# Bowie v. Boss

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowie-v-boss/546724>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 14, 2010, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowie-v-boss/546724 "2010-07-14T22:47:06Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowie-v-boss/546724/41 "2010-07-17T00:17:38Z")

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> [@Isamu](#):
>
> You’ve chosen two artists who epitomize the different lyric styles of their times - Bowie, the enigmatic, deep, lyrics of the '70s, and Springsteen the straight-shooting, “everyman’s” poetry of the later '80s. Both are excellent at what they do.
> 
> But I’d have to go with Bowie for the aforesaid ability to re-invent himself.

Not to be nitpicky, but Springsteen’s two biggest albums came in '75 and '84 . . . his ‘time’ was most definitely not the late 80s, stylistically or lyrically.

> [@Ryan\_Liam](#):
>
> Let’s get Bruce Springsteen to try and sing ‘Young Americans’ that song is lyrically one of the hardest to sing ever IMHO.

Despite the popular opinion that ‘Bruce can’t sing,’ he’s actually got mad singing chops, and could, without a doubt, sing the shit out of Young Americans.

His singing might not be one’s cup of tea, but listen to _Tenth Avenue Freeze Out_, _Adam Raised a Cain_, _Backstreets_, _Jungle Land_, or really most of **Born to Run** and **Darkness on the Edge of Town** , and if you still think the man can’t sing with power, precision, and style, then there’s something wrong with your ears.

You might not like it, but the ability is undeniable.

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**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [July 17, 2010, 7:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bowie-v-boss/546724/42 "2010-07-17T07:22:01Z")

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I’d also like to hear Bowie sing \*The River \*like he means it.

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