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ROIO
of the Week [Recordings
of Indeterminate Origin] 
Bruce
Springsteen The Boss hasn't been this purposeful and divisive since he sang American Skin in a series of concerts in New York City a few years ago that got the city's finest out in the streets protesting against him. Now he's on a mission to "vote for change". This one won't earn him the current US president's regard. Bruce and his friends, REM, Pearl Jam, John Fogerty, the Dixie Chicks and others, all want to get rid of George W Bush. Together, and with the help of MoveOn.Org, they have been touring "swing states" where there are supposedly millions of undecided voters, to convince them to vote for change. Each of these shows have been posted on the net in a lossless format [they are not MP3s] and are available for free. But the final show is the only one that is taken off a webcast which means it's a live stereo recording from a soundboard source and in very good quality. There's a also a triple DVD set of the entire concert. It's when he's so driven that Bruce comes alive. Each night, the E Streeters open the show with an acoustic, Woody Guthriesque version of Star Spangled Banner that is as reflective as Hendrix's was demented. That theme which evokes images of American patriotism is normally played as a giddying march of triumph. Tonight, however, Bruce and band have other things on their minds. "Good evening everybody. I'm so glad to be here in your beautiful city tonight. I'm so glad to be in our nation's capital. Hope you're having fun... That's good. But we're here
tonight on a mission. All these wonderful musicians and the mighty E Street band have risen up to take you down to the RIVER OF CHANGE and to help you to cross to the other side. That's where we're going tonight... I wanna be washed by the waters of DEMOCRACY. But now tonight, I'm not just speaking to the folks in the auditorium but I'm speaking to all you folks tuned in at home through the miracle of television. Now what I wanna know about is what's all this fuss?.. ALL THIS FUSS about a SWING VOTE? All I wanna say is on Oct 11 WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WAITING FOR? WHAT? You [Bush] mislead the nation to war, a man loses his job, that ain't rocket science? C'mon. All right now,
I want to say to all you folks at home that YOU CAN BE SAVED. RIGHT NOW! If you want to
be temporarily released from the burdens of Republicanism, then listen
to me. I want all you folks at home... I want you to get up off your couch
NOW. C'mon I want you up off your couch. And I want you to take that remote
control and I want you to turn that television volume I WANT YOU I want you to TAKE OFF ALL YOUR CLOTHES... and I want you
to put one hand on the television set and I want you to say... Now go to your
window... throw that window open and tell ALL your neighbours that ARE YOU READY?" The above is the three-minute spoken interlude in the middle of Mary's Place, the song on The Rising album that was intended as a wake for the tragic events of 9/11. Now it has become a challenge to his audience. Are they sick of the war? Are they fed up of unemployment? Do they want the truth? Are they ready for change? Bruce hasn't given a spoken interlude this good since his late '90s shows. He hasn't lost it. Like Born In The USA, Badlands and No Surrender before it, Mary's Place has been reclaimed tonight to talk about what Bruce says is "the America in your heart". There are two other highlights this evening. John Fogerty fronting the E Street band to sing two songs - Deja Vu which references the Vietnam War and Fortunate Son, his classic Creedence Clearwater Revival song about the "fortunate sons" of the ruling class who are exempted from military service in a combat zone. Where CCR played it as a pop tune, the E Street Band with the Mighty Max's powerful drums charge in like helicopter gunships blazing away, spitting sarcasm and bile. The encore provides the night's other highlight. A song written in 1988 by Patti Smith, People Have The Power, finally gains the respect it deserves as a rock 'n' roll anthem sung by all - Stipe, Springsteen, Fogerty and Vedder [?] sharing the verses. It balances the spitefulness of Fortunate Son with hope. Can rock 'n' roll
save lives? It can surely try. - Michael Cheah For more... email singbigo@singnet.com.sg with the message, "Put me on your mailing list."
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