Time sure does fly, doesn’t it? It seems like yesterday President Barack Obama was standing at the podium in 2008, giving his victory speech after winning the general election. We saw him standing there with his beautiful wife, Michelle Obama, his 5-year-old daughter Natasha (a.k.a. Sasha), and his 10-year-old daughter, Malia. President Obama’s speech wasn’t yesterday, though. It was eight years ago.
On Monday, Malia Obama turned 18. As a legally grown woman who’s set to start college at Harvard in 2017, and with her father’s Presidential run coming to an end, it seemed fitting that what is likely to be the last White House concert under the Obamas’ regime would be in Malia’s honor. Fittingly, the president had the night’s two musical guests, Kendrick Lamar and Janelle Monae, join him in singing “Happy Birthday” to Malia, remarking, “Just because it’s the job of a father to embarrass his daughters, I’ve got one last job.”
The POTUS has long been a fan of Kendrick Lamar, and First Lady Michelle Obama recorded a song with Janelle Monae earlier this year, so it’s no surprise that both would be tapped for the 4th of July performance.
Kendrick ran through a bunch of songs from Good Kid, M.A.A.D. City and Section 80, which included performances of fan favorites like “Swimming Pools,” “Money Trees,” and “ADHD” with everything censored for politeness. After politicking with the crowd, kicking jokes and having a good time, Kendrick ended with the favorite song of the current “Black Lives Matter” movement, “Alright.”
It was an intimate affair and most assuredly a great time for those in attendance. Kendrick moved the crowd and worked the stage like a seasoned veteran, challenging concertgoers for “mean mugging” and cracking jokes with the people. If you weren’t at the concert, the above video should feel like a small consolation prize.
