Bruce Springsteen - The Rising

There are chestnut singers in every country that personify a vast majority of that population or at least are representitive of beliefs and values that the country holds most dear. Some are iconic in that they are recognisable worldwide as an artist from a particular country. Others whilst well known within their own borders don't translate to other cultures. Australia has Paul Kelly, England has Billy Bragg, and America has Springsteen. All completely different in their approaches but all similarly balanced in their appeal to their audiences, producing songs that are uniquely nationalistic, even when many of them are protest songs of sorts, the underlying them us that i love my country which is why i'm allowed to question it. Which is why i can point out its flaws. This goes someway to explaining the longevity of these artists, themes of love, hope and desire set against a backdrop of working class society add a sense of the believable, of the shared experience. Whilst Springsteen's songs are very much love songs, his imagery always conjures up middle america, and his characters are always working class heroes experiencing the loss, pain or joy and hope that the end or start of a relationship bring. Springsteen has about 15 albums, most of which have reached number 1 on the american chart. 2002's The Rising was released in the haze of the 9/11 attacks and contains several references to the events, and effects that this troubled time had on the american psyche. There is no cliches though, it it a reverent, realistic, and reserved approach to writing songs about an incident that angered so many americans. It is patriotic without being jingoistic and allows the listener to reflect rather than become suggestive of emotions. It's chesnut Springsteen.