Bruce Springsteen

In this episode, we dive into “Growing Up” — an anthem of rebellion, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to step into your own skin. Bruce Springsteen captures that universal moment when youthful defiance turns into self-definition — when we stop trying to fit in and start learning who we really are.

In this very special episode we replay Bruce's appearance on Music Rewind Podcast (https://www.musicrewindpodcast.com/) to talk about Bruce Springsteen's Nebraska album. It is now the subject of a movie. If you like to hear about albums both new and classic, and hear stories about music, listen to Steve's excellent podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What can Bruce Springsteen teach us about leadership? In this episode of Humanity at Scale , host Bruce Temkin sits down with Andy Freed , CEO of Virtual, Inc. , to explore how authenticity, communication, and community can transform the way we lead. Drawing from his upcoming book Lead Like the Boss , Andy reveals how the energy and connection of a great performance can inspire teams to believe, not just follow. From uniting global professionals into purpose-driven communities to using storytelling and repetition to build trust, this conversation uncovers practical tools for leading with heart, presence, and humanity. Whether you’re scaling an organisation or nurturing a team, Andy’s insights show how great leaders don’t just manage; they move people. Here are some of the topics that Bruce and Andy explore: How to transform scattered professionals into cohesive communities through a clear mission and purpose The "Barbecue Principle" for building trust and breaking down barriers Why face-to-face connection remains critical for building authentic relationships How to communicate with intention like Bruce Springsteen by crafting meaningful "setlists" for every interaction The power of storytelling to make messages memorable and create a lasting impact Why repetition and "playing the hits" matter for leadership communication How to "own the stage" in everyday leadership moments through intentional presence The importance of making every team member feel valued Andy Freed is a charismatic business executive and CEO of Virtual, Inc., with over 30 years of experience driving growth, transformation, and operational excellence across global organisations. A Harvard-trained leader with expertise spanning cybersecurity, healthcare, technology, and financial services, Andy is renowned for uniting diverse stakeholders and building high-performance teams. He’s also the author of Lead Like the Boss and host of the podcast 5 Minutes with Andy , where he shares powerful lessons on leadership, communication, and strategic execution. Episode Resources: Andy Freed on LinkedIn Virtual, Inc <a href="https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&pf=1&ai=DChsSEwiqt-eTiqaQAxWgq2YCHS3RD2gYACICCAEQARoCc20&co=1&ase=2&gclid=Cj0KCQjwjL3HBhCgARIsAPUg7a4HLnYz96J_k31WPrLTzrJgzjQe6uM_Hx9Yp1qCZjz-VrZclgkBzzEaAr7aEALw_wcB&cid=CAASrwHkaA8U28ReiIAbomooJcxn6ITdldjZSYT-JbK

There were few rock albums in the 80's which achieved the popularity levels of Born In the U.S.A., the seventh studio album by Bruce Springsteen. Songs for this album were recorded with the E. Street Band over a two-year period from 1982 until 1984, the totality of songs far outstripping the available space on the album. Somewhere between 70 and 90 songs were created during those sessions, some being released as B-sides Ultimately twelve songs landed on the album, seven of which were released as singles. All seven singles reached the top 10 in the United States. The songs reflect Springsteen's blue collar sensibilities, but also have more pop influence musically than some of his earlier works. Springsteen made more prominent use of synthesizers in these pieces, and the shorter, more radio-friendly tracks surely contributed to the success of the album. “Born In the U.S.A.” was the biggest selling album of 1985, and remains Springsteen's most successful studio album. The album's success also catapulted Bruce Springsteen's fame to stratospheric levels, a consequence which he considered a mixed blessing. While the music is pop oriented and lively, the lyrics are often darker, reflecting the aftermath of the Vietnam war and struggles of blue collar life. It may be a strange juxtaposition, but it worked. Born In the U.S.A. was released in 1984, but singles from the album were still being released in 1985, the last of which was released in November. Lynch brings us this monster album of 80's heartland rock in this week's podcast Glory Days The fifth single released from the album was inspired by an encounter Springsteen had with an old friend and star high school baseball player in a bar in 1973. It reflects on the passage of time and the way we look back on the days of our youth with nostalgia. Dancing In the Dark This track was born out of frustration. Springsteen's manager was pushing for him to write a hit single, and the lyrics reflect the pressire Springsteen felt to write a hit. Interestingly the song became Springsteen's biggest hit, reaching number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. The video is famous for a scene where Springsteen pulls a fan - the actress Courtney Cox before her fame on the TV show “Friends” - on stage to dance. I'm On Fire Springsteen developed this song in early 1982 while experimenting with a slow Johnny Cash rhythm. The lyrics are built around sexual tension for a seemingly unavailable love. The video portrays Springsteen as an auto mechanic working on a Thunderbird for an unseen female who brings the car in frequently and always asks for him to do the work. Born In the U.S.A. The title track and opening song to the album is a protest song disguised as a patriotic song. It was inspired by Ron Kovic, a Vietnam War veteran and wheelchair-bound anti-war activist who wrote the memoir “Born on the Fourth of July.” Despite its protest origins, it became associated with Ronald Reagan's optimistic 1984 campaign due to its strong chorus. ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: Living In America by James Brown (from the motion picture “Rocky IV”) Brown makes a cameo in this Rocky movie when Balboa's antagonist turned friend Apollo Creed fights an exhibition against Soviet athlete Ivan Drogo in Las Vegas. STAFF PICKS: She Sells Sanctuary by the Cult Wayne gets the staff picks rolling with the first big hit from the Cult . The lyrics reflect the feeling of safety that the singer receives when being around a particular woman. Front man Ian Astbury has stated that "...plain and simple. It's about sex." This group channels a bit of goth rock and a bit of fuzzy psychedelia. To Live and Die in L.A. by Wang Chung Rob brings us a deeper cut from the film noir " To Live and Die in L.A. " D

After the overwhelming success of his “Born to Run” album, Bruce Springsteen's next studio album would take a dramatically different approach. First, Tunnel of Love would be a solo project, and the E. Street Band was not credited as a contributor, though many members of the E. Street Band would be credited individually. Springsteen plays many of the instruments himself, and made use of drum machines and synthesizers on the tracks. Second, the lyrics look inward as Springsteen explores aspects of lost love. Springsteen was reacting to his troubled marriage to actress Julianne Phillips from whom he would receive divorce papers the following year. The divorce was finalized in 1989. Tunnel of Love was a critical and commercial success. Critics would praise the originality of the material and its introspective nature. The album would receive a Grammy award for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo at the 1988 Grammy awards. Commercially the album would hit number 1 on the Billboard 200 charts and go triple platinum. Five singles would be released from the album, three of which cracked the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Brian brings us this album for today's podcast. Two Faces This deeper cut explores how there is a lighter side and a darker side within each of us, and how we can come to hurt the ones we love. The singer prays that the “our love will make the other man go away,” but that other man is a part of us. Brilliant Disguise This was the first single released from the album, and it went to number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the Mainstream Rock chart. It reflects doubt, first in the singer's lover, and later in the singer himself. The question is whether either has become a stranger to the other. One Step Up This third single from the album was only released as a single in the U.S. Unlike much of the album, this song was not recorded in Springsteen's home studio, but at A&M Studios in Los Angeles. The song reflects the troubles in Springsteen's marriage. Although Springsteen played all instruments, E Street Band member Patti Scialfa sings backup. Scialfa would marry Springsteen in 1991. Valentine's Day The last song on the album takes a surprisingly upbeat look at relationships, as the singer longs for his love. It's quite a contrast with the other songs on the album. “So hold me close honey say you're forever mine, and tell me you'll be my lonely valentine.” ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: Mess Around by Ray Charles (from the motion picture “Planes, Trains and Automobiles”) With the abundance of Christmas movies, this is an unusual Thanksgiving comedy starring Steve Martin and John Candy trying to get home during the Holiday rush. STAFF PICKS: Time Stand Still by Rush Bruce leads off the staff picks with the first single from Rush's 12th studio album “Hold Your Fire.” The lyrics were inspired by Neal Peart's time in the band as he reflects on the things he missed while spending time on the road. 'Til Tuesday's lead singer and bassist Aimee Mann contributes backing vocals on this song. Hazy Shade of Winter by The Bangles Wayne brings us a cover with a much faster beat than the original Simon and Garfunkel version. This song appeared on the soundtrack for the motion picture “Less Than Zero.” The Bangles had covered this song since 1983, and offered it to the movie rather than writing a new piece. The Bangle's version peaked at number 2 on the charts. Give to Live by Sammy Hagar The Red Rocker was still under contract for a solo album despite joining Van Halen, and Rob features this single off the album that fulfilled his commitment. Tidbit: Eddie Van Halen plays bass on this album. Little Lies by Fleetwood Mac Brian finishes off the staff picks with a hit from the album “Tango In the Night.” Keyboardist Christine McVie takes her turn on lead with this song written by her

En este capítulo, con motivo de los 20 años de los atentados del 11 de septiembre de 2001 en Estados Unidos, hacemos un repaso a cómo lo vivió Bruce Springsteen, como habitante de New Jersey y ciudadano, cómo afectó a su carrera profesional influenciando a sus siguientes trabajos y giras... y escuchamos su intervención, el pasado 11 de septiembre, en el homenaje que se hizo en la plaza donde estaban las torres gemelas, cantando I'll Ser You In My Dreams. Si te gusta este capítulo, comparte con todos tus amigos y compañeros de giras. Y si nos quieres decir algo, o proponer algún tema, tenemos un WhatsApp para que nos mandes notas de audio: 682 73 44 05. ¡Muchas gracias!

En este capítulo contamos con un invitado especial: Salva Trepat, director de Point Blank magazine, fanzine y web de referencia para las noticias de Bruce Springsteen en castellano. Con él repasamos las últimas noticias de Bruce Springsteen y nos adentramos en lo que se vivió hace 40 años en Europa: la gira The River original. Os contamos cómo fue el primer concierto de Bruce Springsteen y la E Street Band en Barcelona y cómo se vivió aquello. Comparte este capítulo con tus amigos y conocidos de Bruce y ayúdanos a llegar a más gente. Si quieres participar o dejarnos opiniones, tienes el whatsapp abierto. Manda notas de audio al 682 73 44 05. ¡Y muchas gracias!

Born to Run was Bruce Springsteen's third studio album, and the first unarguably successful commercial album. While he had previously achieved critical success with many industry insiders comparing him with Bob Dylan, his two prior albums had been more of a regional hit. With Born to Run, Springsteen had both time and money to make the album, and went for a “wall of sound” approach. Wikipedia mentions that he wanted it to sound like “Roy Orbison singing Bob Dylan, produced by Phil Spector.” With regard to the lyrics, Springsteen said this album was “the album where I left behind my adolescent definitions of love and freedom - it was the dividing line.” To call this commercially and critically successful is an understatement. Born to Run is a giant of an album. It produced two singles, "Tenth Avenue Freeze-out" and "Born to Run," and these are timeless rock classics. But almost the entire album can be heard on classic rock stations regularly. The songs were all composed on piano instead of guitar, and the songs tend to reflect this in their introductory instrumentation. Each album side starts with a song about escape (Thunder Road, Born to Run), and ends with a song about defeat (Backstreets, Jungleland). And of course you get not only the monster sounds and lyrics of Springsteen, but also the instrumental virtuosity of the E. Street Band. This is another example of an album that should be heard from cover to cover to get the full experience of it. Alright, folks, it's time to run with The Boss! Jungleland This isn't really a song, but more of an opera or an epic tragedy. This track closes out the album and tells the tale of Magic Rat and the barefoot girl. It's got scenes of life on the streets and in the gangs in New Jersey in the city they call Jungleland. It was 19 months from the first rehearsal of this song until it's completion. Saxophonist Clarence Clemons' solo supposedly took 16 hours alone to record, and takes up 3 minutes of this 9+ minute song. That length is why we're only profiling three songs from the album this week. She's the One This is a deeper cut with a Bo Didley Beat. It is the B-side of "Tenth Avenue Freeze-out" and got a bit of air play on rock stations as a consequence. "There's this angel in her eyes that tells such desperate lies and all you want to do is believe her." Thunder Road Bruce (the one profiling this album, not the songwriter) thinks this may be the song with the finest lyrics top-to-bottom that Springsteen ever wrote. It tells of a visit to Mary's house, and uses automobile and motorcycle imagery to describe a plea from the suitor for Mary to run off with him “if you're ready to take that long walk from your front porch to my front seat. The door's open, but the ride ain't free.” ENTERTAINMENT TRACK: The Time Warp (from the motion picture “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”) Yes, that timeless classic from the midnight movies had its origin this summer. It's just a jump to the left, and then a step to the right! STAFF PICKS: Man on the Silver Mountain by Rainbow Wayne features the distinctive guitar riff of Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio's vocals from Rainbow, Blackmore's group after leaving Deep Purple. The original vinyl release was a gated gold sleeve, but the record company reduced it to a single sleeve. Por Amor Viviremos by The Captain and Tennille Rob brings us the Spanish version of "Love Will Keep Us Together." The Captain and Tennille had both the English language and Spanish language versions on the charts this month. "Love Will Keep Us Together" was originally done by Neil Sedaka in 1973, but this cover became identified with The Captain and Tennille. I'm Not In Love by 10cc Brian's staff pick incorporates the backing of a wordless choir, with 256 voices overdubbed. The song itself is about expressing love without saying "I love yo

¡Hola a todos! ¿Qué tal lo estáis llevando? ¡Mucho ánimo a todos, paciencia… y buena música para pasar este tiempo de la mejor manera posible! Mientras esperamos a que empiece el concierto Jersey for Jersey, ¿qué tal si hacemos tiempo repasando alguno de los actos solidarios de Bruce Springsteen? Hoy es un día especial, porque hoy es el Jersey For Jersey. Un evento que no sabemos bien cómo será… no puede ser como un telemaratón al uso, porque estamos confinados… Yo estaré pendiente esta noche a ver si lo puedo ver… y grabar algo para contaros en un próximo capítulo cómo fue. Hoy voy a hacer un repaso a los actos solidarios de Bruce. Este capítulo no va a ser extremadamente riguroso, porque lo estoy haciendo tirando de memoria… y seguro que se me va a olvidar alguna cosa… confío en que no muy importante, pero es posible que sí… así que si me he comido algo muy gordo, espero que no me lo tengas en cuenta y que me mandes una nota de audio para que haga un corrección más adelante, ¿vale? Tenemos un número de whatsapp el: 682 73 44 05. El último gran evento que recuerdo en el que participara Bruce fue el concierto for Sandy Relief. El 12 del 12 del 12, en el Madison Square Garden. En ese concierto además de las entradas, se sobreimpresionaba constantemente unos teléfonos para que los espectadores donaran dinero vía SMS. Bruce Springsteen y la E Street Band abrieron una noche alucinante tocando Land Of Hopes and Dreams, que estamos escuchando ahora… seguida de Wrecking Ball. Pero Bruce se ha caracterizado durante su carrera por ser una persona solidaria y abierta a participar en causas con el fin de ayudar a los más desfavorecidos. En los bootlegs de los conciertos antiguos, recuerdo que es muy común que cerca del final de los conciertos, haga mención a los local food banks de las ciudades donde está tocando. En la gira de 2012 aquí en Europa, y en España concretamente, también hizo referencia a la crisis… a los tiempos duros… dentro de su charla habitual de introducción a alguna canción. Pero diréis, bueno, eso no es mojarse mucho… Pues cuenta la leyenda, parece ser que sí, vamos…. Que en los conciertos de Newcastle de la gira Born in the USA en 1985, esos mega conciertos… ocurrieron tres meses después de una huelga de mineros brutal… y bruce donó 20.000 dólares para el grupo de apoyo de los mineros de Northmberland y Durham. Bruce Springsteen tiene una historia muy potente con los Veteranos de Vietnam en Estados Unidos. En Born in the USA, esa canción tan mal entendida por muchos, hay varias líneas al respecto… y bien conocida es la relación que tuvo con Ron Kovic, el autor del libro que posteriormente fue película Nacido el 4 de Julio. Pero Bruce ya venía implicándose con los veteranos de vietnam desde antes… ya en 1981, cuando la asociación de Veteranos de Vietnam tenía tres años y estaba pasando por momentos difíciles económicamnete, Bruce, en aquel verano, el 20 de agosto, con todo agotado, donó todos los beneficios del primero de los seis conciertos que hizo en el Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena a la asociación de Veteranos de Vietnam. Además de los veteranos de Vietnam. Bruce ha estado muy involucrado en los veteranos del ejército de estados unidos en general. De siempre es su participación en Stand up for heroes, organizado por la Bob Woodruff Foundation. En 2013, la fundación Musicares le nombró persona del año. Se subastó una guitarra suya firmada que llegó hasta 50.000 dólares, pero tras ponerse Bruce al mando de la subasta, se llegó a los 250.000 dólares. Y por supuesto, que no se me olvide, el festival Light of Day. Un festival que se lleva celebrando creo que desde el 2000 o así y que ofrece durante diez días docenas de actuaciones a mitad de enero en distintos locales de Nueva York y Nueva Jersey, en favor de la fundación Light of Day y la lucha contra la

Todos teníamos muchas ganas de ver en qué anda Bruce, qué está pensando y cómo lo está llevando. De momento le ha dado por hacerse presentador y DJ en el canal E Street Radio de Sirius XM. Aquí os pongo toda la sesión con la traducción de lo que cuenta Bruce. ¡Le ha quedado un programa muy bueno! ¡Que se repita! Las canciones que ha puesto son: Forty Miles of bad road – Lyn Taitt & The baba Brooks Band Turn on Tune in Drop out With me – Cracker Gone Till November – Wyclef Jean The End of the Innocence – Don Henley Only the lonely – Roy Orbison It’s Bad, you know – R.L. Burnside Beyond Here Lies Nothing – Bob Dylan Cover Me – Bruce Springsteen Livin’ on a prayer – Bon Jovi Everyday is like Sunday – Morrissey Trouble so hard – Marion Williams Letter to the free – Common Ring Them Bells – Sarah Jarosz Talk to me like the rain – Patti Scialfa Rockin’ Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu – Huey «Piano» Smith Better times are Coming – Kate & Anna McGarrigle We Shall Overcome – Bruce Springsteen Are You Alright? – Lucinda Williams 3rd Base, Dodger Stadium – Ry Cooder Angel from Montgomery – John Prine The Last Mile of the Way – Sam Cooke & The Soul Stirrers Todos los capítulos y más información en: springsteenenpodcast.com

Tras el parón invernal retomamos este podcast sobre Bruce Springsteen, su música... y nuestra vida. En estos tiempos raros de confinamiento, epidemia, muertes de conocidos, familiares, músicos que nos han marcado (John Prine esta mañana)... siempre nos queda la música. Reflexionamos sobre la anécdota de la persona que dijo la famosa frase "Bruce, we need you!" y que acabó siendo el gérmen del disco The Rising. Y escuchamos esa canción, que para muchas de las hornadas jóvenes de Bruce, es su canción iniciática. Tienes más capítulos en tu plataforma de podcasts, sólo tienes que buscar el programa Springsteen en podcast y en nuestro blog: spingsteenenpodcast.com Y sabes que tenemos un whatsapp para que nos envíes notas de audio con lo que quieras: 682 73 44 05. ¡Gracias!

Este verano he visto Chernobyl en HBO y coincido con todos los que la han visto: ¡hay que verla! Mientras la estaba viendo me venían a la cabeza dos cosas. Por un lado la canción Roulette y los conciertos del No Nukes del Madison Square Garden de Nueva York. En este capítulo hablamos de ese hito de 1979 y de una las canciones que más molan del inmenso repertorio de Bruce Springsteen. Todos los capítulos en nuestro blog: springsteenenpodcast.com Comparte este podcast con tus amigos de Bruce y ayúdanos a llegar a más gente. ¡Muchas gracias!