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New Statesman
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Statesman
Bruce Springsteen faces the end of America
Photo montage by Gaetan Mariage / Alamy When I met Patti Smith soon after Donald Trump's first victory, she said she'd ended up next to him at various New York dinners over the years, back in the Seventies, when he was pitching Trump Towers. 'We were born in the same year, and I have to look at this person and think: all our hopes and dreams from childhood, going through the Sixties, everything we went through – and that's what came out of our generation. Him.' Smith's sing-song voice was in my head at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool on one of the final nights of Bruce Springsteen's Land of Hope and Dreams tour. Springsteen was born three years after Trump and will also have sat at many New York dinners with him. Those with half an eye on the news would be forgiven for thinking that Bruce has been lobbing disses at the president from the stage between his hits, but his latest show is heavier than that: a conscious recasting of two decades of his more politicised music, with a four-minute incitement to revolution in the middle. Here is a bit of what he says: 'The America I love and have sung to you about for so long, a beacon of hope for 250 years, is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration. Tonight we ask all of you who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices, stand with us against authoritarianism and let freedom ring. In America right now we have to organise at home, at work, peacefully in the street. We thank the British people for their support…' Clearly few in the US are speaking out like this on stage, and Trump has responded by calling Springsteen a 'dried-out prune of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!)' and threatening some kind of mysterious action upon his return. Springsteen, the heartland rocker, was never exactly part of the counter-culture, though he did avoid Vietnam by doing the 'basic Sixties rag', as he put it, and acting crazy in his army induction. Yet he has become a true protest singer in his final act. He wears tweed and a tie these days, partly because he's 75 and partly, you suspect, to convey a moral seriousness. When I last saw him, two years ago, I thought I saw some of Joe Biden's easy energy. Well, Bruce still has his faculties. The feeling is: listen to the old man, he has something to say. Springsteen's late years have been something to behold. At some point in the last decade he stopped dyeing his hair and started to talk in a stylised, reedy, story-book voice. The image of the America he seemed to represent shifted back from Seventies Pittsburgh to Thirties California: the bare-armed steelworker became the Marlboro Man, and in 2019 there was a Cowboy album, Western Skies, with an accompanying film in which he was seen on horseback. His autobiography Born to Run revealed recent battles with depression. And it is depression you see tonight in Liverpool – in the wince, the twisted mouth, the accusing index finger; in his entreaty to Liverpool's fans to 'indulge' his sermon against the American administration, delivered night after night, to scatterings of applause. It is a depression I recognise in older American friends who fear they're going to the grave with everything they knew and loved about their country disappearing. But depression is also the stuff of life, of energy. Springsteen has been particularly angry since the early Noughties, since the second Bush administration, but this is his moment somehow, and his song of greedy bankers – 'Death to My Hometown' – is spat out with new meaning in 2025, an ominous abstraction. The father-to-son speech in 'Long Walk Home' feels different in this politically charged world: 'Your flag flying over the courthouse means certain things are set in stone/Who we are, what we'll do and what we won't'). A furious version of 'Rainmaker' ('Sometimes folks need to believe in something so bad, so bad, they'll hire a rainmaker') is dedicated to 'our dear leader'. As much as I admire Springsteen and seem to have followed him around and written about him for years, the Land of Hope and Dreams tour made me realise I hadn't fully known what he was for. When I saw him in Hyde Park in 2023, the first 200 yards of the crowd were given over to media wankers like me, with the paying fans at the back: every single person I had ever met in London was there, mildly pissed up and whirling about with looks of mutual congratulation. Springsteen had become, to the middle classes and above, a global symbol of right-thinking, summed up by his long stint on Broadway at $800 a ticket. His dull podcast with Barack Obama was the American version of The Rest Is Politics with Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell: men saying stuff you want them to say, to confirm what you already think about stuff (Obama was in awe of Bruce). Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe Politics was easy for Springsteen when politics consisted of external events happening to innocent people, rather than something taking place on the level of psychology, in a movement of masses towards a demagogue. The job he adopted, back in the Seventies, was to set a particular kind of American life in its political and historical context: to tell people who they were, and why they mattered. His appeal as a rock star always lay less in his words than in how sincerely he embodied them: his extraordinary outward energy, his mirroring of his audience, his apparent concern with others over himself. After 9/11, someone apparently rolled down a window and told him, 'We need you now,' so he wrote his song 'The Rising' from the viewpoint of a doomed New York fireman ascending the tower. A recent BBC documentary revealed he'd donated £20,000 to the Northumberland and Durham Miners Support Group during the strikes of 1984 – rather as he donated ten grand to unemployed steelworkers in Pittsburgh the previous year. His self-made success and songs about freedom were the Republican dream, but when Reagan tapped him up for endorsements it was a right of passage for Springsteen as a Democrat rocker to rebuff them (I'm pretty sure they tried to play 'Born in the USA' at Trump rallies too). He is quoted as saying that the working-class American was facing a spiritual crisis, years ago: 'It's like he has nothing left to tie him into society any more. He's isolated from the government. Isolated from his job. Isolated from his family… to the point where nothing makes sense.' Now, Trump has taken Springsteen's people (the Republicans were doing so long before Trump), and the interior life of the working man that Springsteen made it his job to portray has been exploited by someone else. 'For 50 years, I've been an ambassador for this country and let me tell you that the America I was singing about is real,' he says, possessively, on stage. Springsteen, like Jon Bon Jovi, sees his fans as workers. The distances travelled, the money spent, the babysitters paid for: that's what the three-hour gigs are all about. It is part of the psyche of a certain generation of working-class American musician to consider themselves in a contract with the people who buy their records. It is not a particularly British thing – though time and again I am impressed by the commitment required to see these big shows, especially when so many punters are of an age where they would not longer, say, sleep in a tent: £250 a night for a hotel, no taxis to the stadium, a huge Ticketmaster crash that leaves hundreds of fans outside the venue fiddling with their QR codes while Bruce can be heard inside singing the opening lines of 'My Love Will Not Let You Down'. Yet the relationship between a rock star and his fan is not a co-dependency: the fan is having a night out, but the rock star needs the fan to survive. It is hard to underestimate the psychological shift Springsteen might be undergoing, in seeing the working men and women of America moving to a politics that is repellent to him. He has not played on American soil since Trump's re-election and it is likely that this kind of political commentary there will turn the 'Bruuuuuce' into the boo. A Springsteen tribute act in his native New Jersey was recently cancelled (the band offered to play other songs, and the venue said no). Last week, a young American band told me they won't speak out about the administration on stage because they're not all white and they're afraid of getting deported. It is the job of the powerful to do the protesting, and, like Pope Leo, Springsteen's previous good works will mean nothing if he doesn't call out the big nude emperor now. The Maga crowd will still come to see him, of course, and yell the 'woah' in 'Born to Run' just as loud as everyone else does – perhaps because music is bigger than politics, or perhaps because politics is now bigger than Bruce. Though his political speeches in Liverpool (it's UK 'heartland' only this tour: no London gigs) feel slightly out of step with a city that has its own problems, it seems fair enough for Springsteen to be telling the truth about America to a crowd who's enjoyed their romantic visions of the country via his music for 50 years. But their own personal communion is suspended tonight, and the song 'My City of Ruins' has nothing to do with 9/11 any more: 'Come on… rise up…' In the crowd, a very old man is sitting on someone's shoulders. Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band play Anfield stadium, Liverpool, on 7 June 2025 [See also: Wes Anderson's sense of an ending] Related
Irish Independent
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Brendan O'Connor: With the camels and sheikhs and ‘YMCA', Baby Trump's Big Day Out was a blessed relief
Brendan O'Connor It was like high-end childcare. For the rest of the world, it was like if you were really struggling and someone surprised you by offering to take your toddler off your hands for a few days, to give you a break. And the toddler was clearly having a ball. His fun uncles in the Gulf had pulled out all the stops. They played YMCA at every available opportunity, possibly unaware it was a gay anthem. They even added a petting-zoo by bringing out the camels, prompting the toddler to say, and I quote: 'I appreciate these camels. I haven't seen camels like that in a long time.' Seriously? Does he remember the last time he saw camels? And he remembers the relative qualities of each camel he sees? And he can evaluate when the last time was that he saw camels like that? As against what? Camels that weren't like that? Did he mean dromedaries versus Bactrian? One hump or two? Of course 'I haven't seen camels like that in a long time' is a veiled insult. Because we know if Donald Trump was really impressed by the camels, he would have said: 'No one has ever seen camels like this before.' Like all the best fun uncles, they not only brought the toddler to McDonald's, they built a McDonald's for him. To make him feel at home, they even redecorated every building he went into to look like Trump Towers and the Oval Office. (Fact check: The Saudis and Qataris and Emiratis may have been into the whole gold/gilt aesthetic before Donald Trump.) They're tall, handsome guys that happen to be very smart Perhaps spurred on by the constant playing of YMCA, Trump flirted outrageously with his hosts. He said of Mohammed bin Salman: 'I like him a lot… I like him too much!' Did he mean he liked him 'too much' for Saudi Arabia's repressive anti-gay laws? He liked Sheikh Tamim in Qatar as well: Tamim and MBS were both 'tall, handsome guys that happen to be very smart.' Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa is, he said, 'young, attractive, a fighter.' Between the bling and the music and the flirting, it was like Eurovision in the desert. And even though the rest of us were acutely aware that the very real problems of the world hadn't gone away, it felt like we were able to relax a bit and enjoy watching Baby's Big Day Out. At least while he was being distracted by his rich uncles in the Gulf, being convinced he was doing amazing deals wherever he went, he wasn't, for a few days anyway, wreaking economic havoc for the rest of us. And also, he looked so happy. And maybe it's good for us all when baby is happy. Because we've seen baby when he's angry and it's not good for anyone. If you want baby to do something, you pretend to like him for doing it We have given up at this stage trying to predict or understand baby's behaviour. But maybe his Gulf uncles have figured something out. If you want baby to do something, you pretend to like him for doing it. Baby likes to be liked. And in the broader picture, maybe, just maybe, baby is figuring out that people seem to like him more when he's not wreaking economic havoc, when he's not supporting Russia and Israel too much. Maybe the lesson from last week is this: mol an óige agus tiocfaidh siad. .
Gulf Insider
17-05-2025
- Business
- Gulf Insider
Trump Tower Dubai Sales Are An Early Hit - Investors Eye '30% Resale Potential'
OK, the Trump Tower launch for Abu Dhabi didn't happen during the US President's visit this week – but there was a lot of action happening in Dubai. Buyer interest in the apartments at the recently launched Trump International Hotel & Tower in Downtown Dubai have been rated as 'rock solid' by estate agents, with a lot of attention coming from potential investors in the region and overseas. 'All available market indicators suggest a robust response,' said Farooq Syed, CEO of Springfield Properties. 'The demand signals a healthy absorption early into the sales launch of Trump Tower Dubai. What it also shows in an alignment with demand for branded, high-end real estate in Dubai.' 'The resale potential gain for Trump Tower units is forecasted at approximately 30%.' That's exactly what a number of investors would be thinking about, with the Trump Tower Dubai looking at completion in 2031. Market sources were saying that President Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and UAE over the week was the 'best promotion' the two Trump Towers in Jeddah and Dubai could have got. Multi-billion dollar deals in technology, defense and aircraft acquisitions flowed, with the visit generating unprecedented levels of global attention. 'Trump Tower Dubai offers a compelling proposition for buyers seeking lifestyle differentiation and long-term value': Farooq Syed of Springfield Properties 'More Trump-branded real estate in the Gulf states will happen in no time,' said an industry source. 'Only question is how soon an Abu Dhabi launch will happen.' 'Trump Towers Dubai and Jeddah got the best spotlight ever – President Trump's visit to the Gulf' : Dubai estate agent What the market knows for sure is that there will be two projects launched back to back in Riyadh, with Dar Global as the developer. The company is also responsible for the Trump Tower Dubai. 'The 80-storey tower introduces one of the highest outdoor pools globally,' said Syed. 'Residents have exclusive access to the Trump Membership Club. While memberships are not tied directly to unit ownership, it unlocks benefits across Trump International Towers worldwide. 'The Trump Tower Dubai is situated at the entrance of Downtown, offering a rare balance of visibility, access, and proximity to the city's most iconic landmarks. Its location supports both residential appeal and long-term asset value.' Starting prices at Trump Tower are Dh3.8 million for two-bedroom residences and Dh6.3 million for three-bedroom layouts. This 'reflects its positioning within Downtown's upper-tier market', according to Syed. 'The most exclusive two-bedroom units are priced at Dh7.6 million, while select three-bedroom residences reach Dh8.7 million. These reflect preferred layouts, elevations, and view lines – marking the upper range of each category.' In May 2024, Omniyat Properties confirmed the same of a penthouse at The Lana Residences, Dorchester Collection in Downtown Dubai for Dh139 million. This was the most expensive property to be sold with Burj Khalifa district. 'The Downtown Dubai continues to command some of the highest-value residential transactions in the region,' said Syed. 'Notable sales include a penthouse at Kempinski, The Boulevard sold for Dh80 million, and a residence at Il Primo, which transacted for Dh66.5 million. These sales underline sustained demand for ultra-prime products in the heart of the city.' The SZR is buzzing with the sounds of new projects getting started, most notably the 725 meter tall and 131 storey Burj Azizi. 'Dubai Marina, JLT and surrounding corridors among Dubai's most resilient sub-markets, recording rental yields of 7–10%' : Ravi Menon of Sobha And recently, there was the launch of the 'Sobha Central', a six-tower cluster on SZR. It will have a whole lot of apartments as well as '250,000 square feet of lush green parks, 175,000 square feet of leasable office spaces and 160,000 square feet of retail spaces including an in-built mall', is how the developer Sobha puts it. 'Recent industry reports highlight (Dubai) Marina, JLT and surrounding corridors among Dubai's most resilient sub-markets, recording rental yields of 7–10% and consistent capital appreciation,' said Ravi Menon, Chairman of Sobha. 'Sobha Central caters to the evolving aspirations of homeowners and investors seeking long-term investment value in a vibrant, central location.' The Sheikh Zayed Road is offering up quite a lot of that…
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Whines About How He's 'Not Thrilled' With Gift From UAE
Donald Trump complained about a gift he received from the UAE by making a joke Friday morning during his visit to the country. Trump's hosts presented the president with a plaque containing a drop of the country's oil, and while accepting the present, Trump said, 'This is the highest quality oil on the planet and they only gave me a drop of it, so I'm not thrilled, but it's better than no drop, can you imagine?' The joke was met with laughter from onlookers and Trump's UAE hosts, but carries a more negative tone in the context of the president receiving a much bigger gift ahead of his Middle East tour: a luxury airplane from Qatar that is being described as a bribe. Trump has bristled from criticism over the jet, which he claims is free but will probably cost U.S. taxpayers millions of dollars to modify for presidential standards. The airplane gift was preceded by Trump's businesses cutting a deal to build a luxury golf resort in Qatar earlier this month. In the UAE, the Trump family has also cut a number of recent deals, with an Emirati-backed firm recently spending $2 billion on Trump's stablecoin to the unveiling of Trump International Hotel & Tower Dubai last week. And in Saudi, two Trump Towers are in the works. It seems the president should have little to complain about with all of the money he's making, not to mention the deals that he claims to be cutting in the Middle East for U.S. industries.
The Print
15-05-2025
- Business
- The Print
Trump Residences sold out on day 1 of Gurugram launch; record bookings worth Rs 3,250 crore
Online bookings opened on 13 May. The ultra-premium penthouses, worth Rs 125 crore, were also fully allotted, the developers said in a statement. Smartworld Developers and Tribeca Developers, partners of The Trump Organisation in this project, said they saw 'record' bookings worth Rs 3,250 crores at Trump Residences. Gurugram: Amid the controversy over US President Donald Trump's claims that he brokered a 'ceasefire' between India and Pakistan, Trump Residences in Gurugram sold out completely on the first day of the launch, with its Indian partners calling it a 'landmark moment for India's luxury market'. The real estate venture, located in Sector 69 along Southern Peripheral Road and Golf Course Road Extension, is Trump's sixth residential project in India and second in Gurugram alone. Despite construction still being in progress, the 129 luxury apartments priced between Rs 8 crore and Rs 15 crore have already been booked. The 51-storey twin towers will feature 12 lakh square feet of saleable area with base prices starting at Rs 27,000 per square foot. It was not immediately clear when the construction will be completed. The project showcases distinctive architectural elements, including floor-to-ceiling glass walls, double-height living rooms, private elevators, and panoramic views of the Aravalli hills. It will also house India's first aquarium bar with an integrated restaurant, the developers said. 'The phenomenal response to Trump Residences is a testament to the aspiration for world-class living in India. Smartworld is proud to lead the delivery of this landmark project, and we thank our buyers for their trust in our vision,' Pankaj Bansal, Founder of Smartworld Developers, told ThePrint, Thursday. Kalpesh Mehta, Founder of Tribeca Developers, echoed similar sentiments, describing the project as 'not just a real estate project—it's a landmark moment for India's luxury market'. He attributed the success to 'the unmatched magnetic pull of the Trump brand' and how it resonates with India's high-end buyers. According to the arrangement, Smartworld will oversee development, construction, and customer service, while Tribeca has taken the lead on design, marketing, sales, and quality control for the project. This represents the second Trump-branded residential development in northern India. The first, Trump Towers in Delhi-NCR, launched in 2018 in Gurugram, is also fully sold out and scheduled for delivery later this month. In April this year, the Tribeca Developers founder, Kalpesh Mehta, announced that either Donald Trump Jr. or Eric Trump, sons of the current US president, could soon travel to India to oversee progress on the Trump Tower project in Gurugram. The Trump family has maintained connections with their Indian real estate ventures, with Donald Trump Jr having made visits to the country in 2018 and 2022. (Edited by Sanya Mathur) Also Read: US pushes for direct India-Pakistan talks, 'dealmaker' Trump ready to aid 'pursuit of peace'
