bruce springsteen is actually a baller

Bruce Springsteen is basically my father's musical Mecca. The end all, be all of lyrical genius, performance intensity, and all around amazing-ness. Since I can remember we have been blasting The Boss's records in our house, cars and any available local with a good sound system. I have been to four Bruce shows despite the fact that I am about 30 years younger than the average Bruce concert goer. Senior year of college, my brother Joe and I even drove 6 hours round trip in one night to see Bruce perform his Working on a Dream concert at the Minnesota Xcel Energy Center. In summary, loving and appreciating everything E Street isn't so much an option as it is a birth right.

Bruce started this year with a rocking Super Bowl performance that left me speechless and stunned as I watched the intensity and energy he brought to the stage even at the age of 59! (He turned 60 this year!!) He sang, danced, and played an amazing show - better than anything else that happened on the field that night if you ask me - and EVEN left one cameraman in shock as he slide a little too far across stage. AMAZING.

Bruce finishes the year with the Kennedy Center Honors, during which he sat side by side with Barack and Michelle, who he campaigned for at the end of last year. LOVE IT.

Check out this video of Barack speaking about "the quiet kid from Jersey" - as cheesy as it is, I LOVED the part where he describes Bruce using titles from his songs. And "his concerts are more like communions" - PERFECT. Finally, Barack finishes with "I'm the president, but he's he boss."

Finally, Jon Stewart speaks about Bruce Springsteen's influence on his life and American music in general.

I love that he received this award, and that so many people recognize his amazing influence and the profound wisdom he integrates into his music, his life and our country. With this somewhat random post, as I take a break from discussing life in Colombia, here are some of my favorite Bruce lyrics - and yes, it was hard to limit myself to these. :)

The screen door slams

Mary's dress waves

Like a vision she dances across the porch

As the radio plays

Roy Orbison singing for the lonely

Hey that's me and I want you only

Don't turn me home again

I just can't face myself alone again

Don't run back inside

darling you know just what I'm here for

So you're scared and you're thinking

That maybe we ain't that young anymore

Show a little faith, there's magic in the night

You ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright

Oh and that's alright with me

[Thunder Road]

But there's one thing I know for sure girl

I don't give a damn

For the same old played out scenes

I don't give a damn

For just the in betweens

[Badlands]

May your strength give us strength

May your faith give us faith

May your hope give us hope

May your love give us love

[Into the Fire]

My father said "Son, we're lucky in this town

It's a beautiful place to be born

It just wraps its arms around you

Nobody crowds you, nobody goes it alone.

That you know flag flying over the courthouse

Means certain things are set in stone

Who we are, what we'll do and what we won't."

[Long Walk Home]

I'm working on a dream

Though trouble can feel like it's here to stay

I'm working on a dream

Our love will chase the trouble away

[Working on a Dream]

What is this land America so many travel there

I'm going now while I'm still young my darling meet me there

Wish me luck my lovely I'll send for you when I can

And we'll make our home in the American land

[American Land]