Gershwin Prize winner Paul McCartney at Library of Congress news conference

By Chris Richards
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010

And helped shape the path and popular music and was greeted on Tuesday night by the thunder and weird sounding.
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Some of the applause. A major part of the wall on drumpity - drumpity - drumpity old back seat in the hall of the Library of Congress Coolidge flipping in its upright.

Because when Paul McCartney moves in the room - a sharp suit, and brown hair and eyes blink - you are standing up to greet him.

Beatles star beloved in Washington to receive the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize popular song. Tuesday at the College, and was celebrated in the performance of a luxury for guests from the library. On Wednesday, he will accept the award in the East Room of the White House, and will be serenaded by the cast of great pop music.

Crammed a lot of being in College on Tuesday night - the guest list that included Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Jack White, Herbie Hancock, Dave Grohl, amilo Harris, Faith Hill, the three Jonas Brothers.

Also in the crowd: comedian Jerry Seinfeld, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Lorne Michaels, TV honcho, and singers Paul Simon and Edie Brickell, and the very large number of the Popular Congress to count.

After opening remarks by Pelosi and the Librarian of Congress James H. Billington, the Quartet March and he is doing. McCartney and the band that return more than a decade - a poet, composer and recruited them for his album in 1999 "classic work", the group that they were performed.

The Lang Lang, the esteemed Chinese concert pianist, who was wearing his hair in a sharp rise a bit, and also by McCartney to perform the "leaf." There was a small surprise escort: mobile phone someone started bleeping the mid-piece, to a chorus of cries and tsks.

And saw the ceremony as a subdued counterpoint to the excitement that is expected to run in the Pennsylvania Avenue 1600. On Wednesday. Until, that is, the maestro took the final stage for, the acoustic guitar slung over his shoulder, and started playing the chords to "yesterday".

"I like a little informal gatherings like this," McCartney quipped after the crowd called back for an encore of "Blackbird." Bullet chirped mobile phone this time, and trampling on the singer looked stunning left foot almost on the stage of solid wood College.

Give McCartney, who celebrates his birthday this month +68, is a poet and composer third Gershwin. Simon received the inaugural award in May 2007, Stevie Wonder and was celebrated in February 2009.

Named in honor of a group of songs written by George Gershwin and the Irish Republican Army, the award "recognizes the musicians who reflect the functions of a lifetime achievement in promoting song as a means of artistic expression and cultural understanding," his office said in a statement.

Earlier on Tuesday, in the hall of the Library of Congress 119 - Department of ornately decorated with the name of incredibly easy access and an air conditioner is not enough - a crowd of reporters and glowing in the presence of McCartney at a press conference before the show.

"Am I supposed to say something?" Poet, composer and asked after taking the podium. "Yes, I say something. It's fantastic for me to be here." Faint.

During the conference, McCartney sent a mix of political issues and awkward requests shaky fan boy. What to do about the oil spill BP? "This is a big question for me to respond." How does he feel about President Obama? "It's a great man - even put him!" Is he nervous to play the first family? "Let's face it, this is not our usual crowd." And said he expected this age Beatles vinyl LP? After the conference - a crowd of photographers who rushed the podium - Do you actually.

There were questions about the craft. "It's a mystery," said McCartney, when asked how his songwriting process has changed over the years. "You start with a black hole, and if you're lucky, a few hours later in the song there will be waiting there, and this mystery, the magic that is still the same for me."