I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide
I gave up going to Bruce Springsteen concerts after "The Rising". It was just too creepy. It was an incredible simulation of what once WAS. All effort, a Twinkie without the center. I no longer recognized this guy. Where was the alienated fuck who needed to make music to survive as opposed to please his ancient fans and support his band/family? Where was the ROCK AND ROLL?
Not at the Super Bowl.
Gone for such a long time.
Then, suddenly, he REGAINS IT!
In case you’re out of the loop, the Boss now has a request segment in his shows. I became aware of this when a fan asked him to play I’M BAD, I’M NATIONWIDE!
Not a big stretch for a gentleman with a fetish for automobiles.
Too many of today’s stars exist in a vacuum. That’s one of the reasons we love Elton John, he admits to being a FAN! He did that CMT show with Ryan Adams, he’s talking about Laura Nyro with Elvis Costello… Great rockers didn’t come from nowhere. Just ask Little Steven!
But it’s not only "I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide". It’s "London Calling". And "Mony Mony".
Unfortunately, it feels like the music was tweaked in the studio. Maybe not. It’s just that the Boss’ cover of "I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide" was TERRIBLE! And the take of "London Calling" was almost equally horrific. BUT I LIKE WHERE HE’S COMING FROM!
Instead of rigidity, we’ve got fluidity. Instead of over-labored masturbatory exercises released as finished product, there’s SPONTANEITY! Almost enough for me to want to go to a show.
Maybe Bruce could do a COMPLETE covers show. With only greatest hits as the encore. It would be a celebration of music as opposed to a calcified trip back to the twentieth century. Instead of revisiting the embalmed Magic Rat we can all revel in reworkings of songs that have no unifying factor other than that we ALL loved them!
In the seventies, acts were afraid of excess product. The "King Biscuit" shows couldn’t be released on wax. Music was scarce. Now everything comes out and very few care. Bruce, if you want people to care either write another song as good as "Streets Of Philadelphia" or "Tunnel Of Love", never mind "Born To Run", or just lay some classic covers on us with your tight as a steel drum band!
Don’t bother me with this TicketsNow crap. Didn’t these people buy from a scalper TO BEGIN WITH? I’m not apologizing for Ticketmaster, there’s no excuse. But they did let the people in for free. And who would fuck up like this intentionally?
Tickets are important, but not as important as the MUSIC!
I don’t want to go to the museum, but the ballpark. Where I understand the rules, but every game is different. I love that you’re mixing it up Bruce. Can’t you go in the studio and record some of this shit? Give it away for free on your site, a track a week/a month, or sell them on iTunes or both? Have an online contest, people requesting their absolute favorites, creating a set list that you play at the Beacon which is broadcast via Butch Trucks’ Moogis?
You’re doing something new. We applaud the effort. Why not go all the way, why not prove it ALL NIGHT?
