I've got a decent-sized CD collection, about 400, but not a single second of it anything by Bruce Springsteen. His Super Bowl halftime performance has done nothing to inspire me to go out and buy any of his music either.
I'll start by giving you that Springsteen is a hall of fame songwriter, possibly the greatest lyricist of all time, and a singer with one of the most recognizable classic voices ever. I concede these points even though I'm not a fan of his music. It's just not my cup of tea.
So what's not to like? Well, I find him to be as phony as a $3 bill. Let's start with his guitar. Why does he hold one, pretending that he's playing? It either isn't plugged into anything or the volume on it is turned down so as not to be heard. WTF? It's not just the Super Bowl, either. I don't follow him, and I haven't seen all of his concert footage, but I've never seen him play a guitar that was hooked up to anything. Either he's a guitar player or he's not. Which is it? I don't mind if he's just a singer, but he's got an image to uphold. A totally fraudulent, fake image, but still...
Next. During the Super Bowl, judging by "face-time", the boss's wife, Patti Scialfa, must be an integral part of the band. Reality: she's a back-up singer, nothing more. Her guitar didn't emit any sounds during the Super Bowl either. If I'm Little Steven, I'd be pissed.
Finally, let's talk about his overall image. I've heard over and over about how ol' Bruce is one of the "common man", that he represents "Joe Six-Pack". If you actually believe this, I've got some prime Florida real estate and the deed to the Brooklyn Bridge I'd like to sell to you. He is a pampered, spoiled, temperamental, prissy prima donna. If you believe otherwise, you're believing in an image crafted by his record company to sell records. I don't fault him for this. I just resent being lied to so blatantly. For years he's turned down doing the Super Bowl halftime show because, he's "the Boss". He's too big to do the halftime show. This year though, he has an album out that ain't doing so well, because the music industry is in utter turmoil and nobody is selling, and it's "hey, about that Super Bowl gig..."
Hey, you want him? You can have him. I'll just continue to ignore him.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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11 comments:
I'm with you. I think he's a good songwriter and plays up to his image (or, more truthfully, the one crafted for him), but he just doesn't do it for me.
*gasp* you traitor! You went to high school in the 70s and 80s in NYS, a stone's throw from the Stone Pony, and you don't like "The Boss"?
No worries, I never got it much either...I used to laugh at the girls in college whose uniform consisted of skinny black jeans, sneakers, a Bruce Springsteen concert t-shirt (the ones with the 3/4 length black sleeves, for a visual image) and the short punky hair and black eyeliner to boot. My best friend in high school actually gave me the album (we are talking RECORD album) of "The River" for my 15th b-day...hated it. Boycotted all that was Springsteen for years and would turn the radio dial if he was played.
Now that I am older, I appreciate some "The Boss" songs, probably because by default they DO remind me of some of the better aspects of my youth. I can also appreciate the lyrics, (his are better than such current drivel such as "she wore apple bottom jeans and boots wit' da fur, da whole floor was lookin' at her"...errr, don't ask), but that's as far as it goes. Springsteen? Meh.
You're clearly insane.
I've seen The Boss live several times. He really does play the guitar. And he also puts on one of the best rock shows anyone could hope to see. And he's still doing it at almost 60. RESPECT!
MJenks and dhc: Those are my sentiments as well. That and the fact that it really bothers me that he pretends to play guitar.
BE: If you like his music, you can have him. I've never seen footage of him actually playing guitar. I've seen him a ton of times jumping around onstage strumming a guitar that is emitting no sound, but actually playing? Nah. WTF? I've never seen Jimmy Page, Jack White, [insert great rock musician here]... acting like they're playing their instrument during a drum solo (not that I've seen Bruce do that), but that's what it would be like to me. It's retarded!
Bruce is phenomenal, but I suppose you are entitled to your opinion.
I really hated that he came out with a guitar, then just tossed it to a roadie. Why force that dude to catch a guitar you never planned on playing for that song anyway? That's douchey.
Still, I wouldn't give him any of the accolades you do - he's a crappier American version of Billy Bragg, who's a better lyricist, songwriter, and far more intelligent overall than Bruce's childish "car engine as penis" metaphors. Bruce is the most eloquent 13-year-old boy ever, but that's not saying much.
red: And you're entitled to your wrong one.
p@d: I agree, but I'm not willing to argue the My-Taste-In-Music-Is-Better-Than-Your-Taste-In-Music, even if I actually think it. Which I do.
I never owned a cd either.......not that impressed...just never did it for me...he looks terrible!
I never liked the Boss either. I agree with Beckeye that he puts on an amazing live show. But he's a pompous ass.
The boss is very open to experimentation in bed and is extremely good at licking my balls. Patti, on the other hand, is horrible.
Well, your just wrong, but that's okay, you are not trained to hear the subtleties. Yes, Bruce's guitar is plugged in, and yes, it is audible. So is Patty's. Trust me, the sound is simply very well blended. What with all the keys and the Big Man's sax, it's an overall sound they go for, it's not about standig out sonically. If you watch the Madison Square concert that's being played on VH1 Classic, you'll get a beeter handle on the Boss's guitar playing. He ain't bad, really. He also plays lead guitar on Warren Zevon's 'House On Fire'. Really.
I'm not defending the Boss, don't care all that much about him, I'm simply defending the truth.
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