You have to understand, I love Bruce. I love his voice, his aura, the history I have with him. He was hot. And he was a big part of my early music years. I grew up on the east coast, so Junior High, High School, lots of Bruce. I remember distinctly the summer of '84, sitting around with my brother and his best friend waiting impatiently for the Born in the U.S.A. release. I can't name one thing I listened to back then that I still listen to today, expect for Bruce. And I do still listen to him. In fact, just this morning, Asbury Park - no doubt inspired by the press about him, his new record and his big halftime Superbowl Show. And that was certainly quite a show. So sad. Really.
The spectacle alone was hard to get past - the phallic fireworks show, the background singers, the propped up, choreographed audience - but, it was Bruce that was just a bit hard to watch. While last year Tom Petty seemed to keep his cool persona while doing the big stadium Half Time thing, Bruce felt more like Mr. Hollywood. He tries to maintain that scraggily look that's he mastered over the last 30 some odd years, but it just doesn't wear as well these days. What can I say, like all of us, he's showing his age. Not looking as good in his standard black and black uniform, or moving as well. But it's that tan that really throws me. It makes him look so, well, cheesy. It kills me to say this, but watching him, made me feel a little sorry for him. Not sorry exactly - he's Bruce Springsteen, for fucks sake. It's just that... it feels like he's past his prime. In every woman's life there comes a point when they realize they can't pull off the "young fashion" anymore, no matter how good their bodies. Time has moved on, and so their outfit has to as well - or else it just looks out of place, and somewhat pathetic. Watching Bruce up there tonight sort of felt a bit like that. Maybe there's a point for even the biggest of rock stars when arena rock just doesn't play cool anymore.
Bruce has that voice. His voice and music have been under my skin for years. From Thunder Road to Candy's Room to Nebraska even up until Girls In Their Summer Clothes. Bruce is part of my musical soul. So to see him hit a wall, jump the shark so to speak, probably mostly, to see his age show - was fairly depressing. I realize the Super Bowl and the Half Time show is an over the top spectacle, no matter who the performer (although Tom Petty pulled it off with more cred...), so I probably shouldn't make any bets on Bruce's rock longevity - especially as he'll most assuredly go off and make a bundle from his tour - even if his new record is, to put it mildly, not one of his best. And he'll probably continue to do so for years, no matter how Vegas his act might get. So what do I know? Well... what I do know is this. Although Bruce may still rock, he doesn't rock - not anymore. Certainly not on stage. When he closed the show by saying "I'm going to Disneyland," I just thought, "You're already there."
But he's still Bruce - and always will be to me - even if at this point I'd prefer to just listen instead of watch. He may not rock anymore, but when he gets it right, he still can move... me. Download 13 The Wrestler (Bonus Track) .
Recent Comments