Well, it looks like Bruce is suddenly changing that.
Springsteen has certainly been very visible lately. Artists like Arcade Fire and the Hold Steady have been very successful with Boss-like music. He won a Golden Globe for his song featured in The Wrestler. He was at the presidential inauguration, functioning as Obama Cheerleader #1. And last night, he turned in one of the most electric Super Bowl halftime shows in recent memory. He was fun and energetic, never for a moment looking like the 59-year-old man he is. He was a stark contrast to last year’s performance by Tom Petty, who looked like he was waiting for Death to come and take him away right then and there. Bruce’s selection of songs was very strong, opening with two excellent tracks from Born To Run before closing with his new single and “Glory Days”, with some football-related lyrics attached. It was exactly what the Super Bowl halftime show should be: a big, positive, fun-loving performance for a big, positive, fun-loving sports game. Bruce even plowed into an unprepared cameraman, which was more than a little awesome.I’m still not sure if this makes Working On A Dream a better album. Rolling Stone felt the need to give it a five-star review, which seems a bit excessive to me. But all this recent Springsteen-mania is giving me a reason to go back a reevaluate it. It’s Boss time.
(Note: Jennifer Hudson’s performance of the National Anthem was also spectacular, although, according to the producer of the Super Bowl, it was lip synched. Hmmm…)
They always lip sync the national anthem at the superbowl. Its a matter of practicality. The acoustics and the amount of people and the volume of speakers are no good for live vocalization like that. Something along those lines at least. Not to mention should they fuck up.
ReplyDeleteBruce was great at the Superbowl -- but I think you're too young to realize how great he could really be in the day.(Consider 20 years ago). Four hour long concerts, riffs that went on forever, the entire mega crowd in one completely sinc-ed groove, like sharing a heartbeat, like running really hard with a stream of good friends, running till your heart is bursting out of your chest and then falling over to laugh. I'm just amazed that at his age he can still put on a show with that much energy. (Though the poor boy looked a bit winded to me. He's allowed.) Loved the comment about Tom Petty, but again, in truth, he's always looked like that, even 20 years ago.
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