New Springsteen Articles
I've dedicated my first few articles on Suite101 to Bruce Springsteen's new folk album, its political message, and how it is resonating with audiences.
Well, after one week at Suite101, I feel a bit like a Bruce Springsteen stalker. My first article was a review of his stellar new album, We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions. I followed that up with a two-part article analyzing the record's implicit and explicit political messages.
deals with the topics of Springsteen's concern for the travails of workers and his condemnation and attempts to combat racial intolerance.
continues my interrupted discussion of "Mrs. McGrath" and its anti-war commentary, before concluding with a look at the album's playfully-twisted final track.
However, I don't feel like my enthusiasm has been misplaced. Springsteen has become a hot topic of late, and here's why...
On May 1, 2006, Springsteen played a rousing and politically-charged set
at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival that made headlines around the world. During his performance, he decried what he called the "criminal ineptitude" that followed Hurricane Katrina
last year.
One of the many highlights came when Springsteen played his version of Blind Alfred Reed's Depression-era song, "How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live?". He updated the final three verses, changing them a into commentary on the current situation in New Orleans. One of the band's rehearsal takes is now available on Springsteen's website.
Please take a minute and respond to any of these articles or the issues you find within them. A discussion
has already started in association with my review. It is rather two-sided at the moment though, and desperately needs a fresh perspective. And, one brief caveat, it has evolved into more of a conversation about Bob Dylan. Feel free to add your two cents or start off in a new direction.
