― Patrick, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― Omar, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
I can't get worked up and annoyed about Bruce in the way I can about some other rockers. He has an ear for a great line (the opening of "Hungry Heart" for instance) and I can forgive him a lot for that. He doesn't resonate with me and like the Replacements I think that's a cultural thing.
I also - and this is totally subjective - never get the impression Bruce ever thinks he's particularly cool. Which is not something I can say of most other 'real rock'n'roller' types, mainstream or otherwise.
― Tom, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
File under yet to be discovered. I was listening to an apologetic defence of his work from Sean Rowley on the radio the other day, and it got me wondering again. People of my generation's first real exposure to him was the 'Born in the USA' air-punching era and that obviously wasn't likely to engender much interest. Yes, I know it was all ironic.
What I have heard of his 70's stuff sounds like I might grow to love it. That midwest blue-collar world his songs inhabit seems harder to relate to than any other, but even in 1988, I had the feeling Paddy McAloon was missing the point with the song 'Cars & Girls'.
At the moment, I'm afraid the song of his I like best is a 90s one - 'If I Should Fall Behind', which I only know from the Grant McLellan cover version.
Badly Drawn Boy is a Springsteen obsessive, which I thought was quite cute.
― Nick, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
N.
― matthew stevens, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― Simon, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
And yes, Tom, he's got a very good ear for a line.
― Ally, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
I heard the version of "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" when I was young and that is pretty spiff, I freely agree. Circa 1984, liking El Bruce was unsurprising for me as that was a pretty damn good radio year -- Chuck Eddy specifically called it as such in _Stairway to Hell_, and he was goddamn right. Thus liking all that stuff he made was a matter of course alongside all those singles from _Purple Rain_ and _Like A Virgin_ and etc.
Time went on and I proceeded to not care. I never cared enough to buy an album anyway, and the 'classic early singles' only made sense in my classic rock phase, which lasted about nine months in senior year.
Then I ended up in LA and encountered the first of Robert Hilburn's 345,234,843 printed sermons on How Bruce Springsteen Heals the Sick, Raises the Dead and Means More to Human Existence Than the Combined Efforts of Louis Pasteur, Billie Holiday and Charles Schulz. I encountered other blowhards. The music touched me with the impact of a dying flea. A roommate was obsessed with him to the point of near mania. I cried.
The end.
Frankly, the Walkabouts any day of the goddamn week, month, year, decade, century, etc. If the relative fame levels were reversed, I would cling to this assumption with even more deep, abiding passion because then I would have The People on my side. Even alone, though, it's comfy. And Frankie Goes to Hollywood's version of "Born to Run" is my fave.
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― Sterling Clover, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
i actually liked born_in_the_u.s.a when it came out at age 7, but later, i found it to be an obstacle in getting to love bruce, and i'm sure there are a ton of artists out there whose work at that time has kept people away from them.
as sterling said, it's funny what driving a car can do, especially when it's another dark and lonely night out on an empty anonymous new jersey highway and "born to run" comes on the highway. but i've been there, so i'll move on.
you can get by on the first five or so albums on the music and production alone -- unless of course you hate phil spector and are, therefore, destined to spend eternity in hell -- and the later stuff will stick if you find something in the lyrics that rings far too true. sure, he mines the same territory in a lot of his songs, but so do belle & sebastian and so did the smiths; except the kids in bruce's songs could kick the ass of their counterparts in the aforementioned.
ned, i think you have the same problem as tom: it's a cultural thing. ;)
― fred from new jersey, Friday, 23 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
It's not a cultural thing; I mean for god's sake Motorcycle Emptiness might as well be Bruce Springsteen on a literacy trip in terms of subject, and I know Tom likes the song, and I believe Ned does too. Whether that particular statement was tongue in cheek or not, it's a tired excuse and reasoning, one usually used by the saddest of Bruce Springsteen fans, the ones who "identify" with his sentiments, seemingly losing track of the fact that BRUCE'S CHARACTERS NEVER ACTUALLY MAKE IT OUT. Some positive role models to rock out to.
The thing is, I think it's the voice and the earnestness, which was already said. The stylistic values of it....the basic cultural and escape sentiments, lyrically, of Motorcycle Emptiness and Born to Run might be very similar in tone, but the style and vocalisings are entirely, 100% different. Bruce has a very sarcastic bent, a very dark bent, lyrically, but his style of music softens the blow and sometimes people just don't like it.
And those people are wrong, incidentally :P
― Ally, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
Nebraska is half good but doesn't deserve the plaudits it gets as the Springsteen album it's cool to like.
The rest is pretty much DUD.
― alex thomson, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
Nevermind that Born in the USA was my first record not meant to be played on the Fisher Price record player (with the STEEL NEEDLE)
Nevermind Tracks Nevermind the fact that Born to Run is one of the best driving albums ever when your top is down and it's summer and the road between Ventura and home stretches out and empty at night with no cops...
Nevermind he has out Dylan-ed Dylan
Nevermind that he can outrage The Man as he pushes the dark side of life. (41 Shots)
Nevermind the line "The record company Rosie, JUST GAVE ME A BIG ADVANCE!"
Nevermind the Live box set, reminding us just how powerful he was
Nevermind Time and Newsweek
Nevermind Thunder-Fucking-Road
Nevermind The cover of Jersey Girl
Nevermind Tracks
Nevermind the MTV Unplugged set where he scrapped the entire notion of an acoustic show and just plugged in and tore down the house
Nevermind everyone on this list who called him a dud.
― JM, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
well, Bruce isn't *that* bad! ;)
― Omar, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
La Bruce just collectively calls to my mind a stunted bastard vision of music that presumes he was the sole carrier of the 'spirit of rock and roll truth' that the Beatles and Stones 'started' in the sixties. A CLAIM I HAVE ENCOUNTERED MORE THAN ONCE, though thankfully not here, and happily never from the man's own lips either, at least to my knowledge. Without that rhetoric I would just shrug and ignore him for somebody more interesting, but with it, frankly, he becomes a very very useful target to kick against. Perhaps only a straw man, but one I wouldn't mind seeing go up in flames.
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 24 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
The boy has fallen off of late, but... I'm reminded of the Bangs article where he describes how he dismissed this Maoist band as sounding like Bruce, and the band replied "oh, good, the working class like that stuff" or something of the sort, and I'm reading this thinking -- no. no. no. The correct answer is "oh, good. Bruce fucking rocks!"
What I appreciate about Bruce is how he can capture the majesty of a major chord. How so many of his songs have the same progression, but you don't realize it 'till you try to play 'em yourself. How he can take gospel music and write it to a girl instead. And yes, more of them damn anthems.
I mean.. I know that anthems aren't an alien concept to the UK -- after all, The Who were full of them. But maybe British anthems are a different type a "get off of my cloud" or "sod off" type, more cynical and pissy than dreamy and wide-eyed. Maybe this is, after all, because America is The Big Country, The Great Bitch, et cet. Maybe to get America you have to get just how there's always somewhere you might go, maybe.
Along these lines, "Not Fade Away" which is a novel by Jim Dodge is a great rock road story, sort of like the lighter side of Richard Hell's "Go Now" or the more earnest(?) side of Bruce McCullough's "Doors Fan" sketch (on his album, Shame-Based Man). Yes. Get that spirit of the open highway.
― Sterling Clover, Sunday, 25 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― Michael Daddino, Sunday, 25 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― Mark Richardson, Sunday, 25 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
I will say, though, that I do lack a car and have never had one. That might serve as a better explanation. ;-)
― Ned Raggett, Sunday, 25 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― Patrick, Monday, 26 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
I wish I wasn't misinterpreting.
― Otis Wheeler, Monday, 26 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― Ally, Tuesday, 27 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
Inspirational in some ways. I have often felt that England needed a Springsteen, albeit not just a a copycat 'rocker'; I mean, someone who would write about all the lost and found small-town lives. But to be fair, I suppose there is already a UK tradition here: the probably Jarvis Cocker is a case in point.
― the pinefox, Wednesday, 28 February 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― Robin Carmody, Friday, 2 March 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― Michael Bourke, Sunday, 4 March 2001 01:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
1. they don't understand that he's actually not as "pro-america" as they might think he is
2. they don't have as close a connection to "old school" code (which includes "old school" rock)
3. they are mostly college kids on their way up to some office job or whatever that is removed (if not far removed) from the "underworld" (the "blue collar" or "real" world) to get the lyrical sentiments
4. well, and...sometimes people just don't like something 'cause they just don't like it
I, however, do not apply to any of those 4. For I actually do "get" some of the appeal of Bruce (albeit, it took my until my mid or late twenties to get there). Sure, his overly sentimental (downright broadway or maudlin) look at the working class can be a bit (or a bunch) too much. And sure, his music can be too simple and/or too derivitive. But, that's a part of the whole. Familiarity in both music and lyrics, is a large part of the appeal of his stuff (and those like him, ala Mellencamp, etc). He just had the concept to put nearly a whole career on the working class/blue collar life like no other has (not in such a wide reaching broad sense, at least - other than Mellencamp, but Bruce did it a bit better and first).
Classics:
Having said all that, 'Nebraska' and 'Ghost of Tom Joad' are the only two full albums that I would declare anywhere near a "classic" state of existence (with 'Nebraska' being the one clear-cut vote). Many of the rest of his 70's and 80's albums have some good solid worthy singles on them, but. I can't go so far as to get 'The River' (for example) anywhere near a "classic" nod. That one, in particular, I find to be overrated (though still having the wonderful track "Stolen Car" and the title track deserving of 'Nebraska'-like attention).
― michael g. breece, Sunday, 1 July 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
Anyways, I forgot to mention to huge (to the point of shadowing) element as to one of the why's (or why not's) of enjoy/appreciating Bruce. Which is: DRIVING. Cars and driving is such a central and/or reoccuring figure/subject in his work that...I can't believe I forgot to touch upon that (only after reading some of the others posts, darn it). But yea, I do LOVE to drive. Which also helps to explain the appeal of Springsteen (to me, at least).
*By the way, I do own that McCulloch album 'Shame Based Man' and...love it (some really funny stuff and one of the very rare comedy albums worthy of many plays - if not it's own discussion here on "I Love Music"...anyone?). Every single one of my girlfriends (one present, others past) hated it. "And if (after torching the stolen car) you can still hear the Doors playing...then you have become...a DOORS...FAN!" I'm not a Doors fan, however.
― michael g. breece, Monday, 2 July 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
― the pinefox, Monday, 2 July 2001 00:00 (sixteen years ago) Permalink
I hadn't listened to this record in a couple of years, but god, it still sounded great. Actually, I kept getting shivers down my spine when it was playing and it had me close to tears a few times (mostly on "Thunder Road" and "Backstreets.") Listening to this today finally settled an ILM debate for me: Music can never affect me quite as much now as it did when I was a teenager. No record I've heard in the last few years, including Loveless, has had as much affect on me as Born to Run did this morning, and I know it's not just because Born to Run is such a great album. This is a record that got to me when I was young and emotionally vulnerable in a way that I'm not anymore, at the age of 32. I still feel music very deeply and appreciate and enjoy a wider range of music than ever, but music doesn’t completely overpower me the way it did when I was 15. Oh well.
Springsteen is still a big classic, by the way, despite all the incredibly corny lines on Born to Run.
― Mark, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― DeRayMi, Thursday, 24 January 2002 01:00 (fifteen years ago) Permalink
― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 23:18 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
"candy's room" is the grebtest song ever written about being in love w. a prostitute when you sound a bit like david bowie
― mark s (mark s), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 23:22 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
― Mark (MarkR), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 23:25 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 23:29 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
― Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 19 November 2002 23:31 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
Is this a new genre? Cos that'd be fucking incredible.
I still love Bruce Springsteen. Put on Rosalita and you will see me go insane.
― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 20 November 2002 03:01 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 20 November 2002 03:23 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 20 November 2002 03:24 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
― sundar subramanian (sundar), Wednesday, 20 November 2002 03:24 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 20 November 2002 03:34 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
― Ally (mlescaut), Wednesday, 20 November 2002 03:39 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 20 November 2002 05:21 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
― alext (alext), Wednesday, 20 November 2002 11:58 (fourteen years ago) Permalink
Reason to Believe
― Ari (whenuweremine), Sunday, 25 September 2016 15:58 (ten months ago) Permalink
http://www.impawards.com/1958/posters/thunder_road.jpg
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 25 September 2016 16:05 (ten months ago) Permalink
http://www.gstatic.com/tv/thumb/movieposters/5362/p5362_p_v8_aa.jpg
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 25 September 2016 16:08 (ten months ago) Permalink
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/e/e6/Badlands_movie_poster.jpg
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 25 September 2016 16:09 (ten months ago) Permalink
I do like the bit in the doc where Bruce concedes he still doesn't know what a "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" is. Love this on wiki:
The song tells the story of the formation of the E Street Band. However, when asked, most Springsteen fans cannot answer the question, "What is a Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out?" The meaning of the phrase is still a mystery. Even Springsteen himself says, laughing, in the Born to Run documentary Wings for Wheels: The Making of Born to Run: "I still have no idea what it means. But it's important."
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 25 September 2016 16:10 (ten months ago) Permalink
perhaps he was familiar with the Visions of Johanna working title "Freeze Out"?
― niels, Sunday, 25 September 2016 16:14 (ten months ago) Permalink
I was excited to hear the news that he was writing this until I realized I have no interest in learning more about him
― calstars, Sunday, 25 September 2016 16:54 (ten months ago) Permalink
I am doing the opposite approach, going to try to read this thing right away before I know too much from interviews and reviews.
perhaps he was familiar with the Visions of Johanna working title "Freeze Out"?― niels, Sunday, September 25, 2016 4:14 PM (one hour ago)
― niels, Sunday, September 25, 2016 4:14 PM (one hour ago)
― Autotune the Sky (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 September 2016 17:45 (ten months ago) Permalink
There are also lots of reoccurring images and phrases in his lyrics. "Killing floor," "darkness on the edge of town/other things," "promised land," "debts no honest man can pay,"(used twice on Nebraska), "Got on a dead man suit and smilin' skull ring. Lucky graveyard boots and a song to sing.," etc. The "Darkness" outtake "Spanish Eyes" begins "Hey, little girl, is your daddy home?" Lots of repetition I imagine is due to his rewriting songs and lyrics over and over again, finding the right place for the right phrase in the right song. In the case of "Nebraska," it's no doubt because the songs were more or less demos to begin with.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 25 September 2016 18:45 (ten months ago) Permalink
Not that I think it's this, but as the song talks about the early days of the band, I always think Tenth Avenue Freeze Out means not being able to crossover from NJ to NY, as 10th avenue is one of the western most streets in the city.
― dan selzer, Sunday, 25 September 2016 21:20 (ten months ago) Permalink
i was listening to his new years 1980 show where he played songs with similar titles in suites and i thought that was hilarious and smart
― who is extremely unqualified to review this pop album (BradNelson), Sunday, 25 September 2016 21:25 (ten months ago) Permalink
― calstars, Sunday, September 25, 2016 12:54 PM (four hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
same, i probably wouldn't have read Peter Ames Carlin's (very good) five hundred page bio if i'd known Bruce had his own thick tome on the way so soon after
― Best Beloved Trump-Pence (some dude), Sunday, 25 September 2016 21:28 (ten months ago) Permalink
Carlin's book was great, I have a feeling the Bruce book will be pretty different. Maybe almost like a collection of chapter-long essays.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 25 September 2016 21:42 (ten months ago) Permalink
yeah you're prob right, i just won't personally have won't have the appetite to read 1000 pages about Bruce in the space of like 3 years.
― Best Beloved Trump-Pence (some dude), Sunday, 25 September 2016 22:19 (ten months ago) Permalink
Seems like Carlin had a lot of access for that book as well so perhaps not so much left to be revealed. B-b-but The Boss's unique storyteller's voice!
― Berberian Begins at Home (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 September 2016 22:23 (ten months ago) Permalink
yeah...the occasional times BS has penned an essay or whatever he's seemed pretty capable as a writer
― Best Beloved Trump-Pence (some dude), Sunday, 25 September 2016 22:28 (ten months ago) Permalink
this is the most excited i have been about a memoir in recent memory
i love his writing & i think he's a v good storyteller, just keen to see what sorta visual tapestry he weaves idk
― Flamenco Drop (VegemiteGrrl), Sunday, 25 September 2016 23:19 (ten months ago) Permalink
Spoiler-free takeaway on that point from the Richard Ford review:
It helps that Springsteen can write — not just life-imprinting song lyrics but good, solid prose that travels all the way to the right margin. I mean, you’d think a guy who wrote “Spanish Johnny drove in from the underworld last night / With bruised arms and broken rhythm and a beat-up old Buick . . .” could navigate his way around a complete and creditable American sentence. And you’d be right. Oh, there are a few gassy bits here and there, a jot too much couch-inspired hooey about the “terrain inside my own head.” A tad more rock ’n’ roll highfalutin than this reader really needs — though the Bruce enthusiasts down in Sea-Clift won’t agree with me. No way. But nothing in “Born to Run” rings to me as unmeant or punch-pulling. If anything, Springsteen wants credit for telling it the way it really is and was. And like a fabled Springsteen concert — always notable for its deck-clearing thoroughness — “Born to Run” achieves the sensation that all the relevant questions have been answered by the time the lights are turned out. He delivers the story of Bruce — in digestibly short chapters — via an informally steadfast Jersey plainspeak that’s worked and deftly detailed and intimate with its readers — cleareyed enough to say what it means when it has hard stories to tell, yet supple enough to rise to occasions requiring eloquence — sometimes rather pleasingly subsiding into the syntax and rhythms of a Bruce Springsteen song.
I liked in the Colbert interview how he described his songs as the blues during the verses and gospel during the chorus, and I thought that was a brilliant way of getting at why his music can be so anthemic. Hard times in the verses, transcendence, redemption, hope and escape in the choruses. "The Promised Land" is possibly the best example of this. In one verse he declares "take a knife and cut this pain from my heart" (one of the best lines of Bruce or any writer, ever), but by the chorus he still believes in a promised land.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 25 September 2016 23:29 (ten months ago) Permalink
Interesting. Must have missed that part of the Colbert interview.
― Berberian Begins at Home (James Redd and the Blecchs), Sunday, 25 September 2016 23:50 (ten months ago) Permalink
Noticed recently that he tends to "borrow" song titles: "Party Lights," "Mansion on the Hill, "All Or Nothin' At All" to name three that come to mind, don't know how many more there are
half his catalog. quite possibly literally half his catalog. it's one of his basic songwriting tools.
― fact checking cuz, Monday, 26 September 2016 04:18 (ten months ago) Permalink
I always think Tenth Avenue Freeze Out means not being able to crossover from NJ to NY, as 10th avenue is one of the western most streets in the city.
more likely, it's where the band used to rehearse in the early days: corner of 10th avenue and -- drum roll -- e street in belmar, new jersey.
― fact checking cuz, Monday, 26 September 2016 04:20 (ten months ago) Permalink
I always like to sing it as "Tenth Avenue Freak Out" and imagine the song is about the E Street Band having a bad acid trip.
― Al Moon Faced Poon (Moodles), Monday, 26 September 2016 04:41 (ten months ago) Permalink
I figured it was about his favorite ice cream vendor.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 26 September 2016 04:53 (ten months ago) Permalink
Wonder what Jonathan Schwartz thought about "Dancing in the Dark"?
― Berberian Begins at Home (James Redd and the Blecchs), Tuesday, 27 September 2016 17:36 (ten months ago) Permalink
Bought my copy at lunchtime & read the first chapter...he's the best, basically <3
― Flamenco Drop (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 27 September 2016 20:22 (ten months ago) Permalink
I read the R Ford review and whoever did the NYT daily review, that's as far as i go unless he discusses John Ford movies much in the book.
i lol'd that he didn't drive until "well into his 20s" tho
― The Hon. J. Piedmont Mumblethunder (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 27 September 2016 20:25 (ten months ago) Permalink
v weird family setup, parents & grandparents shared a house but his grandmother basically annexed him as her son as soon as he was born & spoiled him rotten & his parents begrudgingly rolled with it. his parents moved him out with them when he started school but it was almost too late he spent most of his childhood thinking of his grandmother as his mom
― Flamenco Drop (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 27 September 2016 20:30 (ten months ago) Permalink
Bought my copy but am trying to finish something else before I start.
― Berberian Begins at Home (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 28 September 2016 00:32 (ten months ago) Permalink
Presumably some of those pre-signed copies are going to turn up on eBay when the book tour is over, I'm planning to spring for one of those as long as the price isn't too outrageous.
― heaven parker (anagram), Wednesday, 28 September 2016 07:41 (ten months ago) Permalink
Good evening! It's an honor to be here with President and Mrs. Obama, President Clinton and Chelsea, and if we all do our part tomorrow, President-elect Clinton.The choice tomorrow couldn't be any clearer. Hillary's candidacy is based on intelligence, experience, preparation, and on an actual vision of an America where everyone counts: men and women, white and black, Hispanic and Native, where folks of all faiths and backgrounds can come together to address our problems in a reasonable and thoughtful way.That vision of America is essential to sustain, no matter how difficult its realization.Hillary sees an America where the issue of income distribution should be at the forefront of our national conversation, where the progress we've made in reducing our unemployment is not enough — we must do better. She has a vision of universal health care for all that will build on the work of President Obama. She sees an America that needs to be fairer, where our highest courts look to protect the rights of all of our citizens and not just the privileged. She sees an America where the issue of immigration reform is dealt with realistically and compassionately. And she calls for an America that participates in the welfare of our planet — both in world affairs and in global science — and where the unfinished business of protecting the rights of women is not an afterthought, but a priority.That's the country where we wil indeed be stronger together.Now, briefly, to address her opponent: this is a man whose vision is limited to little beyond himself, who has a profound lack of decency that would allow him to prioritize his own interests and ego before American democracy itself. Somebody who'd be willing to damage our long-cherished and admired system rather than look to himself for the reasons behind his own epic failure. That's unforgivable. Tomorrow that campaign is going down.Let's all do our part so we can look back at 2016 and say we stood with Hillary Clinton on the right side of history. That's why I'm standing here with you tonight, for the dream of a better America.
The choice tomorrow couldn't be any clearer. Hillary's candidacy is based on intelligence, experience, preparation, and on an actual vision of an America where everyone counts: men and women, white and black, Hispanic and Native, where folks of all faiths and backgrounds can come together to address our problems in a reasonable and thoughtful way.
That vision of America is essential to sustain, no matter how difficult its realization.
Hillary sees an America where the issue of income distribution should be at the forefront of our national conversation, where the progress we've made in reducing our unemployment is not enough — we must do better. She has a vision of universal health care for all that will build on the work of President Obama. She sees an America that needs to be fairer, where our highest courts look to protect the rights of all of our citizens and not just the privileged. She sees an America where the issue of immigration reform is dealt with realistically and compassionately. And she calls for an America that participates in the welfare of our planet — both in world affairs and in global science — and where the unfinished business of protecting the rights of women is not an afterthought, but a priority.
That's the country where we wil indeed be stronger together.
Now, briefly, to address her opponent: this is a man whose vision is limited to little beyond himself, who has a profound lack of decency that would allow him to prioritize his own interests and ego before American democracy itself. Somebody who'd be willing to damage our long-cherished and admired system rather than look to himself for the reasons behind his own epic failure. That's unforgivable. Tomorrow that campaign is going down.
Let's all do our part so we can look back at 2016 and say we stood with Hillary Clinton on the right side of history. That's why I'm standing here with you tonight, for the dream of a better America.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 8 November 2016 05:50 (nine months ago) Permalink
His "Dancing in the Dark" tonight reminded me a lot of late-period Nick Lowe: direct and almost disengaged, highlighting the lyrics and the melody.
― who even are those other cats (Eazy), Tuesday, 8 November 2016 05:55 (nine months ago) Permalink
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRA7hyYbTf0
― i n f i n i t y (∞), Tuesday, 25 April 2017 01:21 (three months ago) Permalink
His protest song with Joe Grushecky is about as generic as they come, but I'm happy he did it anyway.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtkVkbVxpjc
Reminds me a bit of ... a corny Zevon?
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 03:38 (three months ago) Permalink
Worth it for comments like
UN AMERICAN PRICK BRUCE SPINGSTEen👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼👎🏼😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 25 April 2017 03:39 (three months ago) Permalink
Never listened to Human Touch or Lucky Town, assumed from the singles they were pretty heavy on the production. But then this came up on a shuffle this morning, and I like it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EAkzIg27ob4
― Eazy, Thursday, 3 August 2017 15:13 (two weeks ago) Permalink
http://brucespringsteen.net/broadway/
Sounds amazing, I suspect the clamour for tickets will be unedifying though.
― heaven parker (anagram), Wednesday, 9 August 2017 16:09 (one week ago) Permalink
some of the comments on this are p great
This is like seeing a photo of Babe Ruth holding a basketball. pic.twitter.com/Npou58dy8y— Jon Wurster (@jonwurster) August 9, 2017
― Yoni Loves Chocha (VegemiteGrrl), Wednesday, 9 August 2017 16:22 (one week ago) Permalink
haha indeed
― niels, Wednesday, 9 August 2017 20:12 (one week ago) Permalink
Weird, I was wondering what the Broadway shows would be. I guess I am surprised it seems like an actual show, with a script of sorts. I've seen him perform solo a few times, they were great, tons and tons of different songs every night. This seems almost like a VH1 Storytellers sort of scenario.
― Josh in Chicago, Wednesday, 9 August 2017 23:21 (one week ago) Permalink
Would watch, but only if Roy is in the pit
― Barkis Garvey (James Redd and the Blecchs), Wednesday, 9 August 2017 23:29 (one week ago) Permalink
god I would be willing to commit major crimes to get a ticket to this
anyone want to go on a Brooce Crime Spree with me? :D
― Yoni Loves Chocha (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 10 August 2017 00:03 (one week ago) Permalink
Variety:
Being verified, however, doesn’t guarantee you’ll manage to get a ticket. It’s still being determined how Springsteen ... hopefuls will score a place in the virtual line, whether by random lottery or by measurement on some sort of engagement metric.
"Engagement metric"? Does this mean they would scour your social media to see how excited you are? How much you have posted about the Boss? Kind of a weirdly invasive idea.
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 10 August 2017 01:53 (one week ago) Permalink
i think "engagement metric" means we are now officially living in the world of this "black mirror" episode.
― fact checking cuz, Thursday, 10 August 2017 02:01 (one week ago) Permalink
Is this his bid for a "T" in EGOT?
― to fly across the city and find Aerosmith's car (C. Grisso/McCain), Thursday, 10 August 2017 02:03 (one week ago) Permalink
Ah, sounds like what they did with Depeche Mode earlier this year -- yeah you pretty much have to give into social media gamification. Pretty obnoxious.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 10 August 2017 02:15 (one week ago) Permalink
Yeah this was the bunch behind it
https://www.americaninno.com/boston/techstars-demo-day-preview-strobe-is-palantir-for-events/
And yes, that comparison is not only in the article, but they said so themselves on at least one of their websites. Great.
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 10 August 2017 02:18 (one week ago) Permalink
so do i have to delete that tweet i wrote in 2009 about "outlaw pete"?
― fact checking cuz, Thursday, 10 August 2017 02:42 (one week ago) Permalink
What if I'm just saying really nice things about my boss all the time?
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 10 August 2017 03:22 (one week ago) Permalink
What if I've been typing "Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuce" but they think I'm booing?
cool so i posted about him every day while i was reading his book that shd help my numbers
― Yoni Loves Chocha (VegemiteGrrl), Thursday, 10 August 2017 03:39 (one week ago) Permalink