Bruce Springsteen, Super Bowl Set List, Vote

Imagine that you are Bruce Springsteen.  You've married a local girl and had three kids, and you live in a pretty nice house not too far from your hometown.  You've had a pretty good career to this point.  You're widely loved and admired.  You've been around the world and all across the seven seas and been paid a king's ransom for doing what comes naturally.  But now, you have a problem.

For some silly reason, you've finagled your way into this quick little gig to play a few songs for a bunch of people in a football stadium in Tampa Bay at what is called the Super Bowl .  Maybe you're doing this becuase you're still angry that NBC rejected your former manager Mike Appel's attempts to have you sing prior to the 1973 Super Bowl.  Maybe you think NBC owes you this, 36 years later.  Anyway, you've played lots of stadiums before so it shouldn't be that big a deal, right? 

Let me explain something, Mr. Springsteen.  You're used to playing for 3 hours in front of tens of thosands of rabid fans of yours who've paid $100 or more per ticket and who think nothing of driving all night, following you around from town to town, to see you perform.  When you're on stage, every eye is on you.  You're in complete control of the building until you decide it's over.  But, this little Super Bowl thing is different.

This football stadium will be jammed with tens of thosands of rabid football fans who've paid hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to see dozens of hulking, ferocious, padded, helmeted warriors beat the crap out of each other for 3 hours for the ultimate prize in the most popular sport in America.  They'll likely have been drinking for several hours before the game even starts, and they'll be busting for a leak by the time you take the stage.  Not only are they not there to see you play, they'll either be heading for the washroom and/or the concession stands to reload.  So, if you want to hold their attention, you've got your work cut out for you.

It gets worse.  Did I mention that the television audience for this thing is something like 150 million in the USA and maybe a billion or so in 230 plus countries around the world?  Oh, yeah and they've only given you 12 minutes to perform and then the hook comes out.  How many songs have you written?  500? 1000?  If you whittle it down to the real good ones, I mean the all time classics, we're talking maybe 50 or 100.  Well, I figure you've gotta pick 3.  That's right, THREE.  Which ones are you going to play?

OK, settle down.  It's too late to back out.  NBC has been making a big fuss about you being part of their broadcast and now everyone knows about it.  You have to go through with it.  You may as well start thinking about it.  But, don't worry Brucie, I have a plan to help you.

I would like each of you imaginary Brucies to help the real Bruce, that Springsteen guy, by casting your votes for the three songs you think he should play.  I have no doubt that Bruce (the real one) follows this blog closely and by the time I post the results of your votes on Friday, Jan 30th, two days before the Super Bowl, Your Friday Bruce Fix will have fixed Bruce's problem.  Two days is plenty of time to get the always in mid-season form E-Street Band ready to play three songs.  Hell, Bruce could call an audible and they'd be fine.

Alright, so before you watch today's clip, go to the link below and cast your votes.  I've added a few extra questions for fun.  When you're done, come on back and I'll let you watch the clip.  By the way, it's my vote for song number three, but don't let that influence your vote in any way.  Of course, that won't happen because you're going to vote first.

Click Here to take survey

Please send the link to this blog around to everyone you know who likes Bruce, even just a little.  We need lots of votes.  He really needs our help this time. 

Happy Friday!

Comments

[Rick Shea]

Thanks. You've picked some great songs. If he does full songs, I guess he'd max out at three, but if he does more of a medley, then who knows, maybe he'd slip in part of 5 or 6 songs. Either way, it should be fun to watch.

[Linkmeister]

Well, you found my blog somehow, so you know what my picks are.

http://www.linkmeister.com/blog/archives/003325.html

[Aaron]

Welcome to Tampa!

[Rick Shea]

Thanks, Mike! I'm pretty sure all the marketing research textbooks say you should use humour as a way to ensure you collect valid data,... or was that to keep people from nodding off... hmmmm... I might have slept through that class.

It may well be a tough crowd, other than the true fans that they're recruiting to fill the pit down in front of the stage.

[Michael Katz]

Hilarious survey. You've done it again. You've missed your calling, again. Springsteen expert AND funny survey writer.

And frankly, I agree. Unlike a concert, lots of people couldn't care less about the particular performer, so a tough crowd. And sort of a weird venue in general for a mini-concert. But if anyone can pull it off (other than Rick Shea), it's the Boss.

[Rick Shea]

Hey Gabby. I suspect you'll be pretty close, if not bang on, with those choices. I think he's going to promote the new album and Working on a Dream will be a good choice given the Obama connection. I'd love to hear a full blown Kitty's Back, with the horn section, but it ain't gonna happen!

[Gabby]

I'm figuring it will be Working on a Dream and two rather routine all-timers, like Born to Run and Thunder Road. Not enough time for an extended Badlands, etc. Figure any costume failure will have to be Steven's. Clarence will stand, but Nils won't flip...he may do one of those cool spins, however. No way we're gonna hear Kitty's Back....