I listened to the whole series through headphones, and in that manner you can clearly hear edit breaks throughout the episodes e.g. when one of the two has a lengthier single monologue, the 'sound' of the voice changes suggesting it is possibly a re- recording after the fact etc. So I would love to hear more of the unedited back and forth between the two, as those segments where you can clearly hear that it is just unedited conversation were for the most part the bits I most enjoyed. The other thing that was clear through headphones is that in most cases the music used was not Bruce playing in the moment during the conversations, but something recorded separately and then inserted. So I'd suggest there are probably recordings (possibly complete, as opposed to the snippets used in the podcasts) for all the music we heard used. From what was used, some of those acoustic renditions (41 Shots comes to mind) sounded absolutely compelling... I'd love for some of that to be released, at the very least as a playlist on the streaming services.
Listened to the final episode yesterday. I have really enjoyed them all. I thought they had a good chemistry, mutual respect which came through and, of course, they both have interesting stories to tell.
Finished all episodes last night. Loved the President way more then Bruce on these. Somethings were still way out in leftfield, but very enjoyable listen.
I really enjoyed this week’s episode. I guess coming from a working class background has basically the same effect on you no matter where in the world you are...
I do hope they make the full songs available as I was really enjoying that rendition of Atlantic City. There’s no reason why they wouldn’t include the full thing in there unless they thought someone listening to a podcast with Bruce and Obama wouldn’t want to hear Bruce play songs...
The fifth episode was the best so far. The way Bruce talked about his humble beginnings, his feelings of being ashamed and not belonging when he suddenly had money - that really hit home.
It explained very well why he wanted to remain part of the community he came from even after his circumstances had changed.
And here is the explanation for all of those who scoff and say, well, he has millions, how can he write about normal people: he faught very hard not to loose that connection. That is why he remains authentic and his songs convey real meaning.
My favorite so far. Entertaining, dynamic and captivating. A detailed description of his draft day, and a funny story about a gig that took place on the day Apollo landed on the moon. An interesting western movie reference.@Mario Brega you should have a listen...
Sorry I've only just seen this! I need to start reading my notifications properly, if not read every thread 😄
Yeah I haven't been listening to these, but I suppose I really am a sucker for Westerns so I immediately jumped into episode 4 to see what it is they talked about. A High Plains Drifter shout out is always welcome 😎, and then to hear that extended ode to The Searchers was fantastic. Thanks for the heads up!
@berlintramp Ordinarily I'd expect myself to feel the same way, but I found that Amazing Grace story fascinating. Interesting parallel also between how Obama described the way he was inspired to write the speech with the stories we've heard many times from Bruce about struggling to write something worthwhile before some outside spark provides the bottled lightning.
@Bosstralian we said after listening that we found Obama's contribution more interesting, simply because we feel we know Bruce's story inside out and back to front, so to speak! Not to say that listening to him isn't always fascinating, of course. I wonder what the topic of the next episode will be?
The new instalment about music was a bit disappointing. It would have seemed to be a great topic for Bruce, but Obama mainly used him as prompter for airing his own views.
I listened to this week's episode, they are taking about American music, loved it.
There's a bit where he's explaining how being onstage fulfills him in a deep way, and how his job is done properly if only he can make one person in the crowd feel connected... I had to pause...
Can someone please tell me that the world we knew and loved will eventually return?
I'm all about patience. I'm fucking waiting for as long as I can remember... Please, give me a stadium filled with people and live music onstage...
@whispered secret I've kind of, almost, made my peace with the fact I won't see Bruce and the EStreet band live again.
I hope I'm wrong but that's where my mind is at.
But there's other great live acts out there.
I'm just dying to get to the stage that 300 of us can cram into King Tuts for Jesse Malin, or Jason Isbell crossing the Atlantic again, or The Hold Steady coming back (though they seem to have eschewed touring in favour of "Weekenders"), or The National venturing this way again........and many more......some artists I haven't even discovered yet.
Don't want to think too much about it, but there's life after Bruce.........
@MagicRatAFC I know there's more live music I want to see. I hope Nathaniel Rateliff will reschedule and I'm sure Josh Ritter will be over here, or Ireland, which would be even better, but Bruce is ALWAYS the person I will want to see the most. I can't see that ever changing.
Finally got round to listening this morning. Absolutely loved the first two. I must have had a grin across my face for the entire 90 minutes, (occasional lump in the throat too). Found it powerful, moving, thought provoking and funny.
I listened to the second one this afternoon and thought it was very good. Bruce spoke about his relationship with Clarence, which was moving and insightful.
I'll leave it to the Americans here to decide whether Obama was a good politician, or indeed a good president. Seems to be a partisan divide on that. But he is without doubt an incredible statesman. And unparalleled almost as a spokesperson IMO. I could listen to him forever.
So far, I haven't found it particularly political. But then again I can't understand how common decency towards anyone and everyone, regardless of race / sex etc.isn't just the default starting position for every single person. So why / how race relations is a political issue still blows my mind.
Carter and old Bush were uncarismatic but very competent one-term-Presidents. For a carismatic President it takes a total disaster, an obvious con-man and suspected "Russian asset" like Trump to fail re-election.
As ever, you make a very good point in your final paragraph. Sadly this seems to be the way of the world now - politicians need to be personable and good on chat shows. I always remember hearing an interview with Gordon Brown when he was our PM. He was asked what was the first thing he thought about when he woke up and his reply was something along the lines of 'I think about how I can improve the economy' when a more media savvy politician would have replied 'I think about my wife and give her a kiss' or something like that. He lost the next election.
I have still only listened to the first episode, but should be able to listen to the second one today.
I've listened to both parts and have of course savoured every moment of it. What else could a Springsteen fan say anyway?
Obama was more eloquent, his thoughts came out very fluently, while Bruce took more time with finishing sentences... At some parts, I wasn't quite sure whether he was only reminiscing so intensely, or was he in search of a proper word... Obama's voice was confident and invigorating, Bruce sounded fragile, and not surprisingly, old.
I loved the songs he presented, American Skin made my eyes teary...
It's not important how they sounded, but what they had to say, though. Both themes so far are extremely relevant and need to be discussed in a constructive, intelligent manner as often as possible. I loved Obama's intimate stories, they were all new to me and presented him as a kind-hearted, articulate and responsible person.
The only issue I might have with this series of podcasts is the idea of mixing politics and entertainment. I think it's one of the reasons why political culture in the USA is so dysfunctional. Politicians have become performers who want to please the base, and are using every opportunity they get to do so on social media and TV. They are creating successful brands, and it's questionable if this is diminishing the main principle of politics, or is it simply just another platform for spreading political views.
I am working my way through The Promised Land by Obama. Thoroughly enjoyable read, and makes me like him even more. He in no way makes himself out to be perfect nor infallible. Not even close.
@Buddhabone I'll give that a miss. Checked out one of he threads......drink driving or Jeep, can't recall which..... a wee while ago and wished I hadn't.
I listened to the whole series through headphones, and in that manner you can clearly hear edit breaks throughout the episodes e.g. when one of the two has a lengthier single monologue, the 'sound' of the voice changes suggesting it is possibly a re- recording after the fact etc. So I would love to hear more of the unedited back and forth between the two, as those segments where you can clearly hear that it is just unedited conversation were for the most part the bits I most enjoyed. The other thing that was clear through headphones is that in most cases the music used was not Bruce playing in the moment during the conversations, but something recorded separately and then inserted. So I'd suggest there are probably recordings (possibly complete, as opposed to the snippets used in the podcasts) for all the music we heard used. From what was used, some of those acoustic renditions (41 Shots comes to mind) sounded absolutely compelling... I'd love for some of that to be released, at the very least as a playlist on the streaming services.
Listened to the final episode yesterday. I have really enjoyed them all. I thought they had a good chemistry, mutual respect which came through and, of course, they both have interesting stories to tell.
Finished all episodes last night. Loved the President way more then Bruce on these. Somethings were still way out in leftfield, but very enjoyable listen.
Listened to 7 and 8 (the last two I think?).
I thought 7, fatherhood was.......ok but tended to the saccherine and was a tad formulaic and self indulgent.
But 8 might have been the most insightful of the series.
This episode was Obama's, Bruce was defo relegated to rhythm guitar IMHO.
The line about "had the Fox network been around at the time of Watergate, Nixon would probably never have left office" was........chilling.
Great listen though.
Episode 5 was a great listen.
These are improving week on week.
I really enjoyed this week’s episode. I guess coming from a working class background has basically the same effect on you no matter where in the world you are...
I do hope they make the full songs available as I was really enjoying that rendition of Atlantic City. There’s no reason why they wouldn’t include the full thing in there unless they thought someone listening to a podcast with Bruce and Obama wouldn’t want to hear Bruce play songs...
I wanted to post that this episode is the best so far, but realized that's what I say every week. 🙂
The fifth episode was the best so far. The way Bruce talked about his humble beginnings, his feelings of being ashamed and not belonging when he suddenly had money - that really hit home.
It explained very well why he wanted to remain part of the community he came from even after his circumstances had changed.
And here is the explanation for all of those who scoff and say, well, he has millions, how can he write about normal people: he faught very hard not to loose that connection. That is why he remains authentic and his songs convey real meaning.
Caught up with episode 4, I do find them entertaining and soothing somehow.
I wish they could have driven to Asbury Park in the Corvette - how cool would that have been!
I really must get on the ball and have a listen to these. My two favorite people, a couple of them, what the hell can go wrong with that.
My favorite so far. Entertaining, dynamic and captivating. A detailed description of his draft day, and a funny story about a gig that took place on the day Apollo landed on the moon. An interesting western movie reference.@Mario Brega you should have a listen...
Episode 4 up now.
Listened yesterday evening to episode 3, which I loved. The ending where Obama was talking about Amazing Grace was interesting and very moving.
AJ, I'm not sure why that reply was showing directed at you, it was just a general response.
"To the room" if you will.......
The new instalment about music was a bit disappointing. It would have seemed to be a great topic for Bruce, but Obama mainly used him as prompter for airing his own views.
I listened to this week's episode, they are taking about American music, loved it.
There's a bit where he's explaining how being onstage fulfills him in a deep way, and how his job is done properly if only he can make one person in the crowd feel connected... I had to pause...
Can someone please tell me that the world we knew and loved will eventually return?
I'm all about patience. I'm fucking waiting for as long as I can remember... Please, give me a stadium filled with people and live music onstage...
#havingatoughday
I'm so happy everyone's enjoying this! Can't wait to listen to it on one of my morning drives!
Finally got round to listening this morning. Absolutely loved the first two. I must have had a grin across my face for the entire 90 minutes, (occasional lump in the throat too). Found it powerful, moving, thought provoking and funny.
I’m enjoying this much more than I thought I would.
More, more, more!
I listened to the second one this afternoon and thought it was very good. Bruce spoke about his relationship with Clarence, which was moving and insightful.
I could listen to them chatting for hours!
I have heard them both and love them. The honesty about Race was so moving.
Listened to both episodes now. Really liked both.
I'll leave it to the Americans here to decide whether Obama was a good politician, or indeed a good president. Seems to be a partisan divide on that. But he is without doubt an incredible statesman. And unparalleled almost as a spokesperson IMO. I could listen to him forever.
So far, I haven't found it particularly political. But then again I can't understand how common decency towards anyone and everyone, regardless of race / sex etc.isn't just the default starting position for every single person. So why / how race relations is a political issue still blows my mind.
Managed to get a listen to the two episodes, very good listen.
Obama comes across as such a decent, engaging person.
The second episode on race was intriguing , quite insightful.
The two of them fed off each other nicely.
Looking forward to more.
Carter and old Bush were uncarismatic but very competent one-term-Presidents. For a carismatic President it takes a total disaster, an obvious con-man and suspected "Russian asset" like Trump to fail re-election.
As ever, you make a very good point in your final paragraph. Sadly this seems to be the way of the world now - politicians need to be personable and good on chat shows. I always remember hearing an interview with Gordon Brown when he was our PM. He was asked what was the first thing he thought about when he woke up and his reply was something along the lines of 'I think about how I can improve the economy' when a more media savvy politician would have replied 'I think about my wife and give her a kiss' or something like that. He lost the next election.
I have still only listened to the first episode, but should be able to listen to the second one today.
I've listened to both parts and have of course savoured every moment of it. What else could a Springsteen fan say anyway?
Obama was more eloquent, his thoughts came out very fluently, while Bruce took more time with finishing sentences... At some parts, I wasn't quite sure whether he was only reminiscing so intensely, or was he in search of a proper word... Obama's voice was confident and invigorating, Bruce sounded fragile, and not surprisingly, old.
I loved the songs he presented, American Skin made my eyes teary...
It's not important how they sounded, but what they had to say, though. Both themes so far are extremely relevant and need to be discussed in a constructive, intelligent manner as often as possible. I loved Obama's intimate stories, they were all new to me and presented him as a kind-hearted, articulate and responsible person.
The only issue I might have with this series of podcasts is the idea of mixing politics and entertainment. I think it's one of the reasons why political culture in the USA is so dysfunctional. Politicians have become performers who want to please the base, and are using every opportunity they get to do so on social media and TV. They are creating successful brands, and it's questionable if this is diminishing the main principle of politics, or is it simply just another platform for spreading political views.
Listened to one episode, about race, which was very good. But Obama can sure talk rings around Bruce!
Looking forward to getting a chance to have a listen.
Look at these two. I love them both.
The reactions at the old hangout are predictable. One old friend has gone all Josh Hawley on us. God, so happy to be here.
My wife asked me to sit down before she told me. OMG. so excited.
Just listened to the first episode - excellent.
People seem to be loving this, those who don't defend Trump and his cronies at every turn, I cannot wait for this.
Looking forward to listening to this have them downloaded.
Looks very cool and will annoy republicans. Win, win.
Absolutely amazing. I'm already hyped.