As I teenager I think it is difficult to apprectiate a lot of good music because you end up identifying so much with certain genres. I latched onto ACDC early on, but all metal sucked…until I sat down and listened to Master of Puppets, then I liked metal, but boy did Rap suck…until I actually sat down and listened to Fear of a Black Planet. I liked Pearl Jam before anyone else did…and then everyone loved them, so I hated them. Green Day sucked because everyone liked them. Same with the Offspring. As an adult I’ve come to appreciate both of them.
Even more so, I’ve come to really appriciate some of the true greats. I’d always been into Pink Floyd, Yes, and Rush, but it wasn’t until my 30s that I grew to like Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, and Johny cash. I even grew an appriciation for Kiss once I understood their contribution, not to rock music, but to the live show.
But I’m sorry, Bruce Springteen plain sucks. I have tried and tried and tried and tried to listen to him. I don’t think there is anything in my collection that grates on my nerves more than “the boss.” I can’t figure out what it is people like about mumbling out of tune over some very basic guitar riffs. Even if I can never learn to like him, can someone please explain what the appeal was. I just plain don’t get it.
Add in a 10 minute autobiographical story about something that makes you want to kill yourself before every song and you have the average Springsteen live show:
You needed to see him in concert ~30 years ago. He put out some of the greatest shows ever. If you didn’t see him live in his prime, you will never understand.
You can chose tolerance, and appreciate differences, or you can hate.
As you spew Hate, it just shows your ignorance and apathy. Instead, perhaps, you can intelligently state why you don’t like Springsteen? This could lead to a positive conversation about attributes of music.
Music isn’t a popularity contest **“I liked Pearl Jam before anyone else did…and then everyone loved them, so I hated them. Green Day sucked because everyone liked them.” **
IMO, that’s an odd way to live.
(BTW, I’m not a big Springsteen fan either, and you have every right to like or dislike art. Just as I have a right to dislike your provincial prejudice and hate.)
I’ll preface this by saying that I am not a huge fan of the Boss. If you’re looking for technical skill, he’s not your man.
But, he comes from a time and place and emotional point of view that speaks to a lot of people. He’s a slightly more educated version of Rocky Balboa. I never listen to his CDs. But, and I say this as a someone who has seen a huge number of live shows by various bands over the past 30+ years, he is great live. He has incredible energy, nearly all of which is positive. His shows run 3+ hours with relatively little down time. He seems genuine. Maybe that won’t do it for you. But, that’s what he offers.
He has a few really good songs (and a lot of not so good songs), but he really put on a great live show back in the day. I went to a concert in Phoenix (Tempe) in 1977 that was terrific. When I hear him now, I think of that show.
You can chose tolerance, and appreciate differences, or you can hate.
As you spew Hate, it just shows your ignorance and apathy. Instead, perhaps, you can intelligently state why you don’t like Springsteen? This could lead to a positive conversation about attributes of music.
Music isn’t a popularity contest **“I liked Pearl Jam before anyone else did…and then everyone loved them, so I hated them. Green Day sucked because everyone liked them.” **
IMO, that’s an odd way to live.
(BTW, I’m not a big Springsteen fan either, and you have every right to like or dislike art. Just as I have a right to dislike your provincial prejudice and hate.)
What prejudice and hate are you talking about? The immature attitude I had when I was a teenager??? Like most teenagers have. Did you not read my post and understand the context?
Okay, so I checked out some Springsteen on Youtube. This is my take on it (correct me if I’m wrong):
Its country music for blue collar workers who live in cities. Melodies are basic, but not bad. Choruses are simple, but catchy. People can identify with the lyrics. The voice…makes him sound more like a regular joe the plumber, and they can connect with that.
Fair summary although I wouldn’t call the E Street band country…
Bruce speaks to a lot of the NE steel belt crowd with themes about breaking out from the expected path of life which was to join the union besides your dad and do whatever your family did for the last 100 years. That along with songs about the typical teens/early twenties diversion such as street racing and partying made him pretty popular.
Although I’m not from the north or really in any of those situations, I can appreciate the sentiment and how trapped that segment of society felt in the late 70s and early 80s. A perfect example of this is also the movie Breaking Away. Bruce is for music for the cutters to be.
Early Bruce was very raw and poetic in my opinion. He was the Boss. For a while I think he got caught up in being a star and the whole MTV thing and that’s when Born in the USA came out. He sold out and took a position in middle management in my opinion. Nonetheless, he’s still great in concert. Rent a DVD and do a concert in surround sound with it cranked and it will probably improve your appreciation and it’s certainly less expensive than concert tickets.
From the first time I heard him I didn’t like him. For me it’s his voice, or lack of one. I feel the same way about Dylan. I like their music and the lyrics are usually above average but their voices…
I am agreeing with Barry twice in 24 hours. Never been a fan of The Boss. Never been a fan of Bob Dylan either so maybe I just don’t understand true genius when I see it.
You needed to see him in concert ~30 years ago. He put out some of the greatest shows ever. If you didn’t see him live in his prime, you will never understand.
"They are kind of their own genre, folksy with horns. "
Agreed, but I think the point is tht they play working class music, addressing the same type of themes as country music, using basic intruments, melodies and lyrics. Kind of a steel mill equivalent of country music.
