Bruce Springsteen on Nightline
Published August 04, 2004
Bruce Springsteen will be interviewed on Nightline Wednesday about the Act for Victory swing state concert tour. Nightline also looks at the impact of stars on politics and they had done an interview with Springstein when the Rising came out.
There are many political art events happening over the next few months. Involver is a email newsletter listing many of them, particularly in NY, CA and swing states. As far as the question, will this (and other culture) make a difference. The answer is yes. The turnout for young people is poor and while all of these events may not change many minds, they will get more young people to vote and volunteer. And in a very close campaign, boosting the youth vote for the first time since 92 is one factor that could help Democrats and Greens.
Here's the Nightline email:
STAR POWER: Can Celebrities, Even Springsteen, Influence the Election?
Nightline Daily E-Mail
August 4, 2004
TONIGHT'S FOCUS: Can celebrities and artists influence an election? This year, quite a few are going to try. Tonight, Ted Koppel talks to Bruce Springsteen, who along with a high-wattage group of other artists, is going to do a series of concerts in key 'swing states.' Can this really change the way people vote? Or does it further divide an already divided nation?
Despite last week's Democratic Convention, polls show a near dead heat in this year's presidential election. Both campaigns, and their respective supporters, are looking for any way to influence the small margin of voters it will take to win the election.
Supporters include those in the entertainment industry. For President Bush, there is the conservative talk-show radio circuit, certainly a form of entertainment, and some country music stars who lend their support. But most of the celebrities who are weighing into the political fray are Kerry supporters. Take Michael Moore and his film "Fahrenheit 9/11" - the most political mainstream film in recent memory. Even despite its huge ticket sales, especially for a documentary, surveys show that most viewers are already Kerry supporters. So, will the film really influence the election?
- Bruce Springsteen on Nightline
- Published: August 04, 2004
- Type:
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Culture: Media, Music: Alternative Rock, Music: News, Music: Rock, Video: Television
- Writer: Steve Rhodes
- Steve Rhodes's BC Writer page
- Steve Rhodes's personal site
- Spread the Word
- Like this article?
- Email this
Save to del.icio.us
Comments on this articleComments
I guess you aren't aware that Springsteen doesn't need any more money.
He was one of many muscians to write about 9/11 and the album was hardly exploitive.
You may not like his politics, but he certainly has talent.
I love when people stopped attending his concerts and stopped buying his albums
Um, Jill, you do know that he sold over 550,000 tickets at Giants Stadium alone last year, right? You sure don't have to like his politics, but his career seems to be doing just fine.
I'm an old-school guy (Hell, some would argue that I'm just old) and firmly believe that rock and roll was never meant to answer the questions of the universe. Rock & roll and politics make for very strange bedfellows indeed. I'm a Springsteen fan, but one of the rare ones who never put the guy on any sort of pedestal. I'll be the first to admit that his late 70's and early 80's concerts were some of the best I've ever seen(and I've seen a few), but I also maintain enough of a grip on reality to realize that most, if not all, of his albums since "Born In The U.S.A." fall on the wrong side of memorable. I disagree that he exploited 9/11 in any way and while I didn't really care much for "The Rising," at least it doesn't plumb new depths of musical blandness, embrace the corporate dollar, or reverberate with the unmistakable sound of a millionaire's pension plan being topped up.
for Springsteen's direct thougts on this, check out the interview at Backstreets
I don't know about New Jersey, but his shows in Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago were overwhelmed with empty seats. The guy truly gives meaning to the words "no talent."
I went to the LA show on the Rising tour.The big arena was packed.
You can dislike Bruce, But YOU CAN'T LIE!
I love Springsteen still. To say he has no talent is ridiculous. Like Dylan his songs really draw you in to a world all their own. He's like the Steinbeck of rock-n-roll, and I was saying this long before he came out with the ghost of tom joad. I do wish he wouldn't sully himself with the partisan politics--just like Steinbeck himself did when he was shilling for LBJ vis-a-vis Vietnam.
Not being Right Wing = no talent. Only in the blogosphere.
but his shows in Los Angeles, Boston, and Chicago were overwhelmed with empty seats.
that is a big loada hooey.
ALL of the boston shows were sold out.
Springsteen is about as much of a songwriter as Britney Spears. And no..he didn't sell out his Boston shows or his LA shows..or his chicago shows. The guys is a loser and his fans are either tone deaf or mentally retarded.
Add your comment, speak your mind
(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/18271)
Bruce Springsteen is so talentless it's sick. I love when people stopped attending his concerts and stopped buying his albums, he exploited 911 for every penny it was worth. That guy should be ashamed of himself as well as his idiotic fans for listening to his so called "Music."