Obama leaves Norway, but bands play on

OSLO (AP) — The guest of honor was an ocean away, but the show went on. The royal purple box seat reserved for US President Barack Obama — the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner — remained empty on Friday, as artists worldwide took the stage at the annual concert in honor of the year's laureate. Breaking Nobel protocol, the American president left the Norwegian capital early Friday, blaming a busy schedule for cutting the planned three-day visit to just over 24 hours. Haitian-born musician Wyclef Jean stole the show shortly, with "Gunpowder," an anti-war anthem performed with Chinese classical pianist Lang Lang, who earlier played George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" at the Nobel awards ceremony. Jean also managed to achieve the seemingly impossible — getting Norway's Crown Prince and Princess to throw their hands in the air for his final song. Disco sensation Donna Summer, the show closer, also brought the crowd to its feet with a medley of hits from the 70s and 80s. Other artists included Malian blues duo Amadou & Mariam and American country music star Toby Keith. Keith spoke to journalists Friday alongside Nobel Concert hosts — movie star and rapper Will Smith and his wife, actress Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith, whose Thursday interview with Obama during the president's stay in Oslo was to be shown at the concert Friday night, said he had no reservations about Obama's peace prize despite his status as an early first-term wartime president. Keith also defended Obama's decision when meeting journalists in Oslo. Speaking to his feelings about his laureateship, Obama said during his interview with the Smiths that "this is one of those events that happens in your life that I suspect you appreciate more in retrospect." The president's quick visit communicated a similar sentiment, reflecting a White House that saw little value in trumpeting an honor for peace just days after Obama announced he was sending more troops off to war in Afghanistan. Source:philstar.com/