McCartney rocks the White House

US President Barack Obama and his family were bouncing in their seats at a White House tribute concert for former Beatle Paul McCartney.

The setting was the ornate East Room, with an all-star line-up cranking out some of McCartney’s greatest hits.

Stevie Wonder had the Obamas clapping to We Can Work It Out, the Jonas Brothers did Baby You Can Drive My Car, and British star Corinne Bailey Rae slowed things down with Blackbird.

Fellow Brit Elvis Costello crooned Penny Lane, and called it a “thing of wonder and beauty”, noting that his mother grew up not far away from the now famous street in Liverpool.

For all the awards the former Beatle has collected over the years, he said performing before the Obamas in the East Room was still a pinch-me moment.

“For an English kid growing up in Liverpool, the White House – that’s pretty special,” he said.

Of his presidential host, McCartney added: “He’s a great guy, so lay off him.”

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld had lots of compliments for McCartney and one complaint – he couldn’t quite fathom some lyrics, such as, “She was just 17. You know what I mean.”

Seinfeld said: “I’m not sure I do know what you mean, Sir Paul. I think I know what you mean. And I think there’s a law enforcement agency in a couple of states that might want to ask you a few questions.”

The 67-year-old singer and songwriter, seated next to the president for the concert, was there to receive the Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. He kicked things off with a rocking rendition of Got To Get You Into My Life.

Others performers included Emmylou Harris, White Stripes singer Jack White and Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl.

The Gershwin Prize, awarded by the Library of Congress, is named for the song writing brothers George and Ira Gershwin.

Previous recipients of the award are Wonder and Paul Simon.