Born in the U.S.A was the album that catapulted Bruce Springsteen from popular pop star to megastar and cultural icon. The album's title song is one that has been used countless times by politicians who try to use it as an anthem, without being aware that it is in fact a bitter diatribe by a Vietnam Vet whose country forgot him. It was this song that made Bruce Springsteen the star he is, and turned him into "The Boss." The album produced seven top ten singles and was in the Billboard's top ten for 84 straight weeks.
It's an album that people can relate to, as the songs are strictly about Springsteen's struggle as a hard-working blue collar type of guy. While each song seems to be about American pride and fulfilling the American Dream, there is much more to it. It is in fact more about the American Dream letting him down and tales of desperation, unfulfilled hopes, and a corporate America that doesn't help the little people.
The title song "Born in the USA" is a rock anthem, and typifies the whole album with its sense of American pride. It questions why "he fought a war he didn't understand only to find his country didn't want him back." Despite his risk-taking, it seems America gives him nothing back in return.
The whole album is very much a pop album, and Springsteen displays some of his best pop writing style ever on this. "Dancing In The Dark," "Bobby Jean," "Glory Days," and "No Surrender" are fine examples of this. But as mentioned earlier, there is darkness behind these pop songs. "Dancing In The Dark" is about a man who is down and out and who needs someone to help pull him out of the darkness. "Glory Days" is about what life used to be, and gives examples of people watching their life slipping away as their dreams pass them by.
Article comments
1 - HB Beverly
Well, I'll go along with that... But, you know it's kinda strange. Reviewers like this one say that this is an album that no one should be without in their collections, but for the people like me who like Bruce a lot, this is their least favorite release of all. I can't tell ya the last time I played that CD...
I think it's the pop-ness of the whole thing that turns us off - even though there's probably not a one of us that doesn't enjoy hearing these songs in concert.
For me, I think it's the very 80's sound of the recording that makes me pass by that selection when I'm looking for something to play by Bruce. A lot of synth, and a general rushing of the tempo seems to add to that theory.
Still, it is what it is, and was captured in a time and place in our history where it was a perfect record for those times, and that's why it sold as well as it did. It addressed a lot of the things that were on people's minds I guess, and did it in a way that made them feel like they were listening to some really good Pop/Rock music - which they were.