Franklin D. Roosevelt's supporters sang "Happy Days Are Here Again." From the looks of things, the hordes descending on D.C. to celebrate President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration plan to sing just about every song ever written since then.
The official inaugural events are impressive enough, but the private parties and concerts now scheduled to coincide with the formal inauguration have given the whole affair more of the feeling of a festival than an occasion of state. In fact, the number and variety of celebratory events has become so dizzying that the president-elect has had to record a video -- now playing on the official inaugural website -- to explain exactly which party is which.
Here's a selective schedule of the official and unofficial concerts and parties with the most celebrity glitter, or the ones that just seem too interesting not to mention.
Saturday
BET will hold an award ceremony, the BET Honors, at the Warner Theatre to honor Mary J. Blige, filmmaker Tyler Perry, Magic Johnson and others. Gabrielle Union will be the host, and performers will include Queen Latifah, Ne-Yo, Anita Baker and Joss Stone. Meanwhile, the Hip-Hop Caucus will host a concert Saturday at Ibiza with Common, Blige and Nelly.
Sunday
* The official celebration kicks off with a free concert at the Lincoln Memorial, starting at 2:30 p.m. (It will be aired on HBO in the evening.) Performers will include Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Beyonce, Usher, Garth Brooks, Stevie Wonder, John Mellencamp, Shakira, Blige, Herbie Hancock, Josh Groban, John Legend and James Taylor. Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III and Queen Latifah will perform readings.
* Norman Lear's group Declare Yourself will host a party that evening to celebrate the release of the song it commissioned, "Born Again American." Maroon 5 will perform, as will Foxx and Legend. Jessica Alba will host the event, which also features DJ Samantha Ronson.
* The "Dreams of My Father" American Scholars Inaugural Ball will take place at the Four Seasons and feature Alicia Keys, Macy Gray and LL Cool J.
* The Voto Latino Inaugural Party will include Marc Anthony, Rosario Dawson, Tony Plana and Wilmer Valderrama.
Monday evening
* The "Kids' Inaugural: We Are the Future" will be at the Verizon Center and air on the Disney Channel. Performing will be Miley Cyrus, the Jonas Brothers and Bow Wow. Michelle Obama and Jill Biden will host with their families.
