marvin Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 At the risk of turning this into a Springsteen-worship site, I would implore anyone who has a passion for music to take a little time and listen to Bruce’s keynote address at yesterday’s SXSW conference. The 1978 version of Springsteen could never fathom that the 2012 version could stand on a stage and speak for 1 hr, but in that 1 hr (actually 52 minutes), Bruce gave a history of popular music, and showed why so many of us continue to fervently believe in his music. Boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, this IS what it’s all about: p.s. Quite a few f-bombs dropped by Bruce, so proceed with caution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raspbernie Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Excellent. And awfully cool of him to show how he "lifted" riffs from other tunes to write some of his signature songs. That's something that has and will always be a part of music—one song inspiring another. Eric's done it. Heck, Mozart did it! Again, GREAT speech. Bernie 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 Raspbernie said: Excellent. And awfully cool of him to show how he "lifted" riffs from other tunes to write some of his signature songs. That's something that has and will always be a part of music—one song inspiring another. Eric's done it. Heck, Mozart did it! Again, GREAT speech. Bernie This speech is a must-hear history lesson for even the casual or non-Springsteen fan. I listened to it live via NPR's stream yesterday, and then watched it last night. I knew that Bruce was heavily influenced by the Animals, but had no idea to what extent - playing the riff from Don't Let Me Be Understood and showing how it morphed into the "same f...in' thing as Badlands", WOW! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 The "Misunderstood" riff shortened for "Badlands" was always an obvious cop to anyone familiar with Eric B & company.....along the lines of Bram Tchaikovsky morphing "Born To Run" into the "Girl Of My Dreams" intro.... Speaking of Animals.....to get away from the all-Bruce-all-the-time theme here for just a minute....David Johansen made the Animals medley his own in concert in the late 70s to the same extent that Bruce did with the Detroit medley. Just found a video from last year of David Jo still doing it 35 years later.....one of the few with the pipes to do Mr. Burdon justice. How Todd Rundgren wound up on backing vocals, one would wonder........http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwQqneHu0fc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 YouTube has Eric B singing “We Got To Get…” with Springsteen & the band last night. Don’t know if the band started it in the wrong key or not, but Eric REALLY struggles to sing the song at the start, and then the band switches keys… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Yeah, when I mentioned that David Jo is one of the few with the pipes to do Eric B. justice......I left out the sad fact that Eric himself isn't among that group.....He's been very hit or miss every time I've seen him live within the past 10-12 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnO Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Just saw the video, and Eric was actually in pretty good voice. (I've heard much, much worse from him). I think they just needed to get in synch regarding the key. . . . . 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 16, 2012 Author Share Posted March 16, 2012 Bruce's description of Eric, in his speech, is priceless. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LatetotheParty Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 marvin said: This speech is a must-hear history lesson for even the casual or non-Springsteen fan. I listened to it live via NPR's stream yesterday, and then watched it last night. I knew that Bruce was heavily influenced by the Animals, but had no idea to what extent - playing the riff from Don't Let Me Be Understood and showing how it morphed into the "same f...in' thing as Badlands", WOW! And right after that segment on The Animals.. "Listen up youngsters! This is how successful theft is accomplished!" My favorite line from this great speech. Bruce was magnificently well spoken (forgiving the passionately delivered f-bombs); what a enjoyable listen.. Thanks for the is great upload... Jean 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Just watched the full hour from another source that sent me the link. I was so blown away that I rushd over to this site to share with the usual suspects I know would love it, and the usual suspects beat me to it. Incredible speech on two fronts, rock and roll history, and influences from Bruce who I beleive was born the same year as EC. Fascinating stuff. The Animals "We've got to get out of here" Bruce said it's basicaly every F'ing song I ever wrote, Born to Run, Born in the USA, etc. The previous mentioned Misunderstood - Badlands was funny to , he demonstrated that "It's the same f'ing riff"My favorite line was when he was first signed,the label signed 3 or 4 guys to be acoustic, John Prine, Bruce, and others, to be the next Dylan. Bruce said "..and Dylan was only 30, I didn't know why we needed another f'ing Dylan"Also the comment about being Stones being scheduled after James Brown, what were they thinking, you never go after James Brown.Great stuff on Rock history, influences, songwriting, forming a band, performing, etc. Eric C would eat this up.Bruce breaks out the acoustic several times to demonstrate his point. Cool stuff. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted March 16, 2012 Share Posted March 16, 2012 Speaking of lifted riffs, sometimes when I have some buds together, after a few drinks, we break out the acoustics and a fun lifted riff medley is Cherry Cherry, What I Like About You, and R.O.C.K. in the USA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 Speaking of lifted riffs, sometimes when I have some buds together, after a few drinks, we break out the acoustics and a fun lifted riff medley is Cherry Cherry, What I Like About You, and R.O.C.K. in the USA Steve, our band actually does "R.O.C.K", and in the middle we do "Cherry Cherry" and "Middle Of the Road" (Pretenders), and then end it with "R.O.C.K."I never ever heard "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" in "Badlands" until I heard Bruce explain it yesterday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seattlesteve Posted March 17, 2012 Share Posted March 17, 2012 Me too, and I can't believe I didn't. Use to play Santa Esmeralda's version all the time which I thought was even better. Marv, you know better than me, but I thought it was one of the most heartfelt, REAL, rock and roll speeches, authentic with nothing to sell, I've heard in a long time.Eric: Little Richard grabed on to the notion that he is the "archectict of rock and roll" probably was along with Chuck Berry, and James Brown. But the idea of putting a melody in front of those killer riffs with harmonys, was my wheel house. Eric's distinct voice over his killer melodies was my home run. "Architcht of Power Pop" Turn a "piano song" into a killer guitar opener.Eric was the at least, among, the creators of power pop. Melody, lyrics, and soaring vocals,.. just saying. Simply combined Beach Boys harmonies (and Brian Wilson's arrangement's) with the bottom of my rock and roll pyramid, The Beatles, you get Raspberries.Throw me a bone.. make any sense?Go back and google Billy Joel's Storytellers vid, EC could knock it out of the park, wonderful articulate insighting, stories, and he happens to be an acomplished muscian that is legimately bright and extermley articulate Just saying..First person, second person, or third.I re-read and realize I ramble, only a few suspects may get my style. Just saying, exempt for some wonderful country exemptions, and maybe the WONDERFUL BUT bitter Adele, seems like a musical wasteland, my kids are 10 of the people in the US that know the words to Top Down Summer" and love it. Ran with that for years on our boat in the Puget Sound. Eric: M & M's are cool, fiducary no brainer, BUT, your kids won't remember your spread sheets. You knocked it out of the park (pretty cool a talented friend like Bernie) with the first Raspberries concert at Cleveland ( I was there, understood the arranging you did behind the scense) I know you lurk, but a lot of people here, think the nation needs to see an EC solo legacy show, bet your kids would love it, realize that 90% on the buzzer is better than %100 waiting for you. Forget perfect. mention the fans.. Throw us a bone, consider it..One of the better dilemnas a composer/performer has to make. Sure beats the alternative. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 Marv, you know better than me, but I thought it was one of the most heartfelt, REAL, rock and roll speeches, authentic with nothing to sell, I've heard in a long time.It ranks with the best speeches Tom Hanks has given at the Rock Hall inductions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 17, 2012 Author Share Posted March 17, 2012 Bruce has started and also put aside working on an autobiography. This speech shows you the kind of incredible insights that book could have, if it's ever completed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marvin Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 Hands up if you haven't yet watched the SXSW speech. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen G Posted October 6, 2022 Share Posted October 6, 2022 Here is the complete text of this 2012 Springsteen SXSW speech: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/exclusive-the-complete-text-of-bruce-springsteens-sxsw-keynote-address-86379/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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