Well, it’s Annual “Ain’t Good Enough for You” Day over here at Legends of Springsteen (see 2012 and 2013). Diverting from the past two years, we’re highlighting a rare live performance today.
Ever since hearing it on The Promise, I’ve hoped for an opportunity to see "Ain't Good Enough for You" performed live. One time at the Izod Center, he started to play “So Young and in Love” and I momentarily thought it was the beginning of “Ain’t Good Enough for You.” Alas, I’m still holding out hope. But I am pleased that he’s played it in a few of his European shows and that video exists.
The opening of this video shot in Gijon, Spain conveys exactly what I imagined it would be like to see it live. The crowd cheering in unison, the hands flying, Bruce strutting around like a goofball. It’s all there.
If we go out, you say I'm such a bore
If we stay in, you say what are we living for
- Ain’t Good Enough for You, The Promise
These lyrics echo my internal monologue on many a Saturday night. I’ve always been one to agonize over the decision making process more than I should, even for silly things like whether to go out on the town or stay in and keep it low key on a weekend. Either way you lose according to the narrator in “Ain’t Good Enough for You.” But when I’m having trouble deciding which way to go on a Saturday night, I often think of these lyrics and remind myself it’s not all as doom and gloom as it is for the narrator in this song. As with many of Sprinsteen’s lyrics, the sadness of his characters reminds me to appreciate how fortunate I am with my lot in life. So this weekend, whether you go out or stay in, just live in the moment!
On a side note, by pure coincidence, this post appears exactly a year after the last time I did a lyrics spotlight on this song. Here's to 2014!
What can I say? I enjoy a good list. So even though I've seen Bruce a dozen times before (and gotten to see some rare "once in a lifetime" performances like "The Weight" and "Jailhouse Rock") there are plenty of songs I haven't gotten to that I am really hoping he plays either of the next two times I see him (September 7th at Wrigley Field and September 22nd at Metlife Stadium).
Honorable Mention goes to "The Wrestler" and "Leap Of Faith". I would love to hear either one of them, but they both just barely missed the cut.
5. "Ain't Good Enough For You"- Just in general, I'd like The Promise to get some more love at live shows. But in particular this toe tapper would be awesome to hear live! It's upbeat, got some heartbreaking lyrics which are completely contradicted by some rockabilly-style piano and E Street harmony, and is one of my favorite songs from The Promise. I can't see Bruce putting this into a setlist, so my best hope is for Bruce to pull a sign requesting this.
4. "Two Faces"- Like The Promise, I'm dying to see some more songs from Tunnel Of Love played! I realize both albums were written when Bruce was going through some issues, and they might just be too personal to play live. Tunnel Of Love, has so many under-rated songs that'd be great to hear live, but this soul searching ballad tops the list for me. Like previously mentioned, this one probably won't get played outside of a sign request. But hey I can still hope, right?
3. "The River"- This one particularly hurts. It was a big hit for Bruce and he plays it semi-regularly on tours. I just never seem to be in the right place, at the right time to hear this live. Fortunately since it was such a big song for Bruce, there's always the possibility Bruce could add it to a setlist, and due to it popularity with the fans, it's also likely there could be a sign for this. This song is the one I think I have the best chance of hearing, so I'll be keep my fingers crossed.
2. "The Promise"- I told you I wanted to this album get some more appreciation! "The Promise" I think is Bruce's best song lyrically. It's my favorite song off the album of the same name, and probably even one of my top 5 Bruce songs altogether. It's rare, but not unheard of, for Bruce to put this on a setlist, and I'm sure there will be plenty of signs for it as well. No matter what else he played that night, I can say with almost certainty this song would be the highlight of the night.
1. "Incident on 57th Street"- Duh, it's my favorite song. Of course this one tops the list. Like "The River", Bruce plays this one somewhat often, but I just haven't been lucky enough to be at any of those shows. It's always a crowd favorite, and would make this particular blogger very happy!
The coolest thing about this list, is that Bruce has played all of these songs live before. There's always a chance he could play one, or even all five, on any given night. It's that sort of variety and appreciation of his fans to not give them any two shows that are alike, that has made Bruce the beloved performer he is today. And who am I kidding, if he just played "Born to Run" and "Badlands" all night, I'd be happy with that too! What do you guys say? What songs would you want to hear live that you've never heard before?
I tried to change, I got a job in sales I bought a shirt uptown in Bloomingdales - Ain’t Good Enough for You (The Promise)
The specificity of these lyrics makes it all the more painful to listen to this admission of the futility of trying to impress someone out of your league. The entire song is infused with this kind of blind youthful desperation to impress a first crush. The recording of the song sounds like it was captured in a crowded bar being performed by teenagers. On the one hand, there’s a lot of pain in the lyrics, but the rollicking energy in the composition nods to its adolescent folly and within it, a hope that maturity lies ahead.
