Inauguration '93: Natalie Merchant and Michael Stipe - "To Sir With Love"

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

One of my favorite moments from Bill Clinton's inaugural celebration

Hard to believe it's been 20 years.

[limpyhobbler]

1. This was pretty cool.

[Cooley Hurd]

2. Absolutely my favorite part, too!!!!

Here's the 1st song 10000 Maniacs did (with an intro by none other than... Dennis Miller???):

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

11. I wish the aliens would give us back that Dennis

and take the evil Bush-worshipping clone they swapped him for

That's easily my favorite Maniacs song, BTW.
I had such a crush on Natalie back then.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

3. I have this on an old VHS

oddly enough, the emcee of the event was a pre-sell-out Dennis Miller.

[Cooley Hurd]

4. So do I. I remember transferring the audio to cassette...

...and playing the hell out of it on my car stereo until the tape snapped

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

7. it also had this historic moment

My two favorite bands join forces:

[Cooley Hurd]

9. I forgot about Automatic Baby!!

THAT was a GREAT ball!!!!!

[iwillalwayswonderwhy]

5. I love that Michael started out trying to stand still

But he couldn't.

[lumberjack_jeff]

6. My favorite from 1992 was Don Henley singing "the times they are a changin'"

Listening to this performance again, I'm reminded of the optimism that I had. The subsequent disillusionment created borderline cynical expectations of Obama in 2008.

So, I listen to it again and think it might be appropriate to give a break to those 20 years younger than me whose expectations are as high as mine were. It's not my right to piss on anyone's wheaties.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

8. beat me to it

That was definitely the other big highlight

I also remember discovering Soul Asylum for the first time from this concert

[iamthebandfanman]

10. ever notice when a democrat wins

that the theme is hope and everyone has a since of togetherness and drive to really start moving forward?

hell, maybe its worth electing one just for the one nite of optimism ..even if thats all we get..

a break from worry is good for even the die hard and long lasting among us

i remember all this happening... i was old enough to care and take notice.. but not old enough to vote and had no clue what political activism was or what it REALLY meant...
all it took was a stolen election and then the noise of those war drums in the distance beating for iraq...
ill never be the same. forever eyes wide open.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

12. I've always had a love/hate thing for the Clinton administration

On the one hand, Bill's 92 campaign got me into politics at 15 and shaped a lot of my ideas.
On the other, his hiring of Dick Morris and rightwing triangulation soured me on the Dems to the point I voted Nader in 2000.

I've come back around, mainly thanks to Howard Dean's efforts...followed by President Obama.
and Bill's grown on me again these last few years, to the point that I still can't help but like the guy.

[iamthebandfanman]

13. the good doctor

was the first candidate ive been extremely passionate for
and ill admit.. i voted nader too
it was my first election..
and i knew i didnt like things like NAFTA.. (if only i had know of all the other 'reforms' republicans made with clintons signature)... argh...
lol