Bruce Springsteen Corner

[jlhoots]

6 minutes ago, clifford_thornton said:

Dylan-esque for sure. Glad he did it.

So am I.

[EKE BBB]

Excellent song, timely lyrics. The boss being the boss.

[JSngry]

Wow. I feel better now. 🤡

[jazzbo]

This is the story of Hurricane Carter. . . I mean Minnesota Martyrs.

[clifford_thornton]

3 hours ago, jazzbo said:

This is the story of Hurricane Carter. . . I mean Minnesota Martyrs.

yup.

[JSngry]

I bet his guitar kills fascists too!

[felser]

7 hours ago, JSngry said:

I bet his guitar kills fascists too!

Could be.  Where's Pete when we need him?

[JSngry]

Guitars don't kill shit. That's reality.

[ghost of miles]

Surprise live performance from Springsteen last night at First Avenue in Minneapolis (the club where many of the performances in Prince's Purple Rain were performed):

 

[JSngry]

And the grounds were littered with the dead Fascist bodies?1

[Stompin at the Savoy]

I want to like this new tune about Minneapolis and I think I am in sympathy with his viewpoint here - some crazy shit happening.  But somehow I have never quite 'got' Bruce Springsteen.  Then again most pop music doesn't do much for me.

[mjazzg]

14 hours ago, JSngry said:

And the grounds were littered with the dead Fascist bodies?1

No but a strengthening of the collective feeling of solidarity was almost definitely achieved. I'd say that is important, it may not kill any fascists but it may well in the longer run kill the fascism. Or at the very least help to subjugate it.

If Bruce or any other artists want to make common cause with that then I will applaud. It may be dismissed as just gesture but some gestures are a lot more important than others.

[JSngry]

Good luck on all of that.

We will bellow out (really) bad songs. They will shoot to kill. And more.

I'm afraid the worst is yet to come, including the "songs".

[mjazzg]

I fear so too but without resistance the worst is very probably guaranteed. 

Obviously I have the privilege of being distanced and those nearer should make their own choices accordingly.

 

[JSngry]

All I can say is that if some doggerel song is what it takes to get people motivated, then people don't stand a chance.

Fascists play for keeps, not for songs 

[Stompin at the Savoy]

I have no idea if this new song will move anybody.  I couldn't get through to the end of it but that's just me.  I do think that many musicians and artists beginning to use their voices and platforms to advance a cause can move the dial.  It's a form of cultural solidarity.

[Dub Modal]

2 hours ago, JSngry said:

if some doggerel song is what it takes to get people motivated,

Unfortunately, it's the exact kind of thing necessary at the moment. If you want something a little stronger than this, check out Jesse Welles' "Join Ice," preferably the live version from Colbert's Late Show. Biting satire at its finest. It's on YT and I highly recommend going to listen. 

While songs will not slay physically, they can bolster spirit among targeted groups and their allies. The confirmation that you're not alone versus a mythical "silent majority" can be the helping hand one needs. Movements need anthems because they need voices to alert, encourage, and hopefully unify toward a common good. 

Regarding Guthrie's guitar message, I don't think he meant physically at all. Music has the power to change minds and educate, and education is a key weapon against fascism. I don't have any doubt he inspired and educated people with his message. Many of them likely fought in WW2 and they indeed killed fascists. 

[JSngry]

I'm just not a fan of manipulation, be it for my side or for the other side. Especially from and by pop stars. This shit is much deeper than that, and so is the thoughts and feelings that are needed to stay strong and to survive. No sense wasting time and energy on drivel.

Something stronger?

 

[Dub Modal]

1 minute ago, JSngry said:

I'm just not a fan of manipulation, be it for my side or for the other side. Especially from and by pop stars. This shit is much deeper than that, and so is the thoughts and feelings that are needed to stay strong and to survive. No sense wasting time and energy on drivel.

I'm not getting the manipulation side of it but we may be coming at it from different perspectives. I don't like being sold a bill of goods, don't like dealing with sham marketing, don't like to be hustled, etc. I also don't think that's the intention here with this song. Like, I don't think Bruce released this to make money. To me that would be the difference and I'd be cynical about it too. 

[JSngry]

I think he released it because he felt compelled to make a "statement".

Well, good for him! Tell me something I don't already know.

Some people may be shocked by what's going up, but I grew up in a part of the country were Fascistic impulses were pretty open and racism was hard-wired into the system. So AFAIC, this is nothing new except that now it's been handed the keys to the government. They're playing for keeps and they now have all the necessary tool at hand to go as far with it as they want to.

So forgive me if this piece of...whatever it is, doesn't particularly resonate with me.

[Dub Modal]

man I get it. I grew up and still live in the south. I wouldn't call myself a fan of Bruce's and this song isn't great to me. but at some point he was working class right? and unlike most of his demo that see things the complete opposite, it doesn't look like he's forgotten that. which is good to know but I'm also not arguing that he should get a medal or anything. 

[mjazzg]

51 minutes ago, JSngry said:

I think he released it because he felt compelled to make a "statement

And I think he released it because he wished to. Neither of us know so attributing motive is pretty redundant.

What's more important is what effect if any it has. That's been debated already so I'll not retread it.

 

[jazzbo]

I've never really been a Bruce fan. I've had women in my life who are, and I've heard a lot. None-the-less i think his intent here is to "expose" and perhaps move a person or two. He's been outspoken against this administration before--this is not an isolated incident. May he awaken a nerve or two.

[gvopedz]

Other people have quickly written songs for Minneapolis.  Here is Billy Bragg's:

https://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/billy_bragg_shares_new_protest_song_for_minneapolis_city_of_heroes

 

[Stompin at the Savoy]

I like Lady Gaga's contribution, which is a little more subtle: