Regina Spektor - "The Sword & the Pen" (live at the White House)

Performed at a reception in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month

[@user-kh9ki3kq8m]

Surprised the White House would have such a crappy piano and mic setup

[@redpenda99o]

it was probably set up just for the live acoustics

[@rimatus]

Indeed

[@ChickenTuesday]

What i love about her is that every time she sings a song live its always slightly different,for example she might add a cute little "hey!" or something so it's like if you see her live your getting a special version that's not on the album:)Love you regina!You are literally the best person.

[@MART0613]

the pressure. and the lyrics. so deep in meaning....

[@Plottoberry]

I love how she chose a song that is absolutely haunting. Love, death, religion... I would love to hear why she chose this song to sing.

[@themusicandthepen]

Somebody really screwed up the mic' ing on that piano... Which is sad because it's a really beautiful old piano with a beautiful sound. Regina performed beautifully, as usual, though. :)

[@gbrpompeyrespekt6]

Regi' is just soooo brave doing this, she's nervous but carries it off brilliantly with humour. GBR

[@cynopt]

Artistic license dictates she can say 'chew' if she wants. She's not writing an academic essay.

[@tinamodoti7064]

This song is amazing for this audience tha was really interesting in what the lirycs is telling. I LOVE THIS ADORABLE CREATURE, MY HERO NAMES IS REGINA SPEKTOR

[@FilmThought]

the piano is so quiet because the recording is coming through the microphone

[@Audioobscure]

She's grown and improved as a performer so much since this

[@INSIDEOFMYSELF]

Regina Spektor stole my heart years ago...Janet is a new love

[@larasoto1991]

there was a man recording.... i dont know, it makes me smile...they were loving her

[@lucie8953]

I think it was her husband

[@oresteia]

Awesome! I love that Michelle gives her a standing O.

[@user-kh9ki3kq8m]

She got to perform for the president? Holy shit

[@axeburningfire2507]

poor regina. the stress is so apparent,

[@rimatus]

Shut up

[@user-kh9ki3kq8m]

Why was the piano so quiet?

[@Frahamen]

Because it's not a forte?

[@merna5685]

@@Frahamen what the fuck?? piano = pianoforte. Pianoforte just means soft and hard in italian. lmao

[@redpenda99o]

@@merna5685 1. that's the joke 2. an early version of the piano was called the pianoforte

[@groovyshamrock]

Aw, poor soul, she seemed so nervous at first... But she did beautifully, as always.

[@zzzcocopepe]

terrible sound.... you can barely hear her piano

[@ZEROPRODUCTIONSVIDEO]

this is amazing!!! regina has made it so far!!

[@hpyrkh3]

Her music brings out so many feelings, she is a genius!

[@r4bb1tr1pp3r]

I like how intently the audience is listening to the lyrics

[@headempty7995]

It looked like the older man in the front row was crying during the standing ovation.

[@Plottoberry]

Oh gosh yes. And how she sings ''I don't want to live without you''... so heartfelt and sad.

[@awatcher1980]

"we are living in a den of thieves" yea what else can you sing to a puppet controled by a den of banksters.... genius regina for president. then regina for god. she is an angel you know. god bless Regina Spektor - a reason NOT to jump off the golden gate bridge may that one day i will dance with her in heaven. she gave me a hug once

[@kevs97]

cutest being on the planet

[@lacksmyorganics]

beautiful!

[@weewooweewoo906]

would die for obama to smile at me like that

[@_valentina_nikolaevna]

В конце очень напоминает русские народные песни (а не только еврейские, как, судя по всему, и было задумано). Как жаль, что Регина так мало поет по-русски. А может быть, в этом корень ее гениальности - необходимость с ранних лет жить другую жизнь и быть куда более чем собой. Дай Бог ей всего-всего!

[@ivanmont]

oh regina regina, lovely regina

[@kryptoncolomo]

That was really awesome. Way to go Regina! Excellent choice of songs. (Us & Sword and the Pen). WOW!

[@karenziiTaalwO]

"i forgot how to do everything.."

[@ThomasKnott]

amazing. a perfomer like regina at a location like the white house and still you got your token d-head filming with a phone (or a crappy digital camera). regina singing: faith in humanity restored d-head filming: back to normal

[@juanavalosr.1713]

the end sounds kinda jewish C: I love You Russian-Jewish beautiful girl Ü

[@JillnRe]

I started loling at the end when shes like LADADADADA

[@Elphieey]

@Evangeline30575 That piano is actually really beautiful. The angle in which this video was filmed does it NO justice. You should watch the "US" performance at the White House. It's quite an extraordinary piano.

[@nikkkkist]

she neatly curled her hair for the performance!

[@alicepotter777]

obama should have done a standing O. i love regina. this is the best sword and the pen ive ever heard. she really got into it. i love every one righ tnow. this made my day.

[@Plottoberry]

Or ballad for a politician! Ouch...

[@zonalGman92]

@selainestarr Thanx for reply. Bush was the last US president. And what did he do to help the Global Catastrophe. Did u goto Senate Bill Lets Obama Shut Down the Internet on youtube? I hope you did. I've been playing music for years & it's great to be appreciated. Idon't know. I do know that I really appreciate Regina's music/lyrics. Just hope she doesn't take a wrong turn. Selfish thought really- she can do what she likes. I just hope I like her new project as much as I love the rest. :-)

[@bookqueen520]

It's so weird hearing a live performance without a bunch of people singing/screaming along. And the piano was way to quiet for her voice.

[@neymeyfeyhey9511]

My chest aches watching this

[@nousername5633]

She steals your heart.

[@Bemabond]

haha sorry but i can't help but think there were dudes with ear pieces saying 'track the russian. follow her movements.' on her way out. My head is fucking fun you guys. Get the hell in here.

[@schoolbox87]

Absolutely fantastic. Interesting choice of song though.. I wonder why she chose this one.

[@SilverIlly]

I've never heard that break before (I've only heard her studio version) and I think I'm even more in love.

[@bimbam9603]

The fact that she sings this specific song in front of them? I'm gagging!

[@blurrystar]

Such an electrified performance. What an atmosphere to play in! Love Regina.

[@DMSteller87]

Interesting song choice.

[@sfield86]

I have NO respect for Barrack Obama, but I have gained a ton for Michelle by standing for one of the greatest voices that has ever existed.

[@jologwapo9]

So Cute!!

[@hpyrkh3]

@chewreece One of them woke up when the music got loud at 3:50

[@enderpena777]

omg regina u're so cuteeee OwO

[@stephenlongtheway]

Obama doesn't deserve this honor.

[@kiruna1953]

She's so engaged and so pure ! Lucky Obama and friends !

[@selainestarr]

@zonalGman92 I totally agree though.. It is a shame.... but being an artist myself, even if I hated the man with a passion.. I would still play for him just because he is a president

[@kryptoncolomo]

@panaroish i bet i'd do that too lol. but still .... the fact of being there would be enough for me.

[@usernamegoyale]

That's why it still rains in the world..cos there are good people like this..even though if there are wars and hunger everywhere else..

[@stevenwolfnesbitt]

OH MY GOD POLITICS GO AWAY. People, just enjoy lovely Regina and take your politics to comment box.

[@sacajamore]

yea, and the blank faces do so much too, right? ;)

[@gbrpompeyrespekt6]

Regi' is just soooo brave doing this, she's nervous but carries it off brilliantly with humour. GBR

[@edg3516]

@MrSantanarose Yes, she's jewish. Most technically, she's a jewish russian émigré.

[@AnthonyMinsky]

Is it just me or do they all actually seem enraptured. Watch out, she'll get ya. :)

[@technicallylex]

why does everybody look so bored? I'd be freakin' excited if I was there to witness that!

[@StrawberryPigeons]

the quiet piano is really bothering me

[@kryptoncolomo]

@schoolbox87 it's a metaphor and i think she's referring to religion.

[@j777]

That almost got named ballad for a lovable dictator ;)

[@selainestarr]

@zonalGman92 because she wanted the chance to play for a President

[@alicepotter777]

@usernamegoyale thats also why the son came out this morning:):):)

[@MattBlytheTheOne]

.....they wouldn't even see it coming !

[@KaritKtana]

you mean the girl with the kippah? it's so weird!

[@elebunny45]

She almost looks genuinely sad when she's singing don't she?

[@GermanSailfish]

@surrealismo0muerte "one of the"?

[@KallaJane7]

Obama looks like he's gonna fall asleep. ohmygosh =_=

[@dpaszak]

Regina shaped smiley face emoticon inserted here.

[@pomdapirouge]

Michelle Obama was the first to get up, there :-)

[@kryptoncolomo]

@reginaspanties why did you choose tha username? lol

[@mthomason13]

Have you seen/heard Janet Devlin?

[@KitchenKiller95]

XD even 40+ people film this on digital cam!

[@nickopezoa]

a mic in the Piano is not so bad eh ???

[@AmyHaigh]

the piano is too quiet.

[@Plottoberry]

What...what?!

[@fendifox7466]

Такое ощущение, что микрофон для ораторов больше

[@pomdapirouge]

test

[@jim10101010101]

double WIN!!!!

[@ODDHRAAN]

I may be in love.

[@reginaspanties]

im in tears....

[@MrsDoubleDC]

Well done, Regina!!

[@StepanVorobiov]

Душевно Ильинишна мочит!!!

[@fendifox7466]

Звук такой плохой

[@gaminginpublic]

terrible sound quality. Can't hear the piano.

[@MellowYellowRanger]

Maybe she just really likes tobacco.

[@Evangeline30575]

Could'nt they have hooked her up with a better damn piano its the White House!!!

[@macaroo90]

1:05 lollll

[@Evangeline30575]

Not the right songs for Jewish Heritage month i would've chosen Hero and Ink Stains

[@yoyovito1]

lucky bastard

[@sacajamore]

Poor Regina!, doing such a great job in pretending she's not completely terrified. frankly, I'd rather s**t in front of my whole family rather than condole a sense of respect for the one "office" (in my opinion), responsible for making my life so much more difficult than it already is... and all in the name of organized religion. kudos, Sweetheart!, you are a true inspiration to our art! :)

[@TAlexanderEpicness]

I love this .....Regina well done...most people would kill to perform to the president.

[@seymoresas]

my elementary school music teacher's pet peeve was saying "chew" for "you". so this song bites my ears a little... and so does the sight of seeing her play for this audience bcuz i have pet peeves of my own.

[@diskozsister1680]

even if she was writing an essay u couldn't hear the annoying chew for you unless she actually wrote chew.

[@nousername5633]

It's "you". People say "chew" when it comes after a word that ends with a t sound.

[@Vasianah]

Wow. The worst administration had the best music

[@rudys9479]

I'm getting real tired of this first family. And I suspect I'm not alone.

[@micmlinson]

Yiss u r xoxo