Tour 2003: Songs we can do without

Date: Sat, 19 Jul 2003 17:57:57 GMT
Newsgroups: rec.music.artists.springsteen
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Random thoughts of songs I've heard during the Rising Tour that I think we'd
rather not hear... (in reverse order: from bad to the worst).
3) Thunder Road - In Uncut, Badly Drawn Boy wishes he was back at the small
clubs in '75 to experience the piano-only version of this song played. He
also noted that now that Bruce is more "countryesque troubadour," we will
most likely never hear that song in versions like that again. So, we will
have to do with the all-band version of the song - and that is also the
problem. I never liked the original production of Thunder Road; the wall of
sound feel he was going for drowned out the sound of his voice. It only
worked in the studio (and not always so... for the first-time listener,
certain lyrics still cannot be deciphered). Now, bring that wall of sound
song to a stadium/arena environment, and add a southern twang to the
pronunciation, and it's nearly incoherent. On top of all this, throw in
70,000 people trying to sing along, and since BS has changed the timing of
lyrics, the audience is always 1 or 2 lyrics ahead of BS.
Why bother playing this? To satisfy the needs of those nostalgic fans who
need to hear every song? Again, BS has earned everyone's respect, but why
bother if the quality isn't there anymore?
2) Mary's Place - Reviewers have noted that this song harkens back to the
days of Rosalita. Huh? I don't see it. True, Mary's may be invigorating
and light and get the crowd going, but cannot match the majesty, power, and
lyrics of Rosie. Just read the lyrics for Rosie one day and you can see how
many words, descriptions, phrases, and power fill a song like that. True,
lyric-busting songs like Rosie and Saint were written nearly 30 years ago
and he has certainly earned the respect of everyone, but I think there is
still a standard and quality that he should still deliver on (this song in
particular).
He tries way too hard. Unfortunately, he picks this song to introduce the
band and hence, extends the misery even more. It's a good song, but keep it
3-4 minutes.
1) Land of Hope and Dreams - This is the feel-good song since BS wrote this
upon the commencement of the 99 Tour, full on with the E Street Band. After
alot of thought, reading of the lyrics, and comparison to his past
catalogue, I think it's a bunch of crap.
Where's the "hook"? I place Bruce's songs in three buckets: (i) fun songs
about youthfulness and abandon like Rosie, Spirit, (ii) dark songs with a
youthful feel to it like Dancing, Glory Days, and then (iii) dark songs with
a dark feel to it, but with interesting hooks that like River, Badlands,
Disguise. Where does LOHAD fit into that pattern? I feel it's a bunch of
lyrics, lyrics and lyrics (like Saint, but without the fun and hook) that go
no where. And, it just goes on and on.
OK, that's all the venom I had.... comments welcome.