why is rolling stone fixated on bruce.

He is the Boss,of Boss!eS.

Why the Gay pride Ribbons around their necks?? Just wondering..

…because there is no better live act, or singer/songwriter/musician/per former on the planet than Bruce, that’s why.

He’s the boss! It’s better than all of that Jonas Brother attetnion that RS was on about this past year.

Have you ever been to one of his concerts? His band is awesome,non-stop from beginning to end! Not bad for a guy who is 50!

I’ve seen Bruce since ‘76 and no one compares. He always puts on a fantastic show and gives it his all. You can tell how much he loves what he does and how much he cares about his music and fans. And how about that E Street Band – always pure professionalism and talent!

Hes 60 Tray, but age doesnt seem to be a factor for him! or the rest of the band.

Hey Bruce Congrats on your Rocking Turnpike honor! YOUR FRIENDS INCLUDING MYSELF ALL LOVE YOU BECAUSE YOU ROCK WITH THAT LOUD tELECASTER! Rock On Buce because you are the only boss I’ll ever work for! As you wrote in
Radio Nowhere-”Is There Anybody Alive Out There!”-the answer to that question and exclamation point is a resounding yes!
Mr. Springsteen you are the Webster’s definition of
rock & roll!

Bruce is my favorite artist in the world, hands down. Even I gotta admit, though, that Rolling Stone should probably take it’s mouth of his you-know-what every once in a while. I like Working on a Dream, but it’s NOT a five-star album by any means.

Bruce is pretty awesome, why does he need his ass kissed in this manner? I don’t know. Melissa Etheridge doing Born To Run would be great! The Obamas? Don’t they have more important things to do?

I am not 100% sure but I believe that the president and first lady always attend the Kennedy Center Honors

Bruce Springsteen will sorely be missed. He is a legend and will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace Bruce! May you find the stairway to heaven!

Waiting a minute.. Springsteen is from the “Jersey Shore”? I saw every episode of that MTV show and never did I see him on there or hear his music on there. I think Caroline Kennedy is mistaken there.

Bruce Springsteen is boring and his music sucks.

Bruce Springsteen’s music is boring and I would have to be paid to sit through one of his concerts.

Hey Wasted -
You talk like Bruce is not around anymore. He’s more alive and energetic than most new acts today that just “do it” for the $$, in 1/2 the concert time.

Simply the best.

dio is 67 and can out sing him anyday. and write better songs. i’ve seen both. bruce doesnt come close

Ahem, Tray the Boss is 60, I am 50. He has rocked since the first concert i witnessed back in ‘75.

I do not get RS obsession with Springsteen.

Every single performance or utterance he makes is reported devoutly by RS as if he’s a golden god.

He made a couple classic albums in the 70s but hasn’t done anything that’s made cultural impact since ‘Born in the USA’. What is the big deal?

It was a loving & touching tribute to Bruce. The only disappointment was not hearing even a little bit of Streets of Philadelphia.

While I basically do like Springsteen (ave a smattering of his albums and have seen him live a few times), I never really got whole deification of Bruce thing…

I know he’s hailed as a great songwriter, but the subject matter is thoroughly uninteresting to me. There are only so many songs about working in factories and liking some girl I can hear before I want to reach for something a bit more compelling.

Sonically, he’s a little hard to take. A musician friend of mine once referred to Springsteen as “music for tone-deaf people.”

Dave Brubeck, on the other hand (also honored that night), is a true genius…

I don’t trust people who don’t like Springsteen’s music. It’s like hating pure joy.

I understand why some of us would not think too much of of the Boss. I felt that way, too, until I really listened to his music. For anyone not to see his revelance in our country is someone who may have good taste but will not listen to this man and his music. I agree, not all of his music is great-no one can be 100%. But that does not negate what he has tried to do for organizations that help homeless and hungry people. Not perfect, but damn sight excellent.

IF YOUR NOT REALLY A FAN, I HOPE YOU GET IT NOW.

KBR-21

Hopefully, Grace Bumbry gave Bruce some pointers in singing when they were sitting in the balcony together…

Bruce is so great that I can’t express it in words. R&R personified.

Bruce is VERY special.

Did you however ever see a Pearl Jam show?
After hearing Eddie in DC, those on this board need to step up & get 2 tics to the next PJ show!

Tom Petty better get this honor soon.

Saw it last night. EV did an amazing tribute. But Sting really blew it out of the water! His voice as unreal. That note he held in the end probably made Bruce nervous about upping his game.

Bruce may only know a five guitar chords, but as a singer he’s right up there with Bob Dylan and Yoko Ono!

Bruce I hope you see this. Your music is a big part of my life. How I see and do things with my life. Your music is is a guide to a peaceful,caring,loving life. P.S. My sons name is Kyle William From the song reason to believe Thanks you for everything ReF

I couldn’t have said it better, DonnaJ. Screw the haters and the trolls.

thank u Donna

I can’t believe not one mention about Sting’s performance? Sting could release that today and it be a Number #1 hit….somebody forward to Simon Cowell. It’s time the people of this nation quit complaining about what they don’t have and how bad everything is. Be thankful! It’s time for this nation to “RISE UP”

Eddie and Sting were both awesome.

I thought Melissa Etheridge;s “Born to Run” was horrible and she looked a little psycho at moments, EV did awesome!! Sting was also good.. Bruce Rocks for Life!!!

Melissa E. was horrible, she looked nuts at moments, EV was awesome Sting was also very good

There is something that you younger people may not understand; when Bruce came along, rock and roll was in dire straits. The legends were struggling to maintain their status, and the airwaves were flooded with garbage elevator music bands. “The Boss” came and resurrected the American rock and roll sound right when we needed it the most. His music came from the soul of every common working class man in the country. His music inspired a man to hold his head up and keep on working hard at being a man. His passion bleeds from all his music. If you don’t think he still contributes to our culture today, you may want to sit down and read his lyrics. Bruce saved rock and roll, and that’s why he will always be, “The Boss”.

DO YOU KNOW THE DOG PUPLE? THE LITLLE DOG!

As a musician I consider music (rock&roll specifically) to be the antithesis of politics! I don’t understand why so many artists feel the need to align themselves with a certain political movement, in any direction. I have seen Bruce in concert (at Bonnaroo, just because he was there) and was disgusted by his 10 minute long lecture between songs. I prefer that music be free from political bias not loaded with it. I second the sentiment that Springsteen is music for tone deaf people.

The reason why Bruce is always talked about on Rolling Stone along with U2 is because they deserve to be talked about every single issue. These guys who are way past there prime still put out amazing stuff and perform as if they are in there prime. I saw both in the summer and both shows were amazing. No one thats out today with the exception of Pearl Jam can compete with these true legends. Bruce is the greatest living legend hands down along with Paul McCartney. : )

MB – How about Eric Clapton? As far as today is concerned, Radiohead and anything that Jack White does absolutely smokes any of the crap that Springsteen has EVER put out

bruce springsteen sucks. he is terrible at everything he has done. Vedder did an amazing job at making a Springsteen song sound good. Bruce should be Honoring Eddie

Well Mike I am a big Radiohead fan as well as Eric Clapton and Gilmour and Waters and The Who and Mark Knopfler and John Fogerty etc etc…. I just didnt feel like listing every single band I like. but the fact that you compared Jack White to Bruce Springsteen really makes you look ridiculous. Jack White has talent but his mark on R&R is no where near Springsteens! And lyrically? haha the River alone is better then Jack Whites entire cataloug.

Mike id like to add one more thing toward your comment. Its easier to name 5 Springsteen Albums over 5 Jack White Songs. Now who has a bigger impact?

To whoever said rock n roll is the antithesis of politics: WRONG – R&R IS poltical. Everything about it. The moment Elvis shook his hips he was igniting a sexual awakening which effected the very firmament of Western society. John Lennon, Bob Dylan writing about real life and carving out an actual actionable movement (forget whetehr the movement was even successful, it was POLITICAL).

You couldn’t be more wrong. You should be a pop fan and pop only. Rock n roll would not have ever happened if it were not for the political implications.

MB – thanks for setting me straight. I guess I am ridiculous. I know I am in the minority, but I’d rather stick pins in my eyeballs than listen to Springsteen. I think he is boring, and cannot sing or play. Just different musical tastes. I’ll take the 10 years of Jack White’s catalog over any song, album of Springsteen.

Springsteen is an American as well as a musical icon. Those of you bashing his guitar playing or songwriting or singing obviously know nothing about him. While you are entitled to your opinions, Bruce has always been a very underrated guitar player. He made a name for himself on the Jersey shore with his guitar playing. In concert, he will rip off great solos. However, he is a songwriter first and foremost, and, like Pete Townshend, doesn’t build songs around guitar solos (usually done when a song isn’t going anywhere). As a performer, I would only rate The Who as greater live performers. Bruce brings intensity and unsurpassed energy to every show, and he engages like no other with his audience. Above everything else, he is one of the greatest songwriters of the past 50 years. My personsl songwriting ranking is as follows:
1) Pete Townshend
2) Bruce Springsteen
3) Lennon/McCartney
4) Neil Young
5) Jagger/Richards
6) Bono/Edge/U2
7) Ray Davies
Gilmour/Waters
9) Page/Plant
10) Strummer/Jones

I can’t believe I wasted time reading some of these comments. Ugh.

Mike you have a right to your own opinion. At least your not defending lady gaga or Britney Spears. I think you should try Bruce again though. Try Tunnel Of Love or Darkness On The Edge Of Town or even Magic. If it does nothing for you then it does nothing for you what can I say.

GoTerps I agree with you that the Who are the greatest live act of all time! Your songwriting choices are similar to mine too.
1.Lennon/McCartney
2.Bo b Dylan
3.Pete Townsend
4.Bruce Springsteen
5.Waters/Gilmour

6.Bono/Edge
7.Richards/Jagge r
8.Simon/Garfunkel
9.Vedder /Gossard
10.Hunter/Garcia
I know im missing some good ones

next years kennedy honours will be jay-z,rhianna,snoop dogg and kanye west.

bring back the beatles

springsteen has become a bore.

GA – Rock and Roll can be political in a broader social sense or address various aspects of the human condition and be effective. When you reduce this down to overtly political rants or statements, i.e. being blatantly partisan or stumping for some candidate, it totally cheapens the whole experience, IMHO. (It’s also a tad insulting to those paying for tickets who might not share the boss’s political OPINIONS.)

I don’t care how my favorite (or not) musicians vote any more than I care what they had for dinner last night or what type of shampoo the like.

great tribute to the boss. mellencamp and etheridge were garbage, but eddie nailed it and stinger was tolerable. i wonder about this though: out of bruce, eddie, and mellencamp – who make’s the stinkiest toilet? they’ve all had distinguished careers, but that is the one factor that never gets considered when comparing artists. what think you?

Mellencamp….All dem chili dogs…

Sounds like a shitty time.

bruce rules but rolling stone gives him too much coverage

MB–Nice choices–brilliant minds think alike! I forgot to mention in my original post: What’s up with John Mellencamp? Is it me, or is he starting to resemble one of the munchkins from Oz? Or a garden gnome? What’s going on? I’m sure it killed him seeing Springsteen up there getting all of the accolades. He never quite measured up to Bruce–a poor man’s Bruce…

Eddie Vedder is really one of the greatest singers ever.

mellencamp nailed it, springsteen said after the show that he always had respect for mellencamp and loved his rendition of born in the usa so i guess long ron daniels you know piss all about music only about garbage and toilets weirdo fetish i know

Two of my favorite people …Bruce and Eddie. I didn’t get to see this part of the show of course…just the Mel Brooks part..grrrrrrr. Will be searching you tube for more of these clips.

I think what sets Bruce apart from most (if not all rock artists) is that here it is, the first day of 2010, going on 40 years of making great music, and he still is relevant enough to be the second top grossing concert artist of 2009. He is also relevant enough to illicit all of these comments on this blog. Ha!
His shows grossed over 100 million dollars in 2009, second only to U2.
The haters can criticize his guitar playing skills, or his voice, but live shows are what have made Bruce and E-Street the best live concert ever…..even at 60 yrs old.
P.S. My son is 18 and a college freshman and since I took him to his first Bruce show in March 08, he is now as big a fan as I am….and has converted many of his buddies as well.

Springsteen is just a Van Morrison wannabe – but is just a shadow of his talent

Springsteen is the biggest no-talent fake the universe has ever seen. He cannot sing, cannot write a song, and is an awful live performer. He only received this honor because he is a liberal. Working class hero? The guy is a homewrecker!

Bruce should lay off the botox and hair dye and just age gracefully. Ugh. btw, he hasn’t made a great album since Tunnel of Love. The last few [which all received glowing 5 stars reviews from this mag here] pretty much stank. Love ya Bruce, but it’s time to start cashing those pension checks.

I like Bruce.

lame….the only reason he was at the Kennedy Center is because the guy is a bleading heart liberal who greases the palm of any democratic presidential canidate every election year…………..i am so sick of hearing about the guy…..he’s only “the Boss” in Jersey. He’s a regional thing like Bon Jovi and Frank Sinatra. Rolling Stone blows.

Bruce is the best we have. Eddie Vedder is the best reinterpreter ever. He was genius. Sting was good as well. Nice to see an event like this go down with no Bono in sight.

Let’s be honest. Bruce is a HARDCORE LIBERAL. That why all the glorification. PERIOD.

fuck eddie vedder. why is he an authority on everything pop music? why is he in every single rock doc i have seen in the passed decade? i’ll give him credit for having good taste, but that’s about it. he ain’t no musicologist.

man oh man.. i don’t think eddie actively seeks out these rock doc producers and begs them to include him. i’d write more, but i need to leave now because i have a really bad case of the farts. quick question: who is your daddy and what does he do?

I think Eddie Vedder is an authority on pop music because he’s dedicated his life to music in a way most musicians haven’t done. Some people are just more obsessed with music than other people, and Eddie has spent his whole life being obsessed with music – that’s why he’s an authority.

And no, not fuck Eddie Vedder… Fuck you, you no-talent nobody who nobody cares about.

Bruce is a legend, his shows are three hour events and the E Street Band, espeically Max on drums and Roy on piano, are what helps him trandscends music…glad to see a previous poster mention Ray Davies, another legend with he and brother Dave making the Kinks an amazing band people will continue to discover their genius in the years to come

If anyone thinks Kennedy Center honors will ever have a K West, Rihanna, Jay Z or anyone like that, forget it. Music died when Rock and Roll died.

Bruce was great then he got rich and sold out. Problem is no one told him…