Canadian Politics Today

Since the Rolling Stones are for old white people like Kimmy, I thought I would put a Springsteen thread here. Springsteen is more a regular joe, urban kind of guy who appeals to the working class - unlike those elitist Stones people.

I think the thing about Springsteen is not just the tight melodies by the poetry of his lyrics. And while it seems like three quarters of rock music is basically about how much some guy/girl loves some other guy/girl Springsteen focuses on the real world. Who else rights songs like My Hometown, Jungleland, Darkness on the Edge of Town, Better Days, American Skin, and Youngstown. Even when he does relationship songs they're nothing like most musicians. Thunder Road, Born to Run, and Rosalita are so much more than the usual simpering expressions of love and loss. I don't think there's a better lyricist out there.

My favorite changes from time to time, and even depends on which version he uses. Right now it's the live version of Thunder Road.

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 rolling on
But when you get to the porch, they're gone on the wind
So Mary, climb in
It's a town full of losers, I'm pulling out of here to win


 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ke50k-2So4

I once heard a live version of "Cover Me" (pretty sure it was Cover Me...) and the memorable part wasn't the song itself, but that before the song he told a story about receiving his draft notice for the Vietnam war.  His friends had all received theirs too, and they talked about it and they decided the best thing to do would be to drive to town in the middle of the night without telling their parents. So they drove to town... and went on a bender... and he failed his physical, and returned home, where his dad was waiting for him, furious... and he told his dad that he got his draft notice and went to town... and his dad says "what happened?" and he says "I failed... they didn't want me." And his dad hugs him and says "that's good, son."


About 10 years ago, I left Edmonton, with  ... uh, my cat, and a computer, and everything else that I could cram into mom's minivan in 2 hours. And I drove the "borrowed" minivan full of stuff to the only place I could think of, which was my special guy's dad's home here in the Kim City/Lost Lake region...  I show up at his doorstep... I'm pretty much a wreck at this point, and tell him that I couldn't stay at home anymore and ask if I could stay with him for a couple of days, and he says "of course."  So I'm crashed on my guy's dad's couch... and he's in the arm chair and not sure if he should try and talk to me or leave me alone or whatever, and he has the TV on and he's watching a Roy Orbison tribute concert on PBS. It was an all-star group of musicians performing Roy Orbison songs, and Springsteen was one of them.  He's old and uncool and doesn't know anything about music that happened after around 1960, but when Bruce starts doing a guitar solo he's completely fascinated, and finally says "who is that guy? He's really good!"  So instead of sitting there stressing out, we talked about music... it was just what I needed.



So, anyway, here's Wonderwall...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc2fFQozJUI

 -k

"I'm Going Down":. from Born in the USA.

Blinded by the Light, and it's not even close.

Though his little duet with Stevie Wonder on We are the World is probably his career highlight. 

I'm not even sure if I would feel the same about it if I hadn't heard Manfred Mann's cover first. Sort of like Joni Mitchell's This Flight Tonight and the Nazareth cover.

Best Bruce Springstone Song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le2NYMfcvw0