Antony Blinken not only did his job as US Secretary of State in Kiev on Tuesday. In a nightclub he picked up the guitar.
He wanted to make a statement with this musical performance: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (62) came on stage at the Kiev nightclub Barman Dictat on Tuesday (May 14) and picked up the guitar. He had previously listened to a concert by the Ukrainian band 19.99 before their frontman brought him on stage for a special performance.
Blinken: “Free World” supports Ukraine
“I know this is a very, very difficult time,” Blinken, dressed casually in jeans and a black shirt, told the audience in the Ukrainian capital. “But you have to know that the United States is with you, that a large part of the world is with you,” he said regarding Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. The soldiers fought not only for a free Ukraine, “but for the free world – and the free world is with you too.” Afterwards, Blinken, who has played guitar and been a member of bands for years, asked the group: “Maybe we can try something?”
He then sang the first chords of Neil Young’s (78) “Rockin’ in the Free World” with the group. He also supported the frontman vocally during the chorus. The rock song was released in November 1989 and is less a patriotic anthem than a criticism of the then Republican administration of George HW Bush (1924-2018). Not only the choice of song, but also the entire performance attracted critical voices. According to the New York Times, the appropriateness of the musical performance given the crises in the world was discussed on social media.
The US Secretary of State unexpectedly arrived in the capital Kiev on Tuesday. There he also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj (46).
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
