Harpers Image people

[punked]

The sweater vests were lame we all know it. No one bought it wasn't him. I can however believe this is Harper, this is something that is his interest outside of power this is something Canadians will see in themselves. Hate to give it too him but good politics. He will be able to draw clear distinctions between him and Iggy with these kinds of stunts.

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2009/10/03/harper-piano.html

Prime Minister Stephen Harper surprised guests at the National Arts Centre gala Saturday by playing the piano and singing a Beatles tune.

Harper joined cellist Yo-Yo Ma on stage and sang a rendition of With a Little Help From My Friends.

[August1991]

"I think when ordinary working people come home, turn on the TV and see … a bunch of people … at a rich gala, all subsidized by taxpayers, claiming their subsidies aren't high enough when they know those subsidies have actually gone up, I'm not sure that's something that resonates with ordinary people," Harper said then.

Harper was right in saying this, but he's also right to send his wife to cultural events. Harper made a big mistake by criticizing government cultural funding. He appeared to be a Lutheran WASP anti-fun philistine.

Rather, he should question how taxpayer money can best support the arts. The State should not support small cliques and their extravagant galas.

----

If this piano rendition shows that Harper has heard of The Beatles and is not an obsessive policy wonk (he is), then I guess he has accomplished something.

IMV, it's harder to be a federal politician in Canada than a US President.

[Mr.Canada]

This isn't the first time the PM has played the piano. He does it from time to time. He's a music lover and taught himself to play, no lessons. Whenever he passes by a piano he finds it difficult to pass by without playing for a bit.

He's a human being guys, no matter how much people try to paint him as some sort of monster, he's just a guy. He also loves hockey and curling and has been to many curling Championships in Canada. He did all these things long before he became PM. You guys need to remember that Stephen Harper wasn't a rich and successful millionaire before getting involved in politics. Paul Martin was a Billionaire before being involved in politics. Stephen Harper was not.

I don't find it unusual that he enjoys playing the piano at all or that he is in fact self taught. It's just a normal thing that people do when following their passions.

[punked]

This isn't the first time the PM has played the piano. He does it from time to time. He's a music lover and taught himself to play, no lessons. Whenever he passes by a piano he finds it difficult to pass by without playing for a bit.

He's a human being guys, no matter how much people try to paint him as some sort of monster, he's just a guy. He also loves hockey and curling and has been to many curling Championships in Canada. He did all these things long before he became PM. You guys need to remember that Stephen Harper wasn't a rich and successful millionaire before getting involved in politics. Paul Martin was a Billionaire before being involved in politics. Stephen Harper was not.

I don't find it unusual that he enjoys playing the piano at all or that he is in fact self taught. It's just a normal thing that people do when following their passions.

Good thing Martin made Gay marriage legal in Canada becuase otherwise Mr. Canada's dream of marrying Harper would already be dead.

[August1991]

Good thing Martin made Gay marriage legal in Canada becuase otherwise Mr. Canada's dream of marrying Harper would already be dead.

Giggle.

[waldo]

He appeared to be a Lutheran WASP anti-fun philistine.

actually... it's Evangelical WASP anti-fun philistine... and there's no appearance about it - it's the real thing!

[waldo]

Good thing Martin made Gay marriage legal in Canada becuase otherwise Mr. Canada's dream of marrying Harper would already be dead.

bromance... indeed!

[Mr.Canada]

For those who are interested in what he sounds like.

[Keepitsimple]

Here's the whole performance....what a guy - just an ordinary Canadian. Maybe some of his critics will start to see that. Do you think this was part of his hidden agenda?

[Smallc]

Pfft. He's doing this because he wants to go to the polls now that his numbers are better. This is the same guy who said that Gala's were only for elites just last year. I guess that doesn't include the ones that his wife chairs....

[Argus]

Here's the whole performance....what a guy - just an ordinary Canadian. Maybe some of his critics will start to see that. Do you think this was part of his hidden agenda?

Well, I have to hand it to him. First, I had no idea he could play the piano. Second, I had no idea he could sing. In fact, when he started singing it was so good I thought it was a tape recording and he was doing a kind of karioke thing. He should let this side of himself out a lot more. People will be less likely to think of him as a machine person.

Hey, any idiot can be a politician. It takes real dedication to learn the piano.

[Smallc]

He should let this side of himself out a lot more. People will be less likely to think of him as a machine person.

I would agree with that. The reason so many have trouble believing this is the real him is because we've never seen this before.

[Argus]

Pfft. He's doing this because he wants to go to the polls now that his numbers are better. This is the same guy who said that Gala's were only for elites just last year. I guess that doesn't include the ones that his wife chairs....

It was on behalf of the Natonal Youth and Eduation Trust - not a self induglent gathering to benefit some arts group. He isn't likely to go to the polls since he's just announced byelections, and why he did it is irrelevent anyway. The fact the guy can sing and play the piano are two huge aspects of his personality which few ordinary Canadians ever suspected existed (along with just about all other aspects of his personality).

[Smallc]

It was on behalf of the National Youth and Eduation Trust - not a self indulgent gathering to benefit some arts group.

[Argus]

I would agree with that. The reason so many have trouble believing this is the real him is because we've never seen this before.

Are you suggesting that he learned the piano just so he could do this? I mean, come on. Clearly he's a guy who loves music, else he'd never have put in the time needed over the years to learn the piano. And clearly, he can sing and has done so before. That was a very good performance, and you don't learn to do that sort of thing just for a political stunt.

There is simply no getting around the fact this IS an aspect of the real Harper few of us were aware of.

[Smallc]

Are you suggesting that he learned the piano just so he could do this?

Yes, that's exactly what I'm suggesting.... That's just silly Argus, I already know that he played Piano. He's generally a cold guy, and it's nice that he shows a different side. If he did it more and had done it earlier, people would be more likely to see it as real and not an act. I hope it is completely real, but I'm not convinced yet.

[scribblet]

I knew he could play the piano, didn't know about the singing. Who could pass up an opportunity to play with Yo Yo Ma. Eat your hearts out..

[Keepitsimple]

Yes, that's exactly what I'm suggesting.... That's just silly Argus, I already know that he played Piano. He's generally a cold guy, and it's nice that he shows a different side. If he did it more and had done it earlier, people would be more likely to see it as real and not an act. I hope it is completely real, but I'm not convinced yet.

Harper by nature is a private person and he has tried to keep his private life out of the public eye......but for those who have had a peek at his private life....they've seen a father who loves his kids and someone who has chosen a wife who is smart, witty and no pushover. I'm sure his "coming out" is more than just the image people. I'll bet that Laureen had something to do with it - she's probably tired of all of the "cold" comments that come from the critics - she knows the guy's just a big teddy-bear and probably is finally encouraging him to make his personal side a little more public - and let people see the man that she knows. Harper has probably been afraid that the same critics who bash him in public would look for flaws in private. Can't say I blame him......but I think when you're leading a country, people have to get to know you. He's such an ordinary Canadian - raised in Toronto, moved to Calgary, a hockey fan, not from a rich or privileged family, likes music. I've read his biography - an ordinary guy who evolved to living and loving politics and what he could do for his country. He's not everyone's cup of tea - and never will be.....but anyone who has followed his career and more importantly, his life - will know that this is not a man who is in politics for the sheer attainment of personal power.