Here’s another pretty good ice bucket… Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam. Eddie’s speech is pretty funny if you can understand what he’s saying, lol. He seems like a cool dude, though!
Eddie challenges Bruce Springsteen, the Boss. I hope Springsteen does it. Will Bruce do it? We’ll have to wait and see on that one too.
Kev
There are some people who would only like Springsteen’s earlier music, but they don’t care for his newer music ’cause he’s gone too political. Not with me. I never stopped liking The Boss of rock n’ roll. I still appreciate Springsteen to this day. His latest album “Wrecking Ball” is really good stuff and probably the best new album he did so far. I’m a fan of all of Springsteen’s music, but I just wanted to name 5 of my favorite songs. 5 of his songs that I think were amazingly written.
So in celebration of Springsteen’s 63rd birthday today, here is my top 5 favorite Springsteen songs in no particular order:
“Pink Cadillac”
Whenever I get myself a band, I’m planning on covering this one. This is one of Bruce’s unreleased songs during the “Born in the USA” recording sessions, this song didn’t make that album. It’s a pretty tight song and just fun. I’ve always loved this one.
“Jack of All Trades”
The best song off of “Wrecking Ball” his new disc. Incredible song, blows my mind every time I hear it.
“Reno”
I covered this one a few times at my gigs from the past. It’s a nice acoustic song, and the lyrics just grabs me. I just had to cover this one for myself. Maybe I’ll re-learn this song and record myself on video singing it. Haven’t played this one in a long time.
“Adam Raised a Cain”
While “Darkness on the Edge of Town” is an excellent record, this is the best song. I could probably cover this one too. Sick song.
“Outlaw Pete”
This song gets me every time. It’s just fuckin’ perfect. Everything about this song is beautifully written. I’m dyin’ to cover this song but it might be hard for me to sing, I’ll give it a try though. This song has Bruce’s best singing too, a lot of passion here.
There are too many great Springsteen songs, but those 5, I’ll never get bored of listening to ever.
Kev
Edit to add: Oh yeah, I was gonna add, “The Wrestler“, the song for the soundtrack of that movie, but forgot, that’s a beautifully written song too. Another one I’d like to cover.
Did you think Bruce Springsteen, the boss of rock n’ roll, was a happy man, when he was just becoming a big superstar in rock n’ roll music in the early 80’s? Think again! The Boss, made a public confession that he has been battling depression and was suicidal in the earlier days of his career. It started back around 1982, when he first made his big breakthrough in the music industry. Bruce have been seeing a psychiatrist ever since then. He was never an alcoholic and never did drugs, but he had his problems like most people.
Read more on the story, here.
So some of you may ask, why would fame & fortune make a rock star depressed? I’ve explained it on the blog before, fame & fortune can be pretty risky if you’re not careful. It’ll get to you, believe me. How fame & fortune, can ruin you? I can definitely see how having loads of money would make someone depressed. With fame, you will get no privacy. You will get rabid fans every where you go in public, trying to get after you. You will also get paparazzi after you and non stop interviews with the media. The work load in your career will get to you. You will be away from home and away from your family & friends, a lot. You will be on the road all the time, not having free time for yourself.
That’s what fame will do to you. If you want more examples, look at how many rock stars from the past who drove themselves into drugs and alcohol over the years. Some rock stars have even committed suicide, look at Kurt Cobain. I’ve explained plenty of times before that fame can destroy you if you’re not careful. Look what happened to Amy Winehouse, another perfect example. When famous musicians die, you shouldn’t always blame it on drugs and alcohol. It’s the fame and fortune that causes musicians to drive into depression, so it gets them into drugs and all that stuff.
Fame may sound cool and fun, but the reality is, most rock stars hate being famous. They play music ’cause that’s what they want to do for a living. I know some unsigned musicians want to break into the industry, but it’s not an easy world as you all think. Depression even killed, Elvis Presley too, go figure, another perfect example.
While I’m sure Bruce is all better now and he can handle fame today just fine, I’m sure he still gets depressed at times. His world is not perfect, just like we aren’t. Fame can be dangerous and evil. I don’t know why so many people want it so bad. I don’t care to get famous at all. It’s not what I would want.
Kev
I listened to Springsteen’s new album, “Wrecking Ball” at least a couple of times, already. It’s pretty amazing stuff. It’s different than his last couple of albums. His last couple of albums, “Magic” and “Workin’ On a Dream” focused on rock n’ roll. In this album, “Wrecking Ball”, he pretty much stays away from the rock n’ roll genre some.
The genres on “Wrecking Ball”, you will hear a lot of gospel influence. Of course, there are some bluegrass and folk on there too. Yes, there is still some rock n’ roll on it, but not a lot.
While the album focuses on the economics. The lyrics are about keeping hopes and dreams alive. Yes, the lyrics and music can be pretty angry, but Bruce is trying to send a message here. The songs on the album are more passionate and heartfelt than his last few records. A lot of emotion here. This is Bruce’s best singing too.
The album may not have Clarence Clemons on the sax, but they still have the E Street Band sound. Out of all the E Street Band albums Bruce made with them, this album is their true sound. No offense to Clarence.
“Wrecking Ball” was a beautifully made record. I’ll always love Bruce’s earlier music more, of course, but if you’re a veteran Springsteen fan who lost respect for him ’cause of his change of direction over the years, this album will definitely make you a fan of the Boss again. Definitely check this album out.
Here’s my favorite song off the album, which has Tom Morello on guitar, playing the solo at the end of this beautiful song. I think “Jack of All Trades” is the best song on the album, in my opinion.
Kev
To all you local readers, if you’re interested and a fan of the Boss, he just dropped his tour listings on his site today.
Check ’em out, here.
I’d like to go but not sure if I’ll be able to afford it or not. Springsteen is one musician that I never got a chance to see live in my life before. The Boss’s concert prices are usually ridiculously high. The cheapest you’ll ever get to see the Boss are usually the not very good seats where you have to sit so high in the arena.
Kev
Bruce Springstee, the Boss of rock n’ roll, finally unveiled some stuff of the new album. They are still continuing the E Street Band, since after the death of Clarence Clemons. The name of their new album is titled, “Wrecking Ball”, and will hit stores, March 6th. Judging by the album title and song titles, looks like the music on the album is going to be pretty angry, so Bruce definitely does have a message to say. He also won’t give up the political songwriting in the lyrics.
Read all the info at Bruce’s website, you can also hear a new song off the new album, “We Take Care of Our Own”, here.
I’m a big fan of the Boss but honestly, his political songs are getting old. I wish he would write about other things, looking forward to the new album though.
Kev
Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band have finally responded on their future plans in their music career. They have confirmed that the band will continue without Clarence Clemons, their sax player who passed away not too long ago. Springsteen himself confirmed on his official website that the E Street Band will release a new album and will go on a full fledged tour.
More on the story, here.
You ask, why would they continue without Clarence? My guess, is that they are continuing on is because that is what Clarence would have wanted. They are doing this for Clarence I bet. Also, how much do you want to bet that their next album is going to be dedicated to Clarence? Don’t be surprised if almost every song on their next album will be about him.
While I’m sure, the E Street Band already replaced a sax player, no other sax player will top Clarence’s recognizable sound, that’s for sure.
I thought the E Street Band’s last album, “Workin’ On a Dream”, was one of their best new albums in a long time. Their song, “Outlaw Pete”, is the best song off that album.
Kev
