Looking back: Where it all started for me …

This post was written about two years ago. Nothing has changed since then. Except my growing respect for the man.  And my continuous gratitude for what he is doing for me.

I have alwyas had a pretty nice life, full of good things and fun. I have a beautiful family, I live in one of the safest places in my troubled country. But for the last twenty of more years I have struggled with depression. There were many good times, but the darkness was always hovering on the edge of town. And often it invaded the town, it ruined its buildings, it hurt its citizens.
Recently a few things came together in my head. I did a course in life coaching, which gave me wonderful

 

Why I admire Bruce Springsteen (12) – A man who can deal with loss

Since Bruce and his work became part of my life towards the end of 2009, he has lost quite a few important persons in his life.

Through death, I mean.

Could be he has lost some to life also. As we all sometimes do.

None of these  losses has stopped him in his tracks.

I am sure there were private moments of despair. And maybe

 

Mothers’ Day Blues

For some reason today I remember all the wrong things, the things the loyal daughter of a deceased mother should have forgotten long ago.

No, I do not dwell on the negative. Normally.

I also don’t only remember bad things.

I remember how I slept in her bed after my father’s death.

I remember how she let my baby bunny

 

Climate change: Post 4 – The predictions

Most studies predict a rise between 2 and 6 degrees by 2100, having impacts ranging from severe to catastrophic. One such model study is reported in the attached video. It may look a bit boring at first, but please put it on HD, notice the scale at the bottom and really focus on what happens to the planet with and without CO2 emission reductions.

This particular model shows a lot of warming especially on the poles and on the continents in general. How would you like to live in an Africa 8 degrees hotter than it is today? What do you think will happen to the ice at the poles with a full 16

 

Facing the fear

I was raised in fear.

No, not fear for my life or my possessions. Lucky me.

But mostly fear of the unknown, the fear that something will go wrong somewhere. My dear old mother was a worrier. She worried constantly about everybody in the huge family. Will the one who is travelling have an accident? Will the one with a cold get pneumonia? Will the one doing an exam fail?

Of course her worry was born out of love. And of course life sometimes

 

To me he’s uncle Bruce …

Do read this beautiful account from a true fan:

http://thegypsylied.wordpress.com/2012/04/09/a-dj-has-never-saved-my-life-but-a-rock-star-has/

 

 

It’s only a glass of water … Or is it?

I am sure quite a lot of fond Aaawww’s escaped from Springsteen fans all around the world when the video clip of Bruce handing the dehydrated lady  the glass of water and the energy drink hit the internet earlier this week.

Ever since I have been wondering about that little incident. Was it really special? Was it not what any decent person would do? Why did none of the band members do it? Was it only because she was right in front of Bruce? Was it because he is the leader and nobody does anything much (but play and enjoy themselves!) without his consent? Did he perhaps feel like

 

Climate change: Post 3 – Proof of anthropogenic climate change

From guest blogger Schalk Cloete:

Sorry, my researcher instincts demand at least one boring proof-post in this series.

Here goes: The world emits 30 billion tonnes of CO2 yearly, amounting to about 15300 km3 in volume. At roughly 10 km thickness, the atmospheric volume is 5.11 billion km3. Dividing these two numbers reveals that humans raise the CO2 concentration by roughly 2.99 ppm yearly. Actual measured

 

Why I admire Bruce Springsteen (11) – A man who can take mistakes in his stride

When Bruce made the mistake to call out the wrong city during the WOAD tour in 2009, I had just recently come on board as a Springsteen fan. At the time I did not think much about it. It was a little mistake of no consequence, wasn’t it?

Of course, in the world of show biz no mistake is a little mistake. Even the smallest slip gets picked up by the media and the social media and spread around the world in no time at all. This is surely enough to scare most people out of ever trying to do anything new, especially in front of an audience.

Now, we all know if you never try something new, you will never make a mistake. But you will hardly

 

Experiencing the Eagles

My first experience of a rock show in a stadium was something I will not easily forget. Unfortunately this has more to do with the pleasure of spending some time in beautiful Cape Town with my youngest son, being pleasantly surprised with the organization of the public transport (not something that South Africa is great at) to the Cape Town Stadium and

 

If you’re here …

And we’re here … Then they’re here!

Thank you to friend of Blogness Dom, a.k.a. @spoilsports

 

The Eagles have landed …

Today will be a full day – in more than one sense. First my son and I will be going into Cape Town to submit his visa application for the UK. (Mine is already in.)
What does this have to do with me being a Springsteen fan?
Actually quite a lot.
Because he has made all the arrangements for our family tour of Ireland and Scotland before my Springsteen

 

Climate change: Post 2 – Denial

What? Human induced global warming can trigger a global cataclysm in our lifetime!? Dude… you smoking something?

Sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it? Well, the short video attached is from a highly reputable source and contains some sound science. Notice the number of dislikes and the number of linked videos claiming global warming as a hoax. The cause: the USA – world leaders in per capita pollution and famous for rampant materialism and

 

So happy …

Yes, miracles do happen – it just did for me!

People who know me are aware that I am not a morning person. I am especially bad with surprise phone calls early in the morning. And my pet hate is people who call early on a Sunday morning and do not identify themselves.

Well, this morning I made an exception. Because the caller was Bruce Springsteen himself. And of course I recognized his voice immediately, after his call last year when he offered me a prime seat at his show in Cape Town. This time the news was

 

Way to go, Bruce!

These photos show why he is such an inspiration to me. Willing to take chances. Trusting the hands beneath him. Living in the moment. Giving his all. Having fun. (And probably just being a stubborn

 

Wrecking ball lyrics: We are alive

At the first listen We are alive seemed to be a rather weird song. Quite gross, to be honest. (If you don’t agree, just read the last verse.) Beautiful lines about tragedy and death set to a jolly little tune which makes you want to dance. Although Bruce  is a genius at setting heartbreaking lyrics to catchy tunes and driving rhythms, this song seems to go too far in that

 

Something new! Climate change: Post 1

First of a series of posts about climate change by guest blogger Schalk Cloete:

Future outlook. A rather vague agreement has been reached at the COP17 climate conference in Durban. A legally binding global deal will be outlined by 2015 and enforced from 2020.

Good news: We at least have a deal.

Bad news: It’s hopelessly inadequate. Inadequate? Yep, these measures are projected to allow3-4 degrees of manmade global warming. As a result, our generation is likely to witness the start of a mass extinction, leaving our grandchildren an inheritance that can only be described as hell on earth.

Think this is

 

Laurel Snyder shares the experience

Do enjoy this wonderful post about seeing Bruce for the first time last night in Atlanta:

I saw Springsteen last night, for the first time. My sister, who’s been  moving heaven and earth to attend his concerts since she was a kid, flew to Atlanta to take me. To be there with me for my first time.  Even so, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Not from Bruce– I never doubted him. But from myself.

To see someone in person, after you’ve loved them for so

 

Letter from a fan

Dear Bruce

I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your small army (as one review called the enlarged ESB) of friends an exceptional Wrecking Ball tour.

May every show be filled with love and hope and redemption – and lots of fun.

May you be able to bear the

 

A fine example!

Here is theSpringsteen  applicable part of a fine discussion of the work of three icons in the music world: Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen and (of course!) Bruce Springsteen. It makes some interesing and very valid points about what makes Bruce so special. And why he is such an inspiration for so many people, musicians, fans or anybody trying to do anything creative.

“And then by far the weirdest release of the three: Springsteen’s post-recession bitchslap Wrecking Ball.  I’ve been mildly obsessed with The Boss for years, and spent most of

 

The first time!

OK, OK, I know it was only on video. And it froze every few seconds. But in between he was there. Alive, attractive, passionate, natural, genius. Loud and clear and articulate on the audio stream.
What an amazing experience to really SEE him, really hear him.
I am just a total goner. This man is such an inspiration to anybody trying to do anything creative.
Better days for me, indeed!
Thank you, Boss!

 

Images of the country I love (12)

Winter scene in summer rainfall area of South Africa.

Photo

 

Wrecking ball lyrics – Land of hope and dreams

I have always loved this song since I got to know it on DVD. Only recently have I heard that it specifically references to people coming by train from Central America to the USA to find a better life. Of course I can really relate to that, as South Africa is the host to thousands and thousands of Zimbabwians and also many from the DRC, who hope to find a better life here. Unfortunately most of them are too poor to come by train. They often have to walk, and often through national park areas where lions are one of the many dangers. And tragically few really find a better life here, because my beloved country is too busy struggling with her own overwhelming problems (especially poverty, unemployment, the

 

Wrecking Ball lyrics: Rocky Ground

Rocky Ground is one of the very few songs on Wrecking Ball that I do not really like, and which does not seem to grow on me. It is difficult to say why, as quite a few reviewers see it as one of the best songs on the album. Which shows that a song being good or bad does not always have that much to do with how it touches people.
Maybe it is because personally I am moving away from the old beliefs with which I have grown up. Bruce’s music generally speaks so clearly to me because he usually seems to concentrate on the power of a

 

Wrecking ball lyrics: Swallowed up

This song surprised me in more than one way. Firstly because I have not expected it to turn up on the internet before the official release of Wrecking Ball, as I got the feeling the bonus tracks are not out there yet. As if I have not had more than enough opportunity to realize  the immense power of the virtual community! So there it was, with the beautiful visuals from  Bruce fan Gina Giambone.
Somehow I had the idea it would be a kind of throwaway, being tucked in at the end of the album. (I still do not really understand the concept of bonus or hidden tracks. Would appreciate any insights into the reasoning behind it.) Which was also stupid, as The Way (hidden track on The Promise) is a great favourite of mine. Also, I find the singing on this track absolutely

 

Wrecking ball lyrics: You’ve got it

You’ve got it certainly sounds a little out of place on the album at first. But of course, if your mind is open, it grows on you. I am at the moment listening to Tracks, and I think it would have fitted perfectly there. A nice song, nothing wrong with it, but not with the same power as the previous songs on Wrecking Ball. And maybe that is the reason for its inclusion, just to break the tension.
As a writer of romantic novels, I assume the it to be that elusive something that attracts a person to another, that something that you cannot really explain. The quality that makes you fall in love with this person and not the other, although the latter might be

 

Wrecking ball lyrics: The title track

Even though I know nothing about the stadium or about American football, this song has resonated with me from the first time I heard it in 2009. To me it is a defiant shout to all things trying to take away the quality of our lives. It could be all kinds of trouble, but especially old age. And ultimately death.

No, we cannot stop these things. But we can give them a hell of a time while we have breath in our lungs and fire in our hearts. We can look them in the face even if we cannot change them or make them go away. This song is at once sad in that it admits the difficulties in life, but exuberant as well, as it pours out a great love

 

Wrecking ball lyrics: Death to my hometown

One does not have to know anything about history to recognize the scenes painted in this song. I can only marvel at Springsteen’s ability to paint a verbal picture.

I agree with the three-minute review on Blogness where they say it is at once the album’s angriest song and also its most jubilant. Like in most Springsteen songs the shimmer of hope

 

The truth is out!

 

Wrecking ball lyrics: Jack of all trades

This song came as a bit of a surprise after Easy Money and Schackled and drawn,  as it brings a complete change of pace. Which I later realized, fits perfectly into the bigger picture of the album as a whole. Personally I think one of Bruce’s many talents is to fit heartbreaking lyrics to feet-stomping melodies, and in doing so he makes it more accessible for ordinary folks (like me) who are no music pros, but just enjoy a nice, catching melody. Of course then the lyrics creeps up on you and before you know, they have you by the throat.

This song made me cry the very first time I heard it. It seems to be a beautiful pledge of love and commitment, something a groom