What about Bruce Springsteen?

Apollo 13

[Apollo 13]

Allow me to smile here -
there were many stories about the cover of ‘Born In The U.S.A.’, up to the point that is is a purely homosexual reference (the baseball cap).
I’d say that the title song is not anti-American per sé. It is a personal comment on a specific American’s fate in a war that many, many had, and have, great trouble with. And if one of America’s greatest achievements is free speech, and the ability for self-criticism and re-evaluation, then such a song is most welcome. Where would we be if Americans would, out of fear, withhold themselves from creating what they feel needs be said? Precisely: in a totalitarian state.
A lesser known Springsteen song is ‘Shut Out The Light’, describing in fine detail the plight of a war veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder. What Bruce does here is voicing a deep human truth, regardless of what popular opinion would like to hear.
Democratic art is not about pandering to the most desirable sentiments. It is about giving a voice to what one honestly feels and thinks.
Of course, others may not like it. But then, they are not obliged to purchase it, nor listen to it.
It’s the essence of a democracy, IMHO.

[Thermalseeker]

With tons of music out there, of all genres, that can truly be considered great, why waste your time listening to something that is just average?

One of the shows on XM I really like is Tom Petty's "Buried Treasure" show, which runs on XM channel 2 on Thursdays. Petty really digs deep and comes up with a lot of "B" side music I've never heard. Some of it goes well back into the 50's. He really digs up the "roots" of rock-n-roll! Awesome stuff! Head and shoulders above anything you will hear playing on commercial radio nowadays.....

[sushiman]

I’m 56 , so not very far behind you !

I grew up in the 50’s listening to my uncle’s ( 5 years older than I ) Chuck Berry , Little Richard , Fats Domino , Bill Haley , etc 45s and American Bandstand and a little bop jazz here and there . Then came The Beatles and the Brit Invasion whom I idolized . Sometime in the early 70’s I got bored with most rock ( still listened to a lot of British folk-rock , The Kinks , The Who , etc ) ) and drifted into fusion ( though not entirely ) ...Then around 77 punk re-energized my interest in rock , followed by New Wave in the 80’s which I deeply dug ...In the 90’s my taste in music became even more electic when I got into ambient , world and re-discovered EXOTICA a la Martin Denny , Les Baxter , Arthur Lyman , etc..Never got into rap ...

Glad I grew up when I did ...Lived through the birth , and more or less death , of rock and roll .

[Rummyfan]

I always liked THUNDER ROAD......

The screen door slams
Mary' dress waves
Like a vision she dances across the porch
As the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
Hey that's me and I want you only
Don't turn me home again
I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside
Darling you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking
That maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty but hey you're alright
Oh and that's alright with me

You can hide 'neath your covers
And study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers
Throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain
For a saviour to rise from these streets
Well now I'm no hero
That's understood
All the redemption I can offer girl
Is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey what else can we do now ?
Except roll down the window
And let the wind blow
Back your hair
Well the night's busting open
These two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back
Heaven's waiting on down the tracks
Oh-oh come take my hand
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
Oh-oh Thunder Road oh Thunder Road
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Hey I know it's late we can make it if we run
Oh Thunder Road sit tight take hold
Thunder Road

Well I got this guitar
And I learned how to make it talk
And my car's out back
If you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open but the ride it ain't free
And I know you're lonely
For words that I ain't spoken
But tonight we'll be free
All the promises'll be broken
There were ghosts in the eyes
Of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road
In the skeleton frames of burned out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the street
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
And in the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines roaring on
But when you get to the porch they're gone
On the wind so Mary climb in
It's town full of losers
And I'm pulling out of here to win

Of course, just about all his songs feature Mary and a car......

[Dr. Ursus]

He was my favorite music artist,until he had AL Franken
on stage as the” man” who should be the next President.

[DieHard the Hunter]

> As with most “pop” music, I’ve always found Springsteen’s music repetitious and boring. A “great musician” he ain’t.

Some of his music and lyrics is really, really good if not great. I find it hard NOT to listen to “Born to Run”, and “I’m on Fire” is downright spooky and haunting.

And he does put on a really good concert.

It’s a bit unfair to run him down too hard from a musical standpoint. His politics leave me cold, but then so do Bob Geldoff’s — he’s another musician who ought to have stuck to music rather than getting all uppity and political on us.

Bono the same. Sting the same.

[BufordP]

[valkyry1]

I remember the Wide World of Sports was playing ‘born to run’ on their shows and I think that gave him a big boost.

I saw him in 1980 doing songs from his earlier and contemporary albums, his band was incredible back then.

[Thermalseeker]

Some of his music and lyrics is really, really good if not great.

To each his own. I find that I don't even have to think about changing the channel if a Springsteen song comes on. It just happens automatically, unless my wife beats me to it.

I'm curious, do you play any instruments? Most musicians I know absolutely hate Springsteen......

[DieHard the Hunter]

> I’m curious, do you play any instruments? Most musicians I know absolutely hate Springsteen......

(grin!) No — my wife is a classical musician, as are both my kids. I cannot play a note. But I can play the fool really, really good!

[J40000]

I had the same dilemma with Elton John, having been a fan since 1972 when he at least ‘appeared’ to be a fairly normal guy who sang really good songs.

I think it’s fine to enjoy their music, but for me, when they start pushing their political crap out THROUGH their music, that’s when I quit. And in Elton’s case, every time he opens his trap for the press, he’s bashing conservative christian people... He hasn’t gotten a dime from me in years.

[txrangerette]

I like some Springsteen songs a lot.

Others bore me and leave me cold.

He can’t sing all that well, but then a performer can get pretty far despite that, if they have enough other things going for them.

Politically speaking, of course he has his free speech rights, and you have your rights to like him despite his politics.

The funny thing to me is these Leftys seem to think their utterances and symbolic actions make them appear smart, as opposed to the idiot George W Bush and those who voted for him twice.

They are the idiots.

Laura Ingraham has it correct when she says, “SHUT UP AND SING”.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

I recognize those signs!

Bruce Springsteen has never celebrated America. He has nothing good to say about her.

[Alberta's Child]

I’ve always liked Springsteen’s early work, but with a few exceptions I think the quality of his music steadily declined after “The River” in 1979-80.

[The Ghost of Rudy McRomney]

Yeah, it is pretty much dead, except for some alternative stuff. Everclear was about the last band I liked. Les Baxter & his orchestra used to do many many “B”-Movie soundtracks.

[monkeycard]

Is politics a reason to dismiss him altogether?

Yes.

[BufordP]

Born in the U.S.A.
by Bruce DingSpring

Born down in a dead man's town
The first kick I took was when I hit the ground
You end up like a dog that's been beat too much
Till you spend half your life just covering up

Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

Got in a little hometown jam
So they put a rifle in my hand
Sent me off to a foreign land
To go and kill the yellow man

Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.

Come back home to the refinery
Hiring man says "Son if it was up to me"
Went down to see my V.A. man
He said "Son, don't you understand"

I had a brother at Khe Sahn fighting off the Viet Cong
They're still there, he's all gone

He had a woman he loved in Saigon
I got a picture of him in her arms now

Down in the shadow of the penitentiary
Out by the gas fires of the refinery
I'm ten years burning down the road
Nowhere to run ain't got nowhere to go

Born in the U.S.A.
I was born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a long gone Daddy in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
Born in the U.S.A.
I'm a cool rocking Daddy in the U.S.A.

Bruce wishes he was born someplace else.

[pgkdan]

Is politics a reason to dismiss him altogether? For me it doesn't detract from my admiration. What do you think?

Not really. It's a reason to leave a show but I can't just stop liking music that I've liked for so long. As for Springsteen I really like "The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle", "Greetings from Asbury Park" and I love "Born to Run". AFIC nothing since has lived up to his early genius.

[Bobarian]

I'll take the music and politics of Ted Nugent over Bruce Springsteen any day.
In fact, if Ted is on the ticket, I'll have a reason to vote for McCain.

[napscoordinator]

I don’t base music, tv, or movies on what an actor does or doesn’t do. If I like the music I will listen if not than I won’t. Springsteen’s politics bore me but they are his own. I really enjoyed listening to him back in the day and if he ever puts out another GREAT CD, I will buy it.