I am trying to compartmentalize my youth away from my disdain for Bruce Springsteen’s politics as his life story hits movie theatres this month. Old man me is not a huge fan of old man Bruce. He kind of comes off as an entitled prima donna and I prefer to remember Born in the USA Bruce, both are probably manufactured personas, but you gotta believe in something.
Anyway, the actor that portrayed him in the biopic hit me in the feels when he said his favorite song of Bruce’s is “A Reason to Believe,” which I also feel is his best work. Gonna try to enjoy the movie when it comes out and keep my Bruce thoughts securely in the 1980’s. Bruce dancing with Courtney Cox is how I’d like to remember him, you do you.
I’ve recounted in this space many times that I went to see Bruce at Kemper Arena in 1984. It was a big night for me. First time in my life I had seen women using the restroom sinks as urinals in the men’s room because of overcrowding of the bathrooms. That left a mark on my brain that I can’t quite get over. Probably should have sought out some counseling.
Coincidentally, I also had a pre-calculus test at Northwest Missouri State University the next morning, which is not particularly close to Kemper Arena. I failed that test and promptly changed my major from math to government in the following weeks. The rest is history.
Per Google, that concert was on a Monday night. That seems like a not so good night for a concert for anyone, let alone freshman math majors.
Makes sense to me why women’s urinal business never took off. That didn’t look comfortable.
Speaking of politics, now that we all wear our presumed political persuasion on our sleeve, do you ever think back about some of your relatives that are no longer with you and wonder what political persuasion they were? Maybe it’s just me, but it seems like that is a new age thing. I could guess how they might have swung politically, but it was just not something that was known about everyone in those days as it is or assumed to be today.
Probably didn’t help modern society to know this information.
Social media has done so much harm to the word “social.” Probably should just retire the word and try another one.
I have random acquaintances from life that spend their days waking up and taking to social media to fight for their view from the left or the right and it seems like such a terrible way to live. Get up, have some coffee, post something that will start your fight and then spend the day insulting anyone that disagrees with you and is stupid enough to post their disagreement.
Is that a hobby or illness?
(Guy Speckman can be reached Dancing in the Dark at a local movie theatre)
