Bruce Springsteen covers: Acoustic cover songs – music videos by the songwriters of the Laptop Sessions video blog. Daily music blog with new indie rock acoustic songs.
Acoustic cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “The River,” from the homonym 1980 album. Played with acoustic guitar and harmonica in the key of G.
** EDITOR’S NOTE: **
It’s been a while since we’ve hosted a Guest Session, so it is with great pleasure that I give you a Federico Borluzzi cover song music video this Friday. He is one of our most consistently excellent guest artists and is certainly the most prolific, and he’s gone to the Boss’ first number one album for this week’s selection.
I’m always excited to see harmonica in a video, and it makes me want to break out my own on a future video…
With that said, I’ll let the video speak for itself. (And I’ll admit, hesitantly, that I’ve never listened to The River. I picked it up a while back, and after hearing Federico’s selection from it, I’ll be listening to it this afternoon.)
Happy Friday to all, and hurry back for more new material this weekend!
Hello and welcome to a brand-new week of cover song music videos here at your source for the best of the best — the Laptop Sessions!
But, as much as we like to brag, we really are trying every day to fill this site with a ridiculous number of cover song material — our daily video posts, chords/tabs to your favorite songs, and much more. We even sneak in a Fusco, Moore, and/or Copperthite original every Wednesday or so…
For today, I’m skimming off the top of the new music / new album current events pool. Tomorrow is the official US release date of Bruce Springsteen’s 16th studio album. It’s been less than two years since number 15, so this is exciting news! I think his previous album, Magic, was one of the best albums of 2007 and certainly my favorite Springsteen album to date. Now, to be fair, I’ve only listened to his more recent albums, so I reserve my right to change my mind sometime down the line…
But, back to the present. His new album, Working on a Dream, is coming out amidst a whole lot of Springsteen mania. For one, there’s his upcoming appearance during the half time show of Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009. Following in the footsteps of such classic acts as Tom Petty and the Rolling Stones (who were also called out ostensibly to prevent any potential wardrobe malfunctions that may befall a younger, female act!), Springsteen’s album sales are expected to rise directly following the show. This is opportune timing, then. Also, two months ago, he released a greatest hits album exclusively at Wal-Mart. Now, I must admit that I was aggravated when I heard this in the news. After all, Springsteen is famous and much-respected for his disavowal of corporate sponsorships or endorsements.
Then, as I read some more of the article about this, I realized that it makes perfect sense. First of all, there’s the statistic that (reportedly) 15% of his recent CD sales have come from Wal-Mart. Also, there’s the whole Super Bowl business. I have to admit I can’t blame him and/or his people for pushing a greatest hits out now. I’m typically disgusted by these sorts of 12-track, almost-all-repeat-tracks-from-his-previous-greatest-hits sorts of releases. And yet, this is what people will be looking for! So, as Ben Folds might sing — “You’ve got to give the people what they want!”
Also, the disc is only $9.99, and it’s a limited release item (not part of his official catalog).
I find this stuff fascinating…
But, to come back to tonight’s video, let me explain why I’ve recorded “The Wrestler.” This is the title track to the film starring Mickey Rourke that has gained the spotlight during various recent award shows. I have yet to see the film, but I had heard that this track would be a bonus song on the new album. Thus, I set out to learn it, loved it, and had to record it. For those of you listening to this song now for the first time, I hope you’ll like my version and want to hear the real one.
I can’t actually vouch for the new album, as I have yet to hear anything other than the song titles from the track listing. However, I am ecstatic for this, the first new music release of 2009 that I’m really excited for. I’ll be out during lunchtime tomorrow or as soon as I get out of work to get it. And, who knows, I may just push myself to write a review tomorrow night.
Crazy? I know, but that’s what this whole Laptop Sessions thang is all about!
Oh, and before I forget, don’t miss the chords that I just posted a few hours ago here on the site. Now you can listen AND learn to play the song yourself!
Okay, I’m off to snuggle up with a couple of my dearest friends — one, the Fusco-Moore Experience copy of the latest Rolling Stone (complete with Bruce Springsteen, aka The Boss, on the cover — predictable? I know, but I couldn’t care less!) and my stack of midterm exams that are ripe for the grading…
Welcome, welcome to another edition of Jim Fusco Tuesdays here on the Laptop Sessions acoustic cover songs music video blog! Views have been increasing by leaps and bounds here on the blog, fueled by posts by Chris that were picked up by popular Bob Dylan sites in anticipation of his new album, “Together Through Life”. I’ll be picking that album up in a couple weeks when it comes out, but for now, I hope you’ll consider tiding-yourself over with my brand-new album, released just one week ago, “Halfway There”. I’m very proud of it and it’s been getting some great reviews.
Onto tonight’s music video- a cover version of Bruce Springsteen’s classic song, “Brilliant Disguise”. This is a simple, yet great, tune that actually took me a few weeks to perfect. The choruses are very similar each time, but have very important differences, so I had to practice when each one came in.
Funny story- when my brother Mike and I were growing up, we always thought he said, “Brick in disguise”. Of course, it probably didn’t help that our father would always sing, “Brick in the sky”. We were never quite sure whether he was messing up by accident or on purpose. I think the general consensus is that he just loves messing with us! 🙂
I love the recorded version of “Brilliant Disguise”- that perfect clean sound that starts off with the drums and then comes in with just the right amount of synthesizer and guitar. To me, this is what a great song should sound like. I love the chorus, too- not only the tune, but the words. That last time through the chorus, “You better look hard and look twice…” is so well-worded, it gets me every time. And, it’s true- with many people at many times in our lives, we have to ask ourselves whether we’re seeing the really person or just a “brilliant disguise”.
It’s been a long week- we finally got away for a night in Providence, RI (went to the Providence Place mall and saw “Monsters vs. Aliens” in 3-D) and had a very nice time. But, I had to do so much video work over the next three nights that it completely wiped-out any happiness I had built-up over that tiny vacation. I can’t wait to go again. Couple that with two incredibly busy and stressful days at work and you get, ‘All work and no play makes Jimmy a dull boy” syndrome. Hopefully the second half of the week will be a bit better- I hear we’re getting nicer weather and that just gives me more of an excuse to school Chris for the um-teenth time in baseball.
Have a great night and I’ll see you in a week’s time. Enjoy this Bruce Springsteen cover!
Hello, football fans. More specifically, hello Super Bowl XLIII Halftime Show rock music fans! I’m writing this post mid-game, anticipating Bruce Springsteen and his Halftime Show songs.
Yes, as I’m sure you’ve heard, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are performing a 12 minute set at the half time of tonight’s big game. For those of you who don’t know me, it’s those twelve minutes of Springsteen live songs that I’m eagerly anticipating. Some people bet on the game and who will win. Me? I try to guess which songs the Boss will decide to play.
Luckily, Jim invited me to his parent’s home, which hosts a big screen television and lots of snack food — the best of circumstances for watching the game!
My bet? I’m personally predicting (and hoping) that Springsteen’s set list of songs will include four tracks — three greatest hits and one from the new album, “Working on a Dream.” With only twelve minutes to work with, it seems like four songs will be a tight squeeze, but we’re talking about a crowd of football fans and party-goers with predictably short attention spans. Also, even though the great majority of Super Bowl fans won’t recognize the new songs, playing a new song just might interest some of the viewers of Super Bowl XLIII to buy “Working on a Dream.”
Okay, so here’s the predictions for specific songs, understanding of course that I don’t expect any of these to necessarily come true.
Hits: “Born in the USA,” “Brilliant Disguise,” & “Hungry Heart.” Maybe “My Hometown” as a fall back. Pretty random guesses here from a recent Springsteen fan, so take these for what they’re worth…
New Song: “My Lucky Day” or maybe “Working on a Dream” (the former is the single, but the latter IS the title track…)
Some other predictions from the Laptop Sessions peeps:
Mike and Jim agree: “Born to Run,” “Born in the USA” and “Dancing in the Dark”; something from the new album.
My bet is that they’ll be more accurate with the hits; they’re usually amazingly intuitive and/or logical with these types of music trivia and predictions.
And now, courtesy of the WordPress app on my iPhone…
The Super Bowl XLIII Bruce Springsteen Halftime Show Songs (Set List):
1) “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out”
2) “Born to Run”
3) “Working on a Dream”
4). “Glory Days”
Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong in my predictions, but I was right about one thing – Springsteen and the E Street band ROCKED! He really gave it his all. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more energetic performance from anyone at any age, never mind a rock legend pushing 60 years of age…
See you tomorrow for my all-new “Chris Moore Monday” Laptop Session music video!
Bruce Springsteen Acoustic Rock Cover Songs and Free mp3 Downloads
Bruce Springsteen is one of those rare songwriters who, through his
new rock music and - more recently - acoustic music, has achieved a
place in the public eye as an artist who is both extremely American
and yet not overly patriotic. On the one hand, he earned his fame off
of such recordings as "Born in the USA." However, he has also found a
place for protest in his music and has made his political views clear
in the acoustic covers he has chosen to perform, as well as in the new
music he has performed live for particular candidates. In music
videos such as "Born to Run," Springsteen sings of the American
Dream. Dressed in cut offs and jeans, he may be a songwriter but he
has the appearance of a day laborer. There is that appeal in his
songwriting - he comes across as a normal, blue-collar guy, despite
the fact that he is a millionaire by now. If you listen to new music,
you may have heard his recent "Devils and Dust" record, a collection
of unplugged performances that were met with very positive reviews.
His subsequent album, "Magic," is possibly one of the best new rock
music albums of 2007. Promotion for the new music began on iTunes
with a limited time free release of the mp3 of the first single,
"Radio Nowhere."
