Those 9/11 Songs: Are you with Springsteen or Keith?

National Review ^ | August 27, 2002 | Stanley Kurtz

[sushiman]

Yea , I remember Springsteen in the early 70's playing at my alma mater UCONN and being booed off the stage ; THAT's how bad he was ! If memory serves he was opening for Brit folk-rock group Fairport Convention .

[Arkinsaw]

don't get why it has to be either/or here. I'm a big fan of both Springsteen and Toby Keith

I'm in agreement, and Charlie Daniels also wrote a heck of a song.

Spingsteen is going to get an automatic reaction here because of previous political stances. It doesn't necessarily have much to do with the music. A goodly number of Springsteen critics are not even likely to listen to the album or examine its lyrics or try to understand what he was attempting to capture. The album itself is fairly apolitical and runs the gauntlet from the desire for revenge, the awe at the heroic devotion to duty, the struggle of the aftermath for rescuers, the loss for the families, trying to recover from loss, to the horror of that morning. There is nothing like a good butt kicking. But there is also nothing wrong with capturing the wide variety of emotions evidenced on and immediately after Sept. 11. Toby Keith's song is an exciting song because it speaks to what needs to be done in concrete terms. Springsteen's album is more a stew of images of Sept. 11 and its immediate aftermath. There is nothing wrong with either.

I'm defending Springsteen's album because it should be judged on what it is, rather than Springsteen's history or negative feelings about him personally. The album hit something in me that takes me back to what I experienced on Sept. 11 and I can reexperience it very clearly, especially listening to "Empty Sky". Thats not an experience that I want to fade.

[Katya]

Good Steyn quote!
Funny, back in the 80's when I was still a wide eyed collegiate lefty....I couldn't stand Springsteen or his pseudo-blue collarisms. However, his election 2000 song, a "40 bullet" tribute against the NYC cops is particularly offensive.

[Skooz]

Actually, I prefer Jackyl's 9/11 song "Open Invitation":

I HATE YOU BIN LADEN
I HATE YOU BIN LADEN
I HATE YOU BIN LADEN
I HATE YOU BIN LADEN

I’M PISSED OFF AND NOT A PATIENT MAN
I’D DROP A BOMB ON AFGANISTAN
I’D SNATCH THAT TOWEL FROM YOUR HEAD
WRAP IT AROUND YOUR NECK

PULL IT TIGHT UNTIL YOU ARE DEAD
“M F” YOU WANT TO PLAY
YOU WANT TO GO TO HELL
I’LL SEND YOU TODAY

(CHORUS)

YOU’VE GOT AN OPEN INVITATION
TO MEET US FACE TO FACE
YOU FIGHT LIKE A COWARD
YOU’RE NOT A MAN YOU’RE A DISGRACE

YOU STEPPED ACROSS THE LINE
FROM YOUR SAND TO MY GRASS
YOU’VE GOT AN OPEN INVITATION TO KISS OUR A$$
I AIN’T SCARED TO TAKE AN EYE
FOR AN EYE
I AIN’T SCARED
IT’S THE TRUTH
IT’S AN EYE FOR AN EYE AND A TOOTH FOR A TOOTH
I’M PISSED OFF SEEING RED
CANDY A$$ I WANT YOU DEAD

Yeah, that about says it.

[Dems_R_Losers]

He sells out concerts because the lemmings have been told ad nauseum that he's great. The mathematics of talent = success does not apply to modern music. Rap star CDs outsell Springsteen's by a huge margin. Are you saying that they are more talented than Springsteen and consequently exponentially more talented than Tobey Keith? Are you a musician? I am and I can say unequivocally that Springsteen is a musical featherweight not worthy of a Moose lodge gig, let alone giant concert venues.

Talent is subjective. Popularity isn't. I would bet a lot of money that you won't see Snoop Dogg drawing 30,000 people to a show 30 years from now. I am no lemming and I like all kinds of music, including some rap. I am not a professional musician but I did play in the orchestra and band all the way through college so I know a thing or two about music. Springsteen may be an acquired taste, but people of all ages are still buying his records and going to see him play. You just can't maintain a 30-year career at the level he has without having some talent and a lot of ability to write songs that connect with people. I know that irritates some people who don't like him, but it's the truth.

[Skooz]

I tend to agree with Roger Waters. He said that the only test of music is if it moves you in some way. If it moves you, than it is quality music.

Of course, I have heard of people being deeply moved by "Seasons in the Sun".....

[F16Fighter]

"I'm with Keith. Richards. Beyond that..."

LOL

[F16Fighter]

"I have a better chance of finding "truth" if I ignore emotional appeals for "understanding" the incomprehensible thoughts and actions of madness."

Isn't that THE mantra of the Left?

[clevelandrocks]

I am going to have to disagree with you. Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with many of his political views, but did you ever seriously read and listen to his lyrics. His songwriting is very good and the words have meaning that real people can relate to

[Cornjonny]

I can see Jesse James Dupree singing a song like that. He's a good ol' Southern boy from Georgia who doesn't mince words. Speaking of Jackyl, I love it when Rush plays "The Lumberjack Song" with his environmentalist update.

Concerning the original question, definitely Toby Keith. The line "Cuz we'll put a boot in you a**, it's the American Way" is what a good number of Americans feel about 9/11.