"What am I'm gonna wear? Okay... stay calm!! Comfortable shoes... Oh, I should get my hair done... hmm... So many thing to do and so little time... just a couple months and couple days!!! Wait... I'll need tickets!!!" I'm so excited!!!
I guess by now you've heard the news!!! Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band are touring again!! And It looks like a pretty full schedule but thankfully there are holes that could be filled with some of the locations closer to my hometown!! The Ohio/Michigan area as well as Buffalo/Rochester were not included in the dates that were announced this last week... but I have faith that they will be added to this tour... Anyhow, It looks like I'll be travelling this leg... I just haven't decided where in the US yet. I am definitely going to follow The "Dream" Tour to Europe!! Anyone else?? I just hope that I'm not going all the way to Dublin for 1 show and that at least 2 more get added!! But like I said, my faith is high... I'm so looking forward to Rome/Turin/Udine!! I simply love the Italian fans! I hope some day Bruce takes me to Sicily, too!! We are gonna have so much fun!! Keep your eyes open for 4 way overly happy women and say "Hello!!" I have a new camera that takes video, too!! (But my hands tremble when I see him so we'll have to see... maybe this time they won't... or maybe Rachel should take the pictures?!!) :) I just want to say: God Bless Patti... how does she put up with us silly girls? But it's not my fault it's Bruce's... His new album leaves me feeling giddy... like maybe love is... real.
Anyway... I'm not sure what songs I'll be adding... it's totally up to Bruce!!
Who needs a therapist when we've got Doctor Bruce?!! Not I!! His thoughts are amazing... It's funny how ya go through life hoping to find another person, or people, who are "on the same page" so to speak... who think... beyond this dimension. Perhaps it's more common in "other" lands... far away from the roads I've taken. lol Anyhow... what I'm trying to say is: What a great "thinker" our stinker is!! But you knew that... right?
Did you also know that Bruce did an awesome interview with the BBC that touches on many of the "issues" you/me/he/we deal with in life and love? He lets us peek into his relationships, remarking on how love transcends time. This is really good stuff!! I highly recommend this interview...
Corrado shared a few of his thoughts on The Last Carnival... I'd like to share them with you:
"... Well... what I can say after this great video... It's difficult, but I feel that I need to... I think it resumes what is the essence of words like friendship, brotherhood, love, loss, and it's like to realize that something has gone forever... It's hard, but the strange is that I like to feel this... it's sad, it's like to open again wounds, our own wounds, but we need to feel this... we need it 'cause this let us feel alive. Everyone has something hard in his past, something very hidden inside, something very difficult to heal. But, perhaps, it's fair that this can't be healed, 'cause it's something necessary to balance us with all that we have around. Too often we loose the ability to feel us really "tuned" with life, with people, or with ourselves too. Well, this song, this video, this feeling are more than a song, a video, a feeling... They are what we really should be... It's a sad song, full of love and pain, but it's a song on something very rare in life, very precious, essential, something that can be defined with the word "consciousness". Consciousness of what we have in life, of what we can loose, of what will not come back. If we try to find this consciousness, we try to find some "peace", a cure for our wounds. Hugs!" ~ Corrado
Kudos to Dutch TV... who aired the Inaugural Concert for Free on Public TV.
"This song is Copyrighted in the U.S., under Seal of Copyright # 154085, for a period of 28 years, and anybody caught singin it without our permission will be mighty good friends of ours, cause we don't give a durn. Publish it. Write it. Sing it. Swing to it. Yodel it. We wrote it, that's all we wanted to do." ~ Woody Guthrie
More from Dutch Tv: The Rising ~ Bruce
American media dropped the ball.
HBO must be planning on selling a DVD of the show... as they are hording their recorded material and deleting every youtube that finds it's way online.
The following comment came to me a few nights ago... and I wanted it to share it with you... I think it would be so nice if Bruce could hear just how sweet his "Dream" album is to us...
"I keep on listening to it... My thoughts... Well. First of all, right now I love this album in its entirety. I absolutely love the arrangements, particularly the strings, they have some kind of soothing effect to me, I don't know how to explain it, they seem to hit straight at my heart... Maybe I'm just too sensitive these days :) I'll say it like that: I feel this record is too big right now to be able to express the richness of feelings it gives to me. It's like when you're in love, you know what you feel, but can you express it in words? Impossible :) you can express some of it, but not the whole thing. My favorites? Right now I have Queen and Kingdom of Days on top, just a bit above Outlaw Pete, What Love Can Do, This Life, The Last Carnival and Good Eye. I mean these are the songs that really let me *soar* when I listen to them...But I love the whole album so far." ~ Raff
"You write the song just for yourself, but it's not good unless you play it for somebody else. That is the connection between people that's forever lasting and can never be broken apart." ~ Bruce Springsteen, 1985
"The mistake is to start thinking that you are your songs. To me a song is a vision, a flash: I see characters and situations" ~ Bruce Springsteen, 1974
"I'm Outlaw Pete, Can you hear me? Can you hear me??" ~ Outlaw Pete ~ 2007/8
Like a voice crying in the wilderness... Bruce begins Chapter 16 of one of the most romantic adventures ever written!! "Can you hear me? Can you hear me??" Those 4 words alone make me hearken... and as I move closer pressing my headset to my ears and I find myself lost in a world of "Love" and "Life." ... Outlaw Pete is the perfect intro as it grabs my attention... it's Bruce at his best... storytelling. So as I climb up onto his stolen pony... I hear the galloping of hooves as his melody draws me in... Being a sinner since I had "little bare baby feet"... I can relate to Pete, and find myself singing with him, "Can you hear me?? Can you here me?" It seems sinner Pete has found peace... that is of course until Dan comes along and challenges his right to live happily ever after... and while Pete wins his life he discovers that he will always be an outlaw... a killer... and a thief... and that these things cannot be undone... and so Pete disappears... over the edge... into her... his lucky day... but she has been hiding away so he urges her to come out... cause "to win darlin' we must play" put in context these two sit perfectly... Next our outlaw let's us in on his dream... revealing his inspiration... "I think of you and I'm working on a dream." He's taking us into his fairytale... the music is easy going... none threatning... so I'm game... let's play!! As I go further into this outlaw's secret world of love and desire I find my self stalking the aisles of the local supermarket to gaze upon the beauty of an ordinary (common) girl who has captured this superstar outlaw's admiration... "as the evening sky turns blue a dream awaits in aisle #2"
So mature how he wears his heart on his sleeve... so enchantingly sweet... "at night I pray for the strength to tell her... I love, I love, I love her so" and as he takes his place in line he is lifted up... a sweet sweet love song... teetering on the edge of obsessive it ends with our outlaw's youthful exuberance as he catches her smile so incredible it causes him to cuss. His prayer continues as he finds not only the strength to tell her that he loves her but now he offers to show her...
"What Love Can Do"
This Life continues our adventure... and I love it... The Outlaw has found peace... his "universe at rest" in one night... and he'd trade a billion years for just the one night of "her"... a gravity too strong to forget the memory of the sighs "cresting where she stood"... the intimacy in "I finger the hem of your dress" is breathtaking... This Life has swoon potential... with a definite "Byrds" influence it's colors are bittersweet... but his life is blessed. Good Eye follows This Life perfectly... a little bit of Blues to shake things up... a lot of "was" in this one... no excuses Outlaw... you did what you did... you don't have to explain!! But what better excuse than "I had my good eye to the dark and my blind eye to the sun?" I like this one a lot!! (But I love blues and banjos!!) "Tomorrow Never Knows" Wow... The title says it all... it's light, hope filled, simplistic... a lovely little country rock pop song. I suppose we'll have to wait and see what tomorrow brings. ;)
Life Itself remains my favorite... but it's a very close race!!
Kingdom of Days is lovely... it's intimate and sweet how they laugh under the covers at the "wrinkles and grays"... I love the exchange of "I love you, I love you, I love you... then prove it, then prove it, then prove it" I think what he is saying is "seize the moment" or "enjoy every breath" because your time is finite and if you're not careful you'll miss your chance as well as the beauty of life waiting for the right moment... when all along the right moment was every or any moment... and don't walk away from it. (Bummer.) So... what's the big Surprise Surprise?? It's your Birthday!! Another reminder to enjoy your blessings... Again... I love this one!! What a great birthday wish/song!! The music is wonderfully colorful and happy!! "Surprise, surprise come open your eyes and let your love shine down" This is POP at it's truest!! The CD ends with The Last Carnival... a requiem for Danny.
In conclusion... On first impression, Working on A Dream is light and colorful... dripping with sappy sentiments... layers of delightful sounds that make it pleasantly different!! It's happy... almost to the point of an overdose... but between the layers there is the sadness... and longing that reveals to us that Bruce is still The Boss of the "Lonely Hearted Lovers Society." With a Bonus tack of the Golden Globe winner, The Wrestler this CD is nothing short of perfection. Working On A Dream is Bruce's most eclectic creative record EVER... I'm blown away by it. It's fresh, crisp, and filled full of LIFE... And so, after 20 years, we can now step out of the Darkness On The Edge of Town that we should have escaped through the Tunnel of Love and step into the present in this ageless love affair with our Outlaw.
All the above videos were inspired by Bruce and created by me ~ Gina
I would think that everybody has a "Lost on a Deserted Island" CD... but most Bruce fans would agree that it is near to impossible to pick just one of his discs if you were asked to... but what if you were forced to?? Could you do it?? I could... without hesitation!! In my opinion my choice captures the essence of Bruce's novel... and of all of the boots that I have listened to this one is the most colorfully energized yet delicate... it draws you into another world with the music alone... I've never heard such beautiful drumming!! This is one of those "Wish I was there" shows.,,, but since I'm bordering on breaking my own rule that prohibits me from reviewing a show I did not attend... I'll stop typing and let the show speak for itself... but first... to quote the bible... "man does not live by bread alone..." he needs The Main Point boot!!
If you would like this show on Mp3... you can find it here...
The kids are back in school!! God Bless the TEACHERS!! Now, before I go running off to start a busy day of catching up on everything I couldn't do over the holidays... I thought I'd do a little youtube surfing and I came upon a sweet youtube that I thought I'd share with ya! Some things are unforgettable as they should be remembered forever... Like this little ditty!!
Sting and his "Amigo" Bruce for Amnesty 1988.
Although I enjoy watching Bruce sing "Every Breath You Take" with Sting... I need to say that this lyric is quite frightning. :o "I'll be watching you." The thought of that leaves me feeling sort of creepy... I mean... it's one thing to follow someone's music and/or tours but "every breath... every step... every move?" That's WAAAAY overboard!!! It may sound rather intriguing to be loved/admired/desired with such dedication... it's a bit obsessive don't you think?
That said: Does anyone know where Bruce is today?!!
New Year's Night 1979... Round 2... I was ready! Or was I?! Though it was 30 years ago... It feels like it was just yesterday... I can remember how it felt waiting for Bruce... from 3rd row, center!! It was his turn to be the god and it was my turn to worship at the alter of ROCK-n-ROLL!! This was it, the only place to be... it felt like life itself and I was there!! "So'd everybody survive New Year's Eve or what?" Bruce giggled... knowing that tonight he planned on taking us further than we could have imagined!! Starting with Rave On... we raved on and on... through BADLANDS / RENDEZVOUS / SPIRIT IN THE NIGHT / DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN / FACTORY / STREETS OF FIRE... Tears streamed down my face... I was breathless... he was so intense!! The band was so tight!! Clarence was soooo cool!! and I was so close!! HEARTBREAK HOTEL / THE PROMISED LAND / PROVE IT ALL NIGHT / RACIN' IN THE STREET / THUNDER ROAD... Oh my goodness... what was this energy?? This was so different than hovering in the back rafters... It felt as though he was singing to me... and he was... straight into my heart with a message of hope and purpose... I had no idea what that purpose could be... I had been so battered and broken... I was only 18 but I had already been through hell... I had been abused, abandoned, kidnapped, tortured, but I was "lucky" to be alive... so I was confused... lost... and in my mind I was all alone, feeling as if no one understood my pain... so when Bruce sang Thunder Road it felt as if it was personal invitation to leave it all behind and climb in... he wasn't a hero and he couldn't offer any redemption but he could show me a way out without actually having to leave... just get in the front seat and he would take me to case the promised land... and so I climbed in and he took me with him... to MEETING ACROSS THE RIVER / JUNGLELAND... Sweet Jesus... that was amazing... Beneath the city two hearts beat... it was magical... looking back I believe this was one of his all time greatest performances of Jungleland. Could it get any better?? I stood in awe as Bruce disappeared off of the stage for a 20 minute break...
Bruce came out and thanked all the fans who saved up their dough to follow him around from city to city... and then for them: we got my first FOR YOU... I was down for the count... again, IMO, his best full band performance!! Bruce did offer me redemption that night... so long ago... he helped me get past my pain and gave me a desire to be me... just like he was being himself and expressing himself... so differently than anyone or anything I had ever seen!! Bruce gave me a place to escape... and so I escaped... into the music... SAINT IN THE CITY guitars blazing!! SANTA CLAUS / I FOUGHT THE LAW / FEVER... Hot hot hot!! I had gotten The Fever EVERY show so far! This was the best!! Bruce was so on fire that New Year's night 30 years ago!! There was no turning back... I would spend the rest of my life unable to find another sound... another emotion... another existence that could match this place that Bruce was taking me... BECAUSE THE NIGHT... I was spiraling out of control!!! FIRE / CANDY'S ROOM :o / POINT BLANK... a masterpiece... he out did himself... an exquisite performance of Point Blank... with a sweet intro into an impassioned MONA - SHE'S THE ONE - GLORIA... I frickin' love Bruce's and Stevie vocal blend/scream in this one!! They are on fire and Bruce is a wild man... The bass lines drive us on... and Bruce goes into another tangent... guitars exploding... the raw emotion erupts as we surrender to the urgency of Bruce's passion!! But Bruce isn't done yet... he has more to give as he begs his baby to come back... "my arms they cry for you" he pleads her in this very special intro to BACKSTREETS... He promised to never ever make her cry... never ever make her blue... and so I escape into his promises... and I become Terri for the next 7 minutes... what an amazing night this was... but it wasn't over yet... it was time to rock!! THE LAST TIME / ROSALITA / BORN TO RUN / DETROIT MEDLEY / 10TH AVENUE FREEZE OUT / QUARTER TO THREE... He was so much fun!! Brooooooce!!! What an awesome show!! I think I was in shock as I left the building... still I had no idea what I was witnessing at the time... but what I did know was that I would never recover!!
Being that this Darkness show was by far my favorite you can imagine how disappointed I was to find that the boot was absolutely TERRIBLE! The sound, muddy and the worst part, For You was cut to pieces. This had to have been one of the best shows ever... totally amazing... and I had no boot to stand behind my claim... and when naming a show as "one of the greats" such as Winterland, Passaic, The Roxy... I'd better have proof that The Last Night Of Darkness can stand proud beside the likes of these. I tucked my little dream away... hoping that someday we'd get a good boot... and that I would be able to brag about "being there"... well someday has come and thanks to the masterful workings of "Converted @ Cobo" another dream comes true!! John has been helping me with the "Complete Shows" section of my site... fixing up a few Mp3s for me... which I'd like to say, "Thank you so much, John!"... but I asked him if there was anyway to clean it up, he said that he'd give it a shot... I hoped for the best but didn't expect much. How could he fix that For You?? It was so chopped up... How? Well I was so happy to hear that there was a sound board of For You from this very show!! When John sent me the show and I listened... I couldn't believe my ears!! I think he did a fabulous job cleaning it up!! So without further ado... we bring you The Last Night of Darkness!! Thanks, John!! Happy HAPPY HAPPY New Year Everyone!! xo
In this massive world of the Internet... with multitudes of blogs to sort through... all reaching out to the masses... pouring out vast amounts of knowledge to literally thousands of readers... with site meters registering numbers as egos are fed... I have to stop myself from being sucked into the vacuum of blogging for numbers.