Bruce Springsteen Wrote an Obama Campaign Song?
Over at Think Progress, liberal culture blogger Alyssa Rosenberg loves the new Bruce Springsteen single titled “We Take Care Of Our Own”: “The Boss is in full rallying cry mode...This seems practically designed to be played at Obama-Biden rallies (if not the Democratic National Convention itself). The choice of Chicago as the origin point for that sense of mutual care seems pretty deliberate.”
So it’s funny to see music writer Randall Roberts in the Los Angeles Times slamming the Boss for “jingoism” and overtones from the movie “Deliverance," perhaps because the lyrics refer to a flag being flown:
Granted, the title phrase borders on jingoism, and in the wrong hands can be both used to justify actions noble and contemptible, from coming together as a family to help kin, to protecting territory from outsiders a la "Deliverance"...
Is it classic Springsteen? Comments are open for your response. But mostly it depends on which Bruce you like: the one who sets out to be the Voice of the People and speak for the 99% a la Woody Guthrie, or the one who goes small and captures the voice of a single character a la "The Ghost of Tom Joad" and "State Trooper." The new song is much more the former than the latter; Springsteen obviously knows what time it is, and it's time to step up and say something big.
- Tim Graham's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
Go Bruce! Take care of our own
Submitted by Radical1979 on Sun, 01/22/2012 - 11:40pm.
and start paying some real estate taxes instead of using loopholes to get out of it.
That was the first thing that came to my mind . . ..
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:07am.
. . . when I read about his new song.
Considering the most disenchanted group from among his 2008 support is the 18-30 age group, Obama is going to need campaign songs from contemporary artists, not the old farts like Springsteen. The guy peeked 25-30 years ago.
Imagine Ronald Reagan running in 1980 with a campaign song written and performed by Bing Crosby.
They take care of their own
Submitted by MidAmerica on Sun, 01/22/2012 - 11:48pm.
I went to youtube to listen and it is a little jingoistic. The simple refrain blasting over conventioneers would probably work. But considering the unions and contributors who have gotten special financial treatment from this administration I think perhaps it might not be a good jingo to be trumpeting.
Excellent point
Submitted by Galvanic on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:12am.
Picture a political ad depicting the bailout of GM to save the unions, Solyndra and the other green fiascos, etc. all to the tune of Springsteen's song.
Springstink's Obama Song
Submitted by stratman on Sun, 01/22/2012 - 11:49pm.
"We Eat Our Own"
B-side - "Throwing You Under The Bus" (AKA Typical White Person)
Makes perfect sense
Submitted by bkeyser on Sun, 01/22/2012 - 11:57pm.
Springsteen is a no-talent hack just like POTUS. Ever see that guy play a guitar? It looks painful. At least he's got a terrible voice.
Springsteen's a
Submitted by killa37 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:07am.
Springsteen's a zillionaire.................why aren't the OWS bowel movement people camping out on his lawn??? And why does he always sound constipated when he 'sings'????
Of course, I wouldn't say these things in public on the Jersey (Joisy) shore - but I'm over here in Hawaii, so I can lay it on the line.
Don't let the Solyndra go down on me........
Submitted by merly1 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:22am.
Although I search myself, it's always someone else I see (Jimmy Carter, perhaps?)
I hear Springsteen also wrote a new national anthem...
Submitted by Dave. on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:35am.
...for the Dear Ruler's very rapidly emerging United Socialist States of Amerika:
Click here.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Hmmm...
Submitted by Unsane on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 7:43am.
You mean it won't be "The Internationale"?
"CONSUMED DEMOCRACY RETURNS A SOCIALIST REGIME" - Slayer, "Fictional Reality", from Divine Intervention (1994)
Laugh. Out. Loud.
Submitted by okie-pastor on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 12:34am.
Laugh. Out. Loud.
When ever anyone says "They're looking out for the little guy"..
Submitted by P. Aaron on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 1:00am.
...you know they're lookin' out to screw you over.
"the little guy"
Submitted by CobraMan on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 4:24pm.
I'm always leery about people who claim to be "looking out for the little guy" too. I mean, really, who, or what, made, those people the "big guy" and what makes them think that the "little guy" needs the "big guy" to "look out for" them? That's just plain arrogance!
To all those "big guys" out there: you're really not that big. As a matter of fact, in the grand scheme of things, you're nothing! The universe existed long before you arrived, and the universe will continue to exist long after you're gone. I don't care of your the Greatest King who ever lived or the lowest peasant who no one ever heard of, your affect on the universe is exactly the same: nonexistent! Do you know what the rest of the universe would say if Earth, and all its inhabitants, Human or not, exploded in a mighty flash of light? Ohhhh, Ahhh! Look at the fireworks!
Welcome back to mediocrity. Especially you, Green Peace! Do you know what would happen if all the Polar Bears disappeared forever? The same thing that happened when the Wolly Mammoths disappeared: nothing.
Oh, and by the way, Bruce, "the Boss" is your nickname, not your title. STOP TELLING US WHAT TO DO!
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
There is NO reason for Bruce Springsteen!
Submitted by NJRightWinger12 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 3:36am.
The Boss is a total LOSS! He might be from Jersey, but hes NOT from JERSEY, if you get my drift!
Who
Submitted by azgal602 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 9:53am.
would listen to this old f a r t!!!!!!! The last song he made that was worth anything was "Born in the USA" . Now I have to question that. What an idiot!!!
do you ever
Submitted by azgal602 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 9:56am.
wonder????? All the folks that love this pres are the people that can and do take advantage of the rest of us. I don't get a break on my taxes. I grow tomatoes, does that make my lot in metro Phoenix a farm???? NO!!! I just go to work everyday and try very hard to survive. We have so dang many people in Arizona now that came from California (and south of the border) that we are turning into California. They ruined their state now they are working on this one.
do you ever
Submitted by azgal602 on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 9:58am.
wonder????? All the folks that love this pres are the people that can and do take advantage of the rest of us. I don't get a break on my taxes. I grow tomatoes, does that make my lot in metro Phoenix a farm???? NO!!! I just go to work everyday and try very hard to survive. We have so dang many people in Arizona now that came from California (and south of the border) that we are turning into California. They ruined their state now they are working on this one.
Let me guess the title...
Submitted by CobraMan on Mon, 01/23/2012 - 3:54pm.
Born in the U.S.S.A, right?
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
The Sellout......
Submitted by helomech on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 2:58pm.
......is what he should be called; as smart as he thinks he is, he still doesn't see he's being used as a tool for the democratic/Liberal/Marxist cause; doesn't he know when the Socialist/Marxist/Communist revolution arrives, artists are some of the first people 'removed' ?
The Sellout......
Submitted by helomech on Tue, 01/24/2012 - 3:00pm.
......is what he should be called; as smart as he thinks he is, he still doesn't see he's being used as a tool for the democratic/Liberal/Marxist cause; doesn't he know when the Socialist/Marxist/Communist revolution arrives, artists are some of the first people 'removed' ?