What does music mean to you? Is it a part of you? A part of your past? Mere entertainment that occasionally floats in the background? Have you ever thought about this?
I have. Too much, maybe — but it appears that there's nothing I can do about it. Powerless is the word. Like a love that comes along and messes you up forever, I have never felt that I had a choice in this matter. The music chose me.
In the middle of last summer, I was asked if I'd like to contribute a story to an anthology of Bruce Springsteen-related fan stories. The book was to be called For You and would contain fan photos, accounts of concert experiences, encounters with Bruce, and perhaps most important of all, why the music means so much to all of us.
Due to the time-sucking nature of work, the holidays, and various writing assignments, this week was the very first that I had a chance to read though much of For You. My goodness, I'm apparently not alone. This music has made an indelible mark on nearly every aspect of these writers' lives: birth, love, leisure, the passing of time, marriage, sex, and death. It's all there. One account described how the crowd parted so that his very young son was able to see during a show. Another describes how a show brought one fan and her (now late) husband even closer together. Sometimes though, it's just a good time with close friends, music blaring from the car stereo.
One of the most inspiring essays in the book was provided by a Reverend Suzanne Meyer, who totally struck a resonant chord in this description of the song "Land of Hope and Dreams" — "The song's beauty comes from its simple profession of faith in the power of community." Now, I don't mean to imply that it's only Springsteen fans who enjoy these kind of virtual (and also very real) experiences. No, there is shared experience outside of the E-Street realm. The important thing is that the music is more than just sonic wallpaper, it is the glue that holds us together.
.jpg?t=20120209092158)
Article comments
1 - Glen Boyd
Brother Saleski,
First let me be the first to compliment you on a beautifully written piece.
As you know, I also wrote an entry in the "For You" book (as did our BC brother Alessandro Nicolo). I've said it before, but will do so again here. There's just something about Bruce's music, and his fans, that is in so many ways, more of a communal sort of experience than you'll find with other artists.
It's not just that the songs speak so directly to us, but also the shared experience you get with his concerts (like being in a room with 20,000 or so of your best friends, laughing, singing etc.)
Earlier tonight I had the pleasure of talking Bruce with Josh Hathaway on his Blogtalk/BC Radio show "The B-Sides Concept album" and it was a really a blast talking with another such kindred soul.
Again, I don't expect everyone to understand this sort of "shared experience", and to those who don't I could only say that it's kinda "like trying to tell a stranger about rock and roll." But you clearly do, and it shows here.
Again, well done sir.
-Glen
2 - Mat Brewster
Agreed, very nice piece. I'm kind of on the outskirts of the extended e-street family, looking in, but I've shared similar experiences with other music.
I think great music does this on its own, without anyone else around to share it with. But when it is shared, especially with the kind of crowds a good concert draws, it rises to another level altogether.
3 - Mary K. Williams
wouldn't like to imagine a world without music. It's too important.
Good piece : )
4 - Josh Hathaway
I just read this after writing this at Fanboy. What's that about great minds thinking alike?
Really well done, Sir Saleski.
5 - JC Mosquito
Heartfelt article for sure. Unfortunately, for me I never had the experience of seeing Bruce live til the Rising tour - liek most artists, I relate to him mostly through his recorded work. Born in the USA was where I lost track - he seemed to have put away his desire to "follow that dream" and focus on the here and now. Not a bad thng to do as an artist, but I still miss the grand scale of Jungleland, or the entire 4 sides of The River. The recent "Girls in Their Summer Clothes" is as close as he's come for me recently in reaching back to that state.
But I'm glad for all of you - gotta have something to believe in - I'm still lookin'.