Published: Dec. 9, 2010 at 11:23 AM
http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/Music/2010/12/09/Canadian-PM-Harper-covers...


Cellist Yo-Yo Ma gives a thumbs-up to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper (C) as they rehearsed for their performance at the 2009 National Arts Centre Gala in Ottawa on Oct. 10, 2009. In the show, Harper played and sang the Beatles' hit "With a Little Help From My Friends." Photo supplied by prime minister's office.



OTTAWA, Dec. 9 (UPI) -- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, backed by an Ottawa band, brought the house down with a five-song party set ending with "Jumpin' Jack Flash."

At the Conservative Party's annual Christmas party Wednesday night, Harper startled many by having his wife Laureen make opening remarks before he sat down on stage at an electric piano with the four-man local band, Herringbone, Postmedia News reported.

Harper sang and played through "Sweet Caroline" by Neil Diamond, "I'm On My Way" by the Proclaimers, The Who's "The Seeker" and "Share the Land" by the Guess Who.

The report said many of the people in the packed ballroom were unaware of the 51-year-old politician's musical abilities and stood clapping and shouting, demanding an encore.

Harper and the band churned out a loud version of the Rolling Stones' "Jumpin' Jack Flash" as their last piece.

The prime minister then noted the day marked the 30th anniversary of former Beatle John Lennon's murder before playing several bars of Lennon's "Imagine," but didn't sing, The Globe and Mail said.

don't give up you're day job (or I should say) Give up you're day job Stephen.