Love when an album means so much, even when it goes both ways good and bad. That first Springsteen concert. That is something special. Mine was Born to Run at the Paramount Oakland Possible the best concert from one artist band I’d ever seen. ❤️🔥
Great post Chris. I Recognize the way you feel now about stuff that in some period in your life was not done to listen to. The older you get the more you appreciate it. And I think Tonight I will spin Born in the USA and Tunnel of love. Both great albums. Thx Wilko
Saw him in Sunderland two weeks ago, in the rain. Tremendous! See him again at Wembley in July. Like you Springsteen has always been there and then took me on to a similar list of other bands to yours..... Americana especially ! but always back to Bruce
After I turned 60 I fell in love with Springsteen. I knew of him back in the 1970's and didn't pay much attention. Now, when I run (18 miles a week)--I listen to his concerts, loving them. I love his professional strength; determination, passion, and joy. If he can; I can. Man, he's talented. He knows what it is to be an artist and survive. He can sing songs he wrote in his youth and can still find the fire. He sings new stuff and I smile. A pro's pro. Thanks for your channel!
Bill Clinton- Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow was his campaign song. I like Born in the USA better these days than the ‘80s. When it came out I thought it was too commercial, too poppy. I wanted another Darkness on the Edge of Town. But it really does have one good song after another. And Cover Me back then, as well as, today is my fav song off the album.
Many similar thoughts. I’m 49. I remember going to a Vote For Change tour stop here in Florida. The nature of the shows and it being multiple acts leveled my expectations. I’ll always remember that it was B and ESBs turn coming up. Usual wait as they reset the stage… The lights all dropped and just a few seconds later Bruce was lit, center stage, with his back turned to the audience - Fender raise above his head. That count in came, HONNN TEWWW, and the full band dropped in like a hammer for the title track.
Hey Chris. I travelled all the way down from Liverpool to London to see the uk leg of that tour. Great album. I'm 57 and yes, I too revisit the music of my youth. And it's true that as you get older, you lose any inhibitions about the more 'cheesy' stuff. It's liberating. By the way, have there ever been back to back albums released that were so commercially different as nebraska and Born in the USA?
Hello. I have watched a number of your videos and have mostly enjoyed them a great deal. I like your take on music. You seem to be able to keep a hold of the impressionable guy. Which is wonderful. And here you are talking about not only this iconic LP but you ever so slightly touch upon an aspect of listening to records (music) in tandem with growing older and how this affects the way you listen to and enjoy music. You used the term snob and I agree, though, if I may so bold sir, I would also add fundamentalist (without the "fun"). I have had the same experience in particular when listening to, appreciating and liking the solo LPs of Paul McCartney (once I got rid of all the ones I had except Band on the Run) - and - Born in the USA, an album I did not like, but really I think I told myself not to like it, despite feeling that Dancing in the Dark almost made me cry every time I heard it. Now, things have changed. I thought (told myself) that I could live with only Born to Run, Darkness ... and Nebraska, but earlier this year (and watching Bruce talking about the orange-haired bimbo trying to hijack American democrazy) something changed. I purchased Brucie's first two LPs, and my god how great they are, the second one in particular. I bought The River as well and I even liked the tracks I remember telling myself were beneath Springsteen's standards, so my defenses for Born in the USA came down. I found a very good copy the other day - and, even though I think I detected a number of Springsteen cliches here and there, it is growing. You know, being a Norwegian I was disgusted with the cover when the LP came out. Oh, by jingo, did I think he got what he deserved when Ronnie used the title track in his 1984 presidential campaign. But the flag as well as 'The Boss' tag got on my nerves. But these days - all these things vanish (I didn't even want to listen to Tug of Wae in the day) and I am mostly innarestetd in enjoying myself. (That said, i strongly dislike Neil Young's latest LPs, since the late nineties, in fact, but his most recent ones are atrocious.) This was a long (cut?) comment of support. I am looking forward to what will come from you in the near future. Keep upthe good work.
I have a similar relationship with the record. Much like you came around to Cover Me, I came around to Dancing In The Dark a few years back while on a trip to Joshua Tree. Worked on the Kerry campaign too…crazy.
My journey has been similar to yours, except my first gigs were on The River tour after 'Darkness' transformed my appreciation of music. After forty years I'm kinda sad that he's touring a greatest hits set that draws heavily on BITUSA, at a stage in his life when he can't sing that hard for the full three hours. I wish he'd revisit 'Tunnel of Love', 'Tom Joad', and 'Devils and Dust' and include their more restrained songs in the set. We'll miss him when he's gone, I guess.
At 54, I'm a bit older and I definitely remember all of the airplay that Born in the USA got at the dawn of the video era (and a young Courntney Cox in the Dancing in the Dark video), along with The Police's Synchronicity, MJ, Madonna, Prince, Cindi Lauper, etc. I went to high school from 82-87 and in 1983 at 13, I was embarking on more of a metal path. I defiantly didn't want to hear much of anything with keyboards (which was a major challenge in the 80s...). I too am guilty of playing I'm on Fire around the campfire at family reunions because my baritone can handle it, it's easy enough to play and everyone knows it. I still have the copy of Born in the USA that an aunt bought me for Christmas back then and I will have to revisit it (especially for the deep cuts that I didn't hear all of the time). Over the years, my musical horizons have vastly expanded since then and Like you I have a wall of records that reflects my varying tastes. Just last night I was spinning King Hannah's Big Swimmer and it might be a contender for my favorite of the year (so far); her lyrics, the fantastic clean / dirty guitar sound and the songs themselves...fantastic. For me this record falls into a category of folk (with edge in this case). Other bands I've gravitated to that are similar (but not) would be Bonny Light Horseman (Anaïs Mitchell's solo record), Big Thief, Luluc, Lightning Bug, Great Lake Swimmers, Hayden...anyway, that should give you an idea. Lastly, I love the Josh Rouse - 1972 shirt. Your video from 4 months ago inspired me to check it out and I bought it shortly thereafter and it became my most frequently spun record for a while there; I just love that record now. I also gifted it to two of my oldest friends on their birthdays, so thanks for inspiring all of that. Cheers!
Its wild how our tastes change over the years. I definitely go back to stuff i poo pooed for years. Im actually discovering some electronic music lately! Something a younger me would NEVER even thought about listening too!
Love when an album means so much, even when it goes both ways good and bad. That first Springsteen concert. That is something special. Mine was Born to Run at the Paramount Oakland Possible the best concert from one artist band I’d ever seen. ❤️🔥
Great post Chris. I Recognize the way you feel now about stuff that in some period in your life was not done to listen to. The older you get the more you appreciate it. And I think Tonight I will spin Born in the USA and Tunnel of love. Both great albums. Thx Wilko
Saw him in Sunderland two weeks ago, in the rain. Tremendous! See him again at Wembley in July. Like you Springsteen has always been there and then took me on to a similar list of other bands to yours..... Americana especially ! but always back to Bruce
After I turned 60 I fell in love with Springsteen. I knew of him back in the 1970's and didn't pay much attention. Now, when I run (18 miles a week)--I listen to his concerts, loving them. I love his professional strength; determination, passion, and joy. If he can; I can. Man, he's talented. He knows what it is to be an artist and survive. He can sing songs he wrote in his youth and can still find the fire. He sings new stuff and I smile. A pro's pro.
Thanks for your channel!
Don't forget Stevie Wonder's run. Thanks for reminding us about this iconic release being 40 years old!!
Bill Clinton- Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow was his campaign song.
I like Born in the USA better these days than the ‘80s. When it came out I thought it was too commercial, too poppy. I wanted another Darkness on the Edge of Town. But it really does have one good song after another. And Cover Me back then, as well as, today is my fav song off the album.
Many similar thoughts. I’m 49. I remember going to a Vote For Change tour stop here in Florida. The nature of the shows and it being multiple acts leveled my expectations. I’ll always remember that it was B and ESBs turn coming up. Usual wait as they reset the stage… The lights all dropped and just a few seconds later Bruce was lit, center stage, with his back turned to the audience - Fender raise above his head. That count in came, HONNN TEWWW, and the full band dropped in like a hammer for the title track.
Hey Chris. I travelled all the way down from Liverpool to London to see the uk leg of that tour. Great album. I'm 57 and yes, I too revisit the music of my youth. And it's true that as you get older, you lose any inhibitions about the more 'cheesy' stuff. It's liberating.
By the way, have there ever been back to back albums released that were so commercially different as nebraska and Born in the USA?
Hello. I have watched a number of your videos and have mostly enjoyed them a great deal. I like your take on music. You seem to be able to keep a hold of the impressionable guy. Which is wonderful. And here you are talking about not only this iconic LP but you ever so slightly touch upon an aspect of listening to records (music) in tandem with growing older and how this affects the way you listen to and enjoy music. You used the term snob and I agree, though, if I may so bold sir, I would also add fundamentalist (without the "fun"). I have had the same experience in particular when listening to, appreciating and liking the solo LPs of Paul McCartney (once I got rid of all the ones I had except Band on the Run) - and - Born in the USA, an album I did not like, but really I think I told myself not to like it, despite feeling that Dancing in the Dark almost made me cry every time I heard it. Now, things have changed. I thought (told myself) that I could live with only Born to Run, Darkness ... and Nebraska, but earlier this year (and watching Bruce talking about the orange-haired bimbo trying to hijack American democrazy) something changed. I purchased Brucie's first two LPs, and my god how great they are, the second one in particular. I bought The River as well and I even liked the tracks I remember telling myself were beneath Springsteen's standards, so my defenses for Born in the USA came down. I found a very good copy the other day - and, even though I think I detected a number of Springsteen cliches here and there, it is growing. You know, being a Norwegian I was disgusted with the cover when the LP came out. Oh, by jingo, did I think he got what he deserved when Ronnie used the title track in his 1984 presidential campaign.
But the flag as well as 'The Boss' tag got on my nerves. But these days - all these things vanish (I didn't even want to listen to Tug of Wae in the day) and I am mostly innarestetd in enjoying myself. (That said, i strongly dislike Neil Young's latest LPs, since the late nineties, in fact, but his most recent ones are atrocious.)
This was a long (cut?) comment of support. I am looking forward to what will come from you in the near future.
Keep upthe good work.
I have a similar relationship with the record. Much like you came around to Cover Me, I came around to Dancing In The Dark a few years back while on a trip to Joshua Tree. Worked on the Kerry campaign too…crazy.
My journey has been similar to yours, except my first gigs were on The River tour after 'Darkness' transformed my appreciation of music. After forty years I'm kinda sad that he's touring a greatest hits set that draws heavily on BITUSA, at a stage in his life when he can't sing that hard for the full three hours. I wish he'd revisit 'Tunnel of Love', 'Tom Joad', and 'Devils and Dust' and include their more restrained songs in the set.
We'll miss him when he's gone, I guess.
At 54, I'm a bit older and I definitely remember all of the airplay that Born in the USA got at the dawn of the video era (and a young Courntney Cox in the Dancing in the Dark video), along with The Police's Synchronicity, MJ, Madonna, Prince, Cindi Lauper, etc. I went to high school from 82-87 and in 1983 at 13, I was embarking on more of a metal path. I defiantly didn't want to hear much of anything with keyboards (which was a major challenge in the 80s...). I too am guilty of playing I'm on Fire around the campfire at family reunions because my baritone can handle it, it's easy enough to play and everyone knows it. I still have the copy of Born in the USA that an aunt bought me for Christmas back then and I will have to revisit it (especially for the deep cuts that I didn't hear all of the time).
Over the years, my musical horizons have vastly expanded since then and Like you I have a wall of records that reflects my varying tastes. Just last night I was spinning King Hannah's Big Swimmer and it might be a contender for my favorite of the year (so far); her lyrics, the fantastic clean / dirty guitar sound and the songs themselves...fantastic. For me this record falls into a category of folk (with edge in this case). Other bands I've gravitated to that are similar (but not) would be Bonny Light Horseman (Anaïs Mitchell's solo record), Big Thief, Luluc, Lightning Bug, Great Lake Swimmers, Hayden...anyway, that should give you an idea.
Lastly, I love the Josh Rouse - 1972 shirt. Your video from 4 months ago inspired me to check it out and I bought it shortly thereafter and it became my most frequently spun record for a while there; I just love that record now. I also gifted it to two of my oldest friends on their birthdays, so thanks for inspiring all of that. Cheers!
I saw the born in the USA tour in Australia in 1985 , and up close . During who’ll stop the rain ….the rain stopped .
Its wild how our tastes change over the years. I definitely go back to stuff i poo pooed for years. Im actually discovering some electronic music lately! Something a younger me would NEVER even thought about listening too!
That $17.50 ticket is a stark reminder of what a greedy sellout Springsteen has become on his latest tour.
yacht rawk 4ever
Possibly the worst album and singer (?) OF ALL TIME. Just can't stand to hear him Strain this voice through every song.