Song by J. Lennon and P. McCartney, production by L. Harper

It turns out the Stephen Harper’s Beatlemania moment was cooked up almost entirely by his wife. Laureen Harper is credited with conceiving of Stephen Harper’s piano-and-vocals debut at the National Arts Centre’s gala on Saturday, conferring privately with Yo-Yo Ma about the idea, and then coaxing the PM into taking the gig. Her instincts seem perfect. And the story that the Prime Minister somewhat reluctantly took to the stage makes the whole thing even better. Had he been eager, he’d look nerdily needy. But doing it as a favour to his wife makes him look both game and manly. The show, the story, the Youtube video: it’s a persona-building coup all round.

Ottawa Citizen