Music Monday: March 18, 2024

Hi, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Music Monday.

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Thirty years ago-March 21, 1994-Bruce Springsteen won the Oscar for Best Original Song for the track he wrote for the film, “Philadelphia”. The Boss was already a megastar, thanks to the massive success of his album, “Born In The U.S.A.” ten years earlier. And that blockbuster came 11 years after the release of his debut album in 1973.

As Springsteen noted in his acceptance speech, it was the first time he wrote a song for a movie. And he hit it out of the park. Just like a Boss. You can watch his performance from the 66th Academy Awards and hear his acceptance speech here. Watching it all these years later, and knowing how much The Boss regretted not having The E Street Band inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame with him in 1999, I would say they are the only thing missing in this clip.

Speaking of that career honor, which came during the 14th annual induction ceremony on March 15, 1999 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City, it was U2 frontman Bono who was given the privilege to usher Springsteen into the Rock Hall. With speech highlights that included gems like-‘”Bruce took us from Haight-Ashbury to Asbury Park” and “He’s not The Boss-he works for us!”, Bono expressed what all Springsteen fans feel-that he is singing only for us. And for that, we are most grateful.

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Top: Bruce Springsteen on Oscar night in March 1994. Bottom: Bruce (L) and Steven Van Zandt (R) during The Boss’s performance following his induction in 1999. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Streets Of Philadelphia” (1993, written by Bruce Springsteen).

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band: “Tenth Avenue Freeze Out” (Live performance at the R&R HOF induction ceremony, March 1994. Originally recorded in 1975. Written by Bruce Springsteen).

Stay safe & well.

25 Days Of Christmas Music 2023: Day 22

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the countdown.

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My very own grown up Christmas list. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The film “Philadelphia” was released 30 years ago today on December 22, 1993. The groundbreaking movie earned over $200 million and became one of the highest-grossing films of that year. It also gave Bruce Springsteen his first Oscar nomination and win for Best Original Song in 1994 for “Streets Of Philadelphia”.

The track also earned the New Jersey native four Grammy Awards the same year as well: Best Song Written Specifically For A Motion Picture Or For Television, Best Rock Song, Best Male Rock Vocal Performance and Song Of The Year. If Born In The USA turned him into a megastar, his Academy Award secured his status as a legend. Merry Christmas, Bossman.  

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Top: The sleeve for the single with today’s song as the B-side. Bottom: A festive Bossman. 

(Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” (1981 & 1985, recorded live at C.W. Post College in Brookville, NY on December 12, 1975, written by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie).

What are some of your favorite Christmas songs?

Until next time, happy listening!!!

Let’s Take A Moment Day 370

Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

March 2021 Blog

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

At the beginning of 1993 a director wanted a song for a movie he was making and asked a songwriter & musician to write it. He wrote the tune, played all the instruments on it & sang the track himself, with an additional singer providing the backing vocal. The movie came out in December 1993 featuring the song, which was released as a single in February 1994. The video that accompanied it was also done by the film’s director, Jonathan Demme. A month later, on March 21, 1994 the track won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 66th Academy Awards ceremony. It was the first one Bruce Springsteen ever wrote specifically for a movie.

“I was bruised and battered, I couldn’t tell what I felt
I was unrecognizable to myself
Saw my reflection in a window and didn’t know my own face
So brother are you gonna leave me wasting away
“.

Bruce Streets_of_Philadelphia

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Bruce Springsteen: “Streets Of Philadelphia” (1994, written by Bruce Springsteen).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.