Blinken Performs "Rockin' in the Free World" at a Kyiv Tavern
US Secretary of State, Blinken, made quite the unexpected appearance at a Kyiv bar while on a surprise trip to the Ukrainian capital. He joined forces with local band 19.99 to perform Neil Young's iconic song "Rockin' in the Free World." Blinken got involved with the punk/jazz group by playing guitar and even singing, adding to their incredible performance.
According to reports, Blinken's visit on Tuesday came just after the US administration's late addition of supplemental funding to Ukraine, a move that's much needed to help the war-torn country. He also met with President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss militaristic updates and the importance of the new US aid arriving.
What made Blinken's visit even more astonishing was his unplanned performance at Barman Dictat, a popular underground cocktail bar and music venue located on Kyiv's primary street, Khreshchatyk. This spot is a favorite hangout for war veterans and those on leave from their military duties.
With a stage presence, Blinken expressed his message: "The United States is here for you. So much of the world is here for you. And they're fighting, not just for Ukraine - for the free world. And the free world is with you too."
The venue took to their Instagram page to share a photo and video from the unique evening, adding "Keep on rockin' in a free world! Thanks, @secblinken."
The track, originally released by Neil Young in 1989 (the year the Berlin Wall fell), is titled "Freedom." The title of the album it appears on is, of course, quite fitting for the situation.
Unlike former president Bill Clinton, who blew crowd away with his saxophone skills in 1994 at Prague's Reduta Jazz Club, Blinken didn't post about his bar gig on his social media, but his bio identifies him as an "(very) amateur guitarist."
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Blinken's unexpected performance of "Rockin' in the Free World" at Barman Dictat attracted a crowd that includes war veterans and Europeans on leave from their military duties in Kyiv. The song's resonance extends beyond the Ukrainian capital, as it speaks to the collective fight for freedom, a sentiment felt not just in Ukraine, but across the world in Europe and beyond.
Source: edition.cnn.com
