BORN IN THE U.S.A.
by BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
JUNE 4, 1984
The commencement of Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band's Born in the U.S.A. album is a mix of keyboard notes played against a snare drum beat that lets the listener know that this is gonna be the strongest release of 1984. The only thing that would have made it picture perfect would be to have waited another month and releasing it on Independence Day.
Springsteen's lyrics are often dark, with characterizations of desperate people living in desperate times doing unspeakable acts that in other circumstances they would never have considered. Born in the U.S.A. still holds the life of anxiety but the characters now seek to grab the light that waits just out of reach. Among the songs is "Glory Days", which is ablaze with reminiscent moments of a time far enough in the past that it is untouchable yet close enough to bring about stories told with friends who lived them together. I have never been one for the look back style of writing, but Springsteen is able to draw you in with his tales in such a way that you begin to go back through your own catalog of memories.
In "Working on the Highway", instead of the music setting a dilapidation of black & white despair, he chooses to lay the lyrics on an up beat. When love walks out the door and your life is playing out in front of you on the big screen like animated characters, "Downbound Train" will put words to your personal film.
"Dancing in the Dark" is the first video from the album as well as the first video ever recorded for any Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band song. It shows how animated Bruce can be with his audience and what you see in the video goes 10 fold for his live concerts. He could easily have a video for each song that would visually connect with his compositions, but on the strengths of his music it would be unnecessary. So let's Dance in the dark.
The shortest track holds the most seductive song Springsteen has ever released to date. He often incorporates eyebrow raising lyrics such as; "the only lover I'm ever gonna need's your soft, sweet, little girl's tongue" but they are usually just a piece of a much bigger puzzle. The previous line is a small anointment that lays inside the larger story of young love kept apart by the adults who may have lost their passion. "I'm on Fire" is constructed with a sultry tempo that invites your emotions to the inside of love unrequited. One side is filled with possibilities, putting their souls on the line for a night of libidinous bodily needs that have built and now need to be released. The other side knows and understand what they are doing by delivering themselves to the doorstep of those who have desire swirling in their body. Knowing what they are doing does not stop them from submitting openly for viewing but unwilling to allow consummation the sexual tension that fills the space between the two.
Finalizing this tremendous rock record is "My Hometown", which is an ode to his father and all the things that he taught young Bruce. It is a brief glimpse into what made him the man he is today with a sense of endearment to all he saw with the dreams that were passed down the blood line. These lessons are so entrenched in Bruce that he can sit with pen and paper and not only recall the details of what he learned but convey them in song.
The cover photo by Annie Leibovitz shows loyalty to the country with the stripes in the background. The colors of the flag form a circle around him with blue jeans, red hat and white t-shirt which is a perfect fashion statement representing the lyrical content of the album. This leaves confusion with some but most understand he loves what America is suppose to stand for, but look around folks, the dreams of the beginning have gotten lost. The farther we get from 1776, the less those words of 'Let freedom ring' have meaning.
Springsteen owns the power to entertain and be entertained by his audiences in return. These are the things that keep audience coming back and packing the house whereever he plays.
11/29/10
RUSTY
6/4/84