, WA, WY, AZ, CO, NV, NM, UT, OK, GUAM/AS).

More information on the official balls and legions of other celebratory events can be read here.

No One as Irish as Barack Obama

Global Excitement for Inauguration

The enthusiasm and excitement surrounding the Obama inauguration has gone global, parts of which will be televised. Live streaming is available on most networks and cable channels, and large screen viewing has been scheduled for a variety of venues.

Well-known throughout the world is President-Elect Obama’s multicultural heritage. Little known, however, is his connection to Ireland; but the song by Hardy Drew recorded by the Corrigan Brothers should help fill in the blanks. Link to concert and animated versions on YouTube.

The president-elect has personally invited the Corrigan Brothers to perform the O'Bama song at the inauguration. They will entertain on the Irish American float in Tuesday's parade and also at an official party.

Screen cap links to animated montage.

No One as Irish as Barack Obama

O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara
There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

You don't believe me, I hear you say
But Barack's as Irish, as was JFK
His granddaddy's daddy came from Moneygall
A small Irish village, well known to you all

Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama
There's no one as Irish As Barack O'Bama

He's as Irish as bacon and cabbage and stew
He's Hawaiian he's Kenyan American too
He's in the white house, He took his chance
Now let's see Barack do Riverdance

Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama
There's no one as Irish As Barack O'Bama

From Kerry and cork to old Donegal
Let's hear it for Barack from old moneygall
From the lakes if Killarney to old Connemara
There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara
There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama
From the old blarney stone to the great hill of Tara
There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

2008 the white house is green,
They're cheering in Mayo and in Skibereen.
The Irish in Kenya, and in Yokahama,
Are cheering for President Barack O'Bama

O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara
There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama

The Hockey Mom's gone, and so is McCain
They are cheering in Texas and in Borrisokane,
In Moneygall town, the greatest of drama,
or our Famous president Barack O'Bama

Toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a loo, toor a lama
There's no one as Irish As Barack O'Bama

The great Stephen Neill, a great man of God,
He proved that Barack was from the Auld Sod
They came by bus and they came by car,
To celebrate Barack in Ollie Hayes's Bar

O'Leary, O'Reilly, O'Hare and O'Hara
There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama.

President-Elect Barack Obama (Associated Press).

Despite the frigid temperatures along the Whistle Stop and in Washington, DC, the inauguration of Barack Obama and Joe Biden as this country's leaders promises to be the most attended and most watched in history.

Rosa Parks sat so that Martin Luther King could walk.
Martin Luther King walked so that Barack Obama could run.
Barack Obama ran so that all children could fly. -- from Daily Kos

Happy "new beginnings" to the USA!

Caro

TECHNORATI TAGS: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, US presidential inauguration, historic event, Clay Aiken, An Obama Love Story, Something About Us, On My Way Here, montage, No One As Irish As Barack Obama, Corrigan Brothers, Hardy Drew