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Hold Tight To Your Anger
Bruce Springsteen has unveiled his new album, "Wrecking Ball," a sorrowful and furious roar, born of the financial crisis, about "an enormous fault-line...a basic theft (that) struck to the heart of the American idea,” with no one held accountable. His 17th studio and reportedly his most overtly political, he says it's about "the distance between American reality and the American Dream” - a distance greater than he's ever seen. It also includes, on 'Land of Hope and Dreams,' the last sax solo from the late Clarence Clemons. Out March 5.
"The banker man grows fat / The working man grows thin / It's all happened before and it will happen again." - from 'Jack of All Trades'
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103 Comments so far
Show AllI wonder if this is the same Springsteen that recently claimed to still be supporting Obama...only from the sidelines this time?
Maybe his next album will be titled Indefinitely Detained in the USA.
Oh come on, swan. People have been complaining because the Hollywood/music industry elite needed to step up with some material to help the Occupy. We need music and Bruce is providing it. Be more gracious. Really, I'm so sure you knew all about Obummer's track record before he got elected...oh, you were bamboozled too. Join the club. You can vote for whoever you want, you just don't have the right to tell others how to vote.
Thanks Bruce. We really need you. Maybe you can join up with David Rovics and have an Occupy this concert downtown Chicago. I wish there was a way to create one song, sound, concert blasted throughout McCormick Plaza. Thousands of radios tuned to a station that plays the album, whatever.
If they did a one song concert in all the Occupy sites, I nominate Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land." We need to take back our country from the war mongering star spangled banner.
http://woodyguthrie.org/Lyrics/This_Land.htm
"This Land is Your Land."
but it ain't!
although my two native american roomates may not like 'this land' - woody is an american hero, a person i greatly respect despite his limitations (in time). yes, the star spangled banner is a war mongering tune. perhaps in a twisted way, it's appropriate it's been our national anthem for 81 years. but, considering our inbred connection to britian (we seem to fight the same wars) - we probably could have retained 'my country tis of thee' .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Country,_%27Tis_of_Thee
..................................
this is a younger springsteen performing 'this land' from '85 tour of born in the USA.
Bruce Springsteen: THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yuc4BI5NWU
...peace...
Come on! Only the tune is taken from "God save the Queen." And if you cut out any popular American tune of the 18th & nineteenth century that didn't come from the UK you'd have precious little music of that vintage left--including almost all the hymns of that vintage still sung in American churches.
and this particular tune was originally a Russian hymn.
Spare me. This is the same kind of hypocritical slacktivism that so many seem to worship Jon Stewart for.
How the hell can you whine about the state of affairs while simultaneously supporting the guy who's helping to create it?
Shit or get off the pot, Bruce.
Huh. The lyrics seem pretty vapid. I don't know if this does anything for anyone? We obviously are getting raped and pillaged, we don't "take care of" anyone or anything except corporations. zzz
http://bruce.orel.ws/charities.html
Learn , don't spurn.
Where're the eyes, the eyes with the will to see
Where're the hearts, that run over with mercy
Where's the love that has not forsaken me
Where's the work that'll set my hands, my soul free
Where's the spirit that'll reign rain over me
Where's the promise from sea to shining sea
" We Take Care of Our Own" is misguided. The lyric is mistaken and the idea that "we" are in anyway helping is wrong.
Come on, people, the title and chorus are IRONIC. Bitterly so, I might add. I actually think the lyrics are pretty good. The problem, for me, is that the typically Brucelike, anthemic major chords the song is built around sound too celebratory for the harsh reality of the words, which would work better with more dissonance worked into a more plaintive structure in a minor key.
But I'm still glad Bruce has done this.
You want that funeral march durge...I can hear that in minor, not bad, but not real Springsteen-y. I can definitely hear Ninja or Gaga doing something like that, and that would be cool...some guns and fire, bombs and suits burning, sounds like a party to me.
Like the Kia squirrel commercial with the Android silver suited soldiers firing automatic weapons.
Truly one of the stupidest ads I have ever seen.
" anthemic major chords the song is built around sound too celebratory for the harsh reality of the words, which would work better with more dissonance "
Springsteen celebrates--not reality, but Faith, the yearnings of the Spirit for a Promised Land that seems to be forever slipping away, forever unattainable.
The ever-widening gap between the optimism of the spirit and the harshness of reality creates a powerful dissonance and bitter irony, a kind of deep spiritual agitation and soul-disturbance that is very far from a minor-keyed fatalism.
Interesting interpretation, and probably the right way to hear the song.
Progressive,
An eloquent interpretation....Beautiful......Exactly how I feel about this work. You provided the words to express my feelings...
Thomas Gilbert-
Pity Janis Joplin didn't live long enough to sing it. Pity she didn't live long enough . . ..
Leonard Cohen lives (new album out now). Perhaps he could treat this subject in a more mournful, tragic tone? How about a Leonard/Janis collaboration? Ahhh...would that it could be! Meanwhile, let's give Bruce his due. He does, I think, do his best creative work addressing the tyranny of the oligarchs. So does Cohen. Time to sing...all of us. Sing it LOUD!!!
I always thought Winwood and Capaldi nailed it on 'The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys':
The percentage you're paying is too high priced
while you're living beyond all your means
and the man in the suit has just bought a new car
from the profit he's made on your dreams ...
And that was 40 years ago.
Nice flask back. Those of us who grew up in the 50's and 60's recall many songs, by some great artists, who gave us the gumption to battle the Vietnam war and try to keep the landslide from happening. Unfortunately, there is no song, no lyric, that will alter the conscience and consciousness of the greedy, pig headed, black hearted, thieving hell we call corps(e) run government in the US.
You can rest assured that any effort even close to what the Dixie Chix flew would now land them in an NDAA camp, privatized of course by the MIC Snakes.
While it is somewhat good that the working class minstrel of America is sort-of addressing the injustices of our time, it would be more effective if Springsteen's sentiment was picked up by rappers or country music types. Thankfully, punk rock is well covered with the likes of Anti Flag, Rise Against, Rancid, etc.
Nate,
I like Springsteen but you definitely have a point there. The problem is, the rappers and hip hop artists have become the symbols of excessive consumerism. Country music, on the other hand, tends to avoid making any statements that could be construed as being counter status quo. (Remember the Dixie Chicks) Country music radio is a very unforgiving landscape.
We need voices such as Springsteen. He is powerful enough to record and release his music on his own terms.
Thomas Gilbert-
Thank you for your more appropriate comeback.
Springsteen's time in the sun has come and gone. The musical genres that rule now are for the most part, rap and country, especially as both are the soundtrack to lives of those of the American underclass (Rap in urban settings & country in red state America), particularly those of a younger demographic profile. What is also sadly true is that the artists of these respective genres tend to be of poorer backgrounds and tend to have aspirational themes (which includes the false nirvana of bling & babes, among other things). As for country music ostracizing those whom go off script, what the Dixie Chicks endured is par for the course. Consider also Steve Earle (for writing 'Johnny Walker Lindh Blues) or Hank Williams III (for having a speed metal band, Assjack, as part of his act). I appreciate what Springsteen has put out, but it must be pointed out that his audience is smaller and older than it was during his prime.
I think Bruce Springsteen is getting into problems due to some having an irony and sarcasm deficiency. But as to Jackson Browne, I don't know. Likely all these big stars should pay their roadies more if that's the way it goes. If it's the production company, then these artists should have the production company ante up the money.
Likely the "vigilent sharing" business model of that north of the UK border Scots businessman David Erdal of all employee owned companies is a a good one and maybe even the best. Though I can see that some artists really wanting to express themselves more freely might find such a model stifling with the do it all by committee management. It does work in one business after another, but perhaps in some fields it would be problematic. Still some level of old fashioned IKung style "vigilant sharing" which Erdal and Andrew Whiten wrote about seems very fitting.
There are rappers that discuss class warfare, sexism, consumerism and other important topics but, because they are essentially underground, no one hears about them. Rappers like Immortal Technique, Paris, Lowkey, Brother Ali and other great talents have been discussing this shit for eons. Don't blame the artists for singing what keeps food on the table. Do some research and put your support behind artists that are speaking truth to power and doing it for the love of the people.
Nate,
Springsteen is not at the top of the popular music game but he still influences a
large and diverse demographic. What he has to say (musically/politically) matters to many of his admirers. People still go out to see the boss.
I really enjoyed reading your above post. (I just love Steve Earl)
Now if Toby Keith would move to the left...lol (just kidding)
Thomas Gilbert-
What you DON't all get is that Springsteen speaks to a range of ages who can't even begin to understand lyrics (?) in some of that other stuff. And coiuntry...are YOU KIDDING ME????? If you want rappers and punk to provide you with your message, you best be making it more legible.
Springsteen can speak all he wants, but if the audience that bothers to listen is contemporaneous to his generation, and not nearly as large as during his commercial prime. It is also obvious you have not heard the specific bands I named, as their tunes are produced quite well and the lyrics are quite clear.
The millionaire makes another video. Oh he's angry. Mighty angry.
Look Bruce.... here's the thing. The population of the planet increases at three additional people per second. The planet is finite, with finite resources.
So make a song about that and you're onto something. Meanwhile, waving flags and pointing fingers leads only to one place. More wars for diminished resources.
"The millionaire makes another video."
Would it make any difference if he were poor?
Ask David Rovics
http://bruce.orel.ws/charities.html BTW included is IVAW
Hey Stone,
I hear you on David Rovics ..Thanks for the link..
Thomas Gilbert-
http://bruce.orel.ws/charities.html
"It's all happened before and it will happen again."
So why bother at all, if it will happen again?
Never liked the Boss, and still don't like him.
When classic rock from the 60's and 70's wound down we got second stringers like Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, etc. and soon to follow the likes of REO Speedwagon and finally Country.
Rock was dismissed by corporatized sheeple.
Sounds like a corporate anthem, sung by congress.
http://bruce.orel.ws/charities.html
So I wonder “why don’t we take care of our own”? So Lets take care of our own.
The super wealthy like Bruce do take care of their own, and make a big deal when one of their own gets swallowed by the machine and the public eats it up.
The truth is not a flag waver... like many pop hits the idea is to put yourself in the dream world... an American Dream and pretend that “the War is Over” or "Over if you want it" but the truth is “want" does not do it for anyone you got to want to fight for it all your life and the truth is not a flag waver cause you got to fight even for the truth.
In the tradition of Woody who included a verse "One sunny morning in the shadow of the steeple by the relief office I saw my people, as they stood there waiting I stopped and wondered, If this land was make for you and me.
Bruce, do a remix:
The dream, Lets take care of our own!
Why don’t we take care of our own... wherever this flag is flown.
love folk
http://bruce.orel.ws/charities.html
Jim,
"The mad director knows that freedom will not make you free and what's this got to do with me?"
I know you recognize the lyric. Certainly just declaring the "War is Over" did not end the dying, but it did allow us to envision a world where the madness is not so controlling. And it is true that when enough soldiers were declaring "War is Over" by actively disobeying orders, refusing to deploy and in some instances fragging their officers, the war was gradually brought to an end. The anthems of "War is Over" were a morale booster for the protesters and some GIs as well.
I notice in the new Bruce Springsteen video, he does reference "the Flag" repeatedly. I also notice, he doesn't show us the American flag, even once, He shows us instead his human hand. Interpret that as you will, art is often best left to be interpreted by the viewers, listeners and participants.
I remember the back cover of an lp by the singer/songwriter that I quoted above, whom I'm pretty sure you are familiar with, more so than I. He was asked, to the best of my recollection, "Do you really believe the stuff you sing about?" And after a short rumination about singing in the cold from atop a bus for a bunch of protesters replied, "Hell no, but the money's good."
Ironic, isn't it?
Yep “Irony” is the code to make it pass the Hollywood smell test.
Almost everybody wants the war to be over, at least in public.
Our songs had a role in ending that War, but I am against the next war too, and this one ain’t over yet...
If I were Bruce and came here and saw all this trash talk for what he has obviously put a lot of time and effort into...most of you have no frigging idea how much work is involved.... I'd tell you to go f off and keep your mindless crap to yourself.
The bruce bashing here is just unfreakin believable.
You all are like the dumb ass hangin off a cliff cryin for God to help, but you refuse the hand, the helicopter, and the rope. You are all waiting for some poor back alley schmuck to pull you out...and just how would you expect that.
Most of you have made me sickened by your ignorant and disgusting bull. If you won a couple billion tomorrow, would you then become a corporate pig? I didn't think so. You people are as guilty of prejudice and intolerance as the 700 clubbers of the world. Get a life and wake up.
You all probably don't watch Michael either CAUSE HE'S RICH. What a pathetic bunch of losers some of you CD er's are. You don't have an ounce of gratitude when someone on the high track gives you some trail songs.
I suppose all of you ARE familiar with DAVID ROVICS and DO support his efforts. He ain't even slightly a millionaire. So if you don't, then you are just a bunch of bozo clowns blabbing as if you know something...ignorant twits.
Songwriting and music are a lot of things but to call those you don’t agree with names like “clowns" and “ignorant" tells me more about you than you know about anyone here.
You just don't get it do you? And thanks for remaking my point.
Wha???
Calling CDers names is your point so far.
Bruce does good things and nobody says he doesn't but we should not to be called stupid names for not acting the perfect fan.
Please shut the fuck up, you ignorant twit. Don't know about the rest of y'all, but you pretty much embody it. Love ya, though. (Well, hell... I SAID "PLEASE"...)