We talked to the Marine from this viral Inauguration Day photo with Lady Gaga

[Nevilledog]

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Michael Kusek
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If you feel that you need a genuinely good story to read - here it is.

We talked to the Marine from this viral Inauguration Day photo with Lady Gaga
"She genuinely wanted to do well that day, she wanted to sing the national anthem for all Americans."
taskandpurpose.com
5:36 PM · Feb 3, 2021

https://taskandpurpose.com/entertainment/marine-lady-gaga-photo-inauguration-day/

Marine Corps Capt. Evan Campbell was simply in the right place at the right time.

The 30-year-old Marine from San Antonio, Texas, was one of a dozen Marines and soldiers working in the area where distinguished guests sat during the presidential inauguration of Joe Biden on Jan. 20. And during a rehearsal the day before, when they realized that Lady Gaga may need to be escorted down the stairs before she would sing the national anthem, Campbell just happened to be the one chosen.

“There was a concern — obviously she was wearing this very beautiful, very large dress, and there was a concern that she might need some help getting down the stairs,” Campbell told Task & Purpose in a phone call on Wednesday. “So they basically looked around and I was one of the taller, larger individuals, and they just asked if I would be willing to assist and I was more than happy to.”

He didn’t tell a soul what he was asked to do because he “wanted to make sure that I didn’t screw it up before I went hyping it.”

On the day of the inauguration, Campbell was helping other guests get seated, including former presidents and Supreme Court justices.

Campbell, who deployed to Iraq in 2016 and to Syria from 2017 to 2018, is no novice when it comes to working with notable figures or celebrities. He’s currently assigned to Marine Barracks Washington, where he works as a White House social aide and has met other distinguished guests of the White House. His favorite moments, he said, have been meeting Medal of Honor recipients and Gold Star families.

*snip*

[OAITW r.2.0]

1. A thrill for them both.

Whatta intersection! Glad to see it.

[DURHAM D]

2. I thought her arrangement and performance of the national anthem was absolutely

the best I have ever seen. Prior to that day I had Whitney Houston at the top of the list.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

7. Absolutely agree. It came from the depths of her soul !

[msfiddlestix]

14. I loved that moment too. It sent me over the moon.

[lagomorph777]

22. The song, and that moment, reference the War of 1812.

Which, not coincidentally, was the only other time that the Capitol was sacked.

I have never really liked the National Anthem, and I don't really follow pop music anymore.

But she knocked it out of the park. Just a beautiful and moving performance.

And congrats to the Marine for his elegant and confident complement to her appearance.

[Irish_Dem]

27. I agree 100%. Best performance of the national anthem I can remember.

Her dress, hair, music, performance.
All came together for perfection.

[dalton99a]

3. Kick

[msfiddlestix]

4. I have to say, I was completely enthralled with Lady Ga Ga that day

Very impressed and thoroughly enjoyed every moment. I have to admit a moment of slight panic when she entered in that dress, I could see malfunction causing a slip and fall situation. So glad Her Marine was there to assist.

I wasn't a fan of Lady Ga Ga until I saw A Star is Born last year I think it was just before the pandemic or maybe that was Joker. Anyway I think it was last year. She wowed me in that film.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

9. Me too. Extraordinary talent... Plus she has heart.

[msfiddlestix]

15. yeppers..

I look and hear her music in a much different light than I had years ago. Honestly, I didn't give her a chance to wow me in the past. That changed with her film as mentioned in a different post. I really really respect her and appreciate/enjoy her talents.

[LittleGirl]

11. same for me!

I didn't much listen to her music but she killed it in that movie. I was disappointed with the movie remake because I always liked the former one. She just shined in the movie with her singing, her acting talent and I was just so surprised to love her in it! That changed my view of her completely. Well done Gaga.

[msfiddlestix]

13. Her acting surprised me too..

I must admit that prior to that film, I hadn't really ever listened to her music because of some weird prudish bias I had regarding instances in the past when for instance she wore an outfit of raw meat.... My feelings about that was a bit bizarre to me. I felt she had some notion that it was a good attention to promote a cause, I guess it was a vegan thing but it wasn't clear to me. And I just didn't respect it. Which in turn, I simply wasn't interested in hearing her music giving attention to her body of work.

The film opened my mind about her, but I must have been open to her enough to go see the film. I think the reviews helped. And that changed my view about her. So I was looking forward to seeing her at the inauguration and I was not disappointed.

[LittleGirl]

16. Similar views here

I just thought she was a Pop singer which isn’t much of my favorite. I think part of it is the “culture” of the music industry to “make” an artist rather than the artist making herself. I loved the way she called her fans monsters and after the movie, I enjoy hearing her. She did the anthem proud and I always cringe a little because so many have ruined it.

[msfiddlestix]

19. i always cringe too!

I have heard in past years, that the anthem's key needs to be changed from B Flat Major to a more friendly key to sing such as possibly the key of G.. however you still have an octave range which is technically really challenging vocally. Easier to play instrumentally than sing it in that key. unless of course one possesses the talent and skill to pull it off in perfect pitch.


I recall Rosanne Barr screeching it for a football game way back in the 90's. I thought it was so bizarre that it was planned and approved. Now that I look back, it seems like that small, somewhat forgettable event was a sort of a precursor of the shocking acceptance of crass self indulgence for traditional celebrations and such. But apparently, that's just me.

I'm obviously showing my age.

[LittleGirl]

20. Yes, Roseann butchered it.ugh

And some renditions with soaring notes that changed the whole trajectory of the ending. I don’t care for that at all. Whitney sang it beautifully but she also included some notes at the end too. I don’t know how to read music and nobody wants to hear me sing myself included. Lol

I may be a little girl but a very seasoned and grey haired one too. Lol

[Irish_Dem]

28. She was a real highlight for me of the day.

I know, when she was at the top of the stairs, my eyes popped out of my head at her dress.
I could not see how she could get down those step stairs.
Really good idea to have a strong, tall Marine to escort her.

I loved her whole outfit, hair, dress, pin.
If you can find a picture of the back of the dress, you can see it has a train.

[iemitsu]

5. Better known as the Marine in the Mask.

[littlemissmartypants]

6. ❤ nt

[progressoid]

10. This picture.......

[llmart]

12. Oh, that is such a great photo.

Thank you for posting that. Her face says, "I'm relying on you to make sure I don't trip up" and his says, "I can't believe I'm escorting Lady Gaga."

[Irish_Dem]

26. I think she looks grateful too. He had just reassured her and prayed with her.

She was getting nervy ahead of her performance.

[Nevilledog]

23. Great picture

[Maxheader]

17. Great story...Thanks..

[GoCubsGo]

18. I hope folks will click on the story and read the whole thing.

It's very sweet ! Thanks for posting it!

[cwydro]

21. That's a great story.

[UpInArms]

24. So sweet ...

“The biggest thing for me is when those memes came out — you know, find someone that looks at you the way she looks at a United States Marines — I took a lot of pride in that,” Campbell said. “I think at the end of the day, we all want to do something that represents the Marine Corps well … people were sending me posts from Vogue Paris, Cosmo, I mean millions of people have now seen a United States Marine with Lady Gaga, so I’m just glad I did the Marine Corps proud on this one.”

[Irish_Dem]

25. Great story.

I absolutely loved LG's performance.
Blew me away.
Her dress, her performance.
All of it.