Bruce Springsteen - Authentic and Emotional
by Michael HoffmanTuesday, October 23rd, 2007
I saw Bruce last night at the United Center here in Chicago. It was mostly great, as I knew it would be. What struck me was how emotional some of the songs were for me and for other people in the audience. Bruce’s stories of fighting authority, finding your way, hitting the road… for many of us who grew up with these songs when coming of age they had a powerful impact. Listening to him sing them, and the crowd sing along, brought up strong feelings of loss and possibilities — lost opportunities, about a future that seemed so far away and so open into a present that can often feel constrained by mortgages and responsibilities. And I felt old — certainly looking at all the geezers in a crowd.
He is powerful because he is authentic. And this is rule #1 of storytelling that you can take with you to your nonprofit work. Be real and it will have power you can’t manufacture.
Another thing to note: Several times last night he mentioned the Chicago Food Depository. I assume he is doing that in each city, calling out a local charity and giving them some love as well as allowing them to collect donations at the concert.
Here’s Bruce doing Thunder Road 32 years ago. Same Bruce doing Thunder Road last night. A little more gray hair, but same band, same energy.
October 24th, 2007 at 10:56 am
Right on with the emotional comment. I’ve been a devotee since the beginning. Bruce has inpired me along the long winding road since then. Always hitting a deep emtional chord. His writng is as strong now as ever .
On Tuesday night, I sat in awe, once again, as tears streamed down my face as I listened to The Devil’s Arcade. What a masterpiece.
October 25th, 2007 at 10:16 am
Thanks for posting this clip. I grew up (in New Jersey) with an older sister who was probably at this concert from ‘75. I too was at the concert on Monday night and felt wistful — for my days growing up in NJ, for our collective past, for our woeful current government. But, I came away with renewed respect and awe for Springsteen. I still turn to his music and words to speak for me. I remember his New York Times’ Op-Ed piece from 2004, Chords of Change:
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/05/opinion/05bruce.html?ex=1249444800&%2338;en=768bb75ef1018abe&%2338;ei=5090