Bruce Springsteen's love affair with communist folk singer Pete Seeger

several sources | several authors

[ETL]

Springsteen's Homage to Pete Seeger
By Tom Moon

World Cafe, April 25, 2006 - On the new collection We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions, Bruce Springsteen honors the folk music tradition that has inspired many of his own compositions over the years. All the tracks on the new album are standards closely associated with folk icon Pete Seeger.

Springsteen assembled large ensemble of acoustic musicians to flavor the proceedings with everything from accordion to tuba. Rock critic Tom Moon talks with host David Dye about why he reacted so strongly and positively towards this latest offering by The Boss.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5360791
__________________________________________________________________________

"We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial"

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/4Jfw6fON_zH/One+Obama+Inaugural+Celebration+Lincoln+Memorial/1NNi5cTZF2d/Bruce+Springsteen
__________________________________________________________________________

From David Horowitz's FrontPageMag.com/DiscoverTheNetwork.org:
Profile: PETE SEEGER

*Musician, folksinger, songwriter, and political activist

*Joined the Communist Party in 1942

*"I'm still a Communist" -- Pete Seeger, 2004

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=1619
__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

NYT Writer Corrects Record: Pete Seeger 'Only' 40 Years Late in Denouncing Stalin
By P.J. Gladnick
2007-09-02

The New York Times has now corrected [1] a "smear" about Pete Seeger being 50 years too late in denouncing Stalin. Thanks to the intrepid research of Times reporter Daniel J. Wakin, the record has now been set straight. Pete Seeger was only about 40 years too late in criticizing Stalin.

http://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2007/09/02/ny-times-writer-corrects-record-pete-seeger-only-40-years-late-denounc
__________________________________________________________________________

"Seeger was antiwar during the period of the Nazi-Soviet Pact; pro-war after the Soviet Union was the ally of the United States; and anti-war during the years of the Cold War and Vietnam. To Nichols -a rather dense left-winger -it is good form to acknowledge that perhaps 'Stalin was a bad guy,' and then simply get over it, and move on to campaign for very American socialist causes." --Ronald Radosh (former communist)

http://www.frontpagemag.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=01133F31-CE9A-40BC-B797-47CBB0023EF4
__________________________________________________________________________

"... on April 22, 1970, [the very first] Earth Day was held, one of the most remarkable happenings in the history of democracy... "
--American Heritage Magazine, October 1993
__________________________________________________________________________

Earth Day, April 22, 1970:
"The nationwide event included opposition to the Vietnam War on the agenda, but this was thought to detract for the environmental message.
Pete Seeger was a keynote speaker and performer at the event held in Washington DC."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Day#Earth_Day_1970
__________________________________________________________________________

Vladimir Lenin
Владимир Ильич Ленин
Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars
In office: November 8, 1917 – January 21, 1924

Born April 22, 1870
Died January 21, 1924
Political party Bolshevik Party
Profession Politician, revolutionary

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Lenin
__________________________________________________________________________

Earth Day founded on Lenin's 100th birthday? --yeah, it's a "coincidence". LOL!

[Rick_Michael]

Yeah, Bruce isn’t exactly a great musicians from what I’ve heard.

[ETL]

As to Seeger .. he’s just a misguided folk singer. No harm in that. It’s not like anyone takes his politics seriously.

In case you aren't aware, people with Seeger's 'no harm in that', 'misguided politics' have just taken control of the White House.

Give me the Beatles, U2, or Paul McCartney ANY day!

Speaking of misguided politics...

The Lost John Lennon Interview
"Power to the People"

TA (interviewer): In a way you were even thinking about politics when you seemed to be knocking revolution?

JL (Lennon): Ah, sure, 'Revolution' . There were two versions of that song but the underground left only picked up on the one that said 'count me out'. The original version which ends up on the LP said 'count me in' too; I put in both because I wasn't sure. There was a third version that was just abstract, musique concrete, kind of loops and that, people screaming. I thought I was painting in sound a picture of revolution--but I made a mistake, you know. The mistake was that it was anti-revolution.

On the version released as a single I said 'when you talk about destruction you can count me out'. I didn't want to get killed. I didn't really know that much about the Maoists, but I just knew that they seemed to be so few and yet they painted themselves green and stood in front of the police waiting to get picked off. I just thought it was unsubtle, you know. I thought the original Communist revolutionaries coordinated themselves a bit better and didn't go around shouting about it. That was how I felt--I was really asking a question. As someone from the working class I was always interested in Russia and China and everything that related to the working class, even though I was playing the capitalist game.

http://beatlesnumber9.com/lostlennon.html
_________________________________________________________

John Lennon lyrics - Power To The People
Album: Shaved Fish

Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on

Say you want a revolution
We better get on right away
Well you get on your feet
And out on the street

Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on

A million workers working for nothing
You better give 'em what they really own
We got to put you down
When we come into town

Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on

I gotta ask you comrades and brothers
How do you treat you own woman back home
She got to be herself
So she can free herself

Singing power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on
Now, now, now, now

Oh well, power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on

Yeah, power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on

Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people
Power to the people, right on

http://johnlennon.lyrics.info/powertothepeople.html
_________________________________________________________

John Lennon
Imagine

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

http://www.songlyrics.com/john-lennon/imagine/153986/

[romanesq]

“Yeah, Bruce isn’t exactly a great musicians from what I’ve heard.”

Can’t really say as I remember watching the Woodstock 2 thing in 94 and being shocked that Bob Dylan could not play with his band. They were struggling to try and keep him coherent. It was really bizarre.

But Dylan is a great songwriter regardless.

Now Bruce I can’t really say. He has an old and loyal following in NJ and at one time back in his youth I heard he won a guitarist of the year award for the state. Don’t know if that’s true but I remember hearing it.

Now I don’t love his political perspective as it’s full of holes but I think he has been a voice of the blue collar guy in NJ and that has carried him far. His love of Seeger the communists I could do without as well.

But hey, 10th Avenue Freezeout was great last night and Clarence sounded super.

[hope]

I despise his politics also, but for crying out loud, the man isn’t 24 anymore. I

[Barb4Bush]

I used to be a big Springsteen fan. He could never hit the high hard ones. I liked him when his music was fun. Now it’s all depressing songs about the downtrodden that we should help. If I wanted to be depressed I’d talk to my family not pay money to go to a show or buy a CD.

[Mr. Blonde]

Wouldn’t this have been more appropriate when The Seeger Sessions came out?

I thought he did pretty good last night. Better as the set went on. I don’t care for his politics, but those weren’t on display last night. He is coming to town in April and I’m thinking about going. I wonder how political he will be in Oklahoma.

[Kenny Bunk]

Munro, you are too hard on the old genius!

I saw him do a chord change that was breathtaking in its musical complexity and required him to move his fingers at least twice. I also found out that he is fatter than Johnny Cash, since he didn't quite fit in to the costume he obviously picked up at the Cash Estate Yard Sale.

The knee-slide? Slinging the guitar around his neck? Wow! Or at least Sham-Wow!

[ETL]

Wouldn’t this have been more appropriate when The Seeger Sessions came out?

He had Pete Seeger up on stage with him at Obama's friggin inaugural!

"We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial"

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/4Jfw6fON_zH/One+Obama+Inaugural+Celebration+Lincoln+Memorial/1NNi5cTZF2d/Bruce+Springsteen
__________________________________________________________________________

From David Horowitz's FrontPageMag.com/DiscoverTheNetwork.org:
Profile: PETE SEEGER

*Musician, folksinger, songwriter, and political activist

*Joined the Communist Party in 1942

*"I'm still a Communist" -- Pete Seeger, 2004

http://www.discoverthenetworks.org/individualProfile.asp?indid=1619
__________________________________________________________________________

[Mr. Blonde]

I saw all of that the first time you posted it. Still an old dude at one concert for one song isn’t as high profile as when he released an entire album of the man’s work. Regardless of his political beliefs he is a pretty influential figure in music.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Excellent point - good way to look at it.

[RocketMan1]

As to Seeger .. he’s just a misguided folk singer. No harm in that. It’s not like anyone takes his politics seriously. In case you aren't aware, people with Seeger's 'no harm in that', 'misguided politics' have just taken control of the White House. Give me the Beatles, U2, or Paul McCartney ANY day! Speaking of misguided politics... The Lost John Lennon Interview "Power to the People" TA (interviewer): In a way you were even thinking about politics when you seemed to be knocking revolution? JL (Lennon): Ah, sure, 'Revolution' . There were two versions of that song but the underground left only picked up on the one that said 'count me out'. The original version which ends up on the LP said 'count me in' too; I put in both because I wasn't sure. There was a third version that was just abstract, musique concrete, kind of loops and that, people screaming. I thought I was painting in sound a picture of revolution--but I made a mistake, you know. The mistake was that it was anti-revolution. On the version released as a single I said 'when you talk about destruction you can count me out'. I didn't want to get killed. I didn't really know that much about the Maoists, but I just knew that they seemed to be so few and yet they painted themselves green and stood in front of the police waiting to get picked off. I just thought it was unsubtle, you know. I thought the original Communist revolutionaries coordinated themselves a bit better and didn't go around shouting about it. That was how I felt--I was really asking a question. As someone from the working class I was always interested in Russia and China and everything that related to the working class, even though I was playing the capitalist game. http://beatlesnumber9.com/lostlennon.html _________________________________________________________ John Lennon Imagine Imagine there's no heaven It's easy if you try No hell below us Above us only sky Imagine all the people Living for today... Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion too Imagine all the people Living life in peace... You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will be as one Imagine no possessions I wonder if you can No need for greed or hunger A brotherhood of man Imagine all the people Sharing all the world... You may say I'm a dreamer But I'm not the only one I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one

Lighten up Francis!

Did *I* say *I* subscribe to all of Seeger's and Lennon's ideology just because I listen to some of their OTHER songs?!

I suppose that we should just sew every Leftist's mouth shut (only in my dreams)!

We WIN by demonstrating that we are BETTER than them! NOT by taking away their freedom to spew whatever mindless drivel they choose (which merely serves to expose them as the misguided "artists" who spew mindless drivel)!

[ETL]

Lighten up Francis!

"Lighten up Francis"? That sounds like something a queer would say in an argument. BTW, what is that mess you just posted here? Don't you know how to properly post on FR?

[ETL]

RE: "If culture was so unimportant, the communists wouldn’t have made such a point of capturing it. People don’t seem to get it or care. That’s why we are where we are."

Excellent point - good way to look at it.

Unfortunately, there are an enormous number of people, even on the right, who are simply too stupid to understand things like this. I see it getting much worse in the future.

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

Kind of ironic in this sense. Communism is a failed economic philosophy partly because it posits human nature as some would wish it to be instead of how it really is.

The folks on the right who would dismiss the importance of the culture wars are guilty of the same error.

To say “it’s only a song” or “it’s only a movie” - that might be OK if human beings were “above all that”.

But given how people really are - they *are* influenced by these things.

[Admin Moderator]

Troll Retread Out!

[darkness78]

This article is almost 3 years old!!!!!!

[ETL]

This article is almost 3 years old!!!!!!

Go back and read it again verrry slowly. The piece I posted was an obvious composite of several different articles from various time periods, the most important of which was very recent: Springsteen had his communist idol, Pete Seeger, with him on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial performing for President Obama at his inaugural! Now if that doesn't outrage you, then you're on the wrong website. Try DU.

And of course he (*sswipe Springsteen) did the halftime show at this year's mega event, Super Bowl XLIII, a mere two days ago. I figured that was too obvious to even mention here. People were posting all night complaining about it. However, they were almost certainly delighted about it over at DU and KOS. But probably not nearly so as him having communist icon Pete Seeger with him on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial performing for the newly elected Marxist president. I'm sure it brought tears to the eyes of hardcore leftists everywhere.

[ETL]

Now I get it, Darkness78! You're apparently a die-hard Springsteen fan, and so couldn't care less if he invites and performs with the old communist icon, Pete Seeger, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to celebrate the election of America's first full-fledged Marxist president.

"I know, you don’t like that, it’s painfull...but THE WHOLE WORLD AND AMERICA DO LOVE SPRINGSTEEN MUSIC"
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2167291/posts?page=48#48

Other interesting views and opinions expressed here:
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:darkness78/index?tab=comments;brevity=full;options=no-change

[RocketMan1]

[i]”Lighten up Francis”? That sounds like something a queer would say in an argument. BTW, what is that mess you just posted here? Don’t you know how to properly post on FR?[/i][/b]

Well, “Lighten up Francis” is a quote from Hall of Fame running back, John Riggins. I’ll be certain and forward to him your comments calling him “a queer.”

As to a posted mess .. I believe that would be a fine description of YOUR comments!

BTW — you are obviously under-medicated. Your paranoia is showing.

[Revolting cat!]

I thought that 'Lighten up Francis' was what the dude in the middle once said to the dude on the right?!