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Doxa
It took me years to over-come the hype Bruce Springsteen got during "Born In The USA" time in the mid-80's... consequently, for years I always associated him with Ronald Reagan, Rocky IV and all the shit that happened then. I know I know I know the 'truth' of the that particular song, but at least as far my little persona is concerned his PR campaign behind his superstar status did a huge harm back then,,.

So it's kind of ironical he is considered as a dangerous 'leftie' these days...

- Doxa

I have to agree with that,well said.
And the 75-78 period was a brilliant one,great albums and live performances.
Neither a drama disliking him and/or his music nor liking parts of his work
is a shame,but hate ???

There are others to be mentioned....but this is another thread (and forum)!

cc--i think what he meant was not so much the obama support but in general, the onstage speeches over the years that did come off as sort from the alec baldwin/madonna/paltrow school of celeb-politics--ie, rich blowhards who have forgotten what it's like to live like normal people but have no problem spouting forth their own opinions as "fact"

so overrated!

maybe change the name of this thread to "springsteen loving" since that seem to be the basis for it

Thanks for the laugh cc.

I have a question which is not directed to cc or anyone specific....

I'm 45 yrs old....and did not really become aware of Bruce until
Darkness On The Edge of Town & Born to Run. I knew that he was
declared the "new Bob Dylan" and all of that.

And then the WORLD (including you Grandma & your Uncle Joe) became aware
of Bruce Springsteen with the release and marketing of the Born in the USA album
and tour!

Obviously MTV was a big deal at the time...so that was probably a factor.
Did Bruce make a conscious effort to "REMAKE" himself and change his image?
The bodybuilding physique.....married an actress/model....did very
cheesey music videos...pop music.........was all of this calculated?

I know that some of his fans from the '70s thought this transformation
was ridiculous. Was BS consciously selling out? Looking for a quick buck?
Did he lose all of his credibility as a voice for his generation?

I enjoy his music but I'm not a HUGE fan...and have not read any BS biographies or any
thorough analysis.....but it seems to me that Bruce would like
to have his 1970's reputation...but also enjoys the multi-million sellers
that provide him with multi-million dollars. So...even though he has
a MESSAGE and an IMAGE he wants to portray...he also understands that
every once in awhile he needs to put out a Pop Rock album to refill
his savings account.

In fact...after years of putting out pet-projects like
the Pete Seeger Sessions etc... I think he said (on the Today Show/USA)
that it was time to record some rock songs that would appeal to the masses. (not a direct quote)

So...fill me in...is there a sense that this "new Dylan" is not
simply a conduit for the working class' emotions......a true artist
expressing himself with no concern for mass appeal or $$$$$.....or
is he a calculating businessman?

Not trying to start a fight...just interested in opinions from those who have
closely followed his career...and have read BS interviews etc... (thanks)


IORR............but I like it!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009-01-19 19:37 by sweet neo con.

snc - i'm reminded of roseanne rosanna-danna - you sure ask alot of questions

I dont have anything personal against Bruce, but always hated his music...except for a handful of songs (the more recent stuff). The early, "classic" stuff....always irritated me to death. Those little dings in Born to Run drive me outta me coconut....ich...

If you dig him, fine, but I just dont get it. AND I saw a bunch of his shows in the 70s.....three separate girl friend drug me (kicking and screaming I might add) to his shows. Thank god those relationships never worked out...

Rock on....

JR

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sweet neo con

So...fill me in...is there a sense that this "new Dylan" is not
simply a conduit for the working class' emotions......a true artist
expressing himself with no concern for mass appeal or $$$$$.....or
is he a calculating businessman?

Suffice it to say, here in the States, WAL-MART THE most anti-union conglomerate on the planet, has exclusive rights to a forthcoming Springsteen greatest hits package being readied for crossover with Bruce's Superbowl appearance and the new album.

Calculating? Yes.

Hypocrite? Absolutely.

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R
Suffice it to say, here in the States, WAL-MART THE most anti-union conglomerate on the planet, has exclusive rights to a forthcoming Springsteen greatest hits package being readied for crossover with Bruce's Superbowl appearance and the new album.

Calculating? Yes.

Hypocrite? Absolutely.

I tend to think these are very calculated moves....and to be honest
as a luke-warm Bruce fan...that does not bother me as much as the
seemingly phony image. So...you've sort of confirmed my opinion
but I wouldn't care ...but i wish he was more honest about it and didn't play
the gullible music-buying public as fools.


IORR............but I like it!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2009-01-19 19:56 by sweet neo con.

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T&A
snc - i'm reminded of roseanne rosanna-danna - you sure ask alot of questions

Sorry T&A...I'm sure it could all be easily boiled down to a simple
question but I wanted to include some examples and personal observations...

unlike Roseanne Rosanna-Danna I didn't say..."never mind"


IORR............but I like it!

I've been a fan since the bomb scare show and consider Bruce a typical American complete with faults. Sure he has made missteps and stumbles (Wal-mart and headbands to name two}, join the crowd. His music has always resonated with me, though, and his songs have provided part of the soundtrack of my life. I'm willing to shrug off the hype to enjoy the music and performances (just like The Stones and U2). Posters have brought up some "greater" musicians who generally leave me cold, especially St. Bob. I never got it and I'll take Bob Pollard if given a choice.While Neil is more enjoyable, he can also squeeze out squiggy stuff like Trans and that attempt at rockabilly. I'd prefer to drinking along to Jon Langford and The Waco Brothers. On the other hand...I have different fingers.

SNC, I'm hardly a Bruce fan--a slight appreciator of the 70s stuff, maybe, and the new song isn't out of place in the Wrestler movie... I've always enjoyed mick's barely backhanded mid-80s remark (it's on the Time Is on Our Side site) that he took the kids to see Bruce, they had a great time and he quite liked the drum mix...

but I've read that Born in the USA was to some extent Bruce's compensation to his label for their agreeing to release Nebraska as a solo home recording, rather than having him re-do them all with the band, as he did with "Born in the USA," which was originally a Nebraska track. I don't even listen to Nebraska, but I can respect it. Still, I have to think this arrangement if at all true was more mutual, that Bruce was hardly torturing himself through all those videos.

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roryg
I've been a fan since the bomb scare show and consider Bruce a typical American complete with faults. Sure he has made missteps and stumbles (Wal-mart and headbands to name two}, join the crowd.

Ah..the bomb scare show...are you from Milwaukee?

As for calling the Walmart thing a "misstep".....I respectfully disagree.
Bruce has been outspoken for decades and has to recognize how
the Walmart deal appears and contradicts with his own statements and image.

He's just assuming that he'll get a pass from his hard-core fans....and
that his other fans will be too ignorant to see the hypocrisy.

In the long run...it won't even make a dent.


IORR............but I like it!

Quote
cc

but I've read that Born in the USA was to some extent Bruce's compensation to his label for their agreeing to release Nebraska as a solo home recording, rather than having him re-do them all with the band, as he did with "Born in the USA," which was originally a Nebraska track. I don't even listen to Nebraska, but I can respect it. Still, I have to think this arrangement if at all true was more mutual, that Bruce was hardly torturing himself through all those videos.

Thanks for the info. Interesting...if true.

At least we have Bruce's Dancing in the Dark video to thank for Courtney Cox.



IORR............but I like it!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2009-01-19 20:11 by sweet neo con.

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hbwriter
maybe change the name of this thread to "springsteen loving" since that seem to be the basis for it

Come on,hbwriter,you like him....compared to the amount of your posts here,you really like him...
..but that´s ok !!!
Don´t worry

The title track to the new album is OUTSTANDING.

Short--nah, not what he's become--believe me--but i do wonder about the hypersensitivity of his "believers" -- they remind of me of dead heads

a common exchange

dead head pal: okay, that's live china cat, 72 at the fillmore--IS IT NOT BRILLIANT? TRANSPLENDENT?

me: uhm, it was pretty good--nice solo.

dead head pal: WHAT? ARE YOU INSANE? YOU JUST DON'T GET IT, MAN!

same with these Boss-heads--no perspective--

what i like about Stones heads is most of us can critique and pick and choose - way less devout -- more reasonable

Short--meant to add--i have this real thing against "gushing" and for whatever reason, the boss-heads i've know over the years seem addicted to gushing--so it's hard for me to take seriously. i think the music is just okay, good performer, etc.

but i'll take recent dylan, petty, young and a few others over him any day of the week--musically, i hear way more integrity and soul in their current work than i do in modern springsteen

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hbwriter
Short--nah, not what he's become--believe me--but i do wonder about the hypersensitivity of his "believers" -- they remind of me of dead heads

a common exchange

dead head pal: okay, that's live china cat, 72 at the fillmore--IS IT NOT BRILLIANT? TRANSPLENDENT?

me: uhm, it was pretty good--nice solo.

dead head pal: WHAT? ARE YOU INSANE? YOU JUST DON'T GET IT, MAN!

same with these Boss-heads--no perspective--

what i like about Stones heads is most of us can critique and pick and choose - way less devout -- more reasonable

LMFAO. As a devout deadhead AND a one-time ardent Springsteen fan I see your point. All I can say is, with age comes wisdom and most of us admit to knowing shite from shinola whether it's The Dead, Stones or Springsteen.

BTW, many of my longtime fellow Springsteen fanatics have likewise lost their ardour for the man. We're not alone. It's well reflected in his record sales and concert attendance.

R-- cool (and for the record, I an a big Dead fan - I have more appreciation for them lately than I ever did--looking back, that was one helluva band, in my opinion--they blended so many musical elements together that they may go down as the best "band" this country ever produced - but i just didn't want it shoved in my face, you know?)

"All I can say is, with age comes wisdom and most of us admit to knowing shite from shinola whether it's The Dead, Stones or Springsteen."

bravo

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sweet neo con

Quote
T&A
snc - i'm reminded of roseanne rosanna-danna - you sure ask alot of questions

Sorry T&A...I'm sure it could all be easily boiled down to a simple
question but I wanted to include some examples and personal observations...

unlike Roseanne Rosanna-Danna I didn't say..."never mind"

mixing up your radner characters - that was emily litella

Bruce is up there with Dylan, Bowie, Reed, Stones, Beatles, The Who and so on. One of the greatest! AND - he still SINGS, SHOUTs, SCREAMS and give you a hell of a show! If some of you dont like him, thats not strange. We all have different tastes and so on. Cool it...SMILE!

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T&A

Quote
sweet neo con

Quote
T&A
snc - i'm reminded of roseanne rosanna-danna - you sure ask alot of questions

Sorry T&A...I'm sure it could all be easily boiled down to a simple
question but I wanted to include some examples and personal observations...

unlike Roseanne Rosanna-Danna I didn't say..."never mind"

mixing up your radner characters - that was emily litella

guilty. you're right!

guitar, sax & piano...make for good rock music.


IORR............but I like it!

I agree it's more than a misstep - that one is definitely a stumble. And yes, I'm from Wis., but Sheboygan and Madison.

The oddest thing with Bruce is his keyboard sounds. Very chintsy. I've never understood that.

Gotta have a heart of diamond to hate this.. Shenandoah with The Boss

Bruce IS a rock legend. I like most of his stuff, his early albums are his best work. give him credit for one thing he was not comfortable with the massive success of Born In the USA and he really tried to do other things musically. His lyrics are good and he is a great performer.

I would like to send him the book titled Shut Up and Sing though I hate it when musicians get into politics like they no more than us.

Bruce is NOT a taletless hack as someone said in this post. That's just ridiculous I can see how some people don't like his voice technically he is not that great a singer - to me that's what makes him great.

just listen to the new single.

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&hl=it&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true">

I don't get it. I was one of the original Bruce diehards and I'll admit his sanctimonious political posturing has put me off BUT I can still tell good music and this:

[www.npr.org]

...ain't it. The good news is; with a simple patch cord this new album is easily recorded thus saving me a trip to the store even IF I had any desire to contribute to the Springsteen family's next half-million dollar equine investment

Politics and celebrity put me off wether I agree with them or not. Shut up and sing or act or whatever. It's nice that they care but keep it to your friends.