Can somebody explain to me the Springsteen popularity?

I'm glad I could revive the interest of the ELP folks in the family here.

 

So Springsteen isn't urinating on the American flag on the Born in the USA cover?

A couple of things:

- ESTreet: the New Year's show was 1980, wasn't it?
- Born in the USA fits the definition of "sellout" as I have come to know it in the wake of releases like, say, Metallica's Black Album. Quality Act gains popularity over a period of years, has a group of hardcore fans big enough to fill arenas, then decides to fill stadiums. So act puts out an album with sound that still fits into what has come before, but is much more streamlined and anthem-like.
I enjoy Born in the USA. I enjoy the Black Album. Neither is the artist's best work. Credit to Springsteen for following that up with a non-commercial album that basically says "I'm tired of my wife" while Metallica kept writing crappy songs.
- I was a reluctant believer until I saw Springsteen live. But I did like what I knew of his music enough to blow the 80 bucks (with service charges) and not regret it no matter what.

(no one has mentioned Rush yet in this music thread. Yay)

Styx has an enjoyable greatest hits compilation.

 

Do you have the pipe I made in 9th grade shop?

 

That picture of the LB singer makes me think of how the bass player died...

 

To be honest, I never got past Bruce's fine, fine derriere to consider if he's pissing on the flag.. and, now, I'd have to say I can see that someone could see that.. but I don't think that was the intent. His derriere is so fine. That's the point.

 

Yeah, Mike Reno ain't looking too hot. But at least he's on the right side of the water, unlike Scott Smith. Good call on that.

 

Figures this thread would be started on a day I have no computer access.

Here's my take on Bruce: I respect the guy for doing his own thing in the music business for almost four decades. And he's obviously a talented musician. I just never experienced the "Wow" factor in his music.

What really turns me off is the Cult of Bruce and the hero worship surrounding him. Not so much the fans; part of the essence of being a diehard is allowing yourself to be ridiculous. The asskissers in the media, however, are another story. The guy has been given a lifetime pass simply because he is who he is. He's the Brett Favre of rock 'n' roll: someone whose status as an icon apparently destroys any objectivity. Rolling Stone gave his last CD five stars. Really? If any other musician had recorded "Working On a Nap," as Piotr so aptly put it a couple of days ago, the media wouldn't be gushing over the album it's on. Springsteen deserves his aforementioned status, I'll grant you that, but could someone with rock journalism street cred be honest and say the guy has lost his fastball, or speedball, in this case?

 

That is all.

 

can't go through the entire thread. just few points:

--21, i heart you. your talents never cease to amaze.

--i was a bruce naysayer during the whole "born to run" hype deal. was also told by friends who were in from the get-go i had to see him live. "whatever," i thought. then i saw him close one of the no-nukes shows in '79 and was instantly converted. seen him 60 times since.

--when folks like casty or ijag say they don't get it, i understand. when the response is, "you have to see him live," i don't think that means i or anyone else is ordering you to cough up 100 bucks for a ticket. simply that seeing him live is what made maniacs like me maniacs like me.

--the man's heart is in the right place, imo. of course, making it rich has changed his way of life. i don't get any sense it's affected his core values. but like any singer/songwriter, i believe his best, most creative periods came when he was starting out. when inspired by huge events, like he was in "tunnel of love" and "the rising," he still speaks to me.

i'd also agree his first five albums, through "the river,"were his best by far. but as much of a "sellout" as "born in the usa" is considered due to mtv's love affair with "dancing in the dark" and "glory days," there is greatness on the album -- most notably "born" -- "no surrender," and "my hometown."

hey, some folks don't get "the beatles." i don't get "the dead." people can't be won over in a debate on this stuff. you either get it or you don't. i'm just very happy i finally got it. bruce, his music and his shows have given me great enjoyment, pleasure reassurance over the years.

as i've noted before, i've told my sons many times, "i hope you have a single performer who means as much to you as bruce has meant to me." i really do fear that their generation's springsteen or beatles or dead or u2, etc., have reared its head yet. maybe the music biz has changed too much to make that possible.

or maybe i'm too old to be able to acknowledge that there's anyone on that level yet.

 

OK, there's no need to call people names here. I'm just disagreeing with you that the majority of people at his concerts are fist-pumpers. It's always been my experience that it's the opposite. Most of his true fans are people who really know him and love him and there's the handful of fist-pumpers who just go to drink beer and be obnoxious. And I don't think I'm the only one who thinks he's got IT. As is referenced later in this thread, he compares to Brett Favre for the pass he's gotten from the media. Why is this? As I said before, he's got IT. So does Favre. People, including hardened media types, are charmed, thus they write nice things. And personally, I wish some of these people would get off the bandwagon because if yesterday's ticket sales were any indication, you all are the ones in the minority.

 

Maybe it's different in "rock journalism," but it's the media's job NOT to be charmed and swayed by cults of personality. If you're a journalist, you're not supposed to act like a fanboi( or girl).

"Ticket sales" being an "indication" is the basis for the suckitude of popular music the last 30 years.

 

Regarding Born in the USA there is a school of thought that says that it was created based on target marketing and branding.

In other words the target audience was created first then the songs were written.

I don't believe it but certainly an interesting theory.

Did find it interesting that Bruce admitted to Bob Costas that he finally agreed to appear at Super Bowl half time show because he had an album coming out.