Permit me to go first person, it’s Sunday:

You know, growing up I was never that big a Bruce Springsteen fan, a kid in the 90s, there was “newer” music, Bruce was more of “an adult,” it just … it never took, not then anyway. But as I got older, especially into my late 30s and 40s, and Bruce got more and more into activism, I got more and more into Bruce. It did eventually occur to me that he’s an absolutely brilliant musician, he can literally do about anything. But as good as he is – and some say he’s the best – he has an even bigger gift.

He’s never been “off.” Not once.

He had a mixed-race band when that wasn’t a “thing,” and always paid homage to the black roots that birthed the music he inherited. He didn’t just have a mixed “race” band, he had women, too – and married one. Still with Patti, obviously.

Which star was first to take on the cause of the disaffected Vietnam vets? “Born in the U.S.A.” wasn’t some Right-Wing war patriotic song, it was about being an American, being sent over there, and how a country could possibly treat someone like that upon coming home? Bruce was there for vets.

AIDS? Bruce supported AIDS, just a little too late – who didn’t? But he was one of the earlier ones, Streets of Philadelphia.

The fact that the U.S. worker was getting screwed by offshoring? Bruce saw the impact of growing economic inequality in the early 90s when it was just dawning on us that the people that used to have a decent life assured by working at the plant, on the force, maybe the grocery store – they weren’t making it anymore. IF they had a job, they suddenly couldn’t even take a vacation to Disneyland anymore. It was just hard to live.

Gay rights, trans rights, Bruce was there. He canceled concerts in places that wouldn’t respect gay rights, trans rights, all of it.

Fck, he never even had a bad hair period! Women I’m around STILL think he’s “hot” and he’s what? 98 in rock years? He has just never once been “off.” (Okay, no one’s perfect, I’m sure someone will come up with something, but I suspect that the general theme will hold).

Is there a chance in hell that Donald Trump has Bruce Springsteen fooled? Even about this upcoming election? Listen to Springsteen break down the current political climate. See if he’s not as sharp as Wolf Blitzer, Joe Scarborough, Chuck Todd, Rachel … okay, wait, let’s not get carried away. Listen to him break this down as well as anyone:

“Born in the USA” is played at most Trump events.

Here is singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen on Donald Trump.

The Boss for the win…pic.twitter.com/gN1ivW9T1F

— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) October 4, 2020

And just to be nice, as a Sunday night bonus, this political scientist/sociologist “Bruce” is a pretty good musician, too. Here is a rare clip of Bruce, filling in for Bono (was sick) at a New York AIDS benefit, from Times Square, singing U2, Where the Streets Have No Name, like he wrote the song himself. Hint – He’s not “off.”

Even singing a song that isn’t his, the guy has is never off.

****

Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom