Highway To Hell - Bruce Springsteen

This is fucking unbelievable. Bruce Springsteen paid tribute to the late Bon Scott by forming the former AC/DC classic in Scott's hometown of Perth. This is the perfect cover for Springsteen's ragged voice.

Bruce Springsteen - American Skin (41 Shots)

Bruce Springsteen dedicated his performance of American Skin (41 Shots) to the late Trayvon Martin. Springsteen wrote American Skin about immigrant Amadou Diallo being shot at 41 times by the NYPD. 19 rounds hit Diallo. An investigation revealed later that Diallo was unarmed.

Springsteen made very clear during this Limerick, Ireland performance that he wanted justice for Trayvon Martin.

During the sign collecting Bruce had noticed another sign on the side of the stage and asked for it to be passed up to him, then displayed it for the crowd. It was “American Skin (41 Shots).” An immediate hush settled as we all recognized the significance of this request on the heels of the Travyon Martin trial verdict just days before. “We’ll send this as a letter back home for justice for Trayvon Martin,” Bruce said before launching into what was surely the emotional centerpiece of the show. The audience and the band both appeared to be choked with tears at points in the song; rarely had the lyric “You can get killed just for living in your American skin” sounded more tragic or true. As it wound to its end and Bruce stood alone at the mike staring straight ahead with as much tension and anger as I’ve ever seen him display during a song, just chanting “you can get killed just for living in…” over and over, it was a moment never to be forgotten and a beautiful tribute to a young life sadly wasted for no good reason.

Bill Clinton & Bruce Springsteen Campaigning For Obama

Former President Bill Clinton and Bruce Springsteen appeared at an campaign rally in Parma, Ohio. Clinton and Springsteen came out to pump-up voters for President Obama and local Democratic candidates. That is all good and fine, but how can Springsteen and Clinton compete with the star power of Jeff Foxworthy and Kid Rock on Mitt Romney's side?

Troll Hall of Fame: Jackson

It is time to add another member to the Troll Hall of Fame. I posted an audio clip of Opie and Anthony making fun of Bruce Springsteen. I related to the piece because I grew up in New Jersey in the 70s and 80s. I heard enough Bruce Springsteen to last several lifetimes. For the record: there are Springsteen albums I love. I do get annoyed by how he sings about a New Jersey that only exists in his mind. It's is also hard to take Springsteen's workingman blues seriously when he has admitted the only job he ever had was as a musician.

Reader Jackson went off on Opie and Anthony in the comments. Unfortunately for Jackson, I seriously doubt the radio duo read this blog. Jackson was so mad he left two comments and used the BIG CAP KEYS. That will put Opie and Anthony in their place.

Comment I:

FUUUUCCCKKKKK YOUUUUUU, not really cuz i don't really know you, but f you for saying that about Bruce Springsteen, the only reason you think he is over rated is because youuuu people made him that way, because he actually hass good music, and that fact that he is from little old shity jersey makes people from jersey play him as their own, when most of his songs were writen about getting OUT of jersey, likkkeee BORN TO RUN?? Come on, the man has a lot of talent and is a really good guy, so stop bashing on him.

Comment II:

and really, HE DOESN"T SAY JERSEY IN EVERY SONG YOU IDIOTS, get to know him better before you go off on him, and the shit you guys are saying,.... makes NOOO SENSEEE, you guys are literally ranting about NOTHING with your retarted jersey accents, what are you, another fucking glen beck, ranting about your uneducated nonsense for hours. Just dragging the uneducated americans( with is most) into your vortex of insanity, GET A LIFE, stop talking about other peoples successful lives.

I'm sure Jackson knows much about "uneducated Americans."

Anti-Bruce Springsteen Rant

I grew up in New Jersey and have some mixed feelings about how cliche Bruce Springsteen lyrics. The Opie and Anthony rants sums up my feelings.

Born In the USA Review

On Facebook, I wrote a 1/2 review of Bruce Springsteen's Born In the USA. I expect to get ripped by Springsteen fans. I'm sorry, but this album is more abrasive than Sonic Youth's early work. I feel it is my duty as a human being to warn people about this album.

The most overrated and dated Springsteen album. The keyboards sound straight out of Dio's Rainbow In the Dark. The melodies are repetitive. The chorus of I'm Going Down has the effect of a sledgehammer banging on one's head.

Prince's Purple Rain was the best mainstream album of 2004. Husker Du, the Minutemen and the Meat Puppets released superior albums that year. Springsteen went from his ambitious larger-than-life sound of his early albums to attempting to be his generation's Gary U.S. Bonds.

Dancing In the Dark is never going to make people forget James Brown or the Bee Gees. Springsteen is as funky as Michael Bolton is soulful. The Boss's vocals on "Born In the USA" makes early Michael Stipe sound coherent. The vocals on "Working On the Highway" sounds like the Boss did too much crystal meth. Springsteen sounds like he is sleepy on "My Hometown." I don't blame him. The song has the same effect on me.

Springsteen set out to make a garage rock album. He defeated his goal by making the E Street Band re-record tracks up to 50 times. The band sounds bored from playing the songs repeatedly. The stripped-down acoustic demos of the songs are better.

I would rather listen to bluegrass Springsteen than Born In the USA. I recommend people find bootlegs from the Darkness On the Edge of Town tour.

Depressing Songs

Suicide - Frankie Teardrop

This song freaked me out the first time I heard it. Bruce Springsteen hear Frankie Teardrop and the influence can be heard in the song State Trooper.

Bruce Springsteen - State Trooper

Warning: do not play these songs for people coming over during the holidays. Unless, your guest is a serial killer. In that case, you really should rethink who you associate with.

Lou Reed's Perfect Day is the most optimisticly depressing song. Reed makes Jay Farrar sound cheerful.

Lou Reed - Perfect Day

More Springsteen Stuff

Ickmusic has three songs from the October 22th concert in Chicago. The tracks are Tunnel of Love, Spirit in the Night and Thunder Road.

Springsteen is on the cover of Rolling Stone. Check out the interview.

The Boss Meets Arcade Fire

Win Butler and Regine Chassagne joined Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band onstage. The performance took place at Scotiabank Place, Ottawa, Canada. They played Keep the Car Running and State Trooper.