As the USA continues to accelerate its miserable way to hell in a handcart, how apt that one man has the bottle to speak, or rather sing, out against the fear and loathing that Donald Trump has overseen. And that man is Bruce Springsteen.
The Boss, as he is affectionately known, penned a new song last weekend about the horrific events in Minneapolis called Streets of Minneapolis. At first I was concerned that Springsteen was doing an Elton John, you know like Princess Di died and Bernie Taupin redesignated the meaning of Candle In The Wind. You may remember Elton singing at Di’s funeral. It went like this: “Good bah Ingland’s ruzz. May you evah grow in owa hots. You were the gress theyat placed itsailf. Where lavs whu toan apaht.” Given the syllables involved, would we be treated to the tune of Streets of Philadelphia with words about Minneapolis? Of course not.
Springsteen’s new song is quite brilliant. After calling for ICE to “get the fuck out of Minneapolis” at a recent show, he doubles down by releasing a record he wrote last weekend. It’s a combination of all his styles from the bleak Nebraska to the raging Born In The USA. Just when I wondered whether his talent and even relevance was beginning to fade, the songwriter who understands the working man more than any other electrifies as no other artist can. Trump doesn’t agree.
When the singer attacked Trump in a Manchester show last year, Trump went on the attack. Springsteen was “highly overrated … not a talented guy – just a pushy, obnoxious JERK” and was “dumb as a rock“. Threateningly, Trump went on (and on): “This dried out ‘prune’ of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that’s just ‘standard fare’. Then we’ll all see how it goes for him!” This didn’t feel like a US President speaking or the leader of free world. It sounded like a gang boss in action, saying, “mind how you go.”
The first year of Trump’s second term in the White House has been far worse than even the most pessimistic folk could have imagined. Worse, US citizens, from politicians, business people, celebrities of all kinds and the American people stayed silent. Yet when people do speak out, the word TACO applies. Trump Always Chickens Out.
Springsteen will not be cowed by the orange man baby’s verbal attacks, or even his threats. I hope that this is not the end of the resistance to Trump but the beginning.
Trump is not just the worst US President ever, he is among the worst people the USA has produced. He wants to be seen as a strong man, like the strong men he so admires, like Vladimir Putin, but in truth he is weak and he is stupid. And it is great to see a true legend of music show the kind of backbone that until now appears to have been lacking in so many others.
The snowflake Trump lashes out when he is called out. He is exposed in the light and he’s too stupid, too narcissistic and probably too demented to know how to deal with it.
Maybe there is a way back for America before fascism is totally established. It could be that Trump might die before long or that the people will stand up and say, no more. Or it could be both.
Bruce Springsteen has done us a big favour with his cajones. If everyone else can grow a pair, Trump can be defeated after all. Let’s hope so.
