My friend Steve Uhlmann informed me on Facebook that the 2012 theme song for MLB Postseason on TBS is Bruce Springsteen’s song Land of Hope and Dreams, off of the Wrecking Ball album.
This is beautiful, breathtaking and chilling because it combines a great song with a great video and great editing with audio calls from the games. It makes me want to get out of my seat and cheer as if I’m in the stands when the moment is happening. I’m appreciative to see a number of shots of the electric environment at a Bruce concert and that they put in some of the Clarence solo, but the Big Man didn’t get any video appearances! I think what made me most happy when I heard about this is that Bruce, The Boss, Scooter, is still relevant. When people young and old tune into the MLB playoffs, they’ll hear his music and see how he a little of how he performs. My hope is the youth of America’s ears perk up, a parent tells them a story about how his music affected their lives and a new fan is born. That is more likely to happen than with last year’s “Written in the Stars” song that got annoying after the first evening of the playoffs.
Watching the “Land of Hope and Dreams” video inspired me to share my favorite Bruce videos (in no particular order). I’m going to keep it to 5 for now, but I’m sure I’ll share more soon enough.
1. Whip My Hair with Jimmy Fallon
This is priceless and almost brings me to tears with laughter every time I see it. Jimmy Fallon does such a killer impression of Neil Young and Bruce is so self-deprecating that he’s willing to go onstage impersonating himself. Jimmy said in an interview on CBS Sunday Morning that when Bruce’s long-time producer/manager Jon Landau (who, as a music critic in 1974, wrote the famous line “I saw rock-and-roll future and its name is Bruce Springsteen.”) saw him in this getup, he nearly cried because Bruce looked 30 years younger, just like he did when they started working together. Stories like that make videos like this even more special.
2. Born to Run
This is another chilling video because this is exactly why Bruce is so loved. He gives people a life-changing experience. It’s mind-blowing elation and joyful delirium. This also shows how much fun he has with the E Street Band and with his fans. I love that the video for one of his most well-known songs is a compilation of different time periods because it symbolizes what his songs are to music: timeless. But, hopefully those outfits from the 80’s never make a comeback!
3. Dancing in the Dark (because of this article by Rembert Brown for Grantland)
I will read that article at least every couple weeks, when it crosses my mind, until the day I die. It’s so perfect, I don’t want to pile my words on top of it. I just want you to be able to remember that epic piece. However, I must add that in the comment section of Brown’s article, he does realize that the drummer is Max Weinberg.
4. I’m On Fire (warning: girly gushing below)
It seems weird to think about Bruce this way because he’s so old nowadays I think of him more as a cool uncle, but OHMYGOSHHEISSOADORABLEINTHISVIDEO. Last summer, I was listening to Bruce Springsteen Radio on Sirius XM and the Springsteen experts were talking about how much they hated these Bruce as a blue-collar worker-themed videos. I understand this video is cheesier than all of the fromageries in France, but 1) he’s so fresh-faced, curly-haired cute, 2) he’s a really good actor because I want him to ring that doorbell, but I feel like he’s better off when he smiles and walks away and 3) it’s a great song because it makes me ache like he’s aching. “Sometimes it’s like someone took a knife, baby, edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley through the middle of my soul.” That’s why he gets paid the big bucks.
5. Should I Fall Behind
Bruce’s brand is about hard-hitting rock-and-roll, so most of the songs that make it to the radio have that element. But, after listening to more of his stuff this past year, I’ve learned how much I enjoy his slower music. This is one of those songs. I also like the fact that I get to hear most the band members sing, especially Clarence, not so much Patti. A video doesn’t get much simpler than this, so all of the band’s talent shines.
No Cheering in the Press Box 