Bill Chinook / Bruce Springsteen

"Born in the USA" invalidates any discussion of Springsteen.  Too bad, I saw him at college when he was playing with a brass band.  So many good songs starting with Asbury Park and then he had to go write his song of loathing for the country that has allowed him to live in an environment where he could achieve such success.  Pathetic

@cleeds Please read my post above. My opposition to the song stems from what I see is its use in inapproriately patriotic celebrations.  I agree with your comment that political messages have a long and storied tradition in American music.  I have CS&N, CSN&Y and particularly Y solo albums, Dylan, Baez, the list goes on.  So much of art, both visual and musical is an expression of the world's state at the time of its production.  I have not and will not in the future let their political expression that I may or may not agree with keep me form listening to their music.

Thanks for your post.

@bdp24 +1   Part of me believes that the rawness the sound is part of the appeal.   His recordings are more organic and less slickly produced. As an audiophile I prefer to listen to music where the recording quality was a higher priority to the finished release.  Many such recordings are the most real sounding of all!

@mitchchavis  If you served in Vietnam then I can see how some of the song's lyrics spoke to you.  I guess I am bothered that we hear it played at sports events and political rallies as if it extols the virtues of America.  My negativity may also be colored now with all of the flag protests going on.  I believe in a person's constitutional right of free expression but that doesn't mean I have to like it.  I truly do thank you for your service in Vietnam.  It's so sad that so many Veterans returned from southeast Asia being treated with disrespect and disdain.  I don't know how you guys did it.

Thanks for sharing your story.  Perhaps I have more soul searching to do about Mr. Springsteen.

Best regards!

@kb54  Thankfully we have you here to do our thinking for us.  Whew!