Katy Perry and nine other talking points from the opening concert

Celebrities welcomed Joe Biden to the White House on Wednesday after he officially became the 46th American president.

The Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Lovato and more performed during a 90-minute special presented by Tom Hanks at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC. The transmission replaced the traditional inaugural ball, which could not have occurred due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event was, in turn, commemorative and solemn. Themes like unity and turning a new leaf dominated the night, including through the musicians’ musical choices. Jon Bon Jovi covered the Beatles ‘”Here Comes the Sun”, John Legend reinterpreted Nina Simone’s classic “Feeling Good” and Demi Lovato sang Bill Withers’ upbeat melody, “Lovely Day”.

Katy Perry ended the broadcast with a spectacular representation of her 2010 success, “Firework”, when a display of real fireworks lit up the sky in the nation’s capital.

Here are the top 10 talking points of the evening:

Tom Hanks remains America’s boyfriend

In times of trouble or confusion, the nation knows it can always turn its lonely eyes to Tom Hanks. In March 2020, the actor and his wife Rita Wilson became the first prominent American celebrities to announce that they had been diagnosed with Covid-19. They recovered, and Hanks surprised America by hosting a remote episode of Saturday Night Live the following month. On Wednesday night, he proved to be a competent host – solemn, but not stern, reflective, but not grand. It was the perfect choice for the night. (Clémence Michallon)

And Bruce Springsteen is still the boss

Wednesday’s broadcast began with Bruce Springsteen playing his 1999 song “Land of Hope and Dreams”. It was an emotional performance, and the melody set the tone – a careful and slightly tired optimism. “Land of Hope and Dreams” played after Barack Obama’s farewell speech in January 2017. Introducing him in the top spot on Wednesday night felt like a moving callback, and a nod to Biden’s previous job as a vice President of Obama. (CM)

Jon Bon Jovi joined from Florida

Jon Bon Jovi, who, like fellow artists Bruce Springsteen and Ant Clemons, came from New Jersey, has entered Florida – in fact, the state where Donald Trump must live now that he has left the White House. The location left some viewers perplexed (based on their comments on social media), but the cover of the “Here Comes the Sun” musician hit an emotional note for many as well. (CM)

John Legend should play at Lincoln Memorial more often

John Legend’s interpretation of “Feeling Good” was absolutely one of the highlights of the night. Was it because he chose the perfect song? Was he excited to perform at a historic venue like the Lincoln Memorial? Or was it the energy Legend – a vocal critic of Trump – brought on stage, hours after Joe Biden took the oath of office? Probably a mix of all of those things and more. Either way, it was a recipe for spectacular performance. (CM)

Dave Grohl’s tribute to teachers

Dave Grohl, the son of a teacher, made a point of paying tribute to educators in the country before he and the rest of the Foo Fighters started singing. Grohl defended the rights of teachers during the coronavirus pandemic. Her speech on Wednesday also resonated with Dr. Jill Biden’s own experience as a teacher. It was a clever introduction to a very satisfying performance by the band, which played the song “Times Like These” from 2003. (CM)

The song choices were right

Let’s discuss the music options for a minute. The musicians expressed hope and optimism on Wednesday, while recognizing the difficult times that people in the United States have faced in the past months and years. Springsteen’s “Land of Hope and Dreams”, as discussed, was a perfect opening for the night. Bon Jovi and Legend were more externally commemorative, with “Here Comes the Sun” and “Feeling Good”, respectively. Same as Demi Lovato and the very energetic version of Withers’ 1977 song, “Lovely Day”. “Times Like This” by Foo Fighters, in turn, brought a more daring touch. And Katy Perry’s “Firework” was a spectacular ending for obvious reasons (more on that below). (CM)

Katy Perry ended the night with a brilliant display of fireworks

Who better to end an already star-studded and musical night than pop titan Katy Perry? Dressed all in white and performing in front of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, the Grammy-nominated radio star popped its 2010 sales champion, “Firework” for the occasion, on a set that culminated in a huge display of fireworks real. Maybe it was a little bit on the nose, but Perry was never very subtle. “Firework” and Perry’s dizzying delivery were the ideal approach to an already inspired night. (Rachel Brodsky)

Broadway had a chance to shine

New York’s beloved Broadway theaters have been closed since March 2020, as a necessary measure to slow the spread of Covid-19. How the city lost its venues and its performers! Wednesday’s broadcast included a wonderful medley from several Broadway actors and singers. Together, they sang “Seasons of Love” from Income, also known as the anthem of theater boys in the United States and “Let the Sunshine In” by Hair, another classic. It was so nice to experience the taste of Broadway, if only for a few moments. (CM)

Yo-Yo Ma’s interpretation of “Amazing Grace” was a beautiful thing

“Amazing Grace” occupies a prominent place in the American psyche – and beyond, in fact. When the coronavirus pandemic started, Andrea Bocelli sang in a very emotional performance at the Duomo Cathedral in Milan. Somewhat understandably, most of the “Amazing Grace” performances emphasize the lyrics of the song. But on Wednesday night, cellist Yo-Yo Ma played a wonderfully pure and seemingly simple version that allowed viewers to enjoy it in a whole new way. (CM)

Lin-Manuel Miranda poignantly recites “The Cure at Troy” by Seamus Heaney

If you’ve seen Joe Biden speak before, you know that he really likes to quote Irish poet Seamus Heaney’s poem “The Cure at Troy”. In the opening moments of “Celebrating America,” none other than Lin-Manuel Miranda paid tribute to the two men by reciting a passage from the poem. It was a poignant reading that reflected the politically polarized moment in the United States, with Miranda concluding: “Once in a lifetime / The desired tsunami / Justice can increase / And hope and history rhyme.” The passage offered hope that the nation could heal and unite, just as President Biden wished on many occasions to tell. (RB)

See how the night unfolded on our live blog: