The Returner - An Ode to Bruce Springsteen.

Blimey, I'm glad I remembered my Blogger password. It's been a little while since I've done this hasn't it? I apologise to you, if you've decided to read this, and also thank you. I award you a virtual "thanks pal" nod. I've started back at uni and working and suddenly everything piled up on my desk and I panicked a bit. But here we are again! I'm trying this blogging thing again, because I love it and as a bit of a word-lover, need an outlet other than my dissertation on French propaganda. I appreciate that this returner post might not be to everyone's taste, but maybe if not, it will be and you'll go away from this taking a lesson in music with you. Here we go.

Never forget.

My love for Bruce Springsteen came from nowhere. My Britpop loving parents are not massive fans of The Boss and I'm not a 45 year old New Jersey truck driver with Born in the USA running through my veins. Instead, I just heard him once and fell in love. YES MUM HE'S 40 SOMETHING YEARS OLDER BUT I LOVE HIM. My auntie had somehow landed loads of vinyls in her shed one day years ago and asked if I'd like to have a look. It was then that I found it. The River. BITUSA, Born to Run, Greetings from Astbury Park NJ, The Young, the Innocent and The E Street Band and Darkness on the Edge of Town followed in this one box of dusty records and I'd hit the jackpot. The vinyl covers went up on my wall when I moved into my uni halls and my 19th birthday was the day I got a record player. Badlands was the first song I listened to (Darkness on the Edge of Town) and the crackle that came from the needle hitting the vinyl sent shivers down my spine. A month later, I saw Bruce live. I screamed every lyric and danced in the dark and had the best night of my life.

There he is in all his glory

When people ask who my favourite musician is, I don't have to think. "Bruce Springsteen. I love Bruce Springsteen." I say, almost instantly. More often than not, this makes people chuckle. "Seriously." I reiterate. I am such a Bruce Springsteen fan, it is boring for other people. Including you, probably.
But why do I love Bruce so much? It's because no matter how I feel, where I am, who I'm with, there is a Bruce Springsteen song for that occasion. Regardless of anything, I know a Springsteen song for that. Hell, I know an album. The E Street Band, Bruce's band from New Jersey also produce the most electrifying music I have ever heard, both recorded and live. Seeing Bruce collaborate with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder and world class musicians gives me goosebumps. My genuine belief is that if Bruce Springsteen can appeal to a middle aged man in the States and a 21 year old cynical student in the UK at the same time, he's got to be pretty special. He is in fact so special that when I have considered getting a Springsteen lyric as a tattoo, I cannot settle on one. I want them all, because he gives me all the feels.
I also fancy him a little bit, and if you were to see my saucy laptop background, you'd know why. 

So I've babbled on a bit about why I love The Boss, it seems a bit shallow and odd for me to do this, but if like me, you're in a rut for whatever reason, stick on Spotify. He even has a cover of Santa Claus is Comin' to Town. How seasonal. 

As a starter pack, here's a list of some but not all of my favourite Brucie tunes. Get stuck in. Let me know what you think. And remember, if you don't know how to say it, there'll be a Bruce Song that does.
Cheerio,
Hope x