I got on the bus at 4:50 p.m. figuring I'd be safe for a 7:00 p.m. event. Although, I did not calculate into the equation the mass traffic that was caused by the "Beyoncé Panic," as The Formation Tour was gracing MetLife Stadium the same night. We made it to Port Authority by about 6:00 p.m. and quickly rushed through the herds waiting to catch buses. Luckily, Town Hall Theater is only about two blocks from the bus terminal. We headed to the theater and waited on a painfully long line to get in.
After we finally got past the bag and ticket check, I received my signed copy of Bruce Springsteen's autobiography, Born to Run. Once seated, I marveled at the most photogenic cover I'd ever seen and waited, "for a savior to rise from these streets."
David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker, came out to introduce The Boss. As a Jersey Girl and an adoring Bruce fan, I could barely relax. He walked out cooly. The misty air of the Jersey Shore filled up the New York Broadway theater. The audience routinely moaned, "BRUUUUUCE."
There are not many people that can change the energy of a room instantly.
Remnick started interviewing Springsteen, and his answers were lyrical and calming. Bruce's voice is eternally memorizing. Springsteen discussed everything from his relationship with his late father, his depression, the perfectionism that he and Clarence Clemons articulated on Born to Run, the bar scene in Asbury, his record deal with Columbia records, explaining fame to his children, his relationship with his wife Patti, and even his thoughts on one of our presidential nominees.
While I could go on forever about the magic, there is one topic I'd like to discuss in depth. Since I can remember, I have loved Bruce Springsteen's music. There is a quality to it that I often can't explain. Even if I am having the most devastating day, a Bruce song can instantly lift my mood. Bruce explained that he believes people attend his shows to remember what it feels like to be really alive. He stated that it was a symbiotic occurrence. This captured the emotion that I have tried explained my whole life. I was happy to realize I am not the only one who feels it.
Born to Run debuted at the top of The New York Times Best Seller list. I suggest purchasing it and reading the life story of my home state hero. I will leave you with a small passage from the autobiography read by The Boss himself...
