Blinded by the Light - Now on Blu-ray

It’s nothing short of a miracle that this movie exists. Blinded by the Light is unashamedly in complete reverence of the music of Bruce Springsteen. If I wasn’t a zealot myself, I’d probably call it propaganda. But as one of the indoctrinated, I look at this film and find immense comfort by this big budget illustration that so many people feel the same way about Springsteen as I do.

“Bruce is the direct line to all that is true in this sh**** world,” says a character early in the film. And man does this film believe it. This is the kind of film with such earnest conviction that the lyrics of “The Promised Land” bring salvation to a listless teen, the lyrics of “Prove it all Night” explain young love and the lyrics of “Badlands” can back down a bully. Oh, what a world to be inside for the two blissful hours of Blinded by the Light’s running time.

Springsteen fans of all ages and walks of live owe it to themselves to watch Blinded by the Light and surrender to its optimism. The next best thing to seeing it in the movie theater with the surround sound and communal audience experience is this pristine Blu-ray transfer. And, for the diehards, the glimpses at behind-the-scenes filmmaking and three extended scenes in the Special Features will be a delight.

I look at this film’s production value and its wide release and marvel that so many people would come together for this labor of love. It instills hope in the promise of cinema as a unifying medium.

More Springsteen Sound-a-Likes!

On this blog, we've covered artists who have tried to ape Springsteen, as well as the songs and artists that have influenced Springsteen.  So, for this random post to keep the blog alive during this gorgeous spring, here's a few more songs that seem heavily influenced by the Boss.

Thin Lizzy - "The Boys Are Back In Town" (Springsteen - "Kitty's Back")

This one doesn't seem that blatant to me, but I've have seen it cited as a rip-off on numerous Springsteen forums, so I'll toss it in here just to be thorough.  While "Kitty's Back" is a sprawling epic, it has a dramatic build-and-release leading to Kitty being back in town (4:55 to 5:18).  This small section seems to have influenced the good folks of Thin Lizzy, as they were able to transform it into the hook of their their signature song.

Pink Floyd - "Lost For Words" (Springsteen - "Independence Day")

While I think the prior entry is a bit of a stretch, this is a slam dunk.  This song is from Floyd's The Division Bell, and the band was pretty long in the tooth, so I'm not going to hold this against them.  After producing 30+ years of progressive and experimental music, who can fault them for looking to Bruce for some inspiration?

Best Coast - "Boyfriend" (Springsteen - "Badlands")

OK, here we're just talking about two seconds of the drum opening.  I always feel duped every time "Boyfriend" comes up on my iPod.  But when I first noticed this, it did make me sit up and take notice of how great that opening two seconds of "Badlands" is - perhaps being the second most iconic Springsteen drum opening of all time (behind "Born To Run", obviously).

Now, this article isn't to knock any artists - I believe the three listed above are great musicians, and don't think any of them purposefully set out to "steal" from Springsteen.  We're here to appreciate Springsteen, as well as the (direct or incidental) influence he's made on others.  So, have you noticed any other songs similar to Springsteen songs (or vice versa)?  Any other Springsteen drum intros you love?  Let us know in the comments!

Video Spotlight - "Badlands"

From the day after Reagan's election in 1980, here's a rousing performance of "Badlands".  Bruce starts it off with a small speech that reflects what many people may be feeling today.  I can't help but feel the famous facts Bruce had learned real good are particularly relevant.

Under the Influence - Bruce Springsteen!

The music world has been rocked by recent "rip-off" scandals, such as Sam Smith/Tom Petty, Robin Thicke/Marvin Gaye, and (after 30 years) Guns N Roses/Australian Crawl.  We here at Legends of Springsteen have previously chided artists for trying their best at aping Springsteen, too.  However, it is in this author's personal opinion that we shouldn't judge music "rip-offs" that harshly, as artists generally wear their influences on their sleeves.

So, today, instead of spotlighting an artist that Springsteen has influenced, we'll spotlight a few artists that have influenced the Boss.  There are obvious ones like Bob Dylan and Van Morrison, but this time, we'll take a look at some Springsteen songs that sound suspiciously like previous hits.  First up, let's take a look at some classics from Born To Run.

Bo Diddley Beat / "She's The One"





In "She's The One", Bruce uses the classic Bo Diddley beat.  This beat has been used in a ton of pop songs, but the ones I hear the most with just the beat are Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away" and George Michael's "Faith".  It's an iconic beat, so it's no shame in Bruce stealing from the best (you can also sorta hear this beat on "High Hopes" as well).

"Tiny Dancer" / "Jungleland"





Specifically, we are talking about the piano introductions on both songs.  I guess I kinda see this one, but it is fleeting.  The songs are just four years apart, so I'll leave it up to you to make the call.

"Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" / "Badlands"



The video above is just a small excerpt from Bruce's 2012 keynote speech at SXSW.  The first five minutes is dedicated to his love of The Animals, pointing exactly how they inspired him.  At the end of the video, however, Bruce clearly illustrates how "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" directly influenced "Badlands".  As Bruce says at the end, "Listen up youngsters!  This is how successful theft is accomplished!"

Now, you may be saying, "Hey goober, all these examples are from Bruce's early career!  Of course a young artist is going to rely a lot on his influences."  Fairly noted.  So, let's take a look at some examples from later on down the line.

"867-5309 (Jenny)" / "Radio Nowhere"



Hard to argue with this one - it's one of the more blatant offenders I've heard in the last ten years.  But kudos to Mr. Tutone for letting it go and not lawyer-ing it up.

"I Was Made For Lovin' You" / "Outlaw Pete"



We here at Legends of Springsteen are no fans of "Outlaw Pete", which has come up with a disturbing amount of frequency on this blog.  However, we have previously noted that KISS has taken from the Boss, so turnabout is fair play, I say.

"Small Town" / "Just Like Fire Would"





Ok, let's see if you can follow this one.  You have Bruce Springsteen, who inspired John Mellencamp.  Then, years later, Bruce Springsteen is inspired by a punk band called The Saints.  He covers the band, using an arrangement similar to John Mellencamp.  Can you really rip someone off who has been ripping you off?  Like the KISS example above, turnabout is still fair play.

So, there we have it.  In this humble author's opinion, I believe we need to relax whenever one song sounds somewhat similar to another song.  Often in these scenarios, people like to get on a very high horse.  Sometimes they'll criticize a particular artist mainly because they have an axe to grind against them (which happened a lot with Lady Gaga's "Born This Way").  More often, I've seen this old chestnut - "There's no original music anymore!"  Well, next time you hear some fuddy-duddy complaining about originality in music, please direct them to this post.  As you can see, every artist is guilty of being, let's say, "overly-inspired" by their predecessors.

Best Of The Bruce Build-Ups

As we all know, there's nothing better than seeing Springsteen live.  Granted, the songs sound great in studio, but live?  Surrounded by thousands of screaming fans, and watching the man himself go crazy for three straight hours?  It really has to be seen to be believed.

My favorite moments in each concert are the "build-ups".  You know the moments I'm talking about: where the song reaches an emotional high point, teeters there for a moment, and then Bruce sends it crashing down.  Here are, in my humble opinion, the songs that, from the first chords, have me eagerly anticipating that build-up-and-crash.

5. "Badlands"



"Ooooooh, oh oh OH oh...."  It's a call that's become so synonymous with the song that I'm surprised that it isn't actually on the studio version (it's more of a low hum).  The chant is so popular that it frequently used as a call for an encore!  After the saxophone solo, the chants start, building in volume and intensity, just waiting for Bruce to return to the song.  Then, "For the ones who has a notion..." leads the way to the climactic line: "I want to SPIT in the face of these BADLANDS!"  I saw "Badlands" live in my first Springsteen concert, and had a similar experience to the above performance.  Since that time, it has been cemented as an all-time favorite Springsteen song for me.

4. "Darkness on the Edge of Town"



"Darkness on the Edge of Town" is a song that slowly lulls you in.  It's gentle rhythm is easy to listen to, and it's melancholy story is engrossing.  Then, Bruce's wailing chorus kicks in, and you are hooked.  But, it doesn't end there.  The verses return to being gentle and approachable, while the story gets richer and darker.  Finally, the build-up breaks, culminating with Bruce screaming "TONIGHT I'LL BE ON THAT HILL, BECAUSE I CAN'T STOP!"  It is chillingly effective each time.

3. "Jungleland"



Bruce's climatic build-ups are not only in signified by massive guitars and primal wailing.  Sometimes, the build-up leads to a whisper, and it is no less dramatic.  This is best signified in the conclusion of the musical epic "Jungleland".  The journey Springsteen takes us on in "Jungleland" is sprawling, beginning slowly with violins and a piano, becoming an up-tempo rocker, transitioning to a somber saxophone solo, and concluding back again with the piano.  After this nearly ten minute adventure, the music stops.  It is now just Bruce and the audience.  "Tonight.....in....."  Anticipation builds with each out-of-rhythm syllable.  "Jun...."  When will the next one drop? "Gle...."  And, finally, finishing the build-up with long, low growl: "Laaaaaaaaand....."  The piano kicks back in, taking us away from this world.  Amazing.

2. "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out"



I've been writing about this since, quite literally, the start of the blog.  It's a simple, repetitive riff, but each time, the anticipation builds.  As the song is basically the origin of the E Street Band, this build-up is functional to the storytelling process: it signifies that this is truly the start of something special.  s I wrote back then, I could listen to those opening notes on repeat for hours.  But, evenutally, Bruce reaches that "One two!" and brings it to the drop.  The song is filled with "moments" that you anticipate, such as "Kid you better get the picture" and "When the Big Man joined the band", and concludes triumphantly, but that opening build-up/drop sets everything in motion.

1. "Born To Run"



Come on, you knew this was coming.  This is what the build-up list has been building up to.  I feel silly describing the moment, because most fans know what it is already.  An everlasting kiss.  A saxophone solo. It all comes crashing down.  You shake your hands in the air.  You shake them longer.  Then, after an eternity, you hear "One two three four! The highway's jammed with broken heroes...."  And the crowd goes bonkers.  Not just one of the best Bruce build-ups, but one of the best rock-and-roll build-ups of all time.

So, are there any that I missed?  Let us know in the comments!

Video Spotlight - "Badlands" at Columbus, 4/15/14

We hope you've been enjoying our concert reviews on Legends of Springsteen this week, and we are planning to have another review soon.  Until then, please enjoy this video from last night of Bruce doing his thing.

Counting with Bruce Springsteen

As this blog continues its quest to cover all Springsteen minutiae, we'll turn now to the particular way Bruce starts his songs.  Take a listen to this:



Did you notice it?  It begins with Bruce's classic count-off to four.  While it is rare that his count-offs make it onto a studio track, like in "Bobby Jean", it is a staple of Bruce's concerts.  A quick burst of syllables that sound like numbers, and you know you are in for an epic song.  While it didn't make it on to a studio cut, I'll always believe "Badlands" starts with a resounding "ONE TWO!"



Bruce is not just a one trick pony with his counting.  He will sometimes use this trick to bring it down a little, as seen in more somber songs like "The Wrestler" and "All I'm Thinking About Is You":



It may seem like we're digging a little too deep here, but Bruce's countdowns have been noticed in other segments of pop-culture.  For example, Bruce was a fan of the 70s punk rock band called The Dictators.  In 1978, as Bruce's popularity was rising, he took time to make a guest appearance, providing his classic countdown for the opening track of their album Bloodbrothers:



And finally, this post wouldn't be complete without another nod to the inspiration for this blog.  A true fan knew from the beginning how we'd be ending this post.  Ladies and gentlemen, here is "Counting With Bruce Springsteen":

"Peg O' My Heart" featuring Bruce Springsteen!

I guess technically this should be a video of the week, but I don’t care.  Bruce is definitely a fan of punk rock.  His cover of "London Calling", his playing with The Gaslight Anthem, and times he’s invited The Dropkick Murphy’s to play along with him.  However, one thing Bruce had not done before is appeared on a punk album.  That was until last year, when The Dropkick Murphy’s released Going Out In Style.  That album featured a punk cover of the traditional Irish ballad "Peg O' My Heart" featuring none other than Mr. Bruce Springsteen!

I've always enjoyed The Dropkick Murphy’s and I know they are big fans of Bruce Springsteen.  Their covers of “Badlands” and “Born In The USA” are some of my favorite covers of Bruce songs.  When Bruce invited them to play some of his songs on stage with them I thought it was really cool of Bruce to sort of give them “the rub.”  But I never thought Bruce would appear on one of their albums.  It almost seemed beneath him, to appear with a band that wasn’t anywhere near his level.  The Dropkick Murphy’s are hardly a “no-name” band, their appearance on the soundtrack to the 2006 film The Departed gave them huge exposure.  But when they go out and tour, they play concert halls, ballrooms,  and clubs.  Bruce plays major sports arenas and stadiums.  But after all these years I should know better than to doubt Bruce.

Anyways, this is a great performance of a great song off a great album featuring a great band and a great cameo by Bruce.  In other words, it’s great.  So enjoy!

Springsteen Lyrics of the Week - Badlands

"Poor men wanna be rich, rich men wanna be kings,
And a king ain't satisfied 'til he rules everything."
- Badlands, Darkness on the Edge of Town

While not overly profound, this briefly and clearly sums up many of the themes present in Bruce's numerous song catalog.  Wanting more and more is a classic human weakness, so much so that four of the seven deadly sins deal with the desire for acquiring what pleases you (envy, greed, gluttony, lust).   But, without going into another lecture about how writing about universal themes ensures his long-lasting popularity and how super-awesome Bruce is, I just have to say....

HOW HAVE WE NOT MENTIONED THIS LINE YET?!?!  It's preposterous!  This line from "Badlands" may be one of Bruce's most iconic.  I'd put it up there with lines like "I want to know if love is wild" and "Got a wife and kids in Baltimore, Jack".  What other Bruce lines would you consider "iconic"?  Let me know in the comments.  (And just to clarify - I'd consider an iconic line one that is not only popular, but is instantly and unmistakeable characteristic of Bruce's songwriting.)

Concert Review - Madison Square Garden, NYC April 6

There’s an old joke that goes: “Sex is like pizza. When it’s good it’s great, but when it’s bad…it’s still pretty good.” The same goes for Bruce Springsteen concerts. After listening to the concert at the Apollo Theatre on Sirius XM, I was left feeling slightly under whelmed. Don’t get me wrong, Bruce sounded good, and I’m sure if I was there I would have had a blast. But I remember saying “that’s it?“ when the show ended. I just chalked it up to the fact that listening to Bruce on the radio isn’t the same as being there live. It was my own fault for setting my standards too high.

But prior to that my last Bruce concert was the final concert of Working On A Dream Tour on November 22nd, 2009 at The HSBC Arena in Buffalo, NY. That night Bruce played for 3 ½ hours. It was a stellar show, and quite frankly if that was the last Springsteen concert (as many had speculated it might be), it would have been a great end to his phenomenal career. The Apollo Theatre show couldn’t compare to that. But it was still a lot of fun to listen to.

Then on last Tuesday night I saw Bruce at the Izod Center. I think Steve's review was pretty accurate.  Again, it’s not that the show was bad, far from it. But I just left that show desiring something more. I was envious of some of the friends I was with, who were seeing Bruce for the first time. They raved about the setlist, Bruce’s incredible energy and just the overall performance. I remembered feeling that way, I had felt that way about almost every other Bruce concert I had been to.

But finally, last Friday I had, as U2 once so wonderfully put it, “found what I was looking for.” Seeing Bruce Springsteen, at New York’s famous Madison Square Garden, was incredible. Right from the beginning I knew this show would be different. Bruce opened the show with “Badlands” as opposed to every other show where he opened with “We Take Care of Our Own”. The first 3 songs he played at the Izod show and MSG show were exactly the same but just the little difference of changing the order he played them in made all the difference. And that’s when I realized what made Bruce the best live performer I’ve ever seen. He constantly is changing things up, evolving mid-tour(sometimes even mid-show) to make sure his concerts never gets stale. No 2 audiences are exactly alike, so no 2 audiences should get the exact same show. Bruce pulled out all the stops, with rare songs that I hadn’t heard live before, like "Lion's Den", and other rarities like "Murder, Inc." and "Lonesome Day".  And the night kept rocking with an incredible 20+ minute jamming version of “Kitty’s Back” that nearly blew the roof off of MSG.  Normally I'm not a huge fan of this song but Bruce was definitely feeling it that night and so was everyone else in "The World's Most Famous Arena."

I even contemplated going to see Bruce last night for his 2nd show at MSG but couldn't justify spending the prices that StubHub was charging.  But when I saw the setlist of that show I was kicking myself.  $300 for nosebleed seats is a lot, but not when he's busting out "Thundercrack" and "Rosalita" in the same show!  I'm kicking myself for missing that one.

I am anxiously awaiting May 2nd, to see Bruce at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. And if the rumors are true that Bruce will be doing a stadium tour towards the end of this summer and into the fall, you better believe I’ll be snatching up tickets to that. I suggest you do the same.

Bruce For Beginners - Rory's Playlist

Loyal readers, I have some bad news to share with you.  I hope you are sitting down.  Ready?  OK, here goes:

Some people don't listen to Bruce Springsteen.

You still with me?  Shocking, I know.  It is especially true amongst the millennial generation.  The burden is on us, the loyal Bruce die-hards, to keep the legacy alive.  Now, I don't recommend strapping non-Bruce fans down Clockwork Orange-style and forcing them to listen to his discography continuously for a month (although I don't speak for all the editors of this blog).  The best solution would be to create a simple playlist to give help newcomers ease into the Boss's vast catalog.  I recently created one for my girlfriend, and I think I did a fairly good job of it if I do say so myself.  I decided to use one song from pretty much all Bruce musical eras.  The playlist ended up looking like this:

1. "For You" from Greetings From Asbury Park

This song is captures Bruce's early career perfectly.  The lyrics are all over the place, as it shows the youthful ambition of Bruce, trying to cram a little too many ideas into one song. 

2. "Rosalita" from The Wild, The Innocent, and The E Street Shuffle

As mentioned in High Fidelity, the second song on any compilation has to kick it up a notch from the first song.  Duly noted, Mr. Hornby.  I think "Rosalita" fulfills the notch-kicking requirement.

3. "Thundercrack" from Tracks

One of my all-time favorites from the early Bruce years.  As Bruce said when introducing this song at a concert I saw him at several years ago, "This used to be our show-stopper when there was nobody there to stop the show."

4. "Thunder Road" from Born To Run

I know it is fun to impress people with some obscure or underrated songs, but sometimes, you've just got to stick with the classics.  One of the first full Bruce albums my girlfriend downloaded after listening to this playlist was Born To Run.  I approve. 

5. "Badlands" from Darkness on the Edge of Town

Darkness is my favorite Springsteen album, and this track was one of the first Bruce songs I fell in love with back in high school. 

6. "The Promised Land" from Darkness on the Edge of Town

I couldn't help myself from putting two Darkness songs on here. This song has a soft spot in my heart for the ridiculous pantomiming I do during it.  

7. "Save My Love" from The Promise

Is this a taste of new Bruce, or a taste of old Bruce?  This song is very tough to categorize.  Either way, are we all in agreement that The Promise disc two is superior to disc one?  Perhaps a topic for another blog post.  

8. "Jackson Cage" from The River

The River doesn't have a lot of my favorite tunes, but, like the previous song, this is a quick, catchy ditty that shows that, around this time, Bruce was an automatic.  He could crank out three-minute hits in his sleep. 

9. "Stolen Car" from Tracks

Not The River version, but the "Beautiful Bruce" version from Tracks.  At this point in the mix, I'm bringing it down a little.  They can't all be hand-clappers and boot-stompers!

10. "Atlantic City" from Nebraska

Whenever somebody asks me my all-time favorite Bruce song, I can never give them a straight answer.  At one point, it was "Rosalita".  At another point, it was "Thunder Road".  The one thing I can say is that "Atlantic City" has always been in my top five.  I've never been burnt out on this song. 

11. "I'm On Fire" from Born in the U.S.A.

This is one of the most accessible songs for new Bruce fans, as it is one that sounds the most modern.  I hear a lot of current bands basing their style off of this Bruce hit.  This song became my girlfriend's favorite Bruce song after listening to this mix. 

12. "I'm Goin' Down" from Born in the U.S.A. 

Probably not the best song to put on a CD for your girlfriend, but whatever.  I couldn't do slower songs forever.  It's fun as hell and a damn great song.  Sorry for swearing like a hell damn ass king, but this song gets me pumped ever time I hear it.

13. "If I Should Fall Behind" from Lucky Town 

Here I was, trying to be all-romantic-like.  Feel free to insert your favorite song from Tunnel of Love, Human Touch, or Lucky Town in this spot. 

14. "Countin' On A Miracle" from The Rising 

The Rising, in general, is a great album to start a new Bruce fan off with.  It was extremely influential to all three of your Legends of Springsteen editors.  This is my favorite track off the album. 

15. "Long Time Comin'" from Devils & Dust

I wanted to represent Devils & Dust on this CD, but at this point, I didn't want anything too slow or depressing.  Plus, you get to hear Bruce say "Fuck!"  What a bad-ass. 

16. "O Mary Don't You Weep" from We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions

This is a fun track from an album that has grown on me more and more over the last six years.  Plus, it is important for the new Bruce fans to see Bruce's influences. 

17. "Livin' In The Future" from Magic 

Magic was stunning to me when it was released.  I couldn't believe an artist, so late into his career, could write an album this good.  "Livin' In The Future" is a fantastic track that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Bruce's greatest hits. 

And....that's all from me.  Stay tuned as both Steve and OB weigh in with their choices for beginning Bruce fans.