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Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band


Born: 1949
Location: Long Branch, New Jersey, USA
Genre: Rock, Heartland Rock
Years Active: 1973 -
Real Name: Bruce Springsteen
Meaning of the Name:
Way of Working: Led by Bruce Springsteen

Essential Releases

Dummy

Born to Run (1975)

Powerful rock anthems.

Album Title 2

The River (1980)

A sprawling double album exploring themes of love, loss, and disillusionment.

Album Title 2

Born in the USA (1984)

A massive commercial success with patriotic anthems and social commentary.


The iconic rock legend Bruce Springsteen showcased the nobility of working-class life throughout his illustrious career, which saw him top the US album charts 11 times. His 'honest days work for an honest day's pay' ethos was a sentiment America forgot during its struggles with high unemployment in the 70s.

During this time, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band pioneered Heartland Rock, a subgenre that focused on the everyday struggles of ordinary people as a pertinent reminder that normal life wasn't something to be ashamed of. The message became more timely as the '70s gave way to the greed of the '80s, and individualism ran rampant on the back of Reagan's neoliberal agenda.

Tracks such as his 1975 single 'Born to Run' explore the basic human need for freedom. Springsteen, in particular, wanted to escape from his native Freehold, New Jersey, as he expresses in the song: "sprung out of cages on Highway 9, chrome wheeled, fuel injected, and steppin' out over the line." Highway 9 runs through Freehold.

The desire to pack up and hit the road, whether that be the Route 66 of Kerouac or the Oregon Trail of the settlers, is deeply rooted in the American consciousness. Springsteen taps into this effortlessly with his driving anthems and sombre ballads that tell the tales of the downtrodden and the oppressed.

Whether it be a persecuted man wracked with HIV, as in Streets of Philadelphia, or a young kid shot to death for merely carrying a wallet, as in American Skin, Springsteen amplifies their cries with his own, sharing his audience of millions with people who might never have been heard.


Skills

*This is a work in progress. Values are subjective.

Emotional Impact

i Does it connect with the heart? What does it make you feel and how much of it?
95

Mental Impact

i Does it connect with the head? Social issues, interesting observations, clever lyrics, similies etc.
50

Originality

i Are they unique? Did they break new ground, use new techniques or create new genres.
90

Artistry

i Using creativity and imagination to present themselves in a unique way. Example, Wu-Tang Clan as Shaolin and Marvel characters etc.
90

Authenticity

i Do they really mean what they say? Is it autobiographical, personal?
90

Live

i Stage presence, working the crowd, performance. Miming, forgetting lyrics reduce this.
95

Production

i Studio techniques. More important for electronic music including hip hop.
65

Musicianship

i Their ability to play individually and as a group. Technical skills. DJing. Freestyling for hip hop.
85

Singing

i Technical attributes.
80

Songwriting

i Storytelling. Cohesive themes. Is the song about something? Stan by Eminem is an example of excellent songwriting.
100

Danceability

i Does it make you move? Do you tap your foot, nod your head or move your whole body?
50

Fun

i Is listening to it a good time? Are the lyrics funny? Depressing themes lowers value.
35

Consistency

i Have they put out good music across their careers. Two good albums and 5 band ones will reduce this value.
75

Range

i Fast, slow, ballads, party jams. Do they go beyond their own genre?
65

Cool

i Laid-back, icy detachment, unflustered.
40

Charisma

i Factors include appearance, force of personality. Elvis making people faint etc.
60

Commercial & Critical Success

Awards >>>

  • Grammy Award WINNER! x20
  • Golden Globe Award WINNER! x2
  • Academy Award WINNER! 1994 - Streets of Philadelphia - Best Original Song
  • BRIT Award WINNER! 1986 - International Solo Artist

Certifications >>>

  • USA - Diamond album x1; Platinum albums x11
  • UK - Platinum albums x5

Charts >>>

  • x11 USA #1 Albums
  • x11 UK #1 Albums

Critics >>>

  • Rolling Stone - Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. - Greatest Debut Albums: #37
  • Rolling Stone - Born to Run - Greatest Album of All Time (2020): #21
  • Rolling Stone - Darkness on the Edge of Town - Greatest Album of All Time (2020): #91
  • Paste - The River - Greatest Album of 80s: #29
  • VH1 - Born to Run - Greatest Album of All Time (2020): #27


CRITICISM

  • Springsteen was called in the Vietnam draft when he was 19 but failed his physical. Years later he admitted to faking symptoms of a concussion.


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