Stephen Harper gets by with a little help from his friends
Cellphone camera video taken on stage by (presumably) a stagehand
Prime Minister Stephen Harper took to the stage tonight at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre for performance at their annual gala. The Prime Minister sang and played piano for the classic Beatles song as Yo Yo Ma accompanied him on the cello.
Longer version:
This entry was authored by Stephen Taylor at 09:02 PM | Tweet this | View Comments
blog comments powered by Disqus
Stephen Taylor is a scientist, political analyst and a blogger. Taylor writes here regularly and is the founder of bloggingtories.ca. Taylor has contributed to Macleans, CTV, talk radio and has been a featured speaker on new media at numerous events including the Western Standard Cruise and the Forum for Public Policy. In December 2008, Taylor organized Rally for Canada, a series of rallies held coast-to-coast to protest the proposed coalition government.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:15 pm
can you give a little context here? i'm trying to figure out what's happening.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:31 pm
sure. I hope that helps.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:52 pm
I have to say, Harper doesn't have that bad of a singing voice. But man, this is the most ironic song of the year.
October 3rd, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Is there a video of the who song? Its great to see Harper out doing these kinds of things
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Whole**
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:06 pm
Why has the blogging Tories cut dustmbroom.com for the blog roll? Are grass root tories unacceptable?
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
Darcey requested to be removed
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:17 pm
CTV has the full song up !!!
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTV...
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:18 pm
We're friends. We chat every once and a while.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
This vid was obviously shot by someone either in the orchestra or backstage, probably on their cell phone. Though it's better than nothing, surely the media's got to have one of their own, taken from in front of the stage. This is a HUGE gala in Ottawa, so it's not like it's not being covered.
The Globe and Mail has this clip too, but in an update has said that CP is putting up a video tomorrow.
Why tomorrow? Why not now?
Why no photos of Laureen Harper who is the Chairman of the gala? She's by far and away the best looking wife of a Prime Minister we've ever had, she's photogenic, and yet we hardly ever see her in the print or television media.
I can answer my own questions, of course. No video tonight because our PM is a Conservative. And, no photos, as per usual. of Laureen Harper because her husband is a Conservative.
'Seems like only Liberal$ get special attention these days. I guess that's because our media are so open and tolerant.
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:42 pm
A human story about a VERY human guy! Bravo indeed!…..More, more Mr Prime Minister and thank you.
A HUGE kudos goes out to wilson!
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:46 pm
check out the link I posted, entire song there, click extended version and ENJOY!
October 3rd, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Thanks, wilson! I should have read your comment first. My bad.
GR-8 showing by our PM! 'Just wish they'd shown his hands actually playing the piano. I guess you can't have everything. AND, I'd still like to see Laureen!
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:07 pm
This video is so going to go viral……
next time they ask 'which one of the leaders would you most like to have a beer with?'
we know the #1 answer will be Harper
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:09 pm
Me too, batb but she is just so unassuming. It would seem however that she has got the attention and admiration of 'giggles'. (ha..lucky her?)
Laureen Harper, is pure, salt of the earth. I personally admire how she is allowed to remain private but effective, because she is VERY effective.
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:13 pm
Oh yes…that was already occuring at the G&M … some of them were gobsmacked!
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:31 pm
What a wonderful sight to see our Prime Minister letting hair down and showing that he does have some humour and can actually sing and play the piano. Good on him. Eat your heart out Iffy.
October 3rd, 2009 at 10:18 pm
I have to respect his wishes!
Thanks!
October 4th, 2009 at 4:00 am
WOW! Audacious! PM Harper is awesome! He's an international rock star! Cool under pressure! I love this – but I think he should keep his day job – he is FAB and the best politician to lead this great Country! Cheers!
October 4th, 2009 at 6:50 am
Will he be putting out a CD with Yo Yo Ma? I'd buy it.
October 4th, 2009 at 7:14 am
I hope the PM's adversaries recognize not only his obvious talent but also his self-deprecating humour. Knowing the kind of criticism levelled at him about his purported muzzling of the Conservative caucus, the PM chose that particular Beatles song.
This performance just confirms my great admiration for this guy. Kudos, PM Harper!
October 4th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Did you catch iffy's comment on this at his presser in Quebec. When asked by a reporter what he thought of the PM singing he said-what would you say if I sang off key, Harper has been singing offkey for 4 years.
No laughs or response, his joke fell flat.
October 4th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
He makes me very proud to be Canadian!! and not just because he can carry a tune either!!
October 4th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
It dawned on me tha tthe last PM who sang in public was Brian Mulroney and look what happened to him. Now known as the most unethical PM in history and harpo is not far behind.
October 4th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
Actually, if Iggy were to do a beatles tune it'd be either “I'm A Loser” or “Fool on The Hill” (Parliament Hill that is).
October 4th, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Nah, it would be “any time at all” followed by “Act naturally”
then for a chorus he would do the “winner takes all”
October 4th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
That is quite a standing ovation and applause the PM got. Wonder who took this video, and when it was sent to the media did they think it was another secret tape and ran with it hoping to embarass him.
Bet Iffy would like to have gotten that much enthusiastic applause after his speech, or as much positive coverage on almost every blog, tv station and newspapers from Canada and Britain.
October 4th, 2009 at 9:32 pm
You see CBC … it is Stephen Harper who has “rock star” appeal, not what's his name down in the U.S.
October 5th, 2009 at 6:14 am
Richard Nixon also played the piano. He was a liar an a crook and very unethical.
Comparisons noted.
October 5th, 2009 at 7:24 am
Pretty pathetic responses from the hand-wringing teeth-gnashing left, what with comparisons to Hitler, Nixon et all..
Maybe they are just sad that thiswas the best they could muster..
October 5th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Here's what he really played:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F6FI4rJRZU
October 6th, 2009 at 10:49 am
The Prime Minister should be busy running out country, not singing (badly) and playing piano…
October 6th, 2009 at 11:22 am
I just love this guy.
October 8th, 2009 at 9:59 am
What's with the anti-HST ad?
October 8th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
A conservative tax-fighting organization paid me for ad space.
October 8th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
What's with the anti-HST ad?
October 8th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
A conservative tax-fighting organization paid me for ad space.