Looks like Bruce Springsteen decided to bring his “blue-collar hero” shtick to the Kamala Harris campaign trail, and the result was… well, underwhelming at best.
At a star-studded rally in Clarkston, Georgia, the man who once gave us the rebellious anthem Born to Run was crooning out a lackluster version of Dancing in the Dark, hoping, somehow, to fire up the crowd for Harris. And the message he brought? The same tired line about Trump being a “tyrant” because, apparently, we haven’t heard enough of that one.
Springsteen’s rally speech was all about “protecting democracy” and “fighting for the middle class,” as though he’s a regular at the local diner, sipping coffee with the 9-to-5 crowd. But let’s be real here—when was the last time Bruce could actually relate to the middle class? The man is a multimillionaire rock star who lives worlds away from the average American. But that didn’t stop him from invoking the usual buzzwords: Constitution, rule of law, and a so-called “middle-class economy.” Given that he now rubs elbows with Hollywood elites and talks politics with the likes of Kamala, it’s hard to see how this routine resonates with folks worried about grocery bills and gas prices.
“I want a president who reveres the constitution, who does not threaten but wants to protect and guide our great democracy, who believes in the rule of law and the peaceful transfer of power, who will fight for a woman’s right to choose, and who wants to create a middle-class economy that will serve all our citizens,” Springsteen said at the Thursday evening rally.
“I’m Bruce Springsteen and I’m here today to support Kamala Harris and Tim Waltz for president and vice president. And to oppose Donald Trump and JD Vance. Here’s why — I want a president who reveres the constitution … Trump is running to be an American tyrant … ” pic.twitter.com/5iAfgbhDvN
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 24, 2024
And then there’s the song choice. Dancing in the Dark—the song where he bemoans his boredom, feeling tired and uninspired—sure doesn’t sound like a rallying cry for voters. Here’s a guy droning on about his ennui and loneliness, which, as far as campaign anthems go, doesn’t exactly scream, “Go out and vote.” And don’t even get started on the lyrics he belted out about feeling “horny” and needing “a love reaction.” Who exactly was this supposed to inspire? Last time I checked, that kind of messaging doesn’t exactly motivate people to the polls.
What the hell happened to Bruce Springsteen?!
Is this what Trump Derangement Syndrome does to people?
He sounds AWFUL, and it seems like the crowd agrees! pic.twitter.com/3tJuhyC98K
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) October 24, 2024
The online reactions rolled in just as predictably, with people questioning whether Bruce knew what he’d signed up for. One Twitter user summed it up perfectly, pointing out that the “tyrant” line is worn out and overplayed. After four years of Trump’s presidency, where none of these supposed “tyrannical” tendencies materialized, it’s hard to take these accusations seriously. The only people who still eat this up are the folks who already planned to vote for Harris.
A sad and woke Bruce Springsteen who is campaigning for Kamala Harris, sounding terrible as the massive crowd seems to be paying him no attention at all. 50 years building a musical legacy only to see it wiped out in one campaign cycle. Good thing he sold his catalog. pic.twitter.com/8M1lNWymv5
— Now The End Begins (@NowTheEndBegins) October 25, 2024
So, if the Harris campaign thinks Springsteen’s bleak performances and doom-and-gloom rhetoric will resonate with voters, it may want to rethink its strategy. Times are tough, and Americans want solutions, not celebrity hand-wringing.