Great Moments in Springsteen Snubs History - The "Share a Coke and a Song" Campaign

I am a man who loves a good Coca-Cola.  It's one of the few products for which I am highly brand loyal.  I especially love Coca-Cola's various marketing campaigns: it's the only drink I associate with both the summer and the winter.

This year, the company started a new gimmick: Share a Coke and a Song.  It's a disturbingly simple promotion: they put song lyrics on their bottles.  I feel like I'm missing something.

Needless to say, you can find many artists represented.  There's patriotic anthems, lyrics in Spanish, and references to Coca-Cola's own commercial jingles.  Springsteen disciples the Killers even get a shout-out.  But you know who is missing?  THE BOSS HIMSELF!

This is quite the egregious snub!  I mean, nothing says "summertime" quite like a ice-cold Coca-Cola with some Springsteen on the radio.  The two were meant to be together.  This oversight is almost enough to turn me into a Pepsi man!  Well, "almost".  Let's not go crazy.

Thanks for reading this rant.  I, too, am looking forward to Springsteen's tour coming back to the United States.

Counting On A Package Deal, Part 7 - Dancing In The Dark Single

After over a year away, the Counting On A Package Deal series has returned.  For those not in the know, this is a series of posts that I went through in 2015, where I dissected the packaging of Springsteen's discography.  While seemingly discontinued after my Born In The U.S.A. post, I was fortunate enough to receive the following gift:

Yes, that leaping lothario is the Boss, posing for his "Dancing In The Dark" single cover.  This particular record is an unusual 12" single, featuring a dance club "Blaster Mix" version of the song.  But, I'm not here to break down the music, I'm just judging the aesthetics of the package.  This cover is easily Springsteen's most active.  Most albums just show his face, and on the rare moments of below-neck Springsteen shots, he's just leaning on cars (Tunnel of Love), walls (back of Wild, Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle), or bandmates (Born To Run).  Here, Springsteen is getting some serious air.  And the moves don't just stop on the front cover.

On the back, Springsteen gets right up on his tip-toes.  Perhaps a challenge to the King of Pop himself, who was also huge in the mid-80s?  He also tops off the move with a straightening of the jacket.  Nice work, Bruce.

Finally, the record itself varies in no way, shape, or form from all of Springsteen's other Columbia records.  I wore out this schtick in the previous six entries.

So, that'll do it for this installment of Counting On A Package Deal.  Hopefully, I can receive more random gifts like this one!

Want to start your own record collection?  Buy it on Amazon!

Past installments: 
Greetings from Asbury Park
The Wild The Innocent & The E Street Shuffle
Born To Run
Darkness on the Edge of Town
The River
Born In The U.S.A.

Bruce Vs. Bruce - Springsteen versus Bruce, the shark from Jaws

We here at Legends of Springsteen hope you are all having a great summer so far.  Personally, I think summer is the best season for Springsteen music.  His songs are the perfect soundtrack for a backyard barbecue.

For this fourth of July weekend, we bring you another installment of "Bruce Versus Bruce"!  Did you know that the mechanical shark from Jaws was named "Bruce"?  Well, now you know!  And do you know what would happen in a fictitious match-up between Springsteen the shark-Bruce?  Well, let's find out!

Smile you son of a bitch!

Bruce the Shark	Bruce Springsteen
Hometown
Amity Island	Freehold, New Jersey
Advantage: Springsteen
Hang Out Spot
The Ocean	The Boardwalk
Advantage: Springsteen
Relationship With Fish
Eats Them	Duets With Them
Advantage: Shark
Director
Steven Spielberg	He's His Own Boss
Advantage: Springsteen
Soundtrack Created By
John Williams	Bruce Springsteen
Advantage: Springsteen
Sequels
Disappointing	Critically Acclaimed
Advantage: Springsteen
Acadmey Awards
3	1
Advantage: Shark
Main Goal
Eating Swimmers	Rocking For The Working Man
Advantage: Springsteen
Ability to Live On Land
Impossible	Unabated
Advantage: Springsteen

Well, in a 7-2 beat-down, Springsteen wins again!  Sorry, Shark-Bruce, perhaps you have to set your sights on a lower Bruce to devour.