# Springsteen and Super Bowl halftime. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 2, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060 "2009-02-02T01:29:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/41 "2009-02-02T12:12:53Z")
Growing up in New Jersey during the 70s and 80s I had no choice but to form a strong opinion of Springsteen. I hated him at the time. I still don’t like him but I have come to respect him as an artist. I like some of his early stuff and I know he gives the fans his all everytime. If I had to go song for song I probably like Segar’s stuff more. But they are nothing alike. I thought the halftime show was OK. I wondered about the choice of songs. Especially putting something from the new album in there. ---
**Author:** ![yojimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yojimbo/32/232_2.png) [@yojimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yojimbo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/42 "2009-02-02T12:38:02Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > And no “Born in the USA” - must have felt it a little to patriotic for his current political views Heh. There are Americans who still think that BITUSA is a song that it isn’t just becuase of the title and part of the chorus. ---
**Author:** ![Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@Petrobey\_Mavromihalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Petrobey_Mavromihalis)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/43 "2009-02-02T14:06:24Z")
> [@flickster](#): > > And no “Born in the USA” - must have felt it a little to patriotic for his current political views Several people have beaten me too it, but I just wanted to add my voice: You’re pretty stupid. Just watched this on YouTube. Yeah, his voice was ragged, but not so it mattered greatly for this type of song. Band was tight. Would have been fun to see, all in all. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/44 "2009-02-02T14:07:14Z")
> [@Spartydog](#): > > If you have to use fireworks to make your music sound good you are shit. Have you ever watched a Super Bowl before? Because if Yo-yo Ma played the halftime show, there’d still be roman candles going off right and left. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/45 "2009-02-02T14:09:33Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > in 1976, Seger released _Night Moves_ (OK, he had a little success earlier with “Turn the Page,” _Beautiful Loser_, and _Live Bullet_, but Springsteen was nationally famous and nationally successful first). Seger’s national breakout was “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man,” Top 20 hit, 1969. Though early '70s albums like _Mongrel_ and _Smokin’ O.P.s_ charted poorly, they were well promoted, and anyone into the music scene at the time knew about Seger. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/46 "2009-02-02T14:16:55Z")
SpringSteen’s voice may not be holding up, but he put on a great show and the band did well. Although I have to say that doing a power slide without a guitar does not impress me much. (Doing a power slide with a guitar hasn’t impressed me much since seeing Anna Phoebe doing power slides playing a violin). ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/47 "2009-02-02T14:17:59Z")
For the record, Springsteen showed a hell of a lot more enthusiasm than the Rolling Stones did for their half-time show. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/48 "2009-02-02T14:18:03Z")
Wow, **Spartydog** has a vagina full of sand. Is there anything about the Super Bowl that didn’t piss him off? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/49 "2009-02-02T14:48:20Z")
I’m not a Springsteen fan, although I sing along to _Glory Days_ when it’s on the radio. _Springsteen’s_ halftime performance sucked balls. The rest of the band was pretty good. I’m just nervous that they’ll get The Who to perform next year and Roger Daltrey’s shot vocal chords will have to be audible over 70,000 screaming fans instead of 5,000 silent ones. ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/50 "2009-02-02T15:47:24Z")
I \*\*\*hate \*\*\*Bruce Springsteen’s music and even I thought it wasn’t all that bad. ---
**Author:** ![BubbaDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bubbadog/32/333_2.png) [@BubbaDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BubbaDog)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/51 "2009-02-02T16:01:14Z")
This might be a little off topic too but every time I see Micheal Buble Ripping off the Sex Pistols it pisses me off too. I used to hold the record for how fast a radio could tune to another station whenever a Bob Seger song came on and a college room mate ruined my interest forever in anything Springsteen, but I thought the halftime show was pretty good. Of course I spent most of the time telling my wife, " No really. That’s the guy! The one in the bandanna. He pretty much never shows his hair. No, the pompadour he wore in the Sopranos was a wig. No really, that’s the guy." ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/52 "2009-02-02T16:08:13Z")
> [@Mr.Miskatonic](#): > > Although I have to say that doing a power slide without a guitar does not impress me much. (Doing a power slide with a guitar hasn’t impressed me much since seeing Anna Phoebe doing power slides playing a violin). Didn’t impress you? The point is that it was hilarious the way he collided with the camera(man). I don’t suppose there is a shot of that from another angle making the rounds on YouTube. ---
**Author:** ![DudleyGarrett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d9b06d/32.png) [@DudleyGarrett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DudleyGarrett)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/53 "2009-02-02T16:17:34Z")
> [@El\_Kabong](#): > > I know it’s ever so cool to ridicule Super Bowl halftime shows, and yes, the Boss has gotten a bit paunchy and Little Steven isn’t all that little any more, but IM insignificant O anyone who would call that a crap show is out of their fucking mind. That’s one tight band, there, and if one was paying attention at all, one might have noticed that the crowd who was actually at the event seemed to like it rather a lot. > > So kindly piss off. Echoed. I thought it was the best halftime show I’d seen to date. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/54 "2009-02-02T16:53:09Z")
> [@DudleyGarrett](#): > > I thought it was the best halftime show I’d seen to date. Yuppers. I’ve been seeing the Boss in concert since 1977. Been to over 15 shows, at the minimum. ---
**Author:** ![Lurking\_Quahog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lurking_quahog/32/21274_2.png) [@Lurking\_Quahog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lurking_Quahog)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/55 "2009-02-02T16:59:10Z")
Did anyone else find any humor in Bruce’s statement at the end of his performance (I’m going to DisneyLAND)? I thought it was pretty funny considering the game was played in Florida, home of DisneyWORLD! And for record, I like Springsteen. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/56 "2009-02-02T17:08:24Z")
Although \*Ramblin’ Gamblin Man \*is a great song, I detest Seeger. I don’t really like Springsteen, but he’s pretty spry for a senior citizen. My complaint was that Bruce and ittle Steven are doing those ‘jamming on the guitar’ moves but the their guitars are inaudible. ---
**Author:** ![pantheon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/6bbea6/32.png) [@pantheon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pantheon)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/57 "2009-02-02T17:36:55Z")
Springsteen is like this garage mechanic poet. You can feel the sweat in his voice, the grime in his guitar. When he sings, I see steamy streets, lovers’ groping hands, busted fenders. The dirt is under his nails, and the clairvoyance in his eyes. (Prozac Nation) ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/58 "2009-02-02T18:18:10Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > Yuppers. > > I’ve been seeing the Boss in concert since 1977. Been to over 15 shows, at the minimum. You SOB. Whenever I listen to my bootlegs, I curse myself for having been born too late. ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/59 "2009-02-02T19:05:15Z")
[“Thunder Road” '75 Hammersmith Odeon](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYPSZiE0OAs) - for anyone claiming this his voice has “gotten rough.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2009, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060/60 "2009-02-02T21:22:11Z")
I suppose it depends on whether one’s judging Springsteen’s halftime show by the standards of (a) other Super Bowl halftime shows, (b) Springsteen live today, (c) Springsteen live 30 years ago, or (d) your favorite live rock n’ roll band. Never seen Springsteen live, and (d)'s in there basically as a joke. But this was easily the best Super Bowl halftime show I’ve seen. > [@Spartydog](#): > > Springsteen became nationally famous because his publicist got him on the covers of Time and Newsweek in the same week. Yeah, because that’s really not all that hard for a publicist to do. :rolleyes: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/springsteen-and-super-bowl-halftime/484060.md?page=4)