Bruce Springsteen is facing criticism from some fellow musicians who view his on-stage political commentary as overly critical of the United States. Jonathan Cain, a guitarist and keyboardist for the band Journey, described Springsteen as an "annoying, bitter old man," suggesting the artist has become "The Bore" instead of "The Boss."
Cain's remarks come amid a broader discussion about artists engaging with political themes in their performances. Mick Jagger, when asked about his approach to live music, implied that his focus is on providing an escape for the audience. "My job in the live music world is for those people that come to have the best time they possibly can and for two hours to forget all their problems and the problems of the world and their mortgages," Jagger told The New York Times, in what some interpret as a subtle rebuke to Springsteen's more politically charged performances.
Springsteen, who has a long history of political engagement, has been a vocal supporter of Democratic politicians, including former President Barack Obama, who honored him at the opening of his presidential library. Obama praised Springsteen as a "rock 'n' roll laureate of a generation" whose songs spoke to "hardworking folks."
Critics, however, argue that Springsteen's political pronouncements, particularly those perceived as critical of the U.S., alienate audiences. A clip that resurfaced from a podcast interview, where Springsteen discussed his song "Born in the U.S.A.," showed him saying, "You were born in the USA, weren't you, dude? So, act like it." He further suggested that the song's lyrics could be interpreted as a "diss toward our country."
Despite the backlash, sources close to Springsteen indicate his commitment to expressing his political views remains strong. "He's been political since 1978. It's not like this is new," a source told the Daily Mail. "He went from subtle messages about politics to blatantly saying things, but he's not more political now than he once was." The source added that Springsteen's wife, Patti Scialfa, fully supports his activism.
Springsteen's political journey has been evident since the 1980s. In 1984, he publicly distanced himself from then-President Ronald Reagan's attempt to co-opt his music for his re-election campaign, stating he did not think Reagan had been listening to his music. Following this, Springsteen's political leanings have been consistently left-of-center. He endorsed John Kerry in the 2004 presidential election and has lent his support to various Democratic candidates and causes.
His recent song, "Streets of Minneapolis," addresses themes of police brutality and the killing of protesters, a subject that drew a critical response from former President Donald Trump, who called Springsteen a "dried up prune" with "Trump Derangement Syndrome."
Springsteen has indicated he is undeterred by such criticism. "My job is very simple: I do what I want to do, I say what I want to say, and then people get to say what they want to say about it. I don't worry about if you're going to lose this part of your audience," he told the Minnesota Star Tribune at the start of his latest tour, which he described as political and topical.
He is scheduled to headline a "Power to the People" music festival near Washington D.C. that includes voter registration drives and benefits VoteRiders, an organization focused on voter ID laws. While Springsteen is known for his philanthropy supporting veterans, food banks, and homelessness, his political activism is a consistent element of his public life. The source close to the singer suggested that criticism from figures like Cain, a noted Trump supporter, is expected and does not faze Springsteen, who believes his activism is effective if it generates opposition from certain groups.