So my high-school best friend, Josh Berger, writes a blog each week on 'American Idol.' And since I think it's the greatest hour on television -- and he has been busy -- he asked me to guest-pen this week's entry.
http://shoppingwithkarad.blogspot.com/
Monday, April 20, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Bruce
Since I can't use my own words to convince you about how great Bruce can be, I will let the man use his own words. Revel in the cadence and passion in his storytelling -- and how that coincides with the cadence and passion of the music.
This is the opening track from 'Born To Run,' the album that made Bruce the Boss. It was 1975. He was 25 and had released two dud albums despite being hailed as the new Dylan. His record company demanded a hit. If he didn't deliver, they'd drop him. So he threw his soul into this album. And 'Thunder Road' is its most beautiful component.
And in the clip you'll see the other thing that made Bruce great: his uber-energetic live shows, backed by the uber-energetic E Street Band. His shows were marathon sweatathons. And after this album, he was praised as the future of rock, appearing on the cover of Time and Newsweek magazines in the same week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KngiJUNdsu0
'THUNDER ROAD'
Words & Music by Bruce Springsteen
The screen door slams
Mary's dress waves
Like a vision, she dances across the porch
As the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
Hey, that's me, and I want you only
Don't turn me home again
I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside
Darling, you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking
That maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright
Oh and that's alright with me
You can hide 'neath your covers
And study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers
Throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain
For a saviour to rise from these streets
Well now, I'm no hero
That's understood
All the redemption I can offer girl
Is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey, what else can we do now ?
Except roll down the window
And let the wind blow back your hair
Well the night's busting open
These two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back
Heaven's waiting on down the tracks
Oh-oh, come take my hand
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
Oh-oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Hey, I know it's late --- we can make it if we run
Oh Thunder Road
Sit tight
Take hold
Thunder Road
Well I got this guitar
And I learned how to make it talk
And my car's out back
If you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open, but the ride it ain't free
And I know you're lonely
For words that I ain't spoken
But tonight we'll be free
All the promises'll be broken
There were ghosts in the eyes
Of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road
In the skeleton frames of burned out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the street
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
And in the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines roaring on
But when you get to the porch, they're gone
On the wind
So Mary climb in
It's town full of losers
And I'm pulling out of here to win
(NOTE: This is one of my favorite closing verses of all time. The words catch you -- and the story comes to a crescendo. To me, his wordplay rivaled Costello back then.)
The next song is one of the most insightful songs ever written about fading love. As time went on, Bruce became less of a ramshackle poet and more an observant narrator. His lyrics became more direct and less showy, but more mature and mannered.
'Brilliant Disguise' is the centerpiece of 1988's 'Tunnel Of Love' album -- a record about his first, failed marriage. This song is about realizing the person you love may not be the person you think. Smart words here, and a pretty, catchy melody.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx0E6EbpSn0
'BRILLIANT DISGUISE'
Words & Music by Bruce Springsteen
I hold you in my arms as the band plays
What are those words whispered, baby, just as you turn away?
I saw you last night out on the edge of town
I wanna read your mind and know just what I've got in this new thing I've found
So tell me what I see when I look in your eyes
Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise?
I heard somebody call your name from underneath our willow
I saw something tucked in shame underneath your pillow
Well I've tried so hard baby, but I just can/t see
What a woman like you is doing with me
So tell me what I see when I look in your eyes
Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise?
Now look at me, baby, struggling to do everything right
And then it all falls apart when out go the lights
I'm just a lonely pilgrim -- I walk this world in wealth
I want to know if it's you I dont trust
'Cause I damn sure don't trust myself
Now you play the loving woman -- I'll play the faithful man
But just don't look too close into the palm of my hand
We stood at the alter -- the gypsy swore our future was right
But come the wee wee hours, maybe baby the gypsy lied
So when you look at me, you better look hard and look twice
Is that me baby or just a brilliant disguise?
Tonight our bed is cold
I'm lost in the darkness of our love
God have mercy on the man
Who doubts what he's sure of
This is the opening track from 'Born To Run,' the album that made Bruce the Boss. It was 1975. He was 25 and had released two dud albums despite being hailed as the new Dylan. His record company demanded a hit. If he didn't deliver, they'd drop him. So he threw his soul into this album. And 'Thunder Road' is its most beautiful component.
And in the clip you'll see the other thing that made Bruce great: his uber-energetic live shows, backed by the uber-energetic E Street Band. His shows were marathon sweatathons. And after this album, he was praised as the future of rock, appearing on the cover of Time and Newsweek magazines in the same week.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KngiJUNdsu0
'THUNDER ROAD'
Words & Music by Bruce Springsteen
The screen door slams
Mary's dress waves
Like a vision, she dances across the porch
As the radio plays
Roy Orbison singing for the lonely
Hey, that's me, and I want you only
Don't turn me home again
I just can't face myself alone again
Don't run back inside
Darling, you know just what I'm here for
So you're scared and you're thinking
That maybe we ain't that young anymore
Show a little faith, there's magic in the night
You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright
Oh and that's alright with me
You can hide 'neath your covers
And study your pain
Make crosses from your lovers
Throw roses in the rain
Waste your summer praying in vain
For a saviour to rise from these streets
Well now, I'm no hero
That's understood
All the redemption I can offer girl
Is beneath this dirty hood
With a chance to make it good somehow
Hey, what else can we do now ?
Except roll down the window
And let the wind blow back your hair
Well the night's busting open
These two lanes will take us anywhere
We got one last chance to make it real
To trade in these wings on some wheels
Climb in back
Heaven's waiting on down the tracks
Oh-oh, come take my hand
We're riding out tonight to case the promised land
Oh-oh Thunder Road, oh Thunder Road
Lying out there like a killer in the sun
Hey, I know it's late --- we can make it if we run
Oh Thunder Road
Sit tight
Take hold
Thunder Road
Well I got this guitar
And I learned how to make it talk
And my car's out back
If you're ready to take that long walk
From your front porch to my front seat
The door's open, but the ride it ain't free
And I know you're lonely
For words that I ain't spoken
But tonight we'll be free
All the promises'll be broken
There were ghosts in the eyes
Of all the boys you sent away
They haunt this dusty beach road
In the skeleton frames of burned out Chevrolets
They scream your name at night in the street
Your graduation gown lies in rags at their feet
And in the lonely cool before dawn
You hear their engines roaring on
But when you get to the porch, they're gone
On the wind
So Mary climb in
It's town full of losers
And I'm pulling out of here to win
(NOTE: This is one of my favorite closing verses of all time. The words catch you -- and the story comes to a crescendo. To me, his wordplay rivaled Costello back then.)
The next song is one of the most insightful songs ever written about fading love. As time went on, Bruce became less of a ramshackle poet and more an observant narrator. His lyrics became more direct and less showy, but more mature and mannered.
'Brilliant Disguise' is the centerpiece of 1988's 'Tunnel Of Love' album -- a record about his first, failed marriage. This song is about realizing the person you love may not be the person you think. Smart words here, and a pretty, catchy melody.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fx0E6EbpSn0
'BRILLIANT DISGUISE'
Words & Music by Bruce Springsteen
I hold you in my arms as the band plays
What are those words whispered, baby, just as you turn away?
I saw you last night out on the edge of town
I wanna read your mind and know just what I've got in this new thing I've found
So tell me what I see when I look in your eyes
Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise?
I heard somebody call your name from underneath our willow
I saw something tucked in shame underneath your pillow
Well I've tried so hard baby, but I just can/t see
What a woman like you is doing with me
So tell me what I see when I look in your eyes
Is that you baby or just a brilliant disguise?
Now look at me, baby, struggling to do everything right
And then it all falls apart when out go the lights
I'm just a lonely pilgrim -- I walk this world in wealth
I want to know if it's you I dont trust
'Cause I damn sure don't trust myself
Now you play the loving woman -- I'll play the faithful man
But just don't look too close into the palm of my hand
We stood at the alter -- the gypsy swore our future was right
But come the wee wee hours, maybe baby the gypsy lied
So when you look at me, you better look hard and look twice
Is that me baby or just a brilliant disguise?
Tonight our bed is cold
I'm lost in the darkness of our love
God have mercy on the man
Who doubts what he's sure of
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