Latest news with #LettertoYou
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Bruce Springsteen calls Donald Trump 'corrupt, incompetent and treasonous' at UK concert
Bruce Springsteen isn't pulling any punches in 'dangerous times.' The Boss opened the first show of the E Steet Band's European tour on Wednesday, May 14, at the Co-op Live in Manchester, U.K., with a call to raise voices against authoritarianism. Springsteen's fiery salvo was a spirited takedown of President Donald Trump. 'The mighty E Street Band is here tonight to call upon the righteous power of art, of music, of rock n' roll in dangerous times,' said Springsteen before the night's first song, 'The Land of Hope and Dreams,' according to live streams. 'In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration. Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American spirit to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring. This is 'Land of Hope and Dreams.' ' Later, Springsteen dedicated the live debut of 'Rainmaker,' from 2020's 'Letter to You,' to 'Our dear leader.' The track tells a story of a people in a drought with 'parched crops' who are desperate for relief. 'Rainmaker take everything you have, sometimes folks need to bеlieve in something so bad, so bad, so bad,' sang Springsteen. The show featured a new setlist compared to the concerts of 2024 and 2023, including 'Death to My Hometown,' 'Murder Incorporated,' 'House of Thousand Guitars' and 'Born in the U.S.A.' A cover of Bob Dylan's 'Chimes of Freedom' closed the show. 'Take this home with you,' Springsteen said. Howard Bloom of Ottawa was at the show. 'As a Canadian I often wonder if the world understands how they see America today, not just your President but as a direct result your country,' said Bloom via email prior to the show. 'That may not be fair, but the world is very upset (as I know are many Americans).' The 16-date tour is the final leg of the critically acclaimed E Street tour that began Feb. 1, 2023, at the Amalie Arena in Tampa. Springsteen dubbed the run 'The Land of Hope and Dreams Tour,' and suggested that a set list, and thematic, change-up was in the works. Springsteen had refrained from speaking about political issues from the stage of E Street Band shows for the majority of his career. 'One of the artists' jobs to make sense of existence and to make sense of the current times that you live in, and to contextualize those times,' said Springsteen previously to Variety. 'Every artist does it in a different way. So I've got that on my mind, and I'm sure it'll be reflected in our next leg of the tour.' The next show is Saturday, May 17, back at the Co-op Live in Manchester. Land of Hope and Dreams Death to My Hometown Lonesome Day My Love Will Not Let You Down Rainmaker Darkness on the Edge of Town The Promised Land Hungry Heart My Hometown Youngstown Murder Incorporated Long Walk Home House of a Thousand Guitars My City of Ruins Letter to You Because the Night Human Touch Wrecking Ball The Rising Badlands Thunder Road Born in the U.S.A. Born to Run Bobby Jean Dancing in the Dark Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out Chimes of Freedom Subscribe to for the latest on the New Jersey music scene. Chris Jordan, a Jersey Shore native, covers entertainment and features for the USA Today Network New Jersey. Contact him at cjordan@ This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Bruce Springsteen calls Donald Trump 'treasonous' at concert
Daily Record
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Bruce Springsteen slams 'corrupt' Donald Trump in brutal speech on first night of UK gig
Bruce Springsteen is currently in the UK as part of his Letter To You tour and has brutalised President Trump in an off-the-cuff speech Music icon Bruce Springsteen launched a damning critique against US President Donald Trump as he kicked off the opening night of his UK tour on Wednesday (May 14). Manchester has been swept up in Springsteen-fever, with the 'Born to Run' hitmaker's enthusiasts queuing outside the Co-op Arena for days, eager to score an autograph from their idol. One devoted fan had even been queuing since Friday, despite having already seen 'the Boss' 101 times before. The singer-songwriter, 75, is in the UK for his ongoing Letter to You tour, which has seen him take on 130 shows across North America and Europe, with an estimated box office total of £475 million. As the lights faded on Wednesday night and frenzied applause filled the air, Springsteen said that it was 'great to be back in Manchester', warmly greeting the packed arena at the commencement of his tour. In his introduction, the Manchester Evening News reports he stated that the E Street Band had come forth 'to call upon the righteous power of music, art and rock and roll in dangerous times' amidst turmoil in the USA. An advocate of progressive causes, Springsteen has consistently thrown his support behind Democratic presidential candidates over time. Under the beams of a single spotlight, Springsteen went on to say: "In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration." With conviction, he continued: "Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American spirit, to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism, and let freedom reign." The potent tirade quickly garnered attention on X, with one fan posting: "Wow #BruceSpringsteen Bruce Springsteen just battered Trump unbelievable moment at start of Manchester tour." The American legend, famed for chart-toppers such as Born in the USA and Dancing In The Dark, is set to perform alongside the E Street band at the venue on May 14, 17 and 20, with additional dates in Liverpool scheduled for early June. He's also slated to play a series of gigs in France, Germany, Spain and Italy in the upcoming months. The announcement of the shows was met with immense excitement as fans rushed to secure tickets for the European concerts. Over the weekend, music enthusiasts flocked to Manchester city centre hoping to spot the singer, who is currently residing at Gary Neville's Stock Exchange Hotel. On Saturday, fortunate fans managed to snap photos with Springsteen as he autographed vinyl records and memorabilia on Sussex Street. The rock icon appeared cheerful as he posed for pictures and exchanged a few words with the gathered crowd before being ushered away by security personnel. The 75 year old, lauded by Rolling Stone as 'the embodiment of rock and roll', has released 21 studio albums, including his 1973 debut Greetings from Asbury Park, NJ and his latest work, Only the Strong Survive, from 2022.
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Bruce Springsteen brutally slams Trump on UK tour as 'corrupt and treasonous'
Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are in Manchester for three huge gigs, but 'the Boss' had to take a moment to savage the Trump administratio Music legend Bruce Springsteen delivered a damning of President Donald Trump during his opening night in Manchester on Wednesday (May 14), slamming the US leader and "urging the crowd to raise your voices against authoritarianism." The 75-year-old singer-songwriter is in the UK for his ongoing Letter to You tour, which has seen 'the Boss' take on 130 shows across North America and Europe, with an estimated box office total of £475 million. Manchester is buzzing with Springsteen-fever, with fans of the Born to Run artist queuing outside the Co-op Arena for days, hoping to snag autographs. One woman, who had been queuing since Friday, said the gig would be her 102nd Springsteen concert. As the lights dimmed on Wednesday and fans erupted into thunderous applause, Springsteen expressed his delight at being back in Manchester, welcoming the packed arena to the sold-out tour. The Manchester Evening News reports 'the Boss' stating that the E Street band had taken to the stage to 'call upon the righteous power of music, art and rock and roll in dangerous times' currently being experienced in the USA. Springsteen is a fervent liberal who has consistently campaigned for Democratic presidential candidates over the years. Illuminated by a spotlight, he continued: "In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration. "Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American spirit, to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism, and let freedom reign." Bruce Springsteen's impassioned outburst swiftly garnered attention on X, with one fan posting: "Wow #BruceSpringsteen Bruce Springsteen just battered Trump unbelievable moment at start of Manchester tour." Another user chimed in: "Bruce #Springsteen kicks off his LOHAD tour with a message to Trump: 'Incompetent who believes in democracy rise up.'" The American music legend, famous for hits such as 'Born in the USA' and 'Dancing In The Dark', is set to perform alongside the E Street band at the venue on May 14, 17, and 20. He will also play dates in Liverpool in early June, followed by shows in France, Germany, Spain, and Italy in the coming months. The announcement of the tour was met with immense excitement as fans clamoured to secure tickets for the European gigs. Over the weekend, fans flocked to Manchester city centre to catch a glimpse of the singer, who is currently staying at Gary Neville's Stock Exchange Hotel. On Saturday, fortunate fans snapped photos with Springsteen as he signed vinyl records and memorabilia on Sussex Street. The rock star appeared to be in high spirits, posing for pictures and chatting with those who had queued up before being escorted away by security. The 75 year old, hailed by Rolling Stone as 'the embodiment of rock and roll', has released 21 studio albums, including his 1973 debut 'Greetings from Asbury Park, N. J. ' and his most recent effort, 'Only the Strong Survive', from 2022.
The Guardian
08-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Everyday people: the parking wardens, estate agents and more who inspired classic songs
Last week Joe DePugh, a star high school baseball player from Freehold, New Jersey, died aged 75. It made headlines because he was the guy who 'could throw that speedball by you / Make you look like a fool, boy' in Bruce Springsteen's 1984 hit Glory Days – one of the numerous ordinary people that have proved inspirational in pop. The old crowd from the Jersey Shore still make their way into Springsteen's songs: the centrepiece ofhis huge stadium shows these last couple of years has been a solo acoustic number called Last Man Standing, which appeared in his 2020 album Letter to You. It was written following the death of George Theiss, in 2018. As a teenage boy, Theiss had been courting Springsteen's sister Virginia, but ended up instead in a band with the young Bruce – the Castiles. When Theiss died, it left Springsteen the last living member of his high school band, and he composed a requiem for his friend: 'Faded pictures in an old scrapbook / Faded pictures that somebody took / When you were hard and young and proud / Backed against the wall, running raw and loud.' It's no fun being a traffic warden. In Liverpool they've been given bodycams; in Essex there is a campaign to raise awareness of the human cost of abuse for those who give out parking tickets. So Meta Davies got away lightly when she penalised Paul McCartney. 'It was in the spring of 1967 that I ticketed Paul's car,' she said. 'He was on a meter showing excess, so I gave him a 10-shilling ticket.' After noting her unusual name, McCartney asked if he might use it in a song. When she heard the song – in which the singer 'took her home and tried to make her' – Davies admitted, 'it makes me blush.' 'For over 35 years, Sharona has held a coveted position in the upper echelon of Los Angeles area real estate,' observes Sharon Alperin's website, She gets to call it that because she was the Sharona written about by Doug Fieger of the Knack. He wrote the song about his infatuation with her – she was in her late teens, he nine years older – though they also had a relationship and she appears on the cover of the single. Fortunately, there were no recriminations – though they went their separate ways, they remained friends until his death in 2010. Back in 1962 Vinicius de Moraes would see the same girl pass by the Veloso cafe on the Ipanema beachfront in Rio all the time. She was 17-year-old Heloísa Eneida Menezes Paes Pinto, and when De Moraes and Antonio Carlos Jobim were asked to write for a musical, she became one of their subjects. She was, De Moraes said, 'a golden teenage girl, a mixture of flower and mermaid, full of light and grace, the sight of whom is also sad, in that she carries with her, on her route to the sea, the feeling of youth that fades, of the beauty that is not ours alone.' And what did she think? 'It's eternal. Whenever I listen, I remember my past, my younger days,' she told the Guardian in 2012. 'Ipanema in 1962 was a great place. You never saw aggression. Everyone wanted to fall in love.' Tom Higgenson of Plain White Ts met Delilah DiCrescenzo when she was a student at Columbia University. Besotted, he told her would write a song about her – even though she had a boyfriend – which he did. Several years later, in 2007, Hey There Delilah became a huge hit. By that time, DiCrescenzo was a star in her own right as an international athlete. The experience didn't seem to scar her: she attended the Grammys in 2008 as Higgenson's guest. The irony is that these days Higgenson doesn't have a Wikipedia page, but DiCrescenzo does. Fame is fickle. At school in south London, Mick Jones had been friends and co-conspirators with a lad called Robin Crocker. One of them went on to join the Clash, and the other went on to rob banks. On the second Clash album, Jones wrote a nostalgic reverie for his pal, and his joy on hearing of his release from prison: 'And if you're in the Crown tonight / Have a drink on me / But go easy / Step lightly / Stay free.' Croker was moved. 'Somebody once said to me it's the most outstanding heterosexual male-on-male love song, and there is a lot of truth in that,' Crocker told the Guardian in 2008. 'Unfortunately, I didn't Stay Free. I did a wages snatch in Stockholm and got banged up again.' Danny Nedelko moved to England from Ukraine, aged 15, ending up in Bristol and befriending Joe Talbot, who would co-found Idles. When Idles released their second album, Joy As an Act of Resistance, they were still a cult band, and Nedelko was their mate in an another, less successful band. By the end of that album campaign, he was the subject of lines roared by thousands of people at every Idles gig: 'My blood brother is an immigrant / A beautiful immigrant.' Fortunately, he was not disgruntled by being made a political poster boy, pronouncing himself 'very flattered and humbled'. Perhaps the most double-edged song about a real person – but that's Ray Davies' writing for you. The Kinks' staple – later recorded by the Jam – was named for a promoter in Rutland with whom the Kinks had dealings, and who had a crush on Dave Davies. Hence David Watts being 'so gay and fancy free'. But it's also homoerotic in itself, and Ray later said it was also inspired by a real-life schoolfriend, whom he wouldn't name because they were still in touch. And the envy, the desperation, to be that boy is palpable: 'And when I lie on my pillow at night / I dream I could fight like David Watts / And lead the school team to victory / Take my exams and pass the lot.'
