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'm a Bruce Springsteen fan and a Prince fan, and I have to say Prince's halftime show still edges out Bruce's. Kinda makes you wonder who's left to get for the halftime show...Prince has done it, Bruce, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, U2, Tom Petty, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake...

markpeg said:

Beyonce will try her damnest to get it next year.

NDRU said:

I had never heard Springsteen so much in trouble with his voice live before and god knows I have seen him live many times for the last 20 years+.

That was weird.

But the energy was there.

AlexdeParis said:

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

Springsteen did a good job...not as great at Prince's..but he did a satisfactory job. I can say at least Springsteen's performance was more entertaining that that year that Paul McCartney performed...I was bored out of my fucking mind.

but am I the only one who was disappointed that Springsteen didn't perform "Born in the U.S.A."????? I just knew that he was going to perform that song, especially with our new president in office and all...but he didn't. I was bummed.
[Edited 2/1/09 19:40pm]

missfee said:

I was too! I guess now, after reading some other posts, I can understand why he didn't. Though in my opinion, had he, he'd have given Prince a real run for his money! That audience would have gone ape shit, singing right along with him!

Liked it, didn't love it. Bruce had as much energy as he could muster, but it still felt flat.

I just wanna see who gets on his case about the mic stand as a dick.

Mars23 said:

My first thought was..."Oooooh, his phallic is bigger than Prince's!"

I was expecting mortal conDAMNnation!

Kinda makes you wonder who's left to get for the halftime show...Prince has done it, Bruce, The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, U2, Tom Petty, Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake...

markpeg said:

I think it would be cool if AC/DC would get a shot at it next year!

Yeah, but also not too many people hate them... so I think they would do fine! What also would be nice would be KISS! I think they would put on a great spectacular mini show for the Superbowl.. they supposedly have plans to work on a new album!

I think Bruce is one of the best they've done. I didn't understand a damn thing he was saying but it was fun to watch!

ToraToraDreams said:

Ladies and gentlemen! For the next 12 minutes, we're gonna bring the RIGHTEOUS and MIGHTY power of the E Street Band into [DRAMATIC CUT TO SEMI-CLOSEUP CAMERA, POINTS FINGER RIGHT INTO LENS] YOUR beautiful home!

I want you to step back from the guacamole dip! I want you to PUT. THE. CHICKEN. FINGERS. DOWN. ...And turn your television ALLLL the way up! ...And what I wanna know is... [LEAPS ONTO PIANO TOP] IS THERE ANYBODY ALIIIVE OUT THERE???!!!


And then, later (near the end of "Glory Days"):


BRUCE [POINTING AT HIS WATCH]: Steve, I think it's quittin' time!

LITTLE STEVEN: Oh, say it ain't so, baby!

BRUCE: I'm tellin' ya, we're gonna be goin' overtime!

STEVEN: Ah, so what!

BRUCE: Man, it's gonna be penalty time!

STEVE: Oh, I don't know about that.

BRUCE: I mean delay-of-game! Delay-of-game!

[REFEREE RUNS OUT, THROWS A FLAG, BLOWS HIS WHISTLE AND SIGNALS DELAY-OF-GAME]

BRUCE: Well, Steve...what time is it?!

STEVE: [DRAMATIC PAUSE] BOSSTIME!!!


And then (at the end):


BRUCE: I'm goin' to Disneyland!!!

sarkozyiszeman said:

As are Prince's. However, Bruce has been considerably more productive in recent years & does not bore his audience with cover after cover. Furthermore, Springsteen is not afraid to take a stand politically, to express himself & to identify with his fans. He's a much bigger talent & a much bigger person than Prince in a lot of ways.

Bruce has called P a genius.

Ace said:

I love the fuck out of Bruce Springsteen.

Even though I was a fan of Prince first and probably like Prince's catalog more, I think I get more emotionally out of Bruce's work. And call me a fool, but I think Bruce puts on the better show. Prince puts on the best "pop show" out of all of the 80's mega-stars, but there's just something about a Springsteen show that Prince is unwilling (or can't) do. I think a big part of it is that Prince wants some sort of distance between himself and the music. I remember reading something about P erasing a song from a tape that was too "real"; Bruce's music is just a big emotional outpouring. I gotta give it up for that. Can't imagine P releasing something like "My Hometown" or "Streets of Philadelphia". Even when a little glimpse of the real Prince leaks out (like Old Friends For Sale), he has to fuck with it and remove most of the humanity from it (compare the '86 version of the song with the take that was actually released in '99).

Anyway, my point being... the Boss rules.

Axchi696 said:

I agree with so much of this post. I love Prince, but if you want an emotional gut-punch you go to Bruce, not Prince. You're right about the distance Prince has too, but I think everyone looks a bit distant compared to Bruce. More than any other artist I can think of, he has a real connection with his audience. He sings about real things, not jive bullshit like most others and he does it with total commitment. You didn't really see that side of him on the halftime show, but I think it's the side most of us connect with. I know I do.

midnightmover said:

I think the difference it Prince makes it all look effortless where Bruce looks like he gives his all every time.

NDRU said:

That's just one part of it. It's also the material itself as well as the different personalities which are reflected in their shows. Just listen to Bruce's speeches onstage. They talk about the same themes he sings of. Prince's themes are a bit more superficial. Bruce's voice is also more expressive (although he's losing it now). The E Street band have a grandeur that lends it even more power. Prince hits you in his own way, but no one can really match the emotional explosion in Bruce's work. Just compare recent Bruce songs like "Long Walk Home" with recent Prince songs like "Never Be Another Like Me" or "Black Sweat". Prince is singing immature bullshit. Bruce's stuff actually means something. He's digging deeper than P, and that's a reflection of their different personalities. P is narcissistic and guarded. Bruce is earnest and open.

Bruce, when asked by Bob Costas why he'd suddenly accepted a long-standing invitation to perform during a Super Bowl Halftime, said: "Because I have an album to promote!!!"

Second, I'm not disagreeing with the conclusion you've drawn about Bruce and Prince's songwriting angles. But, at least compare Bruce's serious songs with Prince's more serious and pointed ones (Cinnamon Girl, Planet Earth, Resolution, Dear Mr. Man, etc.) Comparing anyone's heavy song to Black Sweat as an example of Prince's shallowness is a bit misleading, given the existence of more topical selections.