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Best and worst of Bruce Springsteen in Super Bowl halftime
Bruce Springsteen knew what he was competing against as he took the instant stage set up Sunday at halftime of the Super Bowl.

“Step away from the guacamole dip,” he commanded the national television audience. Not the finest line in Springsteen lore. And then came a mix of Springsteen at his best -- and worst.

Super Bowl halftime entertainers, once an afterthought, are now part of the NFL sales team. Springsteen, who once wouldn’t have been caught dead performing an event sponsored by a multinational tire manufacturer while being squeezed between television ads, was in an affable, we’re-here-to-entertain mood with his E Street Band.

“Is there anybody alive out there?” he shouted, then tried to squeeze three hours of a typical high-energy Springsteen concert into 12 minutes.

Springsteen’s music has taken on a political dimension over the years, but that aspect of his art was muted in favor of a more celebratory performance. Springsteen said as much in pre-game comments when he described the game as a “big party,” and he came to please.

He began silhouetted standing back-to-back with saxophonist Clarence Clemons, an evocation of his 1975 “Born to Run” album cover, and then dove into two songs from that iconic recording: “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” with a horn section, and the still-stunning title song. The performances bristled with energy, even if Springsteen was a bit breathless and clearly not up to nailing the high notes.

Then came a truncated “Working on a Dream” with a gospel choir, an advertisement for his latest album. He closed with “Glory Days,” the singer camping it up as he worked a bunch of football references into the song about a washed-up baseball player. The set bottomed out when a performer popped on-stage wearing a football referee’s uniform and signaled “penalties” while the singer and Steve Van Zandt shared vocals. Do they hand out 15-yard penalties for shameless jive?

It was an example of Springsteen’s humor at its cheesiest; perhaps entertaining to an audience who would just as soon be dipping into the guacamole, but a letdown for fans who expected a more convincing musical statement from one of the greatest live performers of the last three decades. This was Springsteen as song-and-dance man, an accomplished artist reduced to pandering.

I never got the appeal of Bruce Springsteen back in 84. If I heard "Born in the USA" one more time...

but I always respected his work ethic, and his character. He seemed to be a *much* nicer and stabler guy than Michael, Prince, or Madonna.

While his Superbowl performance wasn't as "exciting" as Prince's, Bruce comes from a different tradition of American music, and can rightly take his place among music's greats. He still doesn't have much of a voice, but he's a legend in his own right.

I'm glad he got his shot.

His Born to Run was great, Glory Days, bitter-sweet and exuberant, but no Born in the USA! Woohooo!

Minus him sliding into the camera, that was one boring ass show.

actionthisday said:

There was a lot of energy out there. I was surprised he was breathless and could not hit some notes here and there though.

Prince's performance was better.

Corny. He bores me these days, but I love him through the early 90's. He and Steve always look like they're about to make out.

RipHer2Shreds said:

Great show! That review posted earlier is retarded. Bruce played complete songs. And that mic as his dick had to be a nod to Prince. The only thing I did not like was the fake crowd that must have been told to try and act like a Bruce fan. But I guess the same thing happened when Prince played.

If you are a Bruce fan - he killed it!

"Put those chicken fingers down!" LOL!

After it was over, my 12-year-old daughter told me she wanted to go see the Boss in concert.

HELL YEAH!

Neither of the morning shows I watched this morning said one word about the half-time show - though both mentioned Jennifer Hudson's national anthem.

I think that pretty much sums it up.

PicassoFace said:

I saw him last year in Dallas for the same reason. Great show. Made even greater by the fact that Troy Aikman sat directly behind me so I gotta chance to stare at his hands. Anyway, I think Bruce did a great job last night. High energy nostalgia, versus a mortician or decrepit has-beens. I'd take Bruce every time.

missfee said:

He didn't do it at the show I went to either so I wasn't surprised at all.

I skipped over that part. My Tivo button got stuck.

i dont like bruce and during halftime me and a few buddies muted the tv and listened to some JAK but it looked energetic

Liked "10th Avenue Freeze Out". Everthing else was snoozefest material.

actionthisday said:

Stop it.

Springsteen outdanced Prince.

Ace said:

AlexdeParis said:

U r the only person I know that actually liked Paul's Superbowl performance.

I agree that Bruce's was great. I still don't know if I liked Prince's better because I am a Prince fan, or if it was truly better. I thought Bruce kicked major arse. He didn't do anything boring and didn't try to make any major statements.

I am still waiting to hear the controversy of him having his crotch in the camera and also him "using the mic stand as a phallic symbol" like they tried to do with Prince.

Actually, the Prince preview show on the NFL Network was better.

viewaskew said:

-----
You may not like the music P does but he has been much more productive than Springsteen over the last few years as usual you think because you do not care for the music P has put out that makes the music irrelevant or non-exsistent. Not really the case at all. In addition, everybody is not cut out to do political stuff and you do not know P as a person to make any comments about his personality. You don’t know Bruce either. You really need to get a grip on reality. That being said I think Bruce did a good job he is a great live performer.

viewaskew said:

I was a huge Springsteen fan for a lot of years. But frankly, his recent propensity to run his mouth on political subjects is the main reason I don't listen to him anymore.

Not that it matters to him, of course (or that it should). I'm just sayin'.

Not gonna compare Bruce with Prince. Just think Bruce needs more than 10 min. to create an impact.....not that impressed by this....

Bruce had the energy, but the voice didn't really cut it IMO.

He's one of the best performers ever, though, and this was one of my favorite halftime shows I can remember. But i know all those songs really well, and I don't know if someone who didn't know them would quite hear it through his ragged singing.

Still, compared to something like Tom Petty's lazy performance, Bruce stood a cut above. Worthy of comparison with Prince, even if it's an unfavorable comparison!

I swear on my life I always thought the words were "Dead devil in the freezer" and when he put up "tenth avenue freeze out" some corn chips flew out of my mouth I was laughing so hard.

I respect Bruce but I've never been able to feel Bruce.

Slave2daGroove said:

japanrocks said:

Bruce was doing that long before Prince's Super Bowl performance.


"I want you to step back from the guacamole dip!"

IMO Prince has set the bar 4 halftime performances. People will always try 2 out do his performance because Prince performance is a hard act 2 follow. Again this is my opinion. When I saw the way Bruce came out on stage the first thing I thought he was trying 2 hard 2 out-do Prince. Bruce was doing 2 much in such little time. He forgot how 2 sing and play his instrument. He thought dancing and trying 2 b cool was more important...
[Edited 2/2/09 11:32am]

PicassoFace said:

I totally agree. I'm sick and tired of the Boss by now. Check the stats, I guarantee you Prince's show was the best by far.

missfee said:

I am not...in fact i'm glad he didn't sing it as i am tired of that song and "the rising". The boss needs to give himself a break. I would have rather seen Lenny Kravitz if it was not possible to get Prince. Not a Bruce fan...never will be.