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Bruce Springsteen

Bruce Springsteen

Date: Mar 09 2009

Themes: History, Sports

Grammar: Definite & Indefinite Articles

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

There’s nothing more American than the Super Bowl. And Bruce Springsteen is an American legend. Sounds like a perfect match, right?

Well, not everyone would agree. Springsteen is known as a champion of the working man. Many of his songs speak out against corruption and injustice, and he is known for his liberal politics. So he’s the last musician many people expected to take part in a huge commercial spectacle like the Super Bowl.

Marni doesn’t like watching the Super Bowl, but she tuned in just to see the Boss perform. Listen to her and Dale discuss Springsteen’s performance and his new album, Working on a Dream.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Dale

Dale

Marni

Marni

Dale:  Are you familiar with the Boss, Bruce Springsteen?

Marni:  Well of course! Who isn’t?!

Dale:  Exactly. Did you see him in the Super Bowl?

Marni:  I did. In fact, I actually really don’t like the Super Bowl. I didn’t watch it, but I specifically tuned in for the 12 minutes…

Dale:  And what did you think? How do you think he did?

Marni:  I thought he did great. I thought he was very…you know…he puts on a great show. He has such high energy. But I always think it’s interesting that “Born in the U.S.A.” was his big hit, because really, if you listen to the lyrics, it’s all about how you can be kinda screwed over by the system, by the U.S.

Dale:  That’s the part I think with the Boss, knowing that he’s a working-class, working man…He got pretty much a lot of the blue collar people of America to join, listening in to “Born in the U.S.A.”

Marni:  Yeah. Well he definitely I think represents sort of the heartland. I mean, I feel like that’s his demographic. But he…I think he’s just an incredible person. And he’s had a really incredible career. His new album’s really good too.

Dale:  So he has a new album out.

Marni:  He does.

Dale:  And how does that sound?

Marni:  It sounds good!

 

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Discussion

Bruce Springsteen is a musical legend in America, like Bob Dylan or Johnny Cash. Marni thought he did a great job at the Super Bowl. His performance was full of passion and high energy. Not bad for a guy who’s nearly 60 years old!

The Boss is best known for his song “Born in the U.S.A.” Many people misinterpret this song. They think it’s just patriotic. But the song is actually very critical of the U.S. government. The lyrics talk about the damage done to the American people by the Vietnam War.

 

Comments

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mozhan

mozhan

France

i only like " the river ".i think this song is amazing.

01:16 PM Jan 25 2011 |

curry zhang

China

Bruce  Springsteen,how a strong man he is .I still feel ''born in the usa''expressed his patriotic mind.

03:52 PM Mar 15 2009 |

wafy323

China

he puts on a great show. i just can't hear the word "puts".

01:41 PM Mar 13 2009 |

maloud

maloud

Poland

I like only ''you're missing''. He thinks that he is kinda rock-messiah who will change the world. But he is ok.

10:20 AM Mar 11 2009 |

carlosbertholdi

Brazil

In the"Discussion" tab above: "They think it’s just patriotic. But the song is actually very critical of the U.S. government". Now, here there's a mistake, isn't it? Since when being a patriotic person means to love or like the government. So this song is probably patriotic if it is a form of criticism of the way that ordinary people are treated by the U.S. government.

05:13 PM Mar 10 2009 |

maruita

maruita

Egypt

its actually the first time to hear about Springsteen but i like to know more informations about him he sounds like a great mucision i like the kind of  aimed songs and i expect he show this kind of songs

04:32 PM Mar 10 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

The 80’s here in Brazil was the better decade of the better reviews of the musicians,great bands like “Capital Inicial(in english – Initial Capital)”,”Legião Urbana(Urban Legion)”,made his names with criticism lyrics :)

02:22 PM Mar 10 2009 |

Marcelolic

Marcelolic

Brazil

It is always good has good musicians like Bruce Springsteen making good reviews,and constructive reviews! :)

02:15 PM Mar 10 2009 |

jolin52

jolin52

China

I 'm not familiar to Bruce Spingsteen's music ,and I also don't know The Boss.But, today, I know him,Iknow his some musics and his stories.

12:20 PM Mar 10 2009 |

Novita

Novita

Germany

I'm not very familiar to Bruce Springsteen's music. But he is still very popular to my parent's generation. In the 80's his song "Born in the U.S.A." had been in the german charts a number one hit for weeks. There are also very talented musicians nowadays but it is very sad to see that their talent is often getting wasted just to satisfy the mainstream's flavour and the market's needs. That's the reason why a lot of songs sounds more and more similar and aren't fancy anymore.

10:59 AM Mar 10 2009 |

tiagon85

Brazil

Very nice lesson!! The Boss is not one of my favorite singers, but his lyrics is great, better than a lot of stuff we are listening nowadays. But he is a singer a little famous in Brazil, I think he gets more sucess playing in USA cause he always sings about american´s issues.

 

 

02:43 AM Mar 10 2009 |

Athan

Athan

China

I feel a little shame that such a legend I've never heard of.But from this dialogue,I can see his is a great singer,although I've never heard a song of his.Cause his song reprents the working class,reprents their misery.Having a good voice is not enough,but to sing for people,express what they are suffering is more important.There are few singers like him now,on wonder they call him the boss,he deserves it.

01:27 PM Mar 09 2009 |

zhong yulu

zhong yulu

China

chinese translation for below lyrics, just my person understanding:

Got in a little hometown jam来到一个小镇的人群中
So they put a rifle in my hand他们塞给我一只步枪
Sent me off to a foreign land把我送到异国他乡
To go and kill the yellow man去杀黄种人(越南人?)

12:08 PM Mar 09 2009 |

zhong yulu

zhong yulu

China

I never heard of The Boss, so did his song. I am going to look for his song "Born in the U.S.A". I want to know something of this legend.

12:01 PM Mar 09 2009 |

lylymiranda

Russian Federation

Sad and shame for me, but I really don`t know The Boss. I`ll try to find his songs.Embarassed

10:58 AM Mar 09 2009 |

yysheep520

yysheep520

China

anyone can help me to translate the lyric?

"Got in a little hometown jam
 So they put a rifle in my hand
 Sent me off to a foreign land
 To go and kill the yellow man"?

 

 i like country music,but i really dont know bruce springsteen ….

08:45 AM Mar 09 2009 |

neverstop

China

how to understand " there is nothing more american than the super bowl "?  Does it mean the super bowl is  all american's favoriate ?

08:10 AM Mar 09 2009 |

sofree

sofree

China

Never heard of the name before,he's not hot in China.  But I just found the album in Amazon, thinking of get one. :)

 

To Child from China, I suppose you read Chinese. :p

 screw over  通常是指对什么人做了什么非常非常不好的事情,严重伤害别人的事情,比如欺骗、压榨、勒索等等~  好像有些跟 fuck over 意思相近哈~

 

06:06 AM Mar 09 2009 |

blake84

blake84

China

screw over mean deprive in this dialogue.

05:31 AM Mar 09 2009 |

uplife1

uplife1

South Korea

I have no idea about Bruce Spingsteen, but I think he is quite a good person. I prefer libral way to conservative one, but it's fairly important to have patriotism as well. We think our country is for granted and sometimes it screws us over. But as we know, we need it and vice versa.

04:21 AM Mar 09 2009 |

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