Spoiler

Being a musician, I naturally had a handful of conversations with my music friends & colleagues about the musical numbers at the inauguration on Tuesday. Among these was a conversation about how the instrumentalists in the Williams piece played in the cold without damaging their priceless instruments. My friend came back to me today with the answer to our question: they didn't. The music was pre-recorded.

While JPL and I were breathing a sigh of relief at this news, others were having fits about it: http://hotair.com/archives/2009/01/23/the-milli-vanilli-inauguration/ Their primary complaint is that those involved apparently tried to keep it a secret that the music was pre-recorded.

Personally, I'm not upset that they tried to keep it a secret and I don't really understand why others are. The piece was still legitimately composed, prepared and performed expressly for the inauguration by the parties credited for it. I think most people are happier just not knowing it wasn't a live performance. It's a legitimate case of "what the public doesn't know won't hurt them." Not knowing any better, they just enjoyed the music for what it was and allowed it to enhance their "inaugural experience". Why spoil it for them? What is gained by announcing that it was pre-recorded? Nothing. What is lost by keeping it secret? Nothing. It's music, it's entertainment. It's not a competition, it's not politics and it doesn't hurt anyone in any way. Honestly, sometimes I think people are just looking for reasons to be offended.