BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN

"I spent most of my life as a musician measuring the distance between the American Dream and American reality."

—Bruce Springsteen

• Born September 23, 1949 in Long Branch,

New Jersey

• Working-class parents

• At age 7, inspired by Elvis Presley

• Received first guitar at age 13; It cost $18

• Got his start in a band called The Castiles

(1965)

• Earned “The Boss” nickname while playing

with a band called Earth.

THE EARLY YEARS

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Released 17 Albums

• Received 20 Grammy Awards

• Won Two Golden Globes:

• “Streets of Philadelphia” (1994)

• “The Wrestler” (2009)

• Received One Academy Award

• “Streets of Philadelphia”

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1999)

• Rolling Stone’s 23rd Greatest Artist of All Time (2004)

TALENTS

• Guitar

• Harmonica

• Vocals

• Composition

• Lyrics

Songs written for other artists:

“Blinded by the Light” by Manfred Manns Earth Band (No. 1 in the US in 1977)

“Because the Night” by Patti Smith (No. 13 in 1978)

“Fire” by The Pointer Sisters. (No. 2 in 1979)

Heartland Rock: Developed in the 1970’s, Heartland Rock is defined as a “straightforward musical style, a concern with the average, blue collar American life, and a conviction that rock music has a social or communal purpose beyond just entertainment.”

COMPOSITION STYLE

Instrumentation:

• Guitars, drums, keyboards and occasional horn sections like a saxophone.

• Lyrics are often raspy and unpolished.

Folk Influence

• Heavy emphasis on guitar

• Story-telling, imaginative lyrics

• Songs based on current events

• Harmonica

Urban Blues Influence:

• Piano and/or keyboard, saxophone, bass and drums

• Subject matter covers a range of human experience: Work (or lack of), Love and Loss, Depression

INFLUENCES

• Bob Dylan• Woody Guthrie

• Elvis Presley

• Chuck Berry

INSPIRATIONS

BORN IN THE USA (1984)Album: Born in the USA

• Widely mistaken for a patriotic song.

• Written about mistreatment of Vietnam veterans.

Listening Guide

Lyrics that tell a story, ostinato in keyboard, strained vocal quality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPhWR4d3FJQ

BORN IN THE USA (1998)Album: Tracks

• Re-recorded in acoustic format to convey message more clearly.

Listening Guide

Acoustic: Protest music more obvious with clearer projection of lyrics and message, somber tone.

Blues-influenced bottleneck technique on guitar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYinX7XpG2U

MY FATHER’S HOUSE (1982)Album: Nebraska

• Recorded at home on a 4-track cassette recorder.

• Originally meant as a demo tape

LISTENING GUIDE

Raw, unproduced quality.

Story-telling lyrics with vivid imagery.

Sentimental lyrics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbA_5IpiAyU

SOURCES• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_springsteen

• http://rockhall.com/inductees/byyear/1999/

• http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0819803/bio

• http://www.biography.com/people/bruce-springsteen-9491214?page=1

• http://www.mtv.com/artists/bruce-springsteen/biography/

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartland_rock