Posted on 08/05/2004 6:05:49 AM PDT by presidio9
"I packed my bags and I'm heading straight into the storm"
Bruce Springsteen, "The Promised Land," 1978
By joining dozens of musicians on the Vote for Change tour through a half-dozen swing states this election season, Bruce Springsteen pushes up the intensity and profile of the dump-Bush whirlwind sweep.
But by making the most direct political statement of his career, he also rolls his personal dice.
It's no secret Springsteen has often tilted to the left side of the political spectrum. He played "No Nukes" in 1979, sang Bob Dylan's "Chimes of Freedom" on the Amnesty tour in 1988 and says things like "Nobody wins unless everybody wins."
But many conservatives like his music, too, which he knows, and he has largely avoided pigeonholing by focusing raw songs like "Johnny 99," "Born in the USA" and "American Skin (41 Shots)" on the human side of his subjects - though "American Skin," about the death of Amadou Diallo, was still labeled anti-cop by some police groups in 2000.
As recently as his 2002-2003 tour, when he broached political matters, he was careful to say he wasn't being "Republican or Democrat," just thinking everybody wants peace and justice.
True enough. But he also understands that even a whiff of partisanship can alienate old fans without necessarily adding new ones. If you don't like "Thunder Road," agreeing with Bruce's politics isn't going to make it sound any better.
Still, he now clearly feels he has to go out on the hill with everything he's got. When the Dixie Chicks were scalded last year for criticizing President Bush and radio stations dropped their music, Springsteen rushed to their defense fast and hard.
The Dixie Chicks are on this new tour, too. But even if they weren't, the participants know they will be ridiculed by conservatives and Republicans as clueless, elitist celebrity leftists who must hate America.
To which Springsteen will reply, in song, that he isn't and he doesn't:
Mister I ain't no boy, no I'm a man And I believe in a promised land.
"I felt like I couldn't have written the music I've written and been on stage singing about the things I've sung about for the last 25 years," Springsteen said yesterday, "and not take part in this particular election.
"This wasn't one that a concerned citizen felt comfortable sitting out."
Springsteen is a lifelong socialist. Thats his choice and it's fine with me, but he won't be getting any money from me as long as he tries to push a political agenda.
Apparently the Boss wants to retire or something....
Just like Sheen and Affleck and all the others, he seems to want to pigeonhole himself now over a hotly contested election..
Lets just hope he loses...
2004: Battle of the Adults against the Adolescents (and the Adult Adolescents.)
You washed-up old hen. You dont need the money and no one likes your new stuff, so what's to lose?
God created CD-R technology, you know.....
I hate to tell you this but Bruce Springsteen and his cronies are going nowhere with their concerts. Oh, they will attract all the nut jobs, but as for winning voters for that "traitor" John Kerry, it ain't gonna happen.
A lot of these one-time stars seem to be doing this, making me wonder if they think currying favor with the Hollywierd lefties will boost their careers. I hope it has the opposite effect.
I've alwasy thought him a pretentious narcissist for referring to himself as "The Boss".
I've always hated his "music".
It was always so, well, pretentious and overbearing.
Anyone going to these concerts who is OLD ENOUGH to vote, has already made up their minds and is most likely REGISTERED already.
This is a PR scheme meant to influence the people who AREN'T going. And it isn't going to have any impact, IMO.
Who lives like a king in Beverly Hills. That's the best kind of socialist to be - a filthy rich one! :)
He's a bore. His music stinks and always has IMO. Caterwalling. Now he's an old fart and he's trying to keep his hip image going.
Just as a point of info, Bruce didn't hang the tag on himself, and has said publicly that he doesn't like the nickname.
I don't see him out telling others not to use it, though.
Ive never cared for him either. Heavy metal and blues are more to my liking.
"Boss is gonna rock Bush's political boat"
Well, that title presupposes that Bush supporters care what Bruce Springsteen thinks.
Don't recall hearing any sob songs by Springstein about children burning in Waco, bombs dropping in Serbia, about corruption and greed during the 90's. But then again I wasn't paying much attention to the bloviator.
Born in the U.S.A. . . . not some po-dunk third-rate lousy country. THE USA!!!!!!
Outdoor Life Network Fishing With Roland Martin ''The Executive Pond.'' Roland, President Bush and his dog, Barney, fish his personal ranch pond in Crawford, Texas. (30 minutes) Sports, non-event Fishing
Pass along, should be great viewing
Dylan disapointed the left in the 60's by refusing to embrace them or lend his verse to their social engineering
Sprinsteen lacks the intellect and it will show if he is showcased
when interviewed he comes off as a career hamberer flipper who bought a winning lottery ticket
he now has several 'mansions of glory' in Rumson and Colts Neck (NJ) and on the left coast
he bought an exclusive beach club in Sea Bright, NJ with the late John Mulhern (Milken -> Bosky -> Mulhern) who was convicted (overturned on appeal to the 2nd cir) with Milken and Bosky parking stock in their junk bond issues in the fabulous 80s
Sprinsteen the 'common man' is a phony ... just a scared little boy trying to prove that he is something he's not
.
BARF! Someone should show that socialist the Michael Savage article on the Muslims attempting to put Islamic law into place in Canada. Without the ongoing efforts of Republicans and Conservatives (yes, and even those patriotic more traditional Dems)--Bruce could end up living in a society that resembles the 7th century Saudi Arabia and getting his hands cut off for playing evil music.
I only wish Americans would wake up and stop buying these socialists' music and going to their concerts....all it would take is a few lean years to get the message across that we may like their art but don't have to be subjected to their political rantings.
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