Rock and roll is not just a type of music. It can be a salvation- a safe kind of high. For Bruce Springsteen, music saved him. While he grew up hating his confining, working class surrounding, and performing poorly at the Catholic schools he attended, his only real enthusiasm was for Elvis Presley and the rock music of the 1950's. Being unpopular amongst his classmates throughout his childhood thus forced him to find something that was his own which in this case led to the discovery of a newer sense of personal identity, and one that focused on implementing the power of sound.
What is truly admirable about this man aside from his outstanding songwriting and performance qualities is how humble he remains despite his now success. He never once loses sight of where he came from or what it took to get to the position he is currently standing in to this day. He often credits his mother who, for his sixteenth birthday, took out a loan to buy him a $60 Kent guitar- which became more than just an instrument to him.
Another example is shown when he explains in his 2008 inauguration speech at the New Jersey Hall of Fame how suspicious he was in first receiving a letter of recognition. Although he has sold 64.5 million albums in the United States making him the 15th highest-selling artist of all-time, and seventh highest-selling male artist overall behind Garth Brooks (135 million), and Elvis Presley (134.5 million), he still feels less qualified when placing his name and Albert Einstein’s together in the same sentence; to which he jokes stating it will be the only time that would ever occur.
In following more commonly known names he references New Jersey as a memory. It is within this state that he grew up in, where his music was made, friendships, his life, and even went on his first date with Patty, his “own Jersey girl,” and present day wife.
Springsteen also mentions in his speech how he spent a lot of unnecessary amounts of money on photography in New York City when recording his first album only to reflect how he was there because of the big city name and not because of any personal feelings towards it. He talks about one day during his shoot where he came across a store on a street, and saw the words “Asbury park” displayed, his hometown in New Jersey, which reminded him how he was not meant to be in the city that never sleeps, but rather where he most belonged.
Like most things in life we miss it more when it is taken away. Something resonated for Springsteen here in this state: it nurtured him, provided protection for not only himself but his future family and children, gave strength in the ability to go about life, and lastly push through the waves- a symbol of New Jersey’s own oceans- or struggles that he and his kids would someday surpass.
Although New Jersey takes some beating in terms of its stereotypes and assumptions, “It’s all buried here at this point,” Springsteen pronounces, and he sees this as a blessing never a curse as it proves “Jerseyans” will continue their fighting spirits in spite of the doubters. He is living proof we can learn more from a three minute record than we can ever learn in school.
