Just over 40 years ago,Ronald Reaganbecame the first American president to name-dropBruce Springsteen.
He recently sat down withRolling Stoneto discuss Springsteens continuing political relevance and more.
Goherefor the podcast provider of your choice, listen onApple PodcastsorSpotify, or just press play above.)
A lot has changed since 1984 — but politicians are still talking about Bruce Springsteen.Gary Gershoff/Getty Images
Theres so many musicians who dont like Trump, but he keeps zeroing in on Springsteen.
But he also has the populist thing going with him.
So there probably is a little extra sting there, to not get that acceptance from Bruce.
Thats such a convenient metaphor for how the country has changed in the last 40 years.
I think that also just speaks to Springsteens place in the culture.
But its a positive thing.
He is part of that all-American package, but also progressive at the same time.
He was like the older guy that younger generations always discover as, like, a beacon of integrity.
They are very masculine tough guys, yet theres also a sensitivity to them.
They are progressive politically.
Its like the positive side of people chanting U.S.A. in a crowd.
Not the jingoistic, stupid, reactionary aspects, but the righteous side.
For people of my generation, Johnny Cash was that person.
And then Johnny Cash passes away.
Zach Bryan being the most recent example.
And the Killers rerecorded A Dustland Fairytale and Bruce sang on it.
That kind of reminds me of when U2 had Johnny Cash show up on a song.
Which again is why it bothers Trump so much that he doesnt like him.
That definitely put a fine point on it.
We always disregard things that dont align with our own experiences.
Well latch on to one lyric or something and make the whole song about that.
Because clearly theres a lot of Republicans who love Bruce Springsteen.
I think thats been true forever.
it just forces you to disregard a lot of other things that are inconvenient.
Finally, we heard Born in the U.S.A. at least twice during the DNC.
But that song in an arena environment always takes on a whole other character that transcends the lyrics.
The music is so rousing; the chorus compels you to sing along.
And if you get into that group-mind situation, its very easy to ignore the nuances in the lyrics.
The song is clearly set in New Jersey, based on the gas fires and the refinery and whatnot.
Hes not really writing about it being this sort of paradise where everything works out great.
Thats not the Jersey of Bruce Springsteen songs.
