Washington D.C. reverberated to the sounds of partying for a second consecutive evening last night as Lady Gaga headlined the Inauguration Staff Ball, a spectacular private event for thousands of Barack Obama staffers.
Lady Gaga, who wore a jaw-dropping white Versace dress, sang The Lady Is A Tramp with renowned crooner Tony Bennett at the Washington Convention Center to the delight of those who had campaigned for Barack Obama’s re-election.
Although no media were allowed into the event, many in attendance took to social media and Instagram to share pictures.
President Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama took to the stage before Lady Gaga’s entrance to thank supporters for their hard work, saying that the thousands of guests at his staff ball represented his “deepest hopes for America”.
Tuesday’s inauguration festivities came hot on the heels of Barack Obama’s Gangnam Style dance off with singer Usher at the spectacular after-party he and wife Michelle Obama threw at the White House on Monday night after attending two glitzy events to celebrate his inauguration.
At last night’s event, the final celebration of his inauguration, Barack Obama welcomed more than 10,000 guests, including campaign employees and volunteers, inaugural workers, Democratic Party members, and White House officials, saying: “You all clean up pretty good.”
The president continued: “It makes me know that America’s future is in good hands. As long as all of you understand the immense and incredible power that you possess when you work together, when you join voices.”
He introduced Michelle Obama, who was dressed in a silver and black ensemble, and referred to her new hairstyle.
“Here’s the First Lady, bangs and all, looking very sparkly,” Barack Obama said.
First Lady Michelle Obama echoed the President’s campaign-year chant of “fired up, ready to go”. And fired up she was, dancing in her seat when her husband announced the musicians.
“It’s been a long weekend,” Barack Obama said.
“She’s getting a little silly now.”
The crowd then serenaded the President and the first lady with an impromptu rendition of “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours”, one of the many campaign theme songs, according to one report.
Lady Gaga sang a few of her hits including Born This Way and Edge of Glory before Tony Bennett joined her for a duet of The Lady is a Tramp, a track the odd couple first recorded together in 2011.
David Plouffe, the campaign manager for Barack Obama’s 2008 bid for the White House, and Jim Messina, the former White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, also addressed the crowds, followed by speeches of thanks from Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill.
Proceeds from the ball will go to a memorial fund for Alex Okrent, a campaign worker who collapsed and died at Barack Obama’s campaign headquarters in July.
“Alex was one of you,” Barack Obama said of Alex Okrent.
“This incredibly thoughtful, talented, compassionate, caring young person who decided to get involved because he thought he could make a difference. And tragically, he ended up leaving us while working on the campaign… It was heartbreaking. It reminded us of how precious our time on this earth is.”
Staffers who attended the exclusive ball were treated to a spectacular cake made to resemble the White House.
Lady Gaga tweeted a picture of the edible 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, with the comment: “The cake inside the White House party!”
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