“Better Days” was performed by Justin Timberlake and Ant Clemons during the Celebrating America primetime inaugural special honoring President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. “This song was our way of doing what little we could to encourage everyone to stay hopeful and to keep working towards a better future,” Timberlake said. The duo performed the song inside and outside the Stax Museum of American Soul Music in Timberlake’s native Memphis, Tennessee. This song (among many others that were performed on that magical night) brought so much joy and hope to millions of Americans. “There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, keep your eyes on the road ahead because we’re on our way to better days ahead.” 

 

Multi-platinum global superstar Jason Derulo recently teamed up with the 2013 sexiest man alive Adam Levine with a new single titled “Lifestyle.” The track features Derulo and Levine trying to win over a woman with champagne taste: “You ’bout that lifestyle/Everybody knows/Diamonds ain’t got nothin’ on you/We ’bout that lifestyle/Dollar, dollar bills/Baby, would you stay if I’m broke?” The video boasts all things black, gold, glitz, and glam with Derulo and his backup crew showing off their timeless dance moves. Yet another song that reminds me what it will feel like when the world reemerges and we can dance again!

 

Jon Batiste, the band leader from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert released a new video for his single “I need you.” Batiste stars in the video as both leading man and bandleader, with references to Little Richard, James Brown and the dances of the 1920s, 30s and 40s. “After 2020, this is like a warm hug. Let’s bring the vibes back,” he says. My sentiments exactly – AMEN.

 

One of my favorite performances of Celebrating America goes to the goddess, Demi Lovato. She powerfully belted out an emotionally charged performance of Bill Withers’s “Lovely Day,” accompanied by a video montage of frontline healthcare workers and glimpses of President Biden and his family’s first night in the White House – who were also virtually watching the performance and rejoicing as a family in this momentous occasion. It sure was a lovely and historic day for our country – one that I will never forget. Onward and upward! 

 

Queerguru Contributor Allison Ananis is a graduate of Bowdoin College and also holds a Master of Public Administration from Suffolk University. Currently she works in Health and Human Services in Boston where she also resides with her wife Meg. Weekends are spent in Provincetown where her incessant playing of her eclectic choice of music very loudly brought her to the attention of Queerguru’s Editor