> Thirty years from now, Cash will remain an iconic legend, and Brucie will be in the bargain bin with Bananarama.
Ummmmm... no. I was listening to Springsteen in the late 70's / early 80's and he was a legend. His best album "Born in the USA" had yet to be released.
I was listening to Johnny Cash in the late 60's / early 70's. Very much a legend.
Don't take from Springsteen what is due to him: he's a fine musician who has written some very good Blue Collar music. He has earned his nickname "The Boss" the same way Presley earned "The King" and Jerry Lee Lewis earned "The Killer" and JP Richardson earned "The Big Bopper". By doing the hard yards for many years in concert, in front of the crowds.
He's not a one-hit-wonder like Bananarama, and that you could even compare him with them tells me you might not be old enough to shave. I mean no offense by this, but clearly you need to listen to more of The Boss to have a balanced viewpoint.
(Funny how modern artists don't seem to earn labels like this: Madonna "The Material Girl" being a possible exception, tho' that label is 20 years old at least...)
I've probably seriously dated myself with this post...
*DieHard*
I let my personal preferences get in the way of my judgement.
I have been watching Springsteen since the mid 70s when he was hailed as the "new Dylan." A more insufferable bore cannot be imagined.
His trite songs and over arching, straining to show everybody how hard he's working performances may appeal to some, but he does nothing for me and he never has.
He's like Madonna--an utter mystery why anyone could listen to such inane drivel.
You like him? Fine. I cannot stomach him.
And I'm 46, by the way. Been shaving a looooooooong time. :)
Having seen Springsteen live at least 15 times (first in 1978 Darkness Tour), and having been to 100+ other concerts, I have never seen anyone that had the energy and the magic of Springsteen in a live setting. And his pre-1985 stamina and show length was and is legendary.
But, his liberal spouting off has somewhat spoiled my ability to enjoy his music-- that might seem nuts but I feel that way. I still listen to his albums occasionally because I know I won't get preached to, but I will NEVER give him my money again to attend a concert.
I was on the front row, against the stage for two shows during The Rising tour and the others around me were all hoping the same thing I was hoping, that Bruce wouldn't make some asinine anti-American comment that we'd have to Boo him for. To his credit, he didn't, and the 9-11 events gave him a brief moment of clarity, which has since been reclaimed by his liberal worldview.
Why do these people get claimed by the liberal disease?
I think it is because they are used to snapping their fingers and things happen on command. They think the world works that way. They also think it makes them sound better to have grandiose plans and ideas that they will never be required to produce. And they probably feel some level of guilt about how much money they are able to produce and see the inherent randomness that creates many stars, leaving others with equal talent to "starve" (relatively speaking).