BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN Badlands REACTION - Fantastic song from the early days of The Boss

[@suzannesellers7383]

Probably my favorite Bruce song. So visceral. His music makes me feel something inside that I can’t describe. Excitement, fear, hope, determination, so many more.

[@jimmyaye4204]

One of Springsteen's very best songs, from back in the old days when he was young and fearless and wild.

[@christines1709]

"Poor men want to be rich, rich men want to be king" one of my all time favorite lyrics!

[@valerieh84]

And a king ain’t satisfied till he rules everything. Mine too.

[@fraseyhorse]

Agreed also has one of his worst lines as well “Til you get your facts learned Baby, I got my facts Learned em real good right now” lol

[@hughjass9078]

This song isn’t just about love, it’s about life itself, about coming from a place that sucks your soul dry and the fight it takes to break free from your past and fate

[@richschuster1097]

His live versions are so much more compelling; seeing that big band work and the audience interaction creates an otherworldly feel.

[@sebastianblack6506]

Correct. Saw him last fall and for me it was the standout song.

[@debbiechang5781]

I am a huge fan of live performances in general. Bruce is especially great in concert. Billy Joel and Bob Seger are also in that category.

[@tinalinge2782]

Nothing better than Springsteen when he was young and fresh and stood for the common man. And Clarence and his sax. P.S. I feel that this song represents wanting to break free of the normalcy of every day life and venture outside of our own comfort zone. Great reaction again Harri!

[@susanrombak7959]

Bruce is the working man’s man, his lyrics are from the view of the struggle in finding one’s way and of course hanging on to burning love.

[@CraigShifflet]

Roy Bittan is the pianist. He joined the E Street Band before Born To Run (1974 or so). He had the nickname Professor. I think I remember it was because he had been to college.

[@markdohrmann5983]

As others have said, Roy Bittan is the pianist on Springsteen’s E Street stuff from the mid-70s through the disbanding in 1989, then from the reunion in 1999 through today. He also played with Springsteen during the 89-99 in between period. He was also a regular player for Jim Steinman and his piano can be heard on Meatloaf’s “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” and “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” which I would consider among his best work. He and Max Weinberg also played piano and drums respectively on Bonnie Tyler’s Total Eclipse Of The Heart”.

[@Cynthia...]

This is a great Bruce song. I love this one by him. Mind you I love most of his songs anyway. Thanks, Uncle Phil and Harri.

[@cfraase]

Roy Bittan has played piano for Bruce since 1975. In fact, he was the only holdover when used another band on the Human Touch/Lucky Man tour in the early 90's. So yes, you are hearing the same person.

[@denpea-mm8zr]

One of my favorite Bruce anthems that kicks off my fave album, Darkness On The Edge Of Town.

[@lauraallen55]

Darkness is SO good!

[@valerieh84]

Amen

[@rubyswaim1441]

Springsteen did some good work with Gary U.S. Bonds in the late 80's/early 90's. Worth a listen.

[@tomward6689]

Yes, Roy Bittan on piano since 1975. Still to this day.

[@romysan1]

It's about the struggle in todayss world...he talking to his girl. Bruce is hardcore. Way above the animals. Bruce !!! not early 70's, late 70's and 80's.

[@John_Locke_108]

One of my absolute favorite Bruce songs. Also, this song title is also the name of an amazing 1973 movie called, Badlands. Now here's the interesting part. In 1982 Bruce wrote a song called Nebraska. That song is about the same, true, events featured in the movie Badlands. It's about a guy, Charles Starkweather, who went on killing spree with his teenage girlfriend in 1957. The movie stars Martin Sheen and Sissey Spacek. And features an amazing Nat King Cole song called, A Blossom Fell.

[@johansilencio]

Badlands is one of my favorite movies.

[@tinalinge2782]

I did not know that about Nebraska. I will have to watch that. Badlands is a good movie. One of my favorites.

[@cfraase]

This is one song that is better live for sure! The crowd has its own part with "Whoas" and it just echoes around the arena. It's a song Bruce almost always plays. One of his best.

[@davebzen795]

U.P. - Great submission and top-shelf performance by The Boss. Bravo to both you and Harri!!!

[@BigC.]

One of his best with Mighty Max leading the way.

[@mikecaetano]

The chorus riffs on "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood", but these lyrics demand clarity, if not grammar. "Baby, I got my facts learned real good right now \ You better get it straight, darling". Roy Bittan - piano, backing vocals. Clarence Clemons - saxophone, backing vocals. I remember when the songs from that album were tearing up FM rock radio -- "The Promised Land", "Prove It All Night", "Streets of Fire", "Racing in the Street". Classic.

[@Dee-JayW]

WONDERFUL being a teenager, Born to Run Album, Badlands Album. Such great memories ❤❤❤❤ 🇨🇦 thanks Uncle Phil and Harri!, Next up should be DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN!! All albums have the story continuing from Born to Run, to Badlands, then onto Darkness on the edge of Town…. “Springsteen's song "Born To Run" from three years earlier finds him taking his girl and making a run for it, but in "Badlands," he and his girl stay put, determined to turn the badlands good. There's hope, but it's more prosaic; they're going to have to work for it if they want to turn things around.” Much of Darkness On The Edge Of Town reflects the characters of the Born To Run getting older and more ‘

[@tinalinge2782]

I wonder if his song The River was a further continuation?

[@blade3184]

I've seen Bruce in concert 109 times, most recently 3 weeks ago. Some of the greatest moments were when you knew a sax solo was coming up and watching Clarence, who was playing tambourine at the time, pick up his sax and start walking to the front of the stage. When he started that solo, the crowd would go crazy. Now that his nephew Jake has taken over, he gets a similar reaction on all the sax solos..

[@humphreygruntwhistle3946]

A lot of Bruce's early songs are in the first person, a regular blue collar guy who works hard, gets dirt underneath his fingernails, and chases the American Dream.

[@88Musk]

Roy Bittan played on every album except the first two. He has been with Bruce along with Max from 1974. Danny the organ player was with Bruce from the beginning till passing April 2008.

[@tedszweb5268]

One of the greatest albums of all time “Darkness On The Edge Of Town.”

[@HelgePettersen-h4m]

@2:41 Springsteen said in a speach he had at SXSW that he took the riff from ‘’don’t let me be misunderstood’’😅

[@mareegibbs7919]

I was looking to see if someone had mentioned his SXSW speech. Listen up youngsters ... Lol.

[@fraseyhorse]

Good spotting the animals were a big influence on this album

[@Thejazzfan66]

Springsteen has released a lot of music since 1970’s, but I think his best work is between 1975-1980

[@markgostl9076]

Check out Utube for his live show at the Hammersmith-Odeon in London in 1975- fantastic!!!

[@debbiechang5781]

Great song by the boss! A good friend of mine has seen him live 18 times. I thought that was wild until he told me how many times some of his other acquaintances have seen him. Amazing! Wonderful request and reaction!! Thanks Harri and Uncle Phil 🌺✌️

[@prisonerofrnr]

A lot of the ‘darkness on the edge of town’ album is about accountability. Born to run was about escape. Darkness was more about growth and facing responsibility.

[@suzannesellers7383]

Poetry set to beautiful music. To me it’s about the struggles of blue collar Americans to rise above their circumstances.

[@AP-gb3eh]

This song blasted out of our muscle car stereo parked in our shitty neighborhood because we couldn’t afford gas . Back when working class was our badge of honor and the street was always dangerous. We felt this song hard

[@JBeck33]

Off of the darkness on the edge of town album. His best album, in my opinion. Not a lot of sax on the album, though. So good to get some with Badlands.

[@JamesChiles]

I loved Bruce from very early on, but this is one of those songs that really grabbed me. If you get the chance to experience it live, it just brings the whole crowd together, fists pumping the air and yelling at the top of their voices. "For the ones who had a notion, a notion deep inside That it ain't no sin to be glad you're alive I wanna find one face that ain't lookin' through me I wanna find one place, I wanna spit in the face of these BADLANDS."

[@EmeraldCityVideo]

Great observation re: The Animals. The main riff in this song is an iteration on one of their songs.

[@mve5225]

Roy Bitten has played the piano with Bruce all along. He has also played with Bob Seger

[@WMGTAW]

Bruce is #1

[@russeli1941]

I like your style, Harri and the way you arrange your videos.

[@lauraallen55]

One of his best especially live! All of Darkness on the Edge of Town is fantastic as is all of The River, Nebraska, and Born to Run. Lots more of them actually lol! Reminded by @nickrizzi4927 of a glaring omission: The Wild, the Innocent and the E Street Shuffle. Cannot leave that out! Might as well throw in Greetings from Asbury Park NJ because why not? Also, it's amazing. :)

[@nickrizzi4927]

You had me at Darkness but broke my heart by omitting Wild & Innocent. Oh well, woe is me 😊

[@lauraallen55]

I thought of it, believe me! Then forgot before posting. @@nickrizzi4927

[@nickrizzi4927]

Christmas crier I'm in love again!

[@lauraallen55]

I take it you saw my edit lol!@@nickrizzi4927

[@nickrizzi4927]

Harri, Darkness is my 2nd favorite Bruce Album with the title track a masterpiece song. The entire album is a banger! Ranking Bruce and Billy albums is nearly impossible, but a fun go. You really have a gift with musical associations! Animals is perfect, and they too, were epic! Thnx!

[@JB-Deadskins]

Not a huge Bruce fan, but this is a really good song.

[@marekbang5319]

Piano always by Professor Roy Bittan

[@Knotlegaladvice280]

Always Roy on Piano

[@Knotlegaladvice280]

Springsteen is an animals fan

[@christophersmith5485]

A song about the struggles and absurdity of life in a capitalist society I think

[@lukekelly8387]

Harri Your reactions are the best and You are one of the hardest working KZbinrs bringing songs every day.LOVE all Your reactions esp to the no 1 Man Elvis.Have a great day Luke Kelly Boston Ma☘