Bruce Springsteen

In locales across the country this weekend, from backyard barbecues and community celebrations to bars and car stereos, chances are Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” will be blasting from speakers—the track seemingly set on an endless loop, crowds shouting the chorus en masse with a heightened level of patriotic fever, the song selection and singalongs rife with irony.

The Boss’s most recognizable recording is, after all, one of the great protest songs of all time. A damning criticism of the Vietnam War and a scathing indictment of the devastating effects of Reaganomics on the working class, “Born in the U.S.A” has been long been misinterpreted, by Reagan himself and other right-wingers. For those who understand the narrative and themes of the song, perhaps it is appropriate that this anthem serves as part of the soundtrack for Independence Day celebrations throughout the United States every summer. There’s nothing more American and patriotic than dissent and rock music (the First Amendment is first for a reason), from the spirituals of enslaved African-Americans and the early 20th century folk songs in support of the American worker to the protest music during the Vietnam War era and the resurgence of anti-war songs during the Bush administration.

So at a time when the right wing fights to cut off unemployment benefits for average Americans while apologizing to a foreign corporation like BP and Democrats continue to wage wars started by the previous administration, The Madness of Art offers a patriotic playlist (after the jump) different than most, one in which musicians use their voices and artistic ability to speak truth to power.  Read more…

Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States, died today at the age of 87, and the nation and world will miss his presence.

His contributions to our society, however, will live on forever. (Read the Associated Press obit here.) Recently, the History Channel aired the much-anticipated and  thoroughly stirring “The People Speak”—a visually and audibly compelling 101 course in democracy and American history based on Zinn’s important work. So we present in his honor this performance from the aforementioned documentary, by an artist much admired by The Madness of Art, that in many ways sums up the spirit of the man who used his art to seek and deliver truth. Read more…

From Dave Matthews and Neil Young to Jay-Z and U2, from Bruce Springsteen and Coldplay to Wyclef Jean, musicians of all stripes and styles played music of hope on a multi-network telethon to raise money to help all those suffering in Haiti in the aftermath of a devastating earthquake.

Once again, I’m struck by the sheer potency of music, galvanizing the global community to offer financial support to a nation of people that desperately need it. While many of the big-name stars gave moving performances, the real example of the transcendent power of music came during a report from Haiti. Amid the rubble, groups of Haitians continue gathering to summon positive vibes and spread hope through the sounds of salvaged instruments, strained-yet-optimistic voices and hands clapping in unison.

Whether you watched or not, whether you donated already or not, simply buying some good music right now will have an impact. iTunes is now offering an album of the live performances from Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief for $7.99 (a video of the complete broadcast will be available for $2.99), and proceeds will support several vital organizations involved in the relief efforts: Partners In Health, American Red Cross, UNICEF, Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, Yéle Haiti, and Oxfam.

Check out some of the performances from the benefit concert after the jump. Read more…

It’ll be difficult to watch the Oscars tonight with even the slightest bit of respect. When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced its nominees last month, Bruce Springsteen’s “The Wrestler” failed to make the cut in the “Best Original Song” category—thereby undermining the credibility of the entire selection process.

Not nominating the song, which won the Golden Globe, is inexplicable. Simple and raw, emotive and powerful, Springsteen managed to capture the spirit and essence of the film in a way none of the nominated songs do. Not only is “The Wrestler” the best song written for a movie in 2008, but it is arguably the best song of the year.

Read more…

It’s official. The Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival—an annual four-day, multi-stage musical “experience” held on a 700-acre farm in Manchester, Tenn., since 2002—is the place to be this summer.

The festival, set for June 11-14, unveiled its 2009 lineup this week—and, somewhat miraculously, it doesn’t disappoint, despite all the pre-announcement anticipation and expectations that has been building since last year’s event. Some are already calling it the best Roo lineup ever. It’s hard to disagree with that assessment, especially with a reunited Phish (two shows) and Bruce Springsteen—the best two live bands, arguably, of all time (in my experience, at least, and the reason I’ve seen both multiple times)—headlining the megafestival. Here’s what else has me buying Bonnaroo tickets, for the first time, this Saturday at noon: Rodrigo y Gabriela, MGMT, Ben Harper, TV on the Radio, David Byrne, Beastie Boys, Wilco—just to name a few.

And then there’s that “many more acts to be announced” teaser. Here’s my wishlist (even though some performed at Roo last year, I wasn’t there!): Pearl Jam, Vampire Weekend, Coldplay, The Killers, Modest Mouse, The Dead, Damien Rice, Kings of Leon…

Who would you like to see added to the lineup?