Obama takes a day off from diplomatic warnings, praises Algeria, then celebrates the Motown Sound

President Obama has been issuing a number of international warnings in recent days -- to Egypt, to Hosni Mubarak, to Bahrain, to Libya. (Scroll down for a longer list of his warnings.)

Today, instead of warning another country, he praised Algeria for lifting its state of emergency decree that's been in effect since Obama was in law school somewhere.

The Illinois Democrat has been chided recently for becoming something of a tardy diplomatic scold, warning many countries and foreign leaders but leaving Iran-bashing to underlings. So, Obama took the occasion Thursday to make a considerably longer statement celebrating the Motown Sound and Black History Month at another star-studded White House music party. (See complete texts of both statements below.)

-- Andrew Malcolm

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Statement by the president on Algeria lifting its state of emergency, as provided by the White House

I commend the government of Algeria for taking an important step forward today by formally lifting the state of emergency that has been in place in Algeria for 19 years. 

This is a positive sign that the government of Algeria is listening to the....

...concerns and responding to the aspirations of its people, and we look forward to additional steps by the government that enable the Algerian people to fully exercise their universal rights, including freedom of expression, association and assembly. 

The United States is committed to continuing our cooperation with the Government of Algeria as it works to represent and meet the needs of all Algerians. We will also continue speaking up for universal freedoms, justice and the dignity of every human being.    ####

President Obama's remarks at the Motown Sound music party, as provided by the White House

THE PRESIDENT:  Good evening, everybody.  Please have a seat.  Tonight we continue one of my favorite traditions here at the White House by celebrating the music that’s at the heart of the American story.  And as we come to the end of Black History Month, I can’t think of a better way to do it than by honoring the legendary sound of Motown.  (Applause.) 

I want to start by thanking our performers here tonight:  Natasha Bedingfield, Sheryl Crow, Jamie Foxx, Gloriana, Nick Jonas, Ledisi, John Legend, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Seal, Jordin Sparks, Smokey Robinson -- (applause) -- and because we weren’t sure that was enough, we thought we might throw Stevie Wonder in there.  (Applause.)  And obviously we are grateful for all the other Motown legends who are gracing us with their presence.  Thank you for being here.

Over the years, this room has hosted some of the most talented musicians in the world, from classical to country.  But Motown is different.  No one knows exactly when jazz began.  Nobody knows who the first person was to sing a freedom song.  But we know where Motown came from.  We know it was born in the basement of a house on West Grand Boulevard in the Motor City -- Detroit.  (Applause.)  And we know it started with a man named Berry Gordy, who is here with us tonight.  Stand up, Berry.  (Applause.) 

  Now, apparently Berry tried a lot of things before following his heart into music.  A high school dropout, he failed as a record store owner, competed as an amateur boxer, finally took a job earning $85 a week on the assembly line at the local Lincoln-Mercury plant. 

And it was there, watching the bare metal frames transformed into gleaming automobiles, that Berry wondered why he couldn’t do the same thing with musicians, and help turn new talent into stars.

And before long, he quit his job at the plant, borrowed $800, and set up shop in a little house with a banner across the front that read “Hitsville, U.S.A.”  His family thought he was delusional.  (Laughter.)  But as Berry said, “People thought the Wright Brothers had a stupid idea, so I say, ‘Bring on the stupid ideas.’”

As it turned out, Berry could recognize talent and potential better than anybody else in the business.  It began with Smokey Robinson, who stopped by the Motown house with a group of friends calling themselves the Miracles.  Then came one of Smokey’s neighbors -– a high school senior named Diana Ross, who started out working as a secretary. 

One of the Miracles brought along his little brother, who invited a 10-year-old blind kid named Stephen Hardaway Judkins to tag along.  (Laughter.)  And then there was a group called the Jackson Five, fresh from amateur night at the Apollo, that Gladys Knight told Berry he just had to see. 

Pretty soon, the basement studio was turning out hits faster than Detroit was turning out cars.  From 1961 to 1971, Motown produced 110 Top 10 hits from artists like Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, The Four Tops and The Supremes.  In the process, Motown’s blend of tight lyrics, catchy melodies and deep soul began to blur the line between music that was considered either “black” or “white.”  As Smokey Robinson said, “I recognized the bridges that were crossed, the racial problems and the barriers that we broke down with music.  I recognized that because I lived it.”

Along the way, songs like “Dancing in the Streets” and “What’s Going On” became the soundtrack of the civil rights era. Black artists began soaring to the top of the pop charts for the first time.  And at concerts in the South, Motown groups literally brought people together –- insisting that the ropes traditionally used to separate black and white audience members be taken down.

So, today, more than 50 years later, that’s the Motown legacy.  Born at a time of so much struggle, so much strife, it taught us that what unites us will always be stronger than what divides us.  And in the decades since, those catchy beats and simple chords have influenced generations of musicians, from Sheryl Crow to the Jonas Brothers.

So to everybody watching, both here and at home, let’s take a trip back to that little studio in Detroit and enjoy the unmistakable sound of Motown. Thank you very much. (Applause.)     ####

Related:

Next, Obama warns Libya: 'This violence must stop'

Now, Obama warns Bahrain, Yemen and Libya

Obama warns Egypt's Mubarak: 'No going back'

Obama warns Mubarak: 'Suppressing ideas never makes them go away'

Photos: Saul Loeb / AFP / Getty Images (Michelle Obama presides at a White House Motown workshop before a Motown Music party); Kevin Lamarque / Reuters (Obama arrives to speak at Motown party).

Comments

[Max Conrad]

Michelle & the kids go to Spain, 3 months later the family goes to Hawaii costing us an extra $65,000 for not waiting for Barry, 2 months later Michelle & the kids go to Vail & stuff themselves on BBQ, now they are having ANOTHER big concert party @ the White House while Barry is planning his weekend golf outing.

Who would think there is anything wrong with the US economy? Oh yeah, the Obama's are spending OUR money partying like rock stars & movies stars while hanging out with rock stars & movies stars. I guess if Pelosi can spend $1 million per year of OUR money traveling around & eating chocolate covered strawberries and washing it down with premium booze then the Obamas can party & vacation like it's free.

Liberals.... do as I say not as I do.

[Kala]

The world is in fire and Obama fiddles around.

[vera Principe]

how nice to celebrate, spend more money while the whole world is in an uproar including our country!!! should have invited all of the unemployed if he is going to spend anyway!!! give them a boost!!

[Anna]

Isn't this the Pres who has been too busy to comment on Libya?

[xKarenx]

"I Heard it Through the Grapevine" that Nero gave excited little palace musicales while Rome burned also. Several British pundits have pointed out through "Tears of a Clown" out that Carter lost US influence in Iran and Obama's ineptitude has blown Egypt. But really doesn't that all pale in significance? There's a Jonas Bro & (a Crow) in the White House warbling 50 year old Motown hits to celebrate February! Growing numbers of citizens wish the President would "Stop in the Name of Love , before you break my heart! Think it over". Mr. Obama is not a serious person, and this administration doesn't have a clue as to “What’s Going On”. But "there'll be laughing, singing and church bells ringing" now that his Union buds are "Dancing in the Streets".

[Chisco3]

"So to everybody watching, both here and at home, let’s take a trip back to that little studio in Detroit and enjoy the unmistakable sound of Motown. Thank you very much. (Applause.)"

Oh, and don't anyone pay any attention to those sourpusses over at Fox News and Al-Jazeera -- they're just trying to ruin our "Good Times" by showing all of those people rioting, demonstrating, getting shot, and being strafed by Libyan military jets.....

But here in Washington, it's "party on, dudes"!!!!

[KBS]

Painful to watch these people in the White House

[Sister T]

Mr Obama, a couple hundred years ago one of my (Caucasian) ancestors worked alongside Abraham Lincoln to grant freedom to the slaves. They did so with the vision that their would be fairness and opportunity to vote, to achieve higher educations, to secure good jobs and provide properly for their family's future and to maybe have solid political representation in our nations capitol someday, even as President of the United States of America. It was a beautiful vision and it appears America still waits for the final chapter. Mr. Obama costing us valuable alliance with England, ramming us in insurmountable debt, responding in delay to the gulf oil spill that was a travesty to nature, partying down on tax payer money when the tax payees are struggling, appointing 43 employees to Mrs. Obama's office (so they can all be let go when her status dissolves), while our world is ablaze, is not what I think my ancestor or Gentleman Abe had in mind. It's as if you see the fuse is lit, the bomb is ticking, so why not kick back , do your own thing at your pace and our expense and party until the world explodes. Tell us, is this truly your perception of the American way, or is this the Muslim way?