Does anyone else hate Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band? (2 Viewers)

[Willie Neslon]

Had a conversation with a friend who is a huge fan of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. He was genuinely surprised that not only was I not a fan but I legitimately loathe the band and their music. Bruce's singing style has always sounded like he's constipated and trying to push out a big log. Also, the band's on stage presence has always bugged the hell out of me, like they're up there on stage trying to be seen while they play the songs. I'm not sure that makes a lot of sense but I don't know how else to describe it. Their rendition of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town is easily my least favorite Christmas song of all-time. I feel like I SHOULD like them as they are right in the pocket of era/type of music but I don't. Does anyone else feel the same? Can any hardcore fans steer me to some songs that may change my feelings?

Notes:

- My band covers Brilliant Disguise and I don't hate that song
- The only music I hate more is Van Morrison
- Try reading this post in Bruce's constipated voice
- I know, who cares
- Happy leap year day

 

[higgins]

Hate is a strong word. Do I not care for -or- think they’re overrated? Yes!

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Not a fan except for Dancing In The Dark and a live cover they did of INXS's Don't Change.

Otherwise, I find Bruce himself to be pretty annoying.

 

[beer 30]

Big fan but I get the dislike. He is or at least was a very much love him or hate him type artist. I bailed on Bruce after Born in the USA. His early stuff is what I cut my teeth on and listen to it to this day regularly, takes me back to HS and the 80's. That said, there were 2-3 of us that loved Springsteen and pretty much everyone else hated him. I get it, to each their own.

 

[zamboni]

Hate is a strong word. Do I not care for -or- think they’re overrated? Yes!

My sentiments as well, although I do respect him.

 

[bigbottom]

Never was a fan. And then I saw him live where he absolutely killed for 3 straight hours. So while his music is not my taste, I do respect the hell out of him as a musician and an artist.

 

[beer 30]

Never was a fan. And then I saw him live where he absolutely killed for 3 straight hours. So while his music is not my taste, I did respect the hell out of him as a musician and an artist.

Yea one thing I will give the Boss, even if you don't like his music, dude puts on a show now. I've seen him in a couple different settings, from small venues to stadiums and he goes hard for 3+ hrs every time.

 

[TLEF316]

Hate? No.

Do I think it's REALLY weird when people see him in concert dozens and dozens of times including multiple nights in a row? YUP.

I'm not a concert guy regardless but seeing basically the same show over and over again (plus or minus a few changes in the set) just makes zero sense to me.

 

[Snoopy]

@E Street Brat

 

[Joe Bryant]

I had similar experience on changing mind after seeing him live. I was neutral. Saw him live and walked away a fan. Pours his heart into it.

I can see people who think he's overrated or annoying. And some people hate popular things on principle. But I'd be like the OP's friends and surprised to find many people who like music who hate Springsteen.

 

[Mjolnirs]

Never been a fan, but don’t hate.

 

[Joe Bryant]

And for the poll question - tons of difference between hating the guy and not being a fan.

 

[Eephus]

Hate? No.

Do I think it's REALLY weird when people see him in concert dozens and dozens of times including multiple nights in a row? YUP.

I'm not a concert guy regardless but seeing basically the same show over and over again (plus or minus a few changes in the set) just makes zero sense to me.

Like Deadheads, Parrotheads (RIP) and whatever they call people who follow a particular artist, the community with other like-minded weirdos is a big part of what brings them in and keeps them coming back.

 

[Drunken knight]

not hate, but think he's a over-rated. i do like several songs

 

[DA RAIDERS]

Meh

 

[Van Dyman]

Yes. I never got why anyone liked him.

 

[dkp993]

Hate is a strong word. Do I not care for -or- think they’re overrated? Yes!

This

 

[Don Quixote]

Never was a fan. And then I saw him live where he absolutely killed for 3 straight hours. So while his music is not my taste, I did respect the hell out of him as a musician and an artist.

Yeah, that’s where I am on him too. He puts on a great show live and would definitely see him again. But I also can’t remember the last time I put on one of his albums just to listen to.

 

[Jaysus]

Baby, we were born to run.

 

[belljr]

Indifferent

Like a couple songs

 

[falguy]

One thing I am not a fan of, is your poll options. I'm in between being a fan and "NOT" a fan. I like a fair number of is songs and I greatly respect his effort in live shows bug I don't go out of my way to listen to his music. If the songs I like come on I'm happy to listen to them.

 

[Willie Neslon]

I had similar experience on changing mind after seeing him live. I was neutral. Saw him live and walked away a fan. Pours his heart into it.

To me his enthusiasm seems so inorganic. More like he's trying to make it look like he's pouring his heart into it. Maybe the horrific pain in his face while he plays a simple guitar chord has something to do with my opinion here.

 

[Joe Bryant]

Nebraska is maybe a top 10 album for me.

 

[beer 30]

Nebraska is maybe a top 10 album for me.

That's when he really started to explore and it ended my relationship with him. Haven't listened to anything he's done since then. I can wear out Darkness on the Edge of Town and/or Born to Run but his stuff from Nebraska on

 

[Gr00vus]

I enjoy things like Philadelphia and Tunnel Of Love quite a bit, but I don't really enjoy his more iconic stuff.

Anytime I see interviews with him, he seems like a very interesting person.

 

[arrow1]

I had similar experience on changing mind after seeing him live. I was neutral. Saw him live and walked away a fan. Pours his heart into it.

To me his enthusiasm seems so inorganic. More like he's trying to make it look like he's pouring his heart into it. Maybe the horrific pain in his face while he plays a simple guitar chord has something to do with my opinion here.

What about the Peloton screen?

 

[Capella]

I had similar experience on changing mind after seeing him live. I was neutral. Saw him live and walked away a fan. Pours his heart into it.

To me his enthusiasm seems so inorganic. More like he's trying to make it look like he's pouring his heart into it. Maybe the horrific pain in his face while he plays a simple guitar chord has something to do with my opinion here.

He’s a multi-millionaire putting on 3 hour shows at age 75 or whatever he is. What about that is inorganic. If he didn’t love it he wouldn’t do it.

I’m a big fan. I do get why some people don’t like his music but he performs his concerts like his career depends on it.

 

[Capella]

Nebraska is maybe a top 10 album for me.

That's when he really started to explore and it ended my relationship with him. Haven't listened to anything he's done since then. I can wear out Darkness on the Edge of Town and/or Born to Run but his stuff from Nebraska on

I like his earlier stuff more for sure but the rising is a top-3 Bruce album for me, easily.

 

[ThaPenguin]

Don't care for the music particularly, but respect his work.

 

[James Bond]

Sorry, but love me some Bruce. Great shows in person. Miss Clarence.

 

[bigbottom]

I had similar experience on changing mind after seeing him live. I was neutral. Saw him live and walked away a fan. Pours his heart into it.

To me his enthusiasm seems so inorganic. More like he's trying to make it look like he's pouring his heart into it. Maybe the horrific pain in his face while he plays a simple guitar chord has something to do with my opinion here.

He’s actually a very impressive guitar player. I was pleasantly surprised. I didn’t notice any histrionics, but of course I saw him like a year ago when he was 70+.

 

[nirad3]

Hate? No.

Do I think it's REALLY weird when people see him in concert dozens and dozens of times including multiple nights in a row? YUP.

I'm not a concert guy regardless but seeing basically the same show over and over again (plus or minus a few changes in the set) just makes zero sense to me.

This is where I'm at. I have a college friend who is the type that would see him every night of her life if she could. Little weird.

 

[Osaurus]

I know the US Park Service isn’t a fan of him

 

[Scoresman]

I do feel its a bit pretentious when he starts off a song with some spiel about being a hard working blue collar longshoreman in Jersey or whatever it is he goes on about. Just sing the song.

It's not that I hate it, I'm just not the target audience.

 

[rockaction]

otb_lifer might check his account again if you keep posting topics like these. Keep it up. That way I can get back in touch with him.

Heh.

I have a lot to say about Bruce, but I'm going to exercise my own Thumper Rule for this thread—not because I have only negative things to say, but with the conscious thought that there are things that don't always need to be personally or critically examined, and one can let the moment pass without ruining a good conversation being had by everybody.

 

[Willie Neslon]

I had similar experience on changing mind after seeing him live. I was neutral. Saw him live and walked away a fan. Pours his heart into it.

To me his enthusiasm seems so inorganic. More like he's trying to make it look like he's pouring his heart into it. Maybe the horrific pain in his face while he plays a simple guitar chord has something to do with my opinion here.

What about the Peloton screen?

I put some tape on it.

 

[BoltNlava]

Seen him many times. Goes hard EVERY SINGLE TIME. Only artist I've ever seen that truly believes what he's singing, besides Pink Floyd. Mad respect!

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I had similar experience on changing mind after seeing him live. I was neutral. Saw him live and walked away a fan. Pours his heart into it.

To me his enthusiasm seems so inorganic. More like he's trying to make it look like he's pouring his heart into it. Maybe the horrific pain in his face while he plays a simple guitar chord has something to do with my opinion here.

Your "pushing out a log" description pretty much sums it up for me. Guitar playing- just fine; singing- oy vey.

He does give value for money concert-wise, though.

 

[Drunken knight]

not hate, but think he's a over-rated. i do like several songs

@Willie Neslon

i do happen to like van morrison

 

[BoltNlava]

not hate, but think he's a over-rated. i do like several songs

@Willie Neslon

i do happen to like van morrison

Me as well.

 

[Courtjester]

Hate? No.

Do I think it's REALLY weird when people see him in concert dozens and dozens of times including multiple nights in a row? YUP.

I'm not a concert guy regardless but seeing basically the same show over and over again (plus or minus a few changes in the set) just makes zero sense to me.

Like Deadheads, Parrotheads (RIP) and whatever they call people who follow a particular artist, the community with other like-minded weirdos is a big part of what brings them in and keeps them coming back.

My 62 year old sister and her husband have probably seen Tool--5-6 times this year. I like Tool, but 5-6 times already this year??

I like Bruce's early stuff, but as time goes on, he has just succumb to the "Look I am Bruce and my opinions are sooo important," thing that happens to older stars and artists.

 

[squistion]

Not a huge fan, but I did see him live on The River tour in October 1980 at The Los Angeles Sports Arena and was quite impressed. He was everything that was advertised.

I had wanted to see the show, but all 4 L.A. dates immediately sold out within minutes, so I didn't expect to. However, a friend of mine had bought tickets for the first night and he found out the day of the show that he had to work that evening, so he gave the tickets to me.

It seems that Springsteen did like a 4-hour show, but I could be misremembering. But I do remember that he was great that night and I would place that in my Top 10 live shows of all time. One thing I particularly recall is when he did Hungry Heart, Flo & Eddie (formerly of The Turtles) who had done the studio backing vocals of the song, came on stage and did the song with him.

 

[Insomniac]

Like his early stuff a lot. Saw his The River tour show and it was great. Not a fan of his stuff after the early 80's.

 

[nirad3]

Hate? No.

Do I think it's REALLY weird when people see him in concert dozens and dozens of times including multiple nights in a row? YUP.

I'm not a concert guy regardless but seeing basically the same show over and over again (plus or minus a few changes in the set) just makes zero sense to me.

Like Deadheads, Parrotheads (RIP) and whatever they call people who follow a particular artist, the community with other like-minded weirdos is a big part of what brings them in and keeps them coming back.

My 62 year old sister and her husband have probably seen Tool--5-6 times this year. I like Tool, but 5-6 times already this year??

I like Bruce's early stuff, but as time goes on, he has just succumb to the "Look I am Bruce and my opinions are sooo important," thing that happens to older stars and artists.

I know someone who's seen Tool 15+ times. They're on my bucket list for sure. She invited me to go up to Fresno to see them with her a few weeks ago.... but it was on a Monday night and it was in .... Fresno.

 

[Ron Swanson]

He's no Goldenplane, that's for sure.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Springsteen is one of those guys from the 80s who I have a few of his songs on playlists somewhere, like Rod Stewart or The Bangles. He's fine, but nothing special. John Mellencamp fills this same space and is much better IMO.

 

[NutterButter]

Let me guess. You also hate the Dave Matthews Band.

 

[beer 30]

Springsteen is one of those guys from the 80s who I have a few of his songs on playlists somewhere, like Rod Stewart or The Bangles. He's fine, but nothing special. John Mellencamp fills this same space and is much better IMO.

I can see that. Thing is, at least for me, his best stuff has nor will ever be played on the radio. Yea we've all heard Born To Run ad nauseum but I'm willing to bet most have never heard Badlands, Candy's Room, Racing in the Street, Prove It All Night or even the title track from Darkness on the Edge of Town. That's one album and all these songs were/are fantastic. That's from the album most everyone has never even heard of. Then you go to Born To Run and there are 3 EPIC Springsteen songs most have never heard of, Thunder Road, Backstreets and the penultimate Jungleland. Just such great stuff.

Again, my opinion and that was a major part of the sound track of my HS years so take it for what it's worth.

 

[beer 30]

Let me guess. You also hate the Dave Matthews Band.

I think this goes without saying, kind of universal IMO

 

[NutterButter]

Let me guess. You also hate the Dave Matthews Band.

I think this goes without saying, kind of universal IMO

If its not, it should be. I'll do a straw poll tomorrow at a festival they're headlining and report back.