Should Bruce Play for Chris Christie? Discuss ... archived

From today's Star-Ledger -

It took only two days for Gov.-elect Chris Christie to sell out.

In an interview with The Star-Ledger that appeared in Friday’s editions, Christie put out a plea for Bruce Springsteen to play at the inauguration. He sounded like Marcia Brady pleading with Davy Jones to play at her school dance.

"I’m not beneath begging," Christie said.

That’s good, because until we get a weather report that says, "Ice storm hits hell," politics says it probably isn’t going to happen.

Springsteen, the homegrown, raspy-voiced poet of the working class, spent a lot of time and money campaigning to send George W. Bush home to Texas. That would be the same President Bush who gave Christie his job as U.S. attorney, which set him on his way to being elected governor.

Still, we’d like to see Springsteen put politics aside and do it for New Jersey. The way things are going in the state these days, we all need a Kumbaya moment — Republicans, Democrats and independents — just with a better song.

I would say - what the heck, why not? Although, this could be a classic case of "Be careful what you wish for". Not that Mr. Christie doesn't have people that he admires giving him grief. There was a guest column in the New York Times the other day by the author Harlan Coben, who grew up with Mr. Christie in Livingston, NJ, and has stayed friends with him. A portion -

Chris and I are in our junior year. We’re on a special committee to help select the new principal, interviewing the candidates and bored to tears, until one tells us he used to be vice principal of Freehold High, Bruce Springsteen’s alma mater. “Did you know Bruce?” we ask. He says yes and we practically fall off our chairs. After firing a bunch of “Was Bruce the coolest thing ever?” questions at the man, we’re satisfied. We vote for him and he gets the job. Springsteen is one issue Chris and I agree on.

A few weeks ago, during a Springsteen show at Giants Stadium, we texted back and forth about the pure joy of hearing the Boss play the “Born to Run” album in sequence. He argues that “Thunder Road” is the best song, but I side with “Jungleland.” The texts about the concert continue the next morning before I shift gears and tell him that I abhor his stand against gay marriage. I call him out on this issue, even saying that “it’s not you.” He does not get defensive. We agree to discuss this when there is more time. And we will. He will remain calm. I will probably be the one who gets heated. He’s used to this.

As an aside, I can agree with Mr. Christie about "Thunder Road".

But anyway, something about Mr. Springsteen and a room full of Republicans seems like an interesting scenario to contemplate.

So, I vote yes! Thoughts?

Nah. Bruce doesn't usually come out for politicians. I believe the only times he did so was when he was really pissed at Bush, or really pumped about Obama.

By the way, I'm with "barefoot girl sitting on the hood of a dodge drinking warm beer in the soft summer rain".

I thought the Coban piece was an interesting bit of hyperbole. In typical Coban fashion, he overwrote the piece, trying too hard to set up Christie as a beer and Bruce guy who also happens to have almost super-powers of decency, fair play, and the American Way.

Reading it, I wondered, why is he trying so hard to show us that even a self-described Liberal like Coban can fall in love with that right leaning teddy bear? I mean, it was almost like, so what if Chris opposes the right of gays to marry just like straights can? Who cares if Chris wants to undercut a national health care policy that might actually provide coverage for those of us normal folks who have lost our jobs? You see, Chris is one of us, one of the gang we have hung out with since we were kids, and we gotta stick up for him because we know he will stick up for us (so long as we are heterosexual and don't need health care).

Balderdash. As of now, we have an avowed right winger who will get to appoint a replacement for Lautenberg should his health fail, and who definitely will get to appoint a new majority on the State Supreme Court. No amount of fuzzy bear reminiscences from pee wee league or arguments over whether Asbury Park or Nebraska is better can make that go down smoothly.

Try Toby Keith or Ted Nugent or recently-disinterred racist Andy Williams. This is serious business. No free rides.

the fact the Christie is a Bruce fan moved him up a notch in my estimation, as does the fact he has remained friends with people from the other side of the political spectrum. LOL

If he sings for Christie he will no longer be the Boss of me! :wink:

Christie is a fan, why not?

On a serious note, I guess the question is, "If your lyrics and activism all lean left, do you play tunes to celebrate the election of a guy who leans right?"

And I think the question for Christie is "Can you separate the music from its message?" or "Can you get all excited about Born to Run and block out the heavily-political content of other stuff?"

Chris Christie is a serious Bruce Sprinsteen fan. He's been to more than 120 of Springsteen's concerts.

Posted By: DottyParkerChris Christie is a serious Bruce Sprinsteen fan. He's been to more than 120 of Springsteen's concerts.

Posted By: GL2And I think the question for Christie is "Can you separate the music from its message?" or "Can you get all excited about Born to Run and block out the heavily-political content of other stuff?"

You don't have to be a serial rapist to enjoy listening to Midnight Rambler, or a street syndico-anarchist to enjoy Street Fighting Man.

Sympathy for the Devil anyone?

jd

Posted By: jdranoveYou don't have to be a serial rapist to enjoy listening to Midnight Rambler, or a street syndico-anarchist to enjoy Street Fighting Man.

Sympathy for the Devil anyone?

jd

The Bruce stuff isn't fantasy. It's overtly political, as is his activism. And I'm just asking a question I find interesting: how does a Christie reconcile his love of Bruce (given Bruce's lyrics and activism) with his own politics? I think it's quite complex, the ability to hold both these things in one's head.

Posted By: GL2

Posted By: jdranoveYou don't have to be a serial rapist to enjoy listening to Midnight Rambler, or a street syndico-anarchist to enjoy Street Fighting Man.

Sympathy for the Devil anyone?

jd

The Bruce stuff isn't fantasy. It's overtly political, as is his activism. And I'm just asking a question I find interesting: how does a Christie reconcile his love of Bruce and Bruce's lyrics and activism, with his own politics? I think it's quite complex, the ability to hold both these things in one's head.

or maybe it's really quite simple; as with Reagan, maybe he just hears a few words he likes and doesn't hear the larger message.

I suppose it could be just the romantic Jersey shore stuff he loves; but I think if you're as devout a fan as he seems to be, the entire man (Bruce) must be an idol. Or maybe CC doesn't take BS seriously as a political thinker.

Posted By: GL2

Posted By: jdranoveYou don't have to be a serial rapist to enjoy listening to Midnight Rambler, or a street syndico-anarchist to enjoy Street Fighting Man.

Sympathy for the Devil anyone?

jd

The Bruce stuff isn't fantasy. It's overtly political, as is his activism. And I'm just asking a question I find interesting: how does a Christie reconcile his love of Bruce (given Bruce's lyrics and activism) with his own politics? I think it's quite complex, the ability to hold both these things in one's head.

The ability to manage cognitive dissonance is sort of a requirement for being a Republican these days, isn't it?

I don't really know enough Springsteen to comment on how obvious the lyrics are...

I sure wish Chris Christie's middle name began with C so we could call him, aptly, CCC.

Bruce, you ain't da boss of dis Garden Stater

By Jack Cashill
© WorldNetDaily.com

“I’ve gone to fifteen Bruce Springsteen concerts,” my long time best friend, a Newark, N.J. fire chief, told me the other day, “but I’ve gone to my last one.”
My friend was furious at Springsteen’s announced decision to launch a nine swing-state tour to help defeat George W. Bush. Having attended more 9-11 funerals than Springsteen concerts, he was not thrilled by the Boss’s call for a “more humane” foreign policy, let alone his plea for “economic justice.”
“The guy’s as bad as Michael Moore,” the fire chief added, ”just another fraud.”

Posted By: GL2
The Bruce stuff isn't fantasy. It's overtly political, as is his activism. And I'm just asking a question I find interesting: how does a Christie reconcile his love of Bruce (given Bruce's lyrics and activism) with his own politics? I think it's quite complex, the ability to hold both these things in one's head.

Bruce's political activism is recent. I don't understand this idea that you can't enjoy someone's music if you disagree with their politics.

And for those who say Bruce should play because Christie is a fan, so what? Bruce should play for Christie if he wants to, not because Christie wants him to.

But how can you be a good Republican if you revere this Hollywood lib who lives in a 14 million dollar mansion and whines about equality? It just seems so wrong. There are plenty of good solid Republican entertainers to choose from. What kinds of values are we teaching our kids?

Posted By: rastro

Posted By: GL2
The Bruce stuff isn't fantasy. It's overtly political, as is his activism. And I'm just asking a question I find interesting: how does a Christie reconcile his love of Bruce (given Bruce's lyrics and activism) with his own politics? I think it's quite complex, the ability to hold both these things in one's head.

Bruce's political activism is recent. I don't understand this idea that you can't enjoy someone's music if you disagree with their politics.

And for those who say Bruce should play because Christie is a fan, so what? Bruce should play for Christie ifhewants to, not because Christie wants him to.

Would you bob your head to a song extolling the wondrousness of the Bush years? Of the Iraq War? Regardless of it's musical merit? Maybe you could, but at some point the message is so strong that it becomes hard to separate the two, I think.

Then again - millions managed to do exactly that with Born in the USA - mostly because they couldn't understand half the lyrics.

Posted By: drummerboyThen again - millions managed to do exactly that with Born in the USA - mostly because they couldn't understand half the lyrics.

Frickin' A...most think it's a patriotic anthem of some sort.

Posted By: drummerboyWould you bob your head to a song extolling the wondrousness of the Bush years? Of the Iraq War? Regardless of it's musical merit? Maybe you could, but at some point the message is so strong that it becomes hard to separate the two, I think.

But 90% of Bruce's music is nothing like that.

If Christie is serious about cutting costs, here's his first chance: forget the ceremony, forget Bruce or any other performer, and give the oath of office in the governor's office.

I have loved Willie Nelson's music for years and years and actually saw him perform 4 times. I have every recording he's made. His lyrics don't make me want to drink or smoke dope. At my son's wedding, he and I danced to Nelson's classic "Always on My Mind" There wasn't a dry eye in the house!!

I loved the Sopranos - didn't make me aspire to a life of crime.

The decision rests solely with Bruce. He can decline a request I'm sure.

While Christie is undoubtedly a true fan of Bruce, it is very shrewd politics to invite him, as Christie could bask in his glow, as politicians often try to associate themselves with superstars to boost their own ratings. I don't think Bruce should allow himself to be used in this way, as Christie stands for things that are presumably against his principles; and it would be too sneaky to accept and to then badmouth and ridicule Christie at the inaugeration. In addition, Bruce would face the danger of alienating many Jersey Democrats if he participated, although others wouldn't care as long as he gave a free concert.

Which Bruce lyrics are overtly political and leftist?

Posted By: GL2Try Toby Keith or Ted Nugent or recently-disinterred racist Andy Williams. This is serious business. No free rides.

What did Andy Williams do? Just curious. Also, Andy Williams is only 81. 81 is the new, uh, 73. :wink:

Posted By: ily

Posted By: GL2Try Toby Keith or Ted Nugent or recently-disinterred racist Andy Williams. This is serious business. No free rides.

What did Andy Williams do? Just curious. Also, Andy Williams is only 81. 81 is the new, uh, 73.

"Don't like him at all," he said, "I think he wants to create a socialist country. The people he associates with are very Left-wing. One is registered as a Communist.
"Obama is following Marxist theory. He's taken over the banks and the car industry. He wants the country to fail."

Posted By: mtierneyThe decision rests solely with Bruce. He can decline a request I'm sure.

I think this is the bottom line.


As for my arguments on this thread, they're somewhat tongue-in-cheek and tweaky though it remains a head-shaker for me trying to understand how a Christie loves a Boss.

Chris Christie is the Governor-elect of Springsteen's home state- playing at his inauguration does not endorse his politics but celebrates New Jersey. And what other Governor has ever asked Bruce to play? Personally, I would think less of him for declining simply on the basis of politics- many of us were Springsteen fans before he had a following outside N.J. Ars Gratia Politics bothers me.