Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

Ordinary people

by Aaron Wherry on Saturday, October 3, 2009 10:59pm - 82 Comments

Granted, “ordinary people” may not see much in this, but here’s the Prime Minister making like Ringo Starr with Yo-Yo Ma.

The full performance is here.

See previously: Lennon, McCartney, Harper.

Tags: arts funding, john lennon, National Arts Centre, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Stephen Harper, The Beatles, Yo-Yo Ma

More by Aaron Wherry

Terren

Horrible!
And I bet it's filled with rich people.
http://intensedebate.com/people/s_c_f s_c_f

He's pretty good on the piano. Very cool.

I fail to see Wherry's attempted link – the PM was not paid for this, and additionally I don't think Yo Yo Ma needs Canadian tax dollars to earn a living, he does quite well on his won.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/s_c_f s_c_f

He's pretty good on the piano. Very cool.

I fail to see Wherry's attempted link – the PM was not paid for this, and additionally I don't think Yo Yo Ma needs Canadian tax dollars to earn a living, he does quite well on his own.

kcm

On the contrary, Harper's a hypocrite – just like 100% of the rest of humanity. Only i doubt he'd agree with my statement, so that throws the math off a little…but you get my point!

http://intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

Us ordinary folk have no problem with good artists having artsy galas as long as they don't force us to pay for it.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

Us ordinary folk have no problem with good artists having an artsy gala as long as they don't force us to pay for it.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

Us ordinary folk have no problem with good artists having an artsy, ritzy gala as long as they don't force us to pay for it.

Which leads me to suggest that unless this Harper-as-Ringo gig served some purpose other than a CPC photo-op it had better not have been on the taxpayer's dime.

http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

We. We ordinary folk have no problem. Not us.

But total thumbs-up on the overall gist.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

Us. No ordinary dude says "We ordinary guys" unless he wants to get a wedgie.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

Us. No ordinary dude says "We ordinary guys" unless he wants to get a wedgie.

It was all I could do to use the words "artsy" and "gala" in the same post without being seen by my mates.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

Us. No ordinary dude says "We ordinary guys" unless he wants to get a wedgie.

It was all I could do to use the words "artsy" and "gala" in the same post.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

Us. No ordinary dude says "We ordinary guys" unless he wants to get a wedgie.

It was all I could do to use the words "artsy" and "gala" in the same post. My testosterone level is already falling in consequence.

http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

Dude. Yo-Yo Ma's in the room. Please use proper grammar, hide the cheesies, and tuck in your shirt. Check that: please put on a shirt…

;)

http://intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

A shirt? That's like a hunting vest, but with sleeves or something, right?
http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

We're in kind of a hurry, here, so that'll have to do. Did you lick the cheesie-dust off your fingers? Mr. Ma is approaching the handshake line. Hurry up, G!
http://intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

ok, ok. *dumps beer into soupbowl, washes fingers….drinks beer* Lead the way.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

ok, ok. *dumps beer into soupbowl, washes fingers….drinks beer*
Lead the way.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

ok, ok. *dumps beer into soupbowl, dips fingers….drinks beer*
Lead the way.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/Gaunilon Gaunilon

ok, ok. *dumps beer into soupbowl, dips fingers….drinks cheesie-flavoured beer*
Lead the way.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

This is absolutely brilliant. If we see more of the same from Harper, he will be in majority territory.

Terren

Oh so true
wilson

Harper has definitely got his mojo back.

Foreigner

*snort*

John W.

When you include the Olympic logo copy, what a few days!

http://intensedebate.com/people/Nich Nich

Harper has definitely got his mojo <del>back</del>

jarrid

People can say what they want about Stephen Harper but no one can say the man doesn't have cojones.

bettie

Harper rocks!! Loved the video.
http://intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

Extremely extremely impressive. Both his performance, and the political capital earned by using this opportunity to distance himself from his comments last year.
an online reader

To the victor go the spoils . Congratulations Prime Minister Stephen Harper . No More Northern welfare State . No more surplus with which to start new National programs . The top 10 % appear to have carried the day . Us bottom 90 % er's taxes will all go to the borrowing market in the next fiscal year as the Republican / Conservative spending spree bill comes due ?

Hiding the $ 13 billion stimulus this year in with the interest payments on 8 gallon to the mile heavy lift C130's or $ 4 billion advance fighter purchase is true genius .

http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

That was really kind of awesome. I wish he could do something with his hair–he still LOOKED as much of a freaky control freak as usual, but it is fabulous to know he has a bit of rock star personality in there somewhere. And he wasn't bad at all!

Thanks, Aaron.
http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

[youtube JOt2Qp0H9G8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOt2Qp0H9G8 youtube]
http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

[youtube PYSHdNh-wo8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYSHdNh-wo8 youtube]
http://climbingoutofthedark.blogspot.com Hunter

He was actually very good, and as a female, I got a tingle up my leg! The guy is sexy.

wilson

I second that tingle!!

http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

Okay, you guys took a light moment with Canada's Prime Minister and turned it into hero-worship at its most perverse and creepy. Way to ruin the small bit of pride I had in Harper.

wilson

LOL ,
pride in your Prime Minister you expressed by posting
'he still LOOKED as much of a freaky control freak as usual'
yah. right.

Tom Clark, PMSH gets #1 star of the week.

Fay

Right on #1 star of the week on Power Play!

Eskimo

FYI, Ringo played the drums, Paul played piano. What, no editor on call over the weekend?

Brilliant performance. I suspect Iggy is scrambling to arrange crash course piano lessons. This might take some time, so if a snap election were to be called, perhaps K-boy can teach him rudimetary punk rock skills. Barring that, I think Paul Martin's air guitar might be available.

jim

You do know that Ringo was the singer of that Beatles song?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Douglass Douglass

You got it Jim. Its a rarity to have Ringo do lead vocals, but it happened.
Eskimo

Yes, I do.

Bec

What's not to like? Impressive, FUN, talented, creative and as a pianist myself, this side of the PM that I already knew existed, is enchanting.
I'm in LOVE…..with his mind of course!
Eskimo

Lighten up, Jenn! The ladies are only having a little fun with this.

Foreigner

They're making women looks stupid.

Fay

Stephen Harper is like a lot of Canadian men, plays a little piano, loves hockey, great family man and takes pride in getting the job done. Thanks for choosing to lead our country as your job number one! Bravo
http://intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

Coming soon…Question Period, the musical

joe in ottawa

Now that could get more people interested in politics : )

Louise

So cool!!!!!
http://intensedebate.com/people/Jenn_ Jenn_

Good Lord! It was great fun, impressive even in a non-mean-streak way, but this thread is looking a lot like Teen Beat magazine when Donny Osmond was on the cover.

Does Teen Beat magazine still exist?

kcm

It's Harpermania!! Actually nice to see the guy does park it and let down his hair [ maybe not ]He was pretty good. I'm still in shock!
One phrase i never expected to hear pass the lips of SH, the phrase: " i get high with a little help from my friend"…unfreaking real. Ok! Who the hell was that out there impersonating Harper?
Bob Rae…i hope you're warming up in the wings.
http://intensedebate.com/people/danby danby

just wait until you see him on Dancing with the Stars……

http://intensedebate.com/people/Douglass Douglass

Now that I'd pay to see!!!

kcm

A duet with Jumbo deficit Flaherty. ' Blue skys. nothing but blue skys, do i see…'

http://intensedebate.com/people/Ricard_S_Argent Richard_S_Argent

I'm fairly certain that it's the same person posting under multiple aliases.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Douglass Douglass

Who's a what now?

Katherine

Aww, that's cute. I like moments when Harper gets to act like a real person.
dan in van

Nice little riff, certainly explains why he hasn't finished that hockey book by now. His attempt at channelling Bill Clinton-on-Arsenio may be possible, especially since the sweater-dude never caught on.
Kinda makes the swift-boating of Ignatieff almost understandable, now.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

The "swift-boating of Ignatieff"? Too funny, Dan. I can always tell when you've just smoked a joint ;-)

http://intensedebate.com/people/danby danby

Maybe he's getting high with a little help from his friends

http://intensedebate.com/people/ChrisInKW ChrisInKW

So does this mean Harper's changed his position on marijuana prohibition?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

Heh. I hope so. Lord Bob is in desperate need of some weed, and I don't think the Beatles were referring to an 'endorphin high' when they crafted those lyrics.

http://intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

Just curious..Heh. I hope so. for Lord Bob's sake or for real?

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

Both. I oppose marijuana prohibition.

http://intensedebate.com/people/PhilCP PhilCP

Have you spoken with your MP? If so, how were your thoughts received?

Sigh

Free Marc Emery!

http://www.intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

Was that Paul Wells as cameraman and with the Ringo joke at 1:08? The voice has that ring to it. But, ahem, this was a Beatles tune…
John

"What would you do if I sang out of tune? Would you stand up and throw tomatoes at me?"

– Ringo Starr
Tguy

Wow. Bravo!
He seemed so… human.

He should keep this up. Show some personality now and then Harper, people may start to like you more.