Music Review: Bruce Springsteen "Dancing In The Dark"
Bruce Springsteen
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Bruce Springsteen
Dancing In The Dark
Album: Born In The U.S.A.
Year: 1984
Bruce Springsteen struggles to find his voice again in the flummoxed “Dancing In The Dark.”
Aghast synths and jittery drums open the single, setting a restless tone. In the first verse, he reads the newspaper and novels until late at night, hoping to a phrase or word will energize his mind. He takes late night walks to the lake and through the city, hoping a sign or the sparkling water will light up his imagination. All he wants to do is sleep and forget the music he has to write. He has been sapped of any motivation. He believes he’s already peaked and had his chance when he was young. He asks his girlfriend to be his muse and inspire him to go beyond what he can do.
In the chorus, he says one right phrase to catch people’s attention and he will be on the right path again. He’s blocked and unable to move from his spot. He’s open to anything at this point to get him going again.
In the second verse, he explains that although no one in his family will say it, their disappointment can be seen. They think he is capable of more, but can’t articulate it like he used to. He listens to the radio as he cleans his house. Each song is a reminder that he’s a has-been and it only discourges him. He looks at himself in the mirror and wishes he could be someone else. He says he’s not anything, just someone inside a house doing chores. He knows there are issues that need to be talked about, but he doesn’t know where they are.
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, he says people age but still think they are able to do pull off the same things they did as a teen. However, it only makes them pathetic to try to recreate their youth. He feels as though he’s gotten too old to play rock star. He prefers to hide away and reminisce over his success, not try to top it.
In the third verse, he says critics are sharpening their teeth, preparing to call his demise. His manager and agent tell him not to become complacent and keep trying. He insists that he has traveled across the country, looking for a nugget to inspire him. However, everything is flavorless and has been picked over already. He doesn’t want to be stuck inside, strumming his guitar and thinking up phrases. He wants to head overseas and perform. He asks his girlfriend to stare into his eyes to strike his heart. Perhaps if its bleeds, he will finally have something to say.
In the final chorus, he says moping about past mistakes or stressing out about the small things won’t help. Ideas are something he’s going to have to feel for on his own.
Springsteen is at a loss. His mind has gone blank, devoid of any thought. If something does pop up, he dismisses right away. Usually, it’s a cliché or even something he used before. Words are hard to come by and he nearly lost hope that substantial ones will come his way. One phrase, that it’s all it takes, but it’s tough to grasp.
His defeated, scratchy vocals are vehement and candid. He knows what will happen if he doesn’t produce what people expect of him. He will be called a one-trick pony and his worst fear will be realized: he will be one-album fluke who once had potential but couldn’t deal with fame. He wants to shut the world off around him and just sing. He doesn’t want to worry about deadlines, contract requirements, or the trendy instrument needed to make a hit song.
The positive synth arrangement sets the song off-kilter, promising hope where isn’t felt at all song. It doesn’t balance with Springsteen’s vocals or the lyrics. It’s off in Happy Happy Land, skipping on marble and eating chocolate cake for dinner. It also manages to work into the major mid-80s trends: saxophones and synths. It’s noticeable and hard to distinguish from any pop-rock act from the era.
The familiar “Dancing In The Dark” has an intriguing subject matter, but it stinks of caution.
Just a quick note: KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" will be covered sometime next week.
Dancing In The Dark
Album: Born In The U.S.A.
Year: 1984
Bruce Springsteen struggles to find his voice again in the flummoxed “Dancing In The Dark.”
Aghast synths and jittery drums open the single, setting a restless tone. In the first verse, he reads the newspaper and novels until late at night, hoping to a phrase or word will energize his mind. He takes late night walks to the lake and through the city, hoping a sign or the sparkling water will light up his imagination. All he wants to do is sleep and forget the music he has to write. He has been sapped of any motivation. He believes he’s already peaked and had his chance when he was young. He asks his girlfriend to be his muse and inspire him to go beyond what he can do.
“I get up in the evening and I ain't got nothing to say/I come home in the morning, I go to bed feelin' the same way/I ain't nothing but tired, man I'm just tired and bored with myself/Hey there baby, I could use just a little help.”
In the chorus, he says one right phrase to catch people’s attention and he will be on the right path again. He’s blocked and unable to move from his spot. He’s open to anything at this point to get him going again.
“You can't start a fire, you can't start a fire without a spark/This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark.”
In the second verse, he explains that although no one in his family will say it, their disappointment can be seen. They think he is capable of more, but can’t articulate it like he used to. He listens to the radio as he cleans his house. Each song is a reminder that he’s a has-been and it only discourges him. He looks at himself in the mirror and wishes he could be someone else. He says he’s not anything, just someone inside a house doing chores. He knows there are issues that need to be talked about, but he doesn’t know where they are.
“Message just keep getting clearer, radio's on and I'm moving 'round my place/I check my look in the mirror, I wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face/Man, I ain't getting nowhere, I'm just living in a dump like this/There's something happening somewhere, baby I just know that there is.”
The chorus is sung again.
In the bridge, he says people age but still think they are able to do pull off the same things they did as a teen. However, it only makes them pathetic to try to recreate their youth. He feels as though he’s gotten too old to play rock star. He prefers to hide away and reminisce over his success, not try to top it.
“You sit around getting older, there's a joke here somewhere and it's on me/I'll shake this world off my shoulders, come on baby this laugh's on me.”
In the third verse, he says critics are sharpening their teeth, preparing to call his demise. His manager and agent tell him not to become complacent and keep trying. He insists that he has traveled across the country, looking for a nugget to inspire him. However, everything is flavorless and has been picked over already. He doesn’t want to be stuck inside, strumming his guitar and thinking up phrases. He wants to head overseas and perform. He asks his girlfriend to stare into his eyes to strike his heart. Perhaps if its bleeds, he will finally have something to say.
“Stay on the streets of this town and they'll be carving you up alright/They say you gotta stay hungry, hey baby, I'm just about starving tonight/I'm dying for some action, I'm sick of sitting 'round here tryin' to write this book/I need a love reaction, come on now baby gimme just one look.”
In the final chorus, he says moping about past mistakes or stressing out about the small things won’t help. Ideas are something he’s going to have to feel for on his own.
“You can't start a fire sitting 'round cryin' over a broken heart/This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark/You can't start a fire worryin' about your little world fallin' apart/This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the dark/Even if we're just dancing in the dark/Even if we're just dancing in the dark/Even if we're just dancing in the dark/Hey baby!”
Springsteen is at a loss. His mind has gone blank, devoid of any thought. If something does pop up, he dismisses right away. Usually, it’s a cliché or even something he used before. Words are hard to come by and he nearly lost hope that substantial ones will come his way. One phrase, that it’s all it takes, but it’s tough to grasp.
His defeated, scratchy vocals are vehement and candid. He knows what will happen if he doesn’t produce what people expect of him. He will be called a one-trick pony and his worst fear will be realized: he will be one-album fluke who once had potential but couldn’t deal with fame. He wants to shut the world off around him and just sing. He doesn’t want to worry about deadlines, contract requirements, or the trendy instrument needed to make a hit song.
The positive synth arrangement sets the song off-kilter, promising hope where isn’t felt at all song. It doesn’t balance with Springsteen’s vocals or the lyrics. It’s off in Happy Happy Land, skipping on marble and eating chocolate cake for dinner. It also manages to work into the major mid-80s trends: saxophones and synths. It’s noticeable and hard to distinguish from any pop-rock act from the era.
The familiar “Dancing In The Dark” has an intriguing subject matter, but it stinks of caution.
Just a quick note: KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" will be covered sometime next week.
