The 30 Day Song Challenge, Day 19

As opposed to the recent struggles I've had with this challenge (negativity based ones, ones with unclear instructions, oddly dated questions about the radio), this is a lob over home plate.  Just a song on my favorite album.  Easy peasy.

While I'd love to make the case that Darkness on the Edge of Town is better than Born To Run, I just feel like taking it easy today.  We all know Born To Run is Bruce's best album, so let's put aside any squabbles and embrace it.

What's your a song from your favorite Bruce album (which, as I just said, is Born To Run - come on, you know it is right)?

Book Review - Born To Run by Bruce Springsteen

Well, after three months, we here are finally able to weigh in on Bruce's highly anticipated autobiography Born To Run.  And, I must say, it lives up to the hype.  This book is an immensely satisfying look into one of the most unique American talents of the 20th century.

Told chronologically and straight-forward, Bruce takes you from his birth until, seemingly, the minute you finish the book.  Like a Springsteen concert, the book is extra-long, clocking in at just over 500 pages (with photos tucked into the back, a nice move since many books awkwardly stick the photo section in the middle).  However, the chapters are short (81 sections including the forward and epilogue), making a perfect "bathroom book" that you can read in small chunks.

The book is appropriately titled Born To Run, as the consistent theme of this book is how much of an "outsider" Bruce has been throughout his life.  He is a man of two worlds - both blue collar and an artist, and straddling the line has caused him alienation from both.  Having his family "abandon" him at 18 surely plays into this, but Bruce finds himself most comfortable on the road, be it driving across the country with a couple of friends or going on months-spanning tours across the globe.  While as a fan, we all have the tendency to be "armchair psychiatrists" to our favorite artists, it is fascinating to see Bruce open up in his own words.

Throughout it all, Bruce remains humble, almost to a fault.  He doesn't try to be your friend, but doesn't wallow in self-pity, either.  There are no salacious "rock star" stories either, as there's just a tale or two involving tequila, and the only relationships he dives into are his two marriages. (Bruce blames his past relationships failing on his immaturity and insecurities, but come on Bruce - there had to be at least one crazy girl in that mix!)  Perhaps the most unexpected confession comes at the end, where Bruce discusses how he views his own voice (for good and for bad).

Nearly every step of his career is covered, with special attention paid, unsurprisingly, to Born To Run and, surprisingly, to Wrecking Ball.  The biggest omissions were Lucky Town and Human Touch, which were not even mentioned by name in the book.  During that time, the book focuses on his children, which may be all that needs to be said about why these albums were skipped over.  Unlike many of the Springsteen biography's I've read in the past, Bruce doesn't skim when it comes to his later career, as he discusses with particular care the controversy surrounding "American Skin" as well as The Rising and its role post-9/11.

So, I know I'm late to the party, but if you are a Springsteen fan, this is an absolute must read.  I have read many books about Springsteen in the past, but this is easily the best.  Despite Clarence's disappointing autobiography, this has me itching for more E Street books - could Little Stevie be next?

The Great Albums - Born In The USA Podcast

The Great Albums is a music podcast that has been running for a little under two years, and I've been a fan since close to the beginning.  It is run by two dudes in their early 30s from New Jersey, where their goal is to discuss music as fans would, rather than critics.  Sound familiar?  Having Born To Run as one of their earliest episodes also helped hook me.  Since then, I've tuned into nearly every episode.  Not only does it help me discover new music, but I find their analysis helps me articulate my own musical opinions better.

This month, they are celebrating "Massive Album November", tackling extremely popular albums by extremely popular artists - Madonna, Pink Floyd, The Who, and, now, Bruce.  If you've got two hours, check out their Born In The USA podcast, and, if you are jonesing for more, they have a bonus episode featuring "Streets of Philadelphia".

Springsteen Honors - Cover of the Costco Connection!

As it has happened for the last several years, Springsteen puts together a promotional push every fall/winter.  In 2013, he was gearing up for High Hopes.  In 2014, he re-released seven albums.  Last year, it was the Ties That Bind box set.  Now, it has been all about the new autobiography (side note: I have recently gotten the book, and should have a review ready before the end of the year).  So, Springsteen is everywhere, from Colbert to book signings and now, to his latest feat, making the cover of the illustrious Costco Connection!  

Sure, any artist can get on the cover of the Rolling Stone, but how many artists can say they've been on the premier national magazine of big-box wholesalers? Scroll through the archives, and you'll find entrepreneurs, actors, national heroes, etc. but no musicians....until Bruce broke down that wall.

It is just a short two page interview with a couple of good photos, and has no other goal but to promote the book.  But still! It is quite the achievement, rivaling the Medal of Freedom he received earlier this month.  Plus, I also found a delicious recipe for salty chocolaty peanut buttery crunchy bars!

You can download the whole magazine for yourself here.

Meeting Bruce: The Day I Never Thought Would Happen

Never in my life did I anticipate that I would shake hands, pose for a picture and be greeted by name by Bruce Springsteen. But that's exactly what happened today thanks to his appearance at Books-a-Million in Chicago.

Bruce: Hi, there
Me: Hi, I'm Steve. Nice to meet you
*Pose for picture*
Me: We played "Happy" as our first dance at our wedding
Bruce: Ah, thank you Steve

I waited in line just over 3 1/2 hours for that fleeting exchange. It was well worth it. Many waited longer than me, and in the cold.

In classic Legends of Springsteen fashion, he showed up 30 minutes earlier than advertised and got right to work shaking hands and giving hugs to his fans.

It was a very civilized group, many who had traveled from out of state (Indiana, Michigan and beyond) and embarked in the wee hours of the morning, I heard 4 a.m. departures referenced a few times.

The feeling itself was surreal. I felt compelled to go buy gum before I got to the store. I was envious of the families there together, hopeful that one day my children would be old enough and interested enough to experience something similar with me.

I kept my guard up that at any moment something might go wrong. Perhaps I was tricked by a scam ticket? What if my cell phone suddenly malfunctions? What if I accidentally step out of line or engage in any other general buffoonery? In the end, it was over before I knew it. I stood speechless with my signed book in hand and my photo on my phone, trying to process what had transpired.

It may have been over in the blink of an eye, but I wish every fan could be lucky enough to receive this experience.

And it only happened because of my wife. If she hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known about it. If she hadn't encouraged me, I wouldn't have gone.

Springsteen Coasters!

It's a little early to do another holiday gift guide for this year, but once you see what I recently received, you'll understand why I had to share (and slightly brag) in late October.  Given to me by infrequent blog contributor and creator of the creator of the blog - my mom - we have a set of four Bruce Springsteen coasters!

Each coaster is adorned with an iconic Springsteen album cover, starting with his debut album and ending with 1984's Born In The USA.  While one may complain about the omission of Darkness On The Edge of Town, I'd counter by saying your complaining over something so trivial is why we can't have nice things.

While I've broken down these albums in every conceivable way, let's rethink the way we see these albums.  And, by that, I mean: what types of beverages would these albums best support?

Greetings From Asbury Park: With this postcard picture, I can't help but think of summer vacations.  Therefore, a summer-y drink is the clear choice for this coaster.  Putting hot cocoa on this coaster would be a grave sin.

Recommended Drinks: Lemonade, Margaritas, Bud Light Lime, Anything That Has An Umbrella In It 

 

Born To Run: This is the piece-de-resistance of the coaster set.  You aren't going to just put any old drink on this; it has to be a SPECIAL drink.  This is the coaster you bust out when the pope comes to town.

Recommended Drinks: Fancy Wine, Fancy Beer, Fancy Whiskey, That Bottle Of Champagne You've Been Saving To Open When The Mets Win The World Series

The River: Boy, Bruce does not look good on this cover, and the coaster adds to his misery by punching a hole right through his nose.   This is the coaster you use after a long night of partying.  Put your hangover cure on this coaster, and every time you lift your drink up, you see Bruce staring back at you, with no judgement in his eyes.  He's been there, man.

Recommended Drinks: Water, Diet Coke, Smoothies, Hair Of The Dog

Born In The USA: Don't be distracted by that awkwardly placed hole.  This is a pure-American coaster, and the drinks it supports will encapsulate the country - freedom, freedom, eagles, baseball, and freedom.

Recommended Drinks: Cheap American Beer, Whole Milk

Unfortunately, it appears this particular set of coasters is difficult to find for sale on the Internet, so I apologize if I got you excited for nothing.  However, googling "Bruce Springsteen Coaster" does bring up other coaster options (as well as lyrics for "Spirit In The Night").  So, if you know a Springsteen fan with rings on his coffee table, consider your Christmas shopping done early.

Song Spotlight - "Meeting Across the River"

Key Live Performance



Born to Run has a bleak narrative trajectory. It begins in a town full of losers and ends in Jungleland where the heroes wind up "wounded, not even dead."

“Meeting Across the River” – a song you will never hear requested at a bar – is the album's lynchpin. It is the subtle prelude that sets the scene for the 9 1/2 minute, operatic conclusion in “Jungleland”.

I chose the video above not just because I was at the MetLife leg of the Wrecking Ball tour but because it perfectly preserves that segue between the two final tracks of Born to Run.

Key Lyrics
“And the word's been passed this is our last chance”

At every turn, Bruce makes it crystal clear where this story ends.

Overall

Even while being the “smallest” song on the album, “Meeting Across the River” heightens everything around it, serving as the turning point where petty hijinks evolve to hard crime and youthful malaise evolves to Greek tragedy. The song is a masterful ballet of trumpet, piano, bass and vocals with each of the four instruments working together to create a vivid cityscape.

Song Spotlight - "Born To Run"

Key Live Performance


Here, we have the acoustic arrangement of "Born To Run", which was released on the Chimes of Freedom LP in the late 80s.  Nowadays, it seems that nearly every song has an "acoustic version" of it out there, and usually it is done in jest.  However, a re-imaging of a popular song, by the artist himself, was a greater novelty 25+ years ago.  This version of "Born To Run" comes at a fascinating time in Springsteen's career, too, as he had just released Tunnel of Love and would soon be leaving the E Street Band behind.  This performance symbolically captures this new phase in Springsteen's career, as he takes his most iconic song down to its bare bones and rebuilds it by himself.

Key Lyrics
"Oh-oh, Baby this town rips the bones from your back
It's a death trap, it's a suicide rap
We gotta get out while we're young
`Cause tramps like us, baby we were born to run."

"Born to Run" is filled with a surprising amount of violent imagery, including two uses of "suicide", along with dying, being broken, etc.  The lyrics spotlighted above are simultaneously gruesome and catchy.  It's a trick you don't see in many pop songs, as they tend to stick to words like "baby" and "i wish".  With these in-your-face lyrics, it isn't surprising that it was nominated to be New Jersey's official state song.

Overall

Come on.  It's "Born To Run"!  It's Bruce's most iconic song, and for good reason.  You've got a dramatic drum-roll to start, an instantly memorable chorus, and an amazing drop.  It's hard not to drive recklessly when listening to this song.  It's the perfect anthem for lovers and dream, and yet, crazily enough, many people would say that it isn't even the best song on the album!  It just goes to show how on point Bruce was at this point in his career.  This song has been a pop-culture staple for 40 years, and will easily be for 40 more.

Song Spotlight - "Backstreets"

Key Live Performance



This gut-wrenching rendition from Toronto during the 1984 Born in the U.S.A. tour begins with a two minute intro heavy on ambient piano and wailing before leading into the familiar opening notes. Just one look at Bruce’s ripped jean jacket and you know he means business. From the defiant guitar solo to the sweat soaked bandana, the energy is palpable.

Key Lyrics

“When the breakdown hit at midnight
There was nothing left to say but I hated him and I hated you when you went away”

While I’m partial to the so-close-you-can-feel-it description of “getting wasted in the heat,” I can’t stray from this raw admission of hatred made all the more painful by the disappointment with which it is laced.

Demos and lyric drafts have shown that early versions of “Backstreets” explicitly cast the character of Terry as a female. But I prefer to stick to the song text which leaves the gender ambiguous. Perhaps because Bruce’s career is full of heterosexual love gone sour, “Backstreets” feels all the more exceptional when read as a tragic tale of love between two men – regardless of whether it’s a homosexual or platonic love.

Overall

I often think of “Backstreets” as the ultimate summer song. It effortlessly evokes both the initial optimism and inevitable disappointment that define every summer season in our teenage years. As one of the few Born to Run songs that doesn’t feature heavily in Bruce’s recent concert rotations, “Backstreets” packs a powerful punch when you are fortunate enough to hear it. It’s easy to overlook but hard to forget.

Jon Stewart's Moment of Zen

We interrupt Born To Run Month to give you this performance by Bruce and the E Street Band.  On Jon Stewart's final Daily Show last Thursday, he quoted "an artist [he] really admired",  saying,

"He thinks of his career as a long conversation with his audience...I liked that idea for many different reasons, the main one is that it takes away the idea of finality....This show isn't ending.  We're merely taking a small pause in the conversation."  

After his speech, the identity of this "artist" became clear, as he cut to Springsteen and the entirety of the E Street Band, to play him off to "Land of Hope and Dreams".  While Bruce has been making various cameos all summer long, it was great to see him back with the entirety of the E Street Band.  The Daily Show has never really accommodated musical acts very well, which makes this performance even more impressive.  Hopefully, our conversation with the E Street Band will be continuing again in the near future.

Counting On A Package Deal, Part 3 - Born To Run

This album needs no introduction:

Simple.  Clean.  Iconic.  Timeless.  Rock & Roll.  An album cover hasn't matched its content quite like that of Born To Run.  While this is just the albums front, as every true fan knows, it is best viewed unfolded:

Yes, we get the Big Man, with his shirt significantly more buttoned-up than on Wild (his hat grew in size and style, too).  I do enjoy when an album package has a "gimmick", like the postcard on Greetings, and here we get the front-and-back spread.  This is the only Springsteen album where the front bleeds into the back - in fact, I'm having difficulty thinking of other albums that employ this technique (the only one that comes to mind is LCD Soundsystem's This Is Happening).  To the left of Clarence, we get the track listing, as well as full credits for every performer.  The interior of the package is excellently done, too:

A shot of our star, and every lyric from "The screen door slams" to "Tonight in Jungleland", nicely spaced out and not hard to read.  Honestly, just on packaging alone, music fans in the 70s must have known they were in for something special.  I cannot heap enough accolades on this album design.  It is perfect in nearly every way (my only minor quibble is that I'd like to see more of the E Street Band than Clarence).  Greetings introduced you to Bruce, focusing on his roots and his lyrics.  Wild ditched the lyrics and focused on building the E Street legend.  But, here, on Born To Run, the world was introduced to Bruce Springsteen: Rock Star.

For completeness sake, here's the record.  Yes, another red circle in a larger black circle.  One day we may see another color.  One day...

Want a copy to call your own?  Purchase it here!

For more reviews of old records, check out part one and part two!

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!

7Lions - "Born 2 Run"

Disclaimer: This video has nothing to do with the Bruce song, and is only serving as fodder for me to go off on a rant.

So I first noticed this song in 2012 when the LA Kings were in the Stanley Cup against my beloved New Jersey Devils.  Whoever won or lost that year is irrelevant (Hint: the Devils did not win), but whenever the games were being played in LA, I noticed this annoying song playing in the background.  It stunk.  I didn't think much of it, cursed the Kings for winning The Cup, and went about my day.

Then about a year later, I noticed that the new theme song to the World Wrestling Entertainment show, WWE Smackdown! sounded familiar.  After a few listens, I soon realized it was the same annoying song from the Kings Stanley Cup run.  Now I had to find out what this song is.  Sure enough, the song was called "Born 2 Run" by 7Lions.  After a little research I learned that the song has also been used by the NFL, MLB and NASCAR.  So good for them for getting their song out there.

But seriously?  Naming your song after one of the most iconic rock songs is so bush league.  It's not like they named it "Yesterday" or "Satisfaction", which I would give them a pass.  Hell, even "Born In The USA", would be fine because it's such a generic term.  But what does it even mean to be "Born To Run"?  You know it will never be as big as the original song, so why would you always want to be "the other Born 2 Run".  Clearly they knew what they were doing, and my guess is that in this age of one button purchases of music on phones and tablets, they hoped to make money off people buying their song by accident.  Like the time I accidentally played a song called "Guns N' Roses" on a jukebox, when I wanted to play music by the iconic rock band.

And when all is said and done, when I'm alone in my apartment  I find myself humming both this and the Guns N' Roses song to myself.  Damn their catchy choruses!

Two for Tuesday Video Spotlight: Bon Jovi and Springsteen at 12.12.12

and



I haven't written a post in a few weeks so I decided to come back with a big one.  These videos are from the famous 12.12.12 Concert at Madison Square Garden.  Clocking in at just under 6 hours this was an incredible concert for a great cause: Hurricane Sandy relief.  This concert was a "Who's Who" of rock icons and pop culture and had so many notable moments: Paul McCartney playing with the surviving members of Nirvana, Adam Sandler proving he can still be quite funny, Brian Williams proving he should stick to news casting and not be doing comedy, Roger Daltry showing off a hernia scar, Eddie Vedder and Roger Waters stealing the show with an incredible performance of "Comfortably Numb", Kanye West nearly ruining the show with a widely panned, overindulgent performance, Billy Joel proving he's one of the most under appreciated legends in rock music, and countless others.

But for me this was the above videos were the highlight of the night.  Bon Jovi and Bruce Springsteen are my two favorite musicians.  As much as it is ripe for making stereotypical New Jersey jokes, I just can't help it.  I love them both and have seen them live more times than I can count.  To see these two take the stage together was just incredible to watch live.  Even though ticket prices were astronomical for this concert, when I was watching this on TV as soon as I saw them on the stage together I knew I made a mistake by not getting tickets for this once in a lifetime concert.

Bruce kicked off the night with a great performance, and it was during his last song of his set that he played the iconic "Born To Run", and invited Jon Bon Jovi out to play with him.  Later during Bon Jovi's set, Bruce returned the favor and played with Bon Jovi performing their massive hit "Who Says You Can't Go Home?".  One of  the things I noticed about these videos is that Bruce seemed a lot more comfortable with Bon Jovi than Jon did playing with Bruce and the E Street band.  I think the reasoning is pretty simple: Jon grew up idolizing Bruce, and even though Jon is one of the biggest names in music he's still humbled to be playing with one of his heroes.  I think that's pretty cool.  Bruce has stated on countless occasions his admiration and respect for Bon Jovi, but by the time Bon Jovi hit it big, Bruce was playing to sold out stadiums all over the world.  All in all these are just two incredible performances from two very proud and beyond-talented New Jerseyans who wanted to help out their home state in a time of need.  What more needs to be said.  Crank it up and enjoy.

Bruce Springsteen and the Sesame Street Band

Several months ago, my wife and I were babysitting our niece and after a few hours of reading books and playing with toys, the method of entertainment turned to watching YouTube videos on an iPhone. Our niece repeatedly requested “Ernie” and following back-to-back viewings of “Rubber Ducky,” we began searching for other Sesame Street videos to watch. Knowing that Sesame Street has a history of pop culture awareness and celebrity guest stars, I went out on a limb and searched for “Sesame Street” and “Springsteen.” While I didn’t find a clip of Bruce himself on Sesame Street, I was delighted to find two parody songs: “Born to Add” and “Barn in the U.S.A.”






Of the two, “Born to Add” is clearly the better song. It captures the melody and energy of three Springsteen classics (“Born to Run,” “Jungleland,” and “Thunder Road”) very nicely without making it too hard rockin’ for kids. It even amalgamates the three songs so smoothly that I didn’t realize it was a medley until I read it in the YouTube comments. It also features a nice nod to the Jersey Shore.

For my taste, the melody of “Barn in the U.S.A.” sounds a bit too threatening and almost demonic. However, it has a lot of animals, which is a surefire way to spark interest with kids. I also love the Bruce puppet in this one.

Whichever song you prefer, I love that these exist. Hats off to the good people at Sesame Street. These videos not only give adults access points to child-friendly entertainment but also do their part to introduce the magic of Springsteen to kids at an early age!

Video Spotlight - Diarrhea Planet covering "Born To Run"

Here, the appetizingly named Diarrhea Planet and Patrick Stickles of Titus Andronicus perform a punked-out cover of "Born To Run", which may offend some hardcore fans but I thoroughly enjoyed.  While on the surface Bruce and punk music seem like strange bedfellows, the two have been intertwined for decades, going back to Bruce penning "Because the Night" for Patti Smith and originally writing "Hungry Heart" for the Ramones (one of my favorite factoids that I hope to one day use at a trivia night in a bar).  Bruce still affects the world of punk rock today, as many young punk bands (such as those in the video, as well as the Gaslight Anthem and Against Me!) cite Bruce as a huge influence on their music.  What is the cause of this relationship?  It is tough to tell, but I believe that Bruce's music, especially early in his career, was about a certain sense of alienation in a tough world, and a fight to find freedom.  Like the Sex Pistols or The Clash, he was singing for the outcasts in society, but with an American point-of-view.  While musically different (I haven't found many punk songs with saxophone solos), lyrically his songs speak to the same audience that would listen to punk rock, influencing future generations of musicians.

Video Spotlight - She's The One

Another one of the top 100 Bruce songs that we've yet to discuss, "She's The One" is a classic Springsteen song that often gets overlooked.  The main problem for this is the company it keeps.  The Born To Run album is so strong that "She's The One" doesn't crack the top five!  On nearly any other album, "She's The One" is strong enough to be a hit single.

The video above really encapsulates the pounding energy of this song.  Like "Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out", this song is much better seen live.  Also, in past articles, I've discussed the eras of Springsteen.  While late-70s Springsteen is still my favorite, the post-Rising Springsteen is a strong runner-up.  After about a decade off his game, Bruce's reunion with the E Street Band in 1999 and subsequent Rising album boosted his performance to a height seldom seen by aging rock stars.  The entire E Street Band here is firing on all cylinders, topped off by Clarence's magnificent sax solo.

So to sum up - great (and slightly overlooked) song, and an amazing live performance.  Enjoy your week, folks!

Book Review: "Tietam Brown" by Mick Foley

http://www.amazon.com/Tietam-Brown-Mick-Foley/dp/1400034132/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1352941310&sr=1-8&keywords=mick+foley

I suppose I should start off by disclosing that this is in no shape, way or form a Springsteen book.  But I chose to review this book because Bruce Springsteen, or more importantly his music, plays a critical role in this book.  Foley describes the emotional experience of connecting to Springsteen's music exceptionally well.  Quite frankly, in a few short sentences he does it better than I have on any of my entries on this blog.  Oh well, I guess that's why he's  New York Times best selling author, and I attended 3 different colleges in 3 years.

Although Foley is a best selling author, he is undoubtedly best known for his career as a professional wrestler.  As I've stated in a previous post, I grew up a HUGE fan of pro wrestling.  I was even more obsessed with the pseudo-sport than I am Springsteen today.  And one of my all-time favorites was Mick Foley.  Foley wrestled all over the world, for many different promotions, with different characters and enjoyed a very successful career.  In many ways he was the Bruce Springsteen of pro wrestling; not the most technically proficient or talented, but his undeniable ability to connect to a crowd and make them believe in him makes him beloved to millions, even still to this day.  Foley had the rare ability to tell a story during his matches that made him the most unlikely star of his era.  And he's been able to transcend wrestling to having a career in comedy, television, film, and even literature.

Foley has written 4 autobiographies, each of which I have read and enjoyed immensely.  He has made it explicitly clear that there were never any ghostwriters, and what you read is what Foley wrote.  Foley has the same gift in literature that he had when he wrestled.  He can enthrall you with his stories and make you believe in him.  But I have always been nervous about reading his fiction novels.  I've never been a huge fan of fiction, as when I read it tends to be biographies or autobiographies.

But recently I had a flight and was looking for something to read on my Kindle and decided to go with Foley's first foray into the world of fiction, Tietam Brown.  The story is a coming-of-age-tale, set in the mid 1980's of a young man named Andy Brown.  Andy has been through horrific abuse, neglect, and in a nutshell; has had an all around rough life.  His relationship with his father, his school, and his past has caused him much pain and confusion.  But his saving grace is when he meets a beautiful girl in school named Terri Johnson who sees beyond his physical and emotional scars to the decent person that Andy is.

So what does any of this have to do with Springsteen?   On the night of the big school dance where Andy is supposed to meet up with Terri, he's driving in the car looking for some good music to listen to.  He pops in Born To Run.    He talks about how even though in 1980's  Born In The USA was all over the radio, Born To Run, was and always will be the definitive Springsteen album.  He continues to describe his drive to the dance while listening to the album, imagining conversations with Terri, and driving by her house to get himself all pumped up before he sees her at the dance.  And then he comes to a stop when "Backstreets" plays.

"In an instant I heard Bruce Springsteen singing my life story.  'One soft infested summer me and Terry became friends, trying in vain to breath the fire we was born in.'  I didn't really know what that breathing-the-fire thing was all about but that part about me and Terri was perfect.  I knew as I barreled past Terri's house one last time that this was meant to be our song, even if we'd never actually done the things Bruce and his Terry had done, such as sleeping in an old abandoned beach house and getting wasted in the heat."

And that's what Bruce has been able to do to so many fans, including myself and Mick Foley.  How many of us have actually done the things Bruce sings about?  Hell, Bruce hasn't done most of them.  But something about the way Bruce tells a story can connect to a fan and make him believe in him.  Throughout the rest of the novel there are references to the Born To Run album as it plays a pivotal role in that night at the dance.  Tietam Brown really is a great read.  I'll admit it's not for everyone, with the depictions of Andy's child abuse being particularly disturbing.  There are times when you read this and just think that this kid's been through enough and can't take anymore.  But Tietam Brown is really hard to put down.  It's the story of a young man's troubled relationship with his father, reflections on his youth, being an outcast at school, finding and losing love, but most of all it's a story of hope and rising above challenges to move forward in life.  Sounds a lot like a Springsteen song.  Strongly recommended, but not for people who are squeamish or looking for a book about Bruce Springsteen.

Great Moments in Springsteen Television History - Born To Run References

In this screenshot from the Futurama episode "Decision 3012", we see that the Jersey Turnpike swamped with some Springsteen-esque traffic.  While we've mentioned many iconic lines in our weekly lyrics post, this one has gone overlooked.  However, it is a favorite of many TV writers, as it has also been referenced in The Sopranos episode "Long Term Parking": 



It's a quick throwaway line, but the joke has a meta layer, as Steven Van Zandt is sitting with his onscreen boss as his offscreen boss is referenced.

Unfortunately, my exhaustive researched has only unearthed these two references.  If you know any other "Born To Run" references that have made it onto the air, let me know in the comments.

EDIT (1/21/14): Another "Born To Run" TV moment happened last week on Jimmy Fallon!

Under the Influence of Springsteen: The Killers

With the release of Battle Born last month, The Killers further revealed the Bruce Springsteen influence that was accentuated with the release of Sam’s Town in 2006. For further credibility this time, they even enlisted producer Brendan O’Brien (Devils & Dust, Magic) for the album.

“Runaways” – the album’s first single – makes little effort to hide its Springsteen sensibility in its lyrics and music video imagery. A fast-paced toe-tapper, the single encompasses both the escape promised in Born to Run ("Let’s take a chance baby we can't lose") and the sinking feeling of failure in Darkness on the Edge of Town ("I recognize the girl but I can't settle in these walls").

In addition to similar themes and evocative lyrics, it’s the strong sense of location that creates the clearest connection to Springsteen. The Killers are resolutely a product of Las Vegas: the shallow characters they sing about, the flashy excess of their music and the lack of a real band identity. Like Vegas, they are nothing and everything at the same time.

Since the breakout success of “Somebody Told Me” in 2004, front man Brandon Flowers has been working really hard to distinguish The Killers as something more than the pop confection they were perceived to be when they first hit the scene. He's had some minor success in doing so. Over the years, his imagery has gotten much more distinct without letting go of the pop trappings that defined them. Critical response has been middling throughout their career though and reviews for Battle Born aren’t glowing.

In the face of critical shrugs, The Killers have slowly revealed an unexpected depth to their music. Their storytelling isn’t as vivid and the characters aren’t as nuanced as the ones you’ll find in Springsteen’s music but certain tracks like “Heart of a Girl” (Battle Born) or “Dustland Fairytale” (Day & Age), paint a strong picture with a clear sense of time and place.

If the above sounds overly critical of The Killers, it’s perhaps an effort to protect myself from worshiping them. I’ve loved The Killers ever since I bought Hot Fuss and I’ll never stop. I haven't been able to embrace them unashamedly though. I always feel the need to qualify or justify my appreciation. No matter how hard they try or how clear their ties to Springsteen, I don’t think that will ever change.

Here are my selections for The Killers’ most Springsteen-sounding songs:

Runaways



Heart of a Girl



Dustland Fairytale



For Reasons Unknown



When You Were Young