by The Cowl Editor on October 3, 2019
Arts & Entertainment
by Daniel O’Neill ’21 A&E Staff
On Monday, September 23, Bruce Springsteen celebrated his 70th birthday. 70 is quite the milestone for someone who has dedicated his life to music for the past 50 years, and his illustrious career shows no signs of ending.
Everyone knows that The Boss is one of the most influential writers in music history. His lyrics speak to the hearts and souls of Americans, especially the underdogs. His songs tell stories of the experiences of common people, and that is why his music never gets old.
Springsteen is one of the best-selling artists of all time. His most loved songs include “Born in the U.S.A.,” “Born to Run,” “Thunder Road,” and “I’m Goin’ Down.” He has won 20 Grammy awards and now has a Tony award for his musical Springsteen on Broadway.
The Independent gave Springsteen’s most recent album, Western Stars, a five-star review overall. The Boss may have just turned 70 years old, but he still has the same creative genius and the same mojo, as he did in his prime. His last few tours proved this, as he had the same energy as he did back in the 1970s and ‘80s.
The most important impact that Springsteen has had on music is the relatibility of his music and lyrics. Everyone can relate to the struggles he depicts in “The Ghost of Tom Joad” and “Thunder Road,” and certainly everyone can have fun listening to songs like “Glory Days” and “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.” Just like Springsteen himself, his songs never age. Topics are always directed toward blue-collar workers or are about growing up in the USA.
After the events of September 11, 2001, he wrote an album in honor of New York City and everyone affected by the attacks. The album is titled The Rising, and, although it is not his most popular album, it certainly holds a message that many can learn from: no matter the circumstances or problems that life throws at you, there is always a brighter future ahead. This is what The Boss has brought with every album he has released, and every performance he puts on. That is why he will go down as one of the most influential rock-and-roll icons; he has given so many people something to believe in.
Springsteen made every piece of work he has released into something that represents its time period. Born to Run is the pure angsty rock beat of the 1970s, and Born in the U.S.A. is widely regarded as the album of the ’80s that was able to connect rock music with the increasingly popular dance music. His songs tell stories of ghosts that everyone has experienced, whether it is the pains of leaving high school or a love gone wrong. He is a master of connecting to his audience.
70 years is a long time to spend in the spotlight of the music industry. He is far from done, however, as Springsteen has claimed that the E Street Band will be back together soon. He has lived every word he has written to the fullest and will continue to do so. These past 70 years have been incredible for music, so here’s to the many more years he has left.