Hard News by Russell Brown

Just to note: in case anyone was puzzled, I accidentally had the wrong link to the Audioculture page (it went to Sara's own site instead). Fixed now.

I never did get Springsteen. Too far before my time, I suspect. But good on that man Mr Donnell for expressing his love.

Bobby Womack, on the other hand.. and isn't that Ladi6 a bringer of strong grooves?

I never did get Springsteen.

Me too, until a colleague (incidentally, also from New Jersey) sat me down and made me listen to Nebraska. Turns out the image I had of Springsteen was way different from the reality.

Just grabbed Ladi6 yesterday. Charlotte on Kiwi thought Diamonds might be the 'Crossover track'. My favourite is still Ikarus, which is screaming for the remix hammer.

Sara's photos are great, and when you think what the likes of Murray has in the tins, the 'exhibitions' feature is going to be something good.

Like you, if The Boss was playing Western Springs, I'd be there in a shot. I'll probably go anyway, but still, Mt Smart?

Me too, until a colleague (incidentally, also from New Jersey) sat me down and made me listen to Nebraska. Turns out the image I had of Springsteen was way different from the reality.

Or Darkness on the edge of town. People think of him as some over the top patriot by listening to the chorus of Born in the USA. I saw him in Melbourne over easter, front row. Nothing short of a religious experience, that man can put on a show

Or Darkness on the edge of town.

Yes, that one too, though I heard it later.

Born in the USA

One of the world's most commonly misinterpreted songs, surely?

More than this...

One of the world’s most commonly misinterpreted songs

Indeedily. It sure ain't the Homeland uber alles many think...

Critic Marcus Greil says about "Born in the U.S.A." : "Clearly the key to Bruce's popularity is in a misunderstanding. He is a tribute to the fact that people hear what they want to hear."

Maybe a reissue: Suborn in the USA...

or a more contemporary rerelease
could start with the end:
Nowhere to run... nowhere to go

Springsteen's My Best Was Never Good Enough skewers the weak-kneed right-wing weaseling of Forrest Gump:

Every cloud has a silver lining, every dog has his day
She said, "Now don't say nothin'
if you don't have something nice to say."
The tough, now they get going, when the going gets tough
But for you my best was never good enough

"Now don't try for a home run, baby
If you can get the job done with a hit"
Remember, "A quitter never wins and a winner never quits"
"The sun don't shine on a sleepin' dog's ass"
And all the rest of that stuff
But for you my best was never good enough

"If God gives you nothin' but lemons, then you make some lemonade"
"The early bird catches the fuckin' worm,
Rome wasn't built in a day"

"Now life's like a box of chocolates,
You never know what you're going to get"
"Stupid is as stupid does and all the rest of that shit"

Come'on pretty baby, call my bluff
'Cause for you my best was never good enough

Beached wail...
Speaking of the American songbook classics…
a friend sent me this gem (h/tip CT),
I believe it is a very good test for asthma.
I found breathing hard at points…

grab your inhalers, and get ready…

I have seen Bruce twice in concert and I am wondering about a third. The first time was in Cleveland in 1979. I had journeyed to Ohio to begin a PhD and had been there no more than three days, to win a ticket and a bus ride to the Cleveland concert in a Toledo radio station competition. This was extraordinary as I had been drawn to set off to America partly by the dark romance created by Springsteen's songs, I still have the tshirt somewhere.
Took my son to the 2007 Auckland concert and it was good but it was not quite the same as a huge concert venue filled with Americans all bellowing "Broooo..."