Salon: The Rising (Why Springsteen took a stand)

[kskiska]

As the Vote for Change concerts begin, Bruce Springsteen tells Rolling Stone why he had to take a stand this election year.

By Jann S. Wenner

Do you see these Vote for Change concerts reaching undecided voters, or are they more to rally the energy of people who have made up their minds?

I always felt that the musician's job, as I experienced it growing up, was to provide an alternative source of information, a spiritual and social rallying place, somewhere you went to have a communal experience.

I don't know if someone is going to run to the front of the stage and shout, "I'm saved" or "I'm switching," but I'm going to try. I will be calling anyone in a bow tie to come to the front of the stage, and I'll see what I can do.

(snip)

Why did you stay away from being actively involved in partisan politics for so long?

I didn't grow up in a very political household. The only politics I heard was from my mother. I came home from grade school, where someone asked me if I was Republican or Democrat, and I asked my mom, "Well, what are we?" She said, "We're Democrats, 'cause Democrats are for the working people." I was politicized by the '60s, like most of the other people of that generation at that time. I can remember doing a concert when I was probably in my very late teens, helping to bus people down to Washington for an antiwar demonstration.

But still, basically, I wanted to remain an independent voice for the audience that came to my shows. We've tried to build up a lot of credibility over the years, so that if we took a stand on something, people would receive it with an open mind. Part of not being particularly partisan was just an effort to remain a very thoughtful voice in my fans' lives.

more…
http://salon.com/news/feature/2004/09/28/springsteen_interview/index.html

[MissMarple]

1. Well, Bruce is an articulate and intelligent guy. As if....

real listeners didn't already know that. He's a sensitive, smart, and quite effective poet, almost in the Celtic tradition. Thoughts anyone?

[vinnievin777]

2. It helps so much

Because a millions of young voters registered this year just to get Bush out.
Here is something I wrote in response to all the retardicans who cry foul like he shouldn't have a mind of his own.
http://www.musicforamerica.org/comment/reply/21760/6791

Vinnie
http://www.vinnievin.com