New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Yesterday saw the broadcast of 'Springsteen & I' in cinemas across the world! The unique music documentary, produced by Ridley Scott Associates, made by his fans, for his fans, celebrates the incredible 40-year career of Bruce Springsteen.
Fans who stayed in their seats after the credits rolled were treated to six exclusive tracks from Hard Rock
Calling 2012 including a duet with Paul McCartney, plus the Epilogue to Springsteen & I - head to YouTube to watch a small preview of this bonus footage, plus the five-minute trailer for the film.
The movie benefits from the current culture's insistence that every waking moment be documented. When an Elvis impersonator tells a tale of Springsteen pulling him out of the audience to sing with him, there's actual footage to prove it. Likewise, when a guy talks about a show where he brought a sign explaining that he just got dumped by the love of his life - which inspired the Boss to invite him up from the orchestra for a very public hug - we get to share in the moment.
"Springsteen & I" was, indeed, made by fans - over 2000 of whom responded to a crowd-sourcing request by sending in videos of themselves talking about favorite Springsteen concerts, songs, memories.
The fans display a wide range of storytelling talents. Some stumble, others spin their yarns into gold. The range of speakers in the film means to be inclusive, even universal. But one can't help noticing that almost all come from the U.S. or Europe. Some are young, but far more are middle-aged. And not one is black, hardly a reflection of Springsteen's actual reach.
At various points, fans talk about the artist's poetry, melodic skill, musicianship, relationship with his E Street Band, even his famously shaped rump. But far more of the mooning arises from the fans' feeling that Springsteen has made them become better mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, even lovers.
It's hero worship in the most extreme sense. But it has an unabashed sincerity to it - something that may raise as many goose bumps in the viewer as Springsteen's songs do in the devoted.
