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Must be a great job. Sing a dead communist's songs, blather incoherently about things you know nothing about, and get paid a million bucks at the end of the night. |
Posted on 05/28/2006 7:04:44 AM PDT by Sir_Humphrey
By Scott Malone
MANSFIELD, Massachusetts (Reuters) - Branching off from his rock'n' roll roots, Bruce Springsteen kicked off his summer U.S. tour on Saturday with songs made famous by folk musician and activist Pete Seeger and strong political overtones.
Backed by a raucous 18-piece band, Springsteen played folk tunes including "We Shall Overcome," an anthem of the U.S. civil rights movement and "Bring Them Home," an anti-war song dating to the Vietnam War era.
During a break between songs, he offered harsh words for the administration of President George W. Bush and its handling of last year's devastating Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, which killed more than 1,500 people in Louisiana alone.
"I've never seen anything like it in any American city," Springsteen said of the flooding and destruction. Referring to Bush, whom he called "President Bystander" in a performance in New Orleans last month, Springsteen added, "He managed to gut the only agency, through political cronyism, that could help people at a time like this."
Many of the fans at an arena in Mansfield, about 30 miles
south of Boston, said they were happy to hear his thoughts on politics, although they were not sure if he had changed many minds.
"If it gets people informed about the issues, I think that's good," said Julie Tambascio, 39, of Boston.
Several said they were more interested in hearing the lineup of folk songs, as well as Springsteen tunes including "Cadillac Ranch" and "Ramrod" that were jazzed up with fiddle and tuba solos -- a break from the rock sound the singer called "The Boss" is best known for.
(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...
looks like The Boss is trying to inject some popularity in what ws a soon fading career. cheap shot.
Hey, maybe the Dixie Chicks can open for him.
I have as much interest in Springsteen's political opinions as I do in hearing George Bush sing "Born to Run."
Great...and Timmy russert can MC the show!
I use to like his songs .. now I just turn off the radio
He's a totally turn off anymore
As horrible as he is on politics,
it's a tad better than his singing.
very clever.
That's a heck a big IF. Dis-informed would be more nearly correct.
Ah well, the "America can do no right" (except maybe when a Democrat is in office), crowd has The Boss and the Dixie Chicks (who?) , we've got the Motor City Madman, Lee Greenwood, Charlie Daniels and a host of others.
After "The River", he jumped the shark.
Well, at least he's giving a tuba player some work.
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Must be a great job. Sing a dead communist's songs, blather incoherently about things you know nothing about, and get paid a million bucks at the end of the night. |
Yup.
I can name half a dozen more deserving singer/songwriters off the top of my head, none of whom live in mansions and pretend to be minstrels of the proletariat.
The Boss has become The Bore
I've never been able to appreciate Springsteen's "trying to sing while pinching a loaf" technique.
First Springsteen tour in 22 years that I will not be seeing. He has finally jumped the shark. Even a couple of Jersey shows are not sold out and his show in DC on Monday is not sold out.
A never has been, IMO.
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