Your Post-Game Bruce Medley
If good looks was a minute/ You know that you could've been an hour- Smokey Robinson, 'The Way You Do The Things You Do'
The Boss takes the stage in Tampa tonight at halftime of the Super Bowl. He will have twelve minutes and will do a medley of hits. I expect it to be pretty strong, pretty tight. Will it be as good as Prince a couple years ago? No. But he won’t embarrass himself, either. Bruce is not getting any younger, and it’s just not in him to perform at the same high intensity with which he earned his following. But we at Shambollocks! want to remind you of how high energy Bruce can be when he is on his game. Herewith, a few fantastic samples of the man and his mastery.
First, ‘Thunder Road’ from the mid-’70s. If this song was a philosophy, it would be one by which I’ve lived my life.
Now my personal fave, ‘Rosalita’. On album this is a great song, but live it is a living, breathing entity all its own, sucking up everything in its wake. At this performance, that means it brings up a series of young ladies to the stage. Oh, to be the Boss.
And finally ‘Dancing In The Dark’, which might be his biggest hit here in the States. The single version is probably my least favorite song on Born In The U.S.A.. I don’t begrudge Bruce attempts at pop hits, but the layer of cheesy synth crud on the single has no place in his catalog. Live, though, he can still make even this song swing. Here, from a performance a couple years ago is a charging ‘Dancing In The Dark’. Does anyone love their job more than him?
Thanks to IGN for the legwork on this. Check the link if you want a Boss Super Bowl party playlist. Also, the Times Sunday Magazine has a Bruce interview which is pretty darn good. 
O'Hare Arpt., IL
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