Obama's Inauguration Day: The 7 best moments and memes

There was plenty of pomp and gravitas during the celebration of President Obama's second inauguration. These other things happened, too

President Obama dances with his lady in red at the Commander-in-Chief Ball.
(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

President Obama was ceremonially sworn in for his second term on Monday, a day replete with symbolism — reciting his oath of office, Obama rested his hand on Bibles owned by Abraham Lincoln and the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., on MLK Jr. Day — a historic speech, and solemn poetry and pronouncements about the importance of America's peaceful quadrennial transfers (or re-upping) of power. Inauguration Day was also a big party, with some great performances and mini-iconic moments — or, as New York's Joe Coscarelli puts it, "the first all-out meme election was followed by the inaugural meme inauguration, with every vaguely funny or touching moment GIF-ed, screenshot-ed, and played back for posterity." Here, seven of those lighter moments from America's 57th presidential inauguration:

1. Jennifer Hudson belts out the First Couple's first dance song

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.