The irony is that Bruce Springsteen doesn't get Trump at all, but the character he was playing all these years in his songs would have voted for the man three times.
None of these self aggrandized celeb hypocrites expect any blowback from their PR planned tirades. This is the essence of 1A (lost on these idiots shrieking about democracy): the answer to bad speech is more speech, and Trump is happy to oblige. Besides, what Trump says yesterday isn’t what fuels them on, it’s Trumps very existence.
Anyway never a fan. Just didn’t get it or his cringe music. I will say I enjoyed that clip of him falling on his face after he trashed our country & us. And that underbite. Ick.
Even if they did, would he have the objectivity to see it? The bubble not only creates an echo chamber it turns off the switch in your brain that allows doubt, contemplation and eventual clarity. Bill Maher was able to finally cure his TDS by spending time with Trump, breaking bread, as it were. I don't think Bruce would ever accept the invitation.
I lost any liking for Springsteen years ago. He's a fake. Put him in the time out room with the Dixie Chicks, who I also liked until they crapped on the US. Bruce lied about what's happening, and he's happy doing it. He started out talking truth to power, now he's become power and doesn't know the truth.
That’s not a fair comparison. The Dixie Chicks if I recall were among the few musicians who spoke out about the US’s invasion of Iraq in 2003, a stance I fully agreed with. Turned out that Operation Freedom (or whatever propaganda term they used) was a total disaster with thousands of our military injured or killed along with millions of Iraqis all based on lies and greed. And who benefited other than rich people getting richer? Meanwhile Natalie Manes and company took a lot of heat for it. They went from being top level Country stars to being cancelled. In fact they faced this back in a time before cancel culture was a regular occurrence.
Good point. The Dixie Chicks showed a lot of courage taking on George W Bush and his insane, dishonest, and disastrous Iraq War at a time when few were doing so.
If you mean Operation Iraqi Freedom, which deposed the murderous Saddam Hussein and removed Iraq as a menace in the Middle East, I'll take that "disaster" every time.
The Dixie Chicks, like Bruce and that shabby Green Day group, all make their anti-American rants out of the U.S. to score points with people from other countries.
I agree with Schreiber. It was a disaster we never should have embarked upon. Thousands of dead, injured, addled or suicided soldiers later, and hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis, and for what? To make the middle east safe for democracy?!?
I didn't like the Dixie Chicks back then, but they have aged better than most. Regardless, most of these showfolk should heed Johnny Cash's advice: "If you have political convictions, keep them to yourself."
I wasn’t a big fan of the DCs either but whenever anyone is willing to be a contrarian voice against useless wars, especially those started by lies like WMDs, I salute them. Being a product of the 1960’s I was part of the movement opposed to another “Rich Man’s Trick” fiasco, but back then it was the in thing to protest, sing songs and maybe get arrested. You would be surrounded by supporters. In fact in the circles I ran in, it was socially more an act of courage to be pro war.
But by 2003, after 9/11 and the massive propaganda media machine running their PsyOps, it took some fortitude to speak out. The Dixie Chicks came out of nowhere to express their disdain for the madness but history proved them to be on the right side of the debate. Kind of reminds me of all the people who like myself were opposed to all
the COVID stupidity and were tagged as nut cases. And there are still those so brainwashed that they really believe we somehow all came together and with wonderful government policies like lockdowns, masks and vaccines, we slayed the corona dragon.
Right operation Iraqi liberation, oil did not quite work. Iraq was the first in the Arab spring. Bush the lesser went to Yale and he was a cheerleader. Don’t get me started about him…. Rumor has it. He’s in league with a cartel bringing in drugs
I have no idea what has become of those women. Their story might make an interesting movie. And unlike Springsteen, they could sing.
Really, when you think how eager the public was for that war, their outspokenness took courage. Half the country sees Trump as Springsteen says he does. Some courage.
They still shouldn't have done it in a foreign country. That was a source of a lot of the outrage. Have the balls to do it in your own country, better yet your own state of Texas. I would have respected them more for that. Keep your fights in the family.
And being in the most conservative genre of popular music, country, made them seem really out of touch with their own audience. You can get away with that stuff if you're a rock star, not so much country.
I don’t understand how where they protested would matter. And as far as being from the C&W genre, that only gives it more impact. Personally I like Rock/Blues/Soul and I watched how so many of Eric Clapton’s fans attacked him ruthlessly for speaking out about the COVID shots after he’d been injured. Guess t
Hey wanted him to take his poison and shut up. Rolling Stone even put out a hit piece against him, someone who was one of their most famous stars. More power to him I say.
I like to discuss music on various online forums and I’ve seen how many fans have been brainwashed. Clapton and Van Morrison, two of the greatest were about the only big name stars to call out the Covid nonsense, yet it was startling to see how they were scorned by people who just seemed fine repeating ideas planted into their brains never once questioning the veracity or motives of any of it. But I liked putting my two cents in and setting the record straight.
I also remind people who believe that Roger Waters is an antisemite that he has no antipathy toward Jews but is against wars including the one that Israel has been waging. And since Waters father was killed in World War Two trying to protect Jews, I think he has a right to speak out about it. It’s shocking how people can be so blind.
Exactly...ply your craft, take your pay, and quietly depart. What narcistic egotistical thinking to believe that being a cosetted entertainer somehow gives you the creds to lecture everyone else on what to believe.
As much as possible I try not see or read any “celebrities” opining about whatever the current thing is as A) they are meant to be good at their craft. That’s it. B) They ruin my enjoyment of anything they produce or are in.
Curious how the masters of censorship are now crying they are being censored. Springsteen certainly isn’t. Neil young isn’t. You would think they were losing the Trump fight to pass favorable tax bills for them. LOL. Such authoritarianism ! Even douchebags with guitars benefit from Trump but damn if they can screech about the poor Muslim invaders or the alphabet crowd losing their identity privileges.
Will never go to another of their concerts ( requiring masses of cash for their mansions)
Those three could pay for several hundred college students tuition and lead by example. But no, they just keep their money spigot closed while their mouths are wide open, spewing hateful nonsense from high atop their golden thrones. All show and no go.
I 1000% agree with the other commenters that entertainers should stick to their craft of entertainment and stay completely out of politics.
Strongly agree. At his core he was nothing more than a boy band cosplaying working class. As far as music goes, a little better than Jim Morrison but still mid.
No way is Springsteen in Jim Morrison's class as a song-writer and performer. For one thing, Morrison played himself, the drug-adled, introspective, depressed genius poet.
So true. Glad you wrote this. "Born to Run" came out when I was in college. It was a great album. Why do people get rich and leave behind their fans and the working class they championed? John Couger Mellencamp is the same way. Big middle fingers to the middle class. So glad Shasha called them out.
The rock star who turns me off the most is Bono of U2 who is now the darling of the billionaire class which meets regularly at the World Economic Forum event in Davos. He’s pals with all kinds of low life’s like Zelenskyy and Macron and the whole crowd of global elites. In fact shortly after the war began in Ukraine he sang at a little gig in the subway in Kiev supporting those folks who were actually fodder for the CIA and State Departments’s dirty tricks. It was such a disgraceful PR stunt!
Ten days after 9/11 all the TV networks broadcast a studio concert/fundraiser; I recall it being a predictable parade of the Usual Entertainers offering one depressing mournful tune after another. Springsteen's offering was "My City in Ruins," if you didn't want to open a vein and end it all when you turned on the TV, you did by the time he was done.
Tom Petty in contrast kicked the door in with "I Won't Back Down." Yes he was a lefty too but in my view it's always been Petty, not the poseur Bruce, who's the voice of the American everyman.
I was never a huge Springsteen fan. I didn't care for his fake blue collar image, as if he was some coal miner. His writing was so-so. Nothing that blew me away. Something like "Born in the USA" had the patriotism going for it, was a little singable, but not musically brilliant like a Freddie Mercury, Elton John or the Beatles. So why should I care about his politics? I don't. He needs to get over himself.
His first hint should have occurred when people took "Born in the USA" as an anthem to being proud of America - not as the anti-American slop that he intended. Guy's got no sense of self-awareness and has devolved into a jerk.
I think he was complicit in that misunderstanding. He did little to correct the impression that it was a patriotic anthem, likely so he could sell more records and concert tickets. And it sure worked for him.
Yep....Springsteen is a confused and angry man. Always has been. His father could not keep a job, was possibly abusive and drove a cab in his NJ hometown to get by. He did intend a defiant pride of America with the chorus. In 2005 here is what he told a reporter about "Born in the USA": "As the musician later told WHYY's Fresh Air, he meant it that way. "The pride was in the chorus," Springsteen said to host Terry Gross in a 2005 interview. "In my songs, the spiritual part, the hope part, is in the choruses. The blues and your daily realities are in the details of the verses.""
I saw Springsteen in concert in 1984. I don't remember the exact cause at the time but something was said that ended my admiration of him. He came off as totally fake and egocentric. I haven't been a fan since.
I saw him in 1985, admittedly not as a huge fan, and found his self-indulgent rambling in between songs to be colossally boring. I wished he would just shut up and sing. This was supposed to be the greatest showman in the world?
You know who is a classy progressive musician? Chrissie Hynde. She let Rush Limbaugh keep using "My City Was Gone" as his theme song and spoke kindly of him upon his death, because her parents were staunch dittoheads. She disagreed greatly with her parents, but never let it come between them.
The movie about Dylan does a great job of explaining him. As someone who lived in Minnesota in the Jewish community, all the stories I know jibe with the movie. He loved music and could have cared less about the politics, even though his NYC friends tried to drag him into it.
The irony is that Bruce Springsteen doesn't get Trump at all, but the character he was playing all these years in his songs would have voted for the man three times.
Exactly.
"Why, Trump, why"?
I completely agree with Trump's comments!
They'll glorify Springsteen and that stupid movie REGARDLESS.
We couldn't give TWO SHITS about what that old ASS puppet has to say.
None of these self aggrandized celeb hypocrites expect any blowback from their PR planned tirades. This is the essence of 1A (lost on these idiots shrieking about democracy): the answer to bad speech is more speech, and Trump is happy to oblige. Besides, what Trump says yesterday isn’t what fuels them on, it’s Trumps very existence.
I left a comment but it disappeared???
Anyway never a fan. Just didn’t get it or his cringe music. I will say I enjoyed that clip of him falling on his face after he trashed our country & us. And that underbite. Ick.
Lol. He deserves all of your scorn.
Falling on his face?! Where can I see this??? Please tell
It’s every where just ask chat GPT or grok or google. He tripped & fell on his face & his band or whoever had to help him up LOL.
Springsteen is and has been his entire career a POS. Never listened to him.
The first support I heard for Trump was from my blue collar friends. UAW, Teamsters and the like. As a group they have never wavered
Yeah, that proves Bruce was a phony all along, at least post- Born to Run.
Even if they did, would he have the objectivity to see it? The bubble not only creates an echo chamber it turns off the switch in your brain that allows doubt, contemplation and eventual clarity. Bill Maher was able to finally cure his TDS by spending time with Trump, breaking bread, as it were. I don't think Bruce would ever accept the invitation.
The boss has become the bootlicker. Their cringe virtue signaling knows no bounds. It’s all so tiresome - maybe he will give a speech about trans kids next: https://yuribezmenov.substack.com/p/celebrity-trans-kids
Bruce needs to take a lesson from George Clooney as to what happens in entertainment when you wrap yourself in politics.
The Boss as Bootlicker ... great line.
Boss as the Bootlicker to the tune of Born in the USA.
I lost any liking for Springsteen years ago. He's a fake. Put him in the time out room with the Dixie Chicks, who I also liked until they crapped on the US. Bruce lied about what's happening, and he's happy doing it. He started out talking truth to power, now he's become power and doesn't know the truth.
Bye Bye Mr. American Pie.
That’s not a fair comparison. The Dixie Chicks if I recall were among the few musicians who spoke out about the US’s invasion of Iraq in 2003, a stance I fully agreed with. Turned out that Operation Freedom (or whatever propaganda term they used) was a total disaster with thousands of our military injured or killed along with millions of Iraqis all based on lies and greed. And who benefited other than rich people getting richer? Meanwhile Natalie Manes and company took a lot of heat for it. They went from being top level Country stars to being cancelled. In fact they faced this back in a time before cancel culture was a regular occurrence.
Good point. The Dixie Chicks showed a lot of courage taking on George W Bush and his insane, dishonest, and disastrous Iraq War at a time when few were doing so.
If you mean Operation Iraqi Freedom, which deposed the murderous Saddam Hussein and removed Iraq as a menace in the Middle East, I'll take that "disaster" every time.
The Dixie Chicks, like Bruce and that shabby Green Day group, all make their anti-American rants out of the U.S. to score points with people from other countries.
I agree with Schreiber. It was a disaster we never should have embarked upon. Thousands of dead, injured, addled or suicided soldiers later, and hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqis, and for what? To make the middle east safe for democracy?!?
I didn't like the Dixie Chicks back then, but they have aged better than most. Regardless, most of these showfolk should heed Johnny Cash's advice: "If you have political convictions, keep them to yourself."
I wasn’t a big fan of the DCs either but whenever anyone is willing to be a contrarian voice against useless wars, especially those started by lies like WMDs, I salute them. Being a product of the 1960’s I was part of the movement opposed to another “Rich Man’s Trick” fiasco, but back then it was the in thing to protest, sing songs and maybe get arrested. You would be surrounded by supporters. In fact in the circles I ran in, it was socially more an act of courage to be pro war.
But by 2003, after 9/11 and the massive propaganda media machine running their PsyOps, it took some fortitude to speak out. The Dixie Chicks came out of nowhere to express their disdain for the madness but history proved them to be on the right side of the debate. Kind of reminds me of all the people who like myself were opposed to all
the COVID stupidity and were tagged as nut cases. And there are still those so brainwashed that they really believe we somehow all came together and with wonderful government policies like lockdowns, masks and vaccines, we slayed the corona dragon.
Somebody defending the Iraq War.. you gotta be kidding.
I've spoken to many veterans of that war, and I've yet to hear even one think it was a good idea.
There is apparently one supporter of that war on this thread that lead me to spout off about it.
Right operation Iraqi liberation, oil did not quite work. Iraq was the first in the Arab spring. Bush the lesser went to Yale and he was a cheerleader. Don’t get me started about him…. Rumor has it. He’s in league with a cartel bringing in drugs
I have no idea what has become of those women. Their story might make an interesting movie. And unlike Springsteen, they could sing.
Really, when you think how eager the public was for that war, their outspokenness took courage. Half the country sees Trump as Springsteen says he does. Some courage.
I don't recall the public being all that eager for that war. Confused and reluctant is more like it.
I'm not a country fan anyway, but they also didn't do themselves any favors by saying they were ashamed to be from Texas. Don't mess with Texas.
They still shouldn't have done it in a foreign country. That was a source of a lot of the outrage. Have the balls to do it in your own country, better yet your own state of Texas. I would have respected them more for that. Keep your fights in the family.
And being in the most conservative genre of popular music, country, made them seem really out of touch with their own audience. You can get away with that stuff if you're a rock star, not so much country.
I don’t understand how where they protested would matter. And as far as being from the C&W genre, that only gives it more impact. Personally I like Rock/Blues/Soul and I watched how so many of Eric Clapton’s fans attacked him ruthlessly for speaking out about the COVID shots after he’d been injured. Guess t
Hey wanted him to take his poison and shut up. Rolling Stone even put out a hit piece against him, someone who was one of their most famous stars. More power to him I say.
Same with the hugely popular Mumford and Sons original member, Winston Marshall. He was forced out but the band plays on.
I like to discuss music on various online forums and I’ve seen how many fans have been brainwashed. Clapton and Van Morrison, two of the greatest were about the only big name stars to call out the Covid nonsense, yet it was startling to see how they were scorned by people who just seemed fine repeating ideas planted into their brains never once questioning the veracity or motives of any of it. But I liked putting my two cents in and setting the record straight.
I also remind people who believe that Roger Waters is an antisemite that he has no antipathy toward Jews but is against wars including the one that Israel has been waging. And since Waters father was killed in World War Two trying to protect Jews, I think he has a right to speak out about it. It’s shocking how people can be so blind.
Agreed -except Dixie Chicks got it right - i applaud their courage!!
Why are we talking about Bruce Fucking Springsteen?
I don't care what any celebrities say about anything. Just do your dance or sing your song or play your character and then STFU.
Exactly...ply your craft, take your pay, and quietly depart. What narcistic egotistical thinking to believe that being a cosetted entertainer somehow gives you the creds to lecture everyone else on what to believe.
Dick Minnis
removingthecataract.substack.com
I.e., "Shut up and dribble." Never gonna happen and it's mostly our fault. We seem to have a large appetite for the opinion of celebrities.
As much as possible I try not see or read any “celebrities” opining about whatever the current thing is as A) they are meant to be good at their craft. That’s it. B) They ruin my enjoyment of anything they produce or are in.
Its always such a disappointment when they actually speak
Curious how the masters of censorship are now crying they are being censored. Springsteen certainly isn’t. Neil young isn’t. You would think they were losing the Trump fight to pass favorable tax bills for them. LOL. Such authoritarianism ! Even douchebags with guitars benefit from Trump but damn if they can screech about the poor Muslim invaders or the alphabet crowd losing their identity privileges.
Will never go to another of their concerts ( requiring masses of cash for their mansions)
Fuck off Bruce, Neil, Bono et al.
Those three could pay for several hundred college students tuition and lead by example. But no, they just keep their money spigot closed while their mouths are wide open, spewing hateful nonsense from high atop their golden thrones. All show and no go.
I 1000% agree with the other commenters that entertainers should stick to their craft of entertainment and stay completely out of politics.
I never got the appeal. The voice sounds like a chainsaw. Hard pass, and away with him.
Strongly agree. At his core he was nothing more than a boy band cosplaying working class. As far as music goes, a little better than Jim Morrison but still mid.
No way is Springsteen in Jim Morrison's class as a song-writer and performer. For one thing, Morrison played himself, the drug-adled, introspective, depressed genius poet.
I was thinking voice quality but you've convinced me. Morrison>Springsteen
Can we agree Monkees>Springsteen?
LOL!!! Well, yes, even considering the Monkees didn't write anything (Carole King wrote "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and a bunch of other Monkees hits): https://monkees.coolcherrycream.com/people/carole-king/writer
Jim Morrison was far more talented
So true. Glad you wrote this. "Born to Run" came out when I was in college. It was a great album. Why do people get rich and leave behind their fans and the working class they championed? John Couger Mellencamp is the same way. Big middle fingers to the middle class. So glad Shasha called them out.
The rock star who turns me off the most is Bono of U2 who is now the darling of the billionaire class which meets regularly at the World Economic Forum event in Davos. He’s pals with all kinds of low life’s like Zelenskyy and Macron and the whole crowd of global elites. In fact shortly after the war began in Ukraine he sang at a little gig in the subway in Kiev supporting those folks who were actually fodder for the CIA and State Departments’s dirty tricks. It was such a disgraceful PR stunt!
At least Bono doesn’t fall for the genocide bullshit
Oh I still like Some of his music
Bruce Springsteen - 57 Channels (And Nothin' On)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEussXlmBBM
But I stopped stopped buying Blue Collar Bruce Voice of NJ decades ago.
Someone should have let him know what Michael Jordan said "Republicans buy Sneakers too."
Ten days after 9/11 all the TV networks broadcast a studio concert/fundraiser; I recall it being a predictable parade of the Usual Entertainers offering one depressing mournful tune after another. Springsteen's offering was "My City in Ruins," if you didn't want to open a vein and end it all when you turned on the TV, you did by the time he was done.
Tom Petty in contrast kicked the door in with "I Won't Back Down." Yes he was a lefty too but in my view it's always been Petty, not the poseur Bruce, who's the voice of the American everyman.
All day long
I was never a huge Springsteen fan. I didn't care for his fake blue collar image, as if he was some coal miner. His writing was so-so. Nothing that blew me away. Something like "Born in the USA" had the patriotism going for it, was a little singable, but not musically brilliant like a Freddie Mercury, Elton John or the Beatles. So why should I care about his politics? I don't. He needs to get over himself.
His first hint should have occurred when people took "Born in the USA" as an anthem to being proud of America - not as the anti-American slop that he intended. Guy's got no sense of self-awareness and has devolved into a jerk.
I think he was complicit in that misunderstanding. He did little to correct the impression that it was a patriotic anthem, likely so he could sell more records and concert tickets. And it sure worked for him.
Yep....Springsteen is a confused and angry man. Always has been. His father could not keep a job, was possibly abusive and drove a cab in his NJ hometown to get by. He did intend a defiant pride of America with the chorus. In 2005 here is what he told a reporter about "Born in the USA": "As the musician later told WHYY's Fresh Air, he meant it that way. "The pride was in the chorus," Springsteen said to host Terry Gross in a 2005 interview. "In my songs, the spiritual part, the hope part, is in the choruses. The blues and your daily realities are in the details of the verses.""
I saw Springsteen in concert in 1984. I don't remember the exact cause at the time but something was said that ended my admiration of him. He came off as totally fake and egocentric. I haven't been a fan since.
I saw one of his shows in the 80's. I want a refund.
I saw him in 1985, admittedly not as a huge fan, and found his self-indulgent rambling in between songs to be colossally boring. I wished he would just shut up and sing. This was supposed to be the greatest showman in the world?
He is incredibly self-absorbed.
You know who is a classy progressive musician? Chrissie Hynde. She let Rush Limbaugh keep using "My City Was Gone" as his theme song and spoke kindly of him upon his death, because her parents were staunch dittoheads. She disagreed greatly with her parents, but never let it come between them.
Be like Chrissie.
Just another boomer lib who became another brick in the wall of the establishment. Hypocrite through and through.
Speaking of bricks in the wall...add Roger Waters to your list. That man is noxious and obnoxious.
He's the most delusional of all celebrities - rivaling Robert DeNiro, Mark Ruffalo, and that idiot singer from GreenDay.
And yes, I was a fan several years ago. But I've never seen such a blatant regression and rampant ignorance develop - at the same time.
He is emblematic of all liberals however, artists or not.
Dylan is a real person who changed over the years. Springsteen is a always has been a fake.
The movie about Dylan does a great job of explaining him. As someone who lived in Minnesota in the Jewish community, all the stories I know jibe with the movie. He loved music and could have cared less about the politics, even though his NYC friends tried to drag him into it.