Bruce Springsteen Rocks Cleveland With Obama by Nick Law - November 4, 2008 Thousands gathered in downtown Cleveland Ohio on Sunday afternoon and not all had plans of attending the Ravens versus Browns game at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Just a few hundred feet away on Lakeside Avenue, Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama spoke at a rally in front of Ohio voters, with none other than Bruce Springsteen performing an acoustic set before the speech. In between songs, Springsteen spoke to the crowd as only he can and encouraged the swing state voters to vote for the Junior Senator from Illinois. "I spent 35 years writing about America and its people. About what it means to be an American." Springsteen said between songs. "The nation needs someone with Senator Obama's understanding, his maturity, his pragmatism, his toughness and his faith. But most of all, it needs us. It needs you and it needs me.And he's going to need us because all a nation has that keeps it together is the social contract between its people." Bruce Springsteen is no stranger to Cleveland, having been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. The Boss is no stranger to politics either. The Cleveland rally is just the latest in a series of appearances he's made with Senator Obama over the past months. A longtime Democratic supporter, Bruce Springsteen had nothing but praise for the only man in America right now who could upstage him as a headliner. "I don't know about you, but I want my country back. I want my dream back, I want my America back!" Bruce Springsteen said moments before the rain started coming down. "Now is the time to stand with Barack Obama and Joe Biden, roll up our sleeves, and come." Born to working class parents in Long Branch, New Jersey, Springsteen's music often hits home with Americans due to many of the lyrics concerning men and women struggling to make ends meet. Given Obama's platform of running on behalf of the middle class Americans, the couple seems to be a match made in heaven. Bruce Springsteen has been campaigning for a change in American politics for most of his career. Who could forget the message in the lyrics of "Born in the USA" that everyone in America except for Ronald Reagan seemed to get. More recently in the 2007 album "Magic," Springsteen blames the Bush administration for the loss of the American Dream in songs such as "Last to Die" and "Long Walk Home." What makes Springsteen so special is just that. His ability to stay relevant and continue to make good, meaningful music late in his career. Sure, you could argue that "Lonesome Day" will never be a classic in the same way that "Born to Run" is, but you can't argue that anyone else has had a career quite like The Boss. With so many musicians outstaying their welcome in the industry and writing mediocre music (if they're writing their own music at all) it's good to know that there are still a few true artists out there. With the last few days of the Bush administration winding down, it seems that Bruce Springsteen has now turned his attention toward Senator Obama and the future that he believes is possible for America with the Democratic nominee at the helm.  Subscribe to Latest Articles

3 Responses

BILL WREN November 5, 2008 12:10 AM EXCELLENT ARTCLE,NICE TO SEE CHANGE COMING.THE MOST GODLY THING I SEEN THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE ELECTION WAS OBAMAS SPEECH TO THE NATION SEEING ALL PEOPLE CRYING AND HOLDING EACHOTHER.IT WAS BEAUTIFUL,NICE TO SEE THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF TODAY SEE THE FOOLISHNESS OF THE OLDER GENERATION.SIGNED- A REPUBLICAN

B. Gellott November 7, 2008 12:10 AM Excellent article Mr. Law; it's great to read a thorough understanding of the realtionship Springsteen has always had with his audience; and the ties that bind both he and President-Elect Obama. I've long been a follower of Springsteen's music and lyrics; and I'm overjoyed at the hope and new spirit that has settled across the land since Tuesday evening; November 4, 11 p.m. Eastern time. That was the moment we were all re-born in the U.S.A.

C. Mayer November 7, 2008 12:10 AM I really enjoyed reading your article Nick. You described the true commitment that both men have to the middle class American. This is something that seems to have gotten lost on the current administration. You really nailed it when you stated; "Springsteen blames the Bush administration for the loss of the American Dream". Now maybe that dream can finally become a reality.

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