BORN TO RUN

Bruce and The Big Man

Forty years ago this past week Bruce Springsteen released the album BORN TO RUN.  The actual date was August 25, 1975. I was a mere 12 years old and going into the 7th grade.


One day in September 1975 I was home sick from school and listening to the radio. Probably not interested in what was happening on "Ryan's Hope" or "All My Children". The radio station had an album give-a-way and if you were the 101 caller you would win.  I dialed, and dialed, and dialed - rotary dialing - so you know I was determined. Busy, busy, busy until the phone rang and lo and behold I was the 101st caller (true story).  They told me the album I won and I was bummed.  I had never heard of the album or the singer, I thought I was going to win an Elton John album with the song "Rocket Man" on it. Oh well, I gave my address and thought maybe one of sisters would like the album.

None of my sisters wanted the album - they were too hip and into way cooler music like Cat Stevens, Genesis, and Emmy Lou Harris. So I was stuck with the album.  I gave it a try.  I slowly became obsessed with it and all things Springsteen.

In 1977 I started High School and BORN TO RUN was THE ALBUM!  From that moment on it was played at every party and we all sang all the songs at the top of our lungs.  It has probably become the anthem of my life with a couple of other Springsteen songs from other albums, "Rosalita", most songs from Darkness on the Edge of Town and The River. Actually any Springsteen song is my favorite with the exception of "Pink Cadillac". not sure why I just never liked it. Although I love "Cadillac Ranch."

Admittedly, I listen to a lot of music and am not picky.  I still sing songs at the top of my lungs and with three children aged 18, 19, and 22 I feel that I am up on most current songs, songwriters, bands, etc..  I have seen my fair share of Taylor Swift Concerts over the years (my youngest is a girl) and my current running playlist consists of Imagine Dragons, Rachel Platten, Bruno Mars, and Walk the Moon.  I even went to see O.A.R. in concert with my 22 year old son last weekend. I love musicals and have the entire Les Miz original London Cast recording in my iTunes library.

BUT nothing, and I mean nothing, can make me as happy as when I hear a song from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.Certain songs can bring me to a specific time and place circa 1977 - 1986 with some of the best people I have known in my life.  I have always felt blessed to have had the friends I had in High School and in college and the shared experiences we had.  I have seen many a Springsteen concert over the years and they have always been my favorite shows. Even in my adult life when I meet new people I know we will have a special bond if there is a shared love of all things Springsteen.

It may seem crazy and I promise it's not a creepy obsession it is simply a chance to experience joy!  The simple joy that comes from feeling young, walkin in the sun, with the wind blowin in your hair....

"Baby We Were Born to Run!"

Magda

P.S. Thank you Bruce Springsteen, Little Stevie, Big Man, Danny Federici, Max Weinberg, Garry Tallent, Roy Bittan, Patty Scialfa, and my Hometown Man Nils Lofgren

Enjoy this video
Born to Run 

Would love to hear your favorite song, lyric or concert experience, especially if it's a Springsteen story.

It All Comes Back to Springsteen

Lately I have been thinking if I had the opportunity to write a letter to someone who had a big impact on my life to whom would I write, or is it who would I write to? (I have never mastered my who's and whom's).

Parents are the most likely choice of course. I was blessed to be able to spend time with both of mine before they passed away and I am confident that I left no words unsaid. Next up is the teacher who mentored me. I am actually friends with said teacher, who is hopefully reading this, and I am confident she knows. I am ninety percent on top of my thank you note writing - I think I even write thank you notes to people who send ME thank you gifts and notes. I could thank my husband - if I were taking to him - just kidding! I thank him every day for merely putting up with me. I take time to thank God every day for my life, for life in general, for everything really. Plus I am saving Him for the big Oscar thank you, in case I ever get around to pursuing that acting career. I counted yesterday how many times I said thank you - 105! Those thank you's were for the door holder, bag packer, salad maker, water glass filler upper - I was thirsty so he got 6.  But these thank you's were to people who did not have a big impact - they just made my day better.

No, I have narrowed it down to the fact that I would send my thanks to Bruce Springsteen. I thought for awhile maybe I would write to Harper Lee or Jane Austen for writing my favorite books, or to Bill Cosby for making me laugh out loud as a kid. Why is there air anyway? Why did Fat Albert's friend wear that hat over his face? I thought I should write to one of my sisters. I have 3, well 5 since I like to include my sisters - in - law, and I know I can never pick one of them because they have all impacted my life in very different but significant ways. I have fabulous friends and they all deserve more than thanks for being my friend  - no easy task I am certain  - but I feel confident they too know how grateful I am for their friendship. So I am back to Springsteen.

Why the Boss? As long as I can remember his songs have been my favorite, the words poetic, the concerts epic. Most of my favorite memories are relived whenever I hear one of his songs. It seems silly to say his music is the soundtrack of my life - well then call me silly because it's true. Sure I listen to and love other genre's of music and other artists and groups, but none as much as him. I still go to his concerts, still blast his songs in my car and still remember all the fun times I have had with his songs playing in the background.

So here it goes:

Dear Mr. Springteen/Dear Bruce,

Thank you for your decades worth of music that have been the soundtrack of my life. Thank you for giving your all at every concert. Thank you for writing Rosalita so I could sing it at the top of my lungs all through High School. Thank you for singing Pete Seeger's songs for a new generation of listeners. Thank you for putting Nils Lofgren in the E Street Band. Most of all thanks for continuing to write meaningful songs that make us think about something other than ourselves.

You Rock!

Forever Your Fan,
Magda K. Mooers


To whom would you write? (Or is that who?)