Bruce Springsteen plans Broadway return of his one-man show

WA4TKGToday  09:11 am JST

Lol

Don't laugh. His show has a soundtrack CD, and I own a copy. Not only are the songs good but the show is a bit autobiographical and has some humorous elements in it. Give it a lsten. The Boss is quite a showman.

Why do you believe he should give to the California homeless?

Of course, he doesn't have to, I personally don't care, but don't give me the crap story that he cares about the homeless, perhaps in his State, but overall or to make some charity foundation, he has not done so. 

New Jersey is his state. But making this show many people who have been out of work for a year will have some work. The shows and gigs are supported by large numbers of people.

I understand

Don't you have any thought for the millions of musicians who have unable to work and earn during the pandemic. The people who work in theatre's like on Broadway.

I sure do

I'm not accusing you, relax, but I do have an opinion based on years in the business.

If you do, as you say, have years in the business then you ought to know that while talent may be objective in terms of hitting the right notes and keys, appeal is not. That is purely subjective and in that regard, Bruce Springsteen is undeniably successful, having sold more than 64.5 million records "making him the 15th highest-selling artist of all time and seventh highest-selling male artist overall".

And my argument was, if the man truly cared about the homeless, he could create a foundation for thousands of needy people, he can do whatever he wants, but to claim that he cares about the poor and working-class, it's kind of limited and regulated to Jersey.

Do your research. He did exactly that years ago and not just for New Jersey though I fail to see how it would be any less worthy if he had decided to stick with one state in supporting the homeless and needy.

It's no surprise, then, that a big focus of the Thrill Hill Foundation is on human services and antipoverty efforts, particularly in his native New Jersey, and also in Los Angeles. Helping those at the bottom, getting kicked around, has always been important to The Boss. 

Recent support from Thrill Hill has gone to 1736 Family Crisis Center in Los Angeles, which responds to the "growing needs of victims of domestic violence, runaway and homeless youth, homeless families, unemployed adults and youth, and other low-income community members in need of assistance."

Other support has gone to Community Food Bank of New Jersey, Freehold Borough YMCA Community Center, New England Shelter for Homeless Veterans, Saturday Soup of Asbury Park, and Project Angel Food, which provides meals to those struggling with illness.

I do a lot as I said and have for years and not just for one State and just leave it at that.

So we're just supposed to believe and accept that you do "a lot" but what, Springsteen has to prove himself in your eyes in order to be a worthy contributor to society?

zichiJune 8  10:28 pm JST

Whatever people think him and his music he's giving work to hundreds who need it now.

I never heard of the homeless in California getting something for him. In that case, Bon Jovi is way better or Gary Sinise.

Why do you believe he should give to the California homeless? New Jersey is his state.

I've seen Bruce live four times and at his shows ALL the proceeds from the touring souvenir sales go directly back to the city he plays in. It often goes to a food bank or an organization similar to it in every town he plays in, and that includes in California or even planet Pluto. I know.

bass4funk

So, the bottom line is that he’s human and this is pretty a left/right political thing for you. Good to know.

By the way, I never said I admired him. That’s an assumption on your part.

... pretty much a ...

You can't accuse me of saying something I did not.

I'm not accusing you, relax, but I do have an opinion based on years in the business.

Once again I never said any of that. I just commented he was from and lives in New Jersey and not California which was entirely your own comment.

And my argument was, if the man truly cared about the homeless, he could create a foundation for thousands of needy people, he can do whatever he wants, but to claim that he cares about the poor and working-class, it's kind of limited and regulated to Jersey.

I also asked what you are doing to help musicians get back to work? No answer. You are making a broadway show and employing hundreds. I don't think so. Just be honest.

I do a lot as I said and have for years and not just for one State and just leave it at that.

I don't care if you hate him but make your own posts instead of accusing me of posting what I did not.

We already went through this.

In which post did I even make that claim? Wrong once again.

We went through this already.

Coming out of the pandemic the return of concerts, theatre, museums are all very good especially for all those who have not been able to work this past year.

I agree. I was just commenting on years of his so called stance of caring about blue collar workers is overall a complete ruse or limited to say the least.

A broadway show will provide work for many people and especially those in need

For a few, yes.

during the pandemic how have you helped musicians and their support staff?

Online and leave it at that.

If you do, as you say, have years in the business then you ought to know that while talent may be objective in terms of hitting the right notes and keys, appeal is not.

I vehemently disagree on that one.

That is purely subjective and in that regard, Bruce Springsteen is undeniably successful, having sold more than 64.5 million records "making him the 15th highest-selling artist of all time and seventh highest-selling male artist overall". 

I know the man has sold millions of albums, again, I don't deny his success, so we don't have to debate that, I give him that for his fanbase, which I am not a part of and that was never my original argument, a lot of people like the man and his talents, whatever that may be, but look at Prince and I think he is definitely more talented without a doubt and I am not a fan at all, but I do recognize something unique, I never saw that with Springsteen and while I have stated before that music is subjective

Do your research. He did exactly that years ago and not just for New Jersey though I fail to see how it would be any less worthy if he had decided to stick with one state in supporting the homeless and needy.

That was a long time ago and once again, he can do with his money what he wants, but I think the guy is a lot of talk and you or anyone else will never browbeat me into changing my mind and it's ok, a lot of people don't like the people I musically look up to and that is alright, we used to live in a society where people could voice their opinions without an ounce of backlash, now the left has made it that everyone has to be in unison and have a collective one thought, I am not going to partake in that, be pushed of intimidated, I feel the way I feel and I am just expressing it on a forum and that is it, you admire him, I respect your opinion, but I don't, that's it.

So we're just supposed to believe and accept that you do "a lot" but what,

You don't have to believe anything, I am just answering a basic question, nothing more and whether you believe me or not is totally irrelevant, why would I not answer a question that is directed towards me?

Springsteen has to prove himself in your eyes in order to be a worthy contributor to society?

No, absolutely not, he doesn't have to, but from what I personally know, heard, and have seen over the years, I think the man is good with some of the things he does, but other things he's a complete hypocrite.

Lol

I don't know where you are digging this up from fella. Crosswires somewhere.

No, just giving my opinion.

I never even said that in my comments.

To refresh your brain I say

It's ok, don't worry, my point was you were on me about how gracious the man is in his home State and I merely said, I don't agree that the man truly cares about the poor generally speaking overall, maybe in his State, but with all the money he has and the mediocre songs he sings about blue-collar workers, one might think he would help more people across the country, but that's on him, but I don't believe the man is sincere.

Whatever you think of him or his music by making the Broadway show will give some work to 100s of people who have suffered during the pandemic because of no work.

Well, if you think he's a good guy for helping people in the arts ok, but just think the guy is mediocre at best. 

what are you doing personally to help musicians and their support staff get back to work?

A lot more than Springsteen.

AIDS & HIV, Cancer, Children, Conservation, Creative Arts, Disaster Relief, Economic/Business Support, Education, Environment, Health, Human Rights, Hunger, Mental Challenges, Physical Challenges, Poverty, Unemployment/Career Support, Veteran/Service Member Support, Voter Education, Women.

Supporting and giving millions in donation are two different things

Springsteen does his grantmaking through the Thrill Hill Foundation. Grantmaking supports human services, antipoverty, and more. In addition, Springsteen has another organization simply named The Foundation, Inc., which funds house repairs for low-income homeowners in New Jersey.

Again, has nothing to do with blue collar workers.

Thrill Hill Foundation, which is dedicated to improving the lives of veterans.

That isn't enough for you.

admirable list, but that never answered my question.

What a joke. Lol

Presumably the LOLs are from people who judge Springsteen solely by his politics, not by his music.

For his music as well.

Anyone with a good pair of ears and an open mind and heart knows the man to be one of the greatest living musicians in the world, and would love to attend one of his shows in person.

Well, music is subjective and as someone who works in the business, I can comment and say that for my personal taste I have never known musically what is so special about the guy. Again, if he's someone's cup of tea, more power to them, but I definitely don't find his voice, musical arrangements or onstage presence appealing, inspiring, moving, or uplifting and this was way before we know about his nutty stance on politics.

Maybe the scoffers are also p-d off with the glimpse into the future contained in the last para. That’s just tough, people. You can always stay home and listen to the CD.

Naw, there are better talented and proper musicians out there.

Whatever people think him and his music he's giving work to hundreds who need it now.

I never heard of the homeless in California getting something for him. In that case, Bon Jovi is way better or Gary Sinise.

if the appreciation of music is indeed subjective, which it partly is, then you can’t describe the appreciation of Springsteen as “what a joke” unless you actually believe yourself to be the objective arbiter of what’s musically worthwhile and what isn’t

I am very objective, but as someone who just deals in musical history, as well as scoring and arrangements, I think my personal opinion among the circle of people I'm involved with is extremely valid, that doesn't mean I have the final word, it is just based on years of musical experience. You can apply the same analogy to Randy Jackson, former judge of American Idol, he was a judge that critiqued young talent and could see if they had it to make it big as well as judging their musical abilities, many didn't make and many decided to never give up and go for it and pursue their dream and some did become successful even if Jackson some of these people were mediocre musicians, in the end, they were able achieve their musical dreams and goals. Apply the same analogy, I think Springsteen may be way too overrated, you might not and that is ok. I am rather picky when it comes to musical talent and music overall because "one" of the things that I do in my job is to critique and review movies and films.

I personally believe your characterisation of Springsteen’s politics as “nutty” to be the key clue as to why you dismiss the man’s artistic talents so completely.

That is not true, I thought the man was nutty back in the '80s before I knew where he stood politically. I think Elvis was way more musically talented and gifted than Springsteen, but I am NOT a fan of Elvis or his music, but he was a very talented performer. The same goes for Prince, disliked the guy's music, but he was an excellent musician and performer. So I do give credit where credit is due.