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Donald Trump's inauguration concert: The 5 biggest talking points, from comparisons to Obama to DJ Ravidrums

Also, Jon Voight, Trump's speech, and Lee Greenwood

Jack Shepherd
Friday 20 January 2017 11:54 GMT
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President-elect Donald Trump delivers remarks at a Make America Great Again welcome concert in Washington
President-elect Donald Trump delivers remarks at a Make America Great Again welcome concert in Washington (Reuters)

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After months of celebrities declining invitations, Donald Trump’s inaugural concert, titled “Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration,” finally happened at the Lincoln Memorial.

By nearly all accounts, it was a bizarre affair celebrating one of the most controversial figures of the 21st Century becoming President of the United States.

So, what happened? Here are the five biggest talking points from the ceremony, with brief mentions about 3 Doors Down, The Frontmen of Country, and The Piano Guys.

The size of Trump’s crowd

Pictures have emerged comparing the size of Donald Trump and Obama’s inauguration concerts: 10,000 people attended Trump’s while an estimated crowd of 400,000 people went to Obama’s first concert.

Lee Greenwood

Watch Trump sing along to Lee Greenwood's 'God Bless the USA' at inauguration concert

Following Country superstar group The Frontmen of Country, Lee Greenwood took to the stage and belted out “God Bless the USA.” From the side of the stage, Trump sang along, leading to nightmarish GIF that has been spread across social media.

Ravidrums

A quick mention to 3 Doors Down: the budget Nickelback tried their best to please the crowd but were possibly the most boring act of the night. The Piano Guys, meanwhile, were kinda fun, the four members hitting their piano with all their might.

However, Ravidrums was the real standout, mainly because of how weird his entire presence felt. The sci-fi drummer started blasting out dance tracks at numerous points throughout the concert, jarring with the country patriotism of other acts. It was all very, very strange.

Jon Voight

Jon Voight defends 'barrage of lies' against Trump in inauguration speech

Despite Trump criticising his daughter - actress Angelina Jolie - in 2006, saying “She's been with so many guys she makes me look like a baby,” Jon Voight was still on hand to thank Trump for all he’s done.

Trump’s speech

Trump suggests Lincoln Memorial inauguration concert is his idea, despite history

First, it should be noted that Toby Keith was on particularly patriotic form, singing his post-9/11 anthem “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American),” which includes the famous line “We’ll put a boot in your ass, it’s the American way.”

Trump then decided to get on stage, saying: “This started out tonight being a small little concert, and then we had the idea maybe we’ll do it in front of the Lincoln Memorial. I don’t know if it’s ever been done before, but if it has, very seldom.”

As pointed out numerous times, Obama held an inauguration concert at the Lincoln Memorial eight years ago. Very seldom.

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