Born In The U.S.A.

This is the 4th Springsteen album I have gotten out of 70, 2nd this week. After listening to the album I ate at a McDonalds, read a Ronald Reagan biography and punch a commie in the dick. MERICA!

Never have I so thoroughly enjoyed a guy who sounds eternally constipated essentially screaming about how much life sucks. And that'll probably never happen again.

nice, and for every idiot that reads this, born in the usa is not a mindless patriotic song. "Cover me" surprisingly nice song

Springsteen has better albums than Born in the USA, but I don't know if he has a better collection of songs. What it might lack in cohesiveness or consistent tone, it more than makes up for in the fact that every single track is a classic. You could pick which songs would be the singles just by throwing darts at the tracklist. There is no filler, no song that you want to skip, just 45 straight minutes of beautiful music.

This wins the "Better than Eric Clapton" award.

Boring as fuck

I had more respect for Bruce before listening to this. He's an okay songwriter and an awful musician. This sounds like music that was made for children.

You know, I've listened to this album many times, and I'm struck today by the fact that this is possibly the most upbeat-downbeat album I've ever heard. Yeah, the anthems are there, they're full of energy and they still feel great to listen to. But dig in and listen, this is some dark stuff. It's more polished and has more of a pop sensibility than The River or Nebraska, but it takes you on the same kind of downbound journey. There's humor, pathos, slow burning passion, oppressive sadness, joy, regret. Somehow it all lives together here in this perfect little package. That's an incredibly rare thing and Springsteen makes it all seem so effortless. I was 13 years old when this album came out, so I couldn't relate to a lot of these songs at the time. Almost 40 years on, Springsteen is now one of my absolute favorite artists. I listen to him every day, and the depth of this album grows for me every time I hear it. Fave Songs (All songs, from most to least favorite): I'm on Fire, I'm Goin' Down, Born in the USA, Dancing in the Dark, Downbound Train, Darlington County, Cover Me, Working on the Highway, No Surrender, Glory Days, My Hometown, Bobby Jean. It's actually hard to rank these. I have clear favorites in my mind, but as each song comes up, I change my mind and have a new favorite. This is that kind of album.

i know this album is iconic or whatever but it didn't make a huge impact on me. the lyrics painted a sad story about a crumbling America that had failed its people, which like, i can definitely get on board with, but the actual music just didn't really hit me beyond the surface level. i think i liked born to run more. favorites: born in the USA, cover me, dancing in the dark

Why are you yelling? You’re hurting my ears. His voice is not appealing. He’s flat all the time. All his melodies sound the same.

I do love the almost bitter and wounded anthems and pedestrian portrayals of moving on despite everyday burdens and finding solace and joy in music. My hometown is heartbreakingly beautiful. I love when he says things like “there was nothin you could do” it’s a real concession to the sense of being lost and beaten down that is hard to see expressed in music now unless it is an almost comic portrayal of self obsessed misery.

Continuing to confuse Republicans for over 40 years.

Introspective and passionate yet accessible and polished. Bruce Springsteen is an intelligent artist!

So I’d previously had a bias toward Born to Run between the two, but listening to this again reminded me of how many great hits & what a consistent feel this one has. Really good

Ultimate dad rock with a small dose of cirngey good ol' boy lyricism. Good tunes though, nothing great, but good.

Great album, Bruce is able to pull off just about anything. Fast paced upbeat songs as well as slower, sad pieces, it always sounds like he was born to do exactly this. A album which contains half of his greatest hits has to be a 5 star rsting

Interestingly the worst part of this are the hit singles.

I gave the other Springsteen's 1. So I guess this is my favourite Springsteen album

I truly disliked this. There is no musicality and it’s basically him yelling throughout most of the album.

Another fantastic album. every song is a great track that can be appreciated for either its uplifting backing track or it's hidden lyrical depth. This is just a really good album. 4.8/5 stars.

I'm from Jersey, so I'm legally obligated to give this a 5. (Kidding.) Aside from the somewhat cheesy, dated production, this is a great batch of songs. Tracks like "No Surrender" and "Dancing In the Dark" are classics, and even got me singing along. Favorite tracks: "No Surrender", "Bobby Jean", "Glory Days"

you shouldn't be proud to be American

Masterpiece. Bruce is a treasure and must be protected at all costs

Oh, boy. I can barely stomach early Springsteen. And it's all downhill once you get past Darkness On The Edge of Town. The Boss, my ass.I'll give Springsteen credit for one thing: he doesn't approach this material tentatively. The martial, strident, echoey drums and the droning plastic synths of the title cut are a perfect fit for Springsteen's shout singing. I know the lyrics are critical, but I don't care. I can't get past how vile this is. I prefer Joe Piscopo's version. At least it's funny. Things don't approve as the album goes along. Humorless, strident, lacking any subtlety or nuance whatsoever, fully buying into his own myth, Born in the USA is unbearable.

Nothing can touch Born to Run. But lord are there some great tracks on this one. I think this album is amazing, and yet I also think it has become over rated. Darkness on the Edge of Town and Born to Run are appropriately rated. This one, somehow as good as it is, is elevated in some circles as THE Springsteen album. It is not, but it is great. And yet it is still 5 stars.

yikes!

A lot of idiots in the reviews really didn't understand what this album was about huh?

Out of all the albums we've listened to so far, this one definitely has the most recognizable radio hits, and it's easy to understand why. The production is very triumphant, even if the lyrics are critical of American life. It's probably why "Born in the USA", a Vietnam War protest song that focuses on mistreated veterans, is still played at Republican Party rallies to this day. It's a strangely enticing combination of combining sentimentality and frustration with the reality of the American Dream. Fav Tracks: My Hometown, I'm Goin' Down, No Surrender, Born in the USA, Working on the Highway Rating: 4.5/5

I feel like a 60-year-old dad and it's great. Born in the USA is a classic, but a little too worn for me. I'm on Fire was Still nice, and refreshingly relaxed. The whole album is a fucking vibe I don't know what to say. I don't think it does anything particularly special, it just does everything well. No surrender/Glory Days are probably my favorites. Not perfect, but enjoyable as all hell, will be revisiting this, 7/8.

The ultimate blue collar album. Most of Springsteen’s biggest hits are here, and a lot of good stuff in between. I’m On Fire is a big highlight, and who doesn’t know Dancing in the Dark? Not a big Bruce fan but this whole album is probably his most listenable.

What will become of this album, when the last few trucks become self driving?

Billy Joel’s country cousin, better than I thought but still not a fan

I'm going to start with Pete Seeger. Bruce made a Seeger tribute album in 2006 and it is fantastic, his rework of Seeger's songs is astounding considering how wooden and uninspiring Seeger's work is (see Michael Gray's entry on him in the Dylan encyclopaedia). I note that Seeger record as everything swung into Bruce's favour, his limited voice and sometimes grating hokey enthusiasm all clicked. And, importantly, he didn't write any of the tunes. I don't know what to think when it comes to Bruce. While on one level I get it, on another I find his mega popularity unfathomable. I wonder about the way mass media guides us towards pluralist ignorance, is this a 20th/21st century phenomenon? Je ne sais quoi my arse Bruce. I love Born to Run, love it to death but I was 12 in 1975 so it's part of my rites of passage soundtrack. Darkness, good record, Nebraska has some great moments and then there's this. He toured this record in 85 and I saw him at the Ent Cent and was massively underwhelmed by the whole thing. I think there are two problems; firstly he's backed by a very unimaginative bar band, they are good but they are and will always be the kind of guys who played as Chuck Berry's pick up band. Secondly, bar a few absolute gems, Bruce is not a very good songwriter. I reminded of Roy and HG's joke about David Williamson, he had six great plays in him, the problem is he wrote 20. Ditto Bruce, he had one maybe two shots in the locker, and he fired a thousand. Most of these songs are awful, and I mean awful, as follows: Born in the USA/Cover Me/Darlington/Working on the Highway/No Surrender/Bobby Jean (I mean seriously, fuck off Bruce)/I'm Going Down/ Glory Days (see Bobby Jean)/Dancing in the Dark ("I get up in the evening and I ain't got nothing to say, I go to bed feeling the same way" thanks for sharing Bruce, we're kind of tired and bored with you too) . He's lamenting boring stories of glory days when his most of career is telling the same boring stories, oy vey! Downbound Train has a good riff, and you can hear the drums, but again those lyrics...you stink Bruce. My Hometown, ah c'mon enough already with the corn, corn dog. I'm on Fire is a fine song, here he shows what he is sometimes capable of, fine words, a great atmosphere and...good grief...an interesting arrangement. This record is shithouse, really, really shithouse. It gets a point for I'm on Fire.

Nope, just can't do it. I am allergic to this bloke

I just don't get the fascination with Springsteen. With the notable exception of Nebraska, it all just seems like simplistic, cheer-along-US-rawk. Lyrically more interesting than the music, this album is utterly uninteresting and cringe-worthy.

This made no impression on me whatsoever

I'm just not a fan of Bruce Springsteen.

Holy shitfuck, I hate his voice. Plus, Darlington County is just Born In The USA with different words. It's literally 2 tracks later!! Shameless. Fav new track: I'm Goin' Down as it was the most ridiculous.

Not for me

Never cared for this album, not in the redneck context nor the anti-war context.

Couldn’t get through it, but I did try

sucks.

Yeah still not a fan. Cheesy cringey vocals and lyrics. Boring instrumentation. I just can't see the appeal.

I previously thought I didn’t care for Bruce Springsteen. Happy to discover that’s no longer the case, or maybe I just needed the album experience. This was good.

Total classic, perhaps it's nostalgia classes but I proper enjoyed it.

I’m no big Bruce head, and in fact I’ve always struggled to appreciate most of his stuff…but wow, yeah, I get it with this one. 4-5 iconic hits and every other song on it is pretty damn good. I love “I’m Goin’ Down” the most of the tunes I’d never heard before. Great album, man.

Finally, an album I owned! (Child of the 80s.) Also, *so, so good*.

Still an outstanding piece of work

Great album. Sounds timeless

Not a big Bruce fan, but this was a great album and more like his greatest hits. Enjoyed the variety and storytelling on the album.

Bruce has been crushing for decades, and this one is an absolute Beast! A transition, the recognition of his age and his need to speak up and out. The title track is once again the weakest part of the album, and the most abused. The rest is pure pleasure. Fuck yeah, I love it. God Bless Springsteen!

I remember buying a copy of this on vinyl for four bucks around 2002 and getting the shit eye from the hipsters behind the counter, and one was like, "seriously, bro?" Now that same hipster trash has aged out, bought the same record for 40.00 and also has a big boner for the Boss. You know it's true. Boss boners for all. I said it on another review (so many Springsteen albums on here....) that I am down for anything up to 87 or so and this obviously falls in that range. I feel that pretty much every track on this album is a classic and recognizable in it's own right. The production and delivery (which seems to rub some people wrong) is direct, and punchy. Much more in your face. Probably driven in large part by that iconic verby snare. I don't know....this album just hits right. Best track: I'm Goin' Down. All day, every day.

Working on the Highway is on here. You don’t need anything more.

An absolutely stellar album. I'm happy to have gotten it in the middle of the summer.

God, what a great album. Such a great blending of pop rock. The hit singles from this album are some of the most famous rock songs, but the other songs on the album are about as good.

If those MAGA American exceptionalists only knew...

It always frustrated me that folks lumped the title track in the same category as "God Bless The USA" and such, when it's actually an indictment. I grew up with this album, and even listening with older, wiser ears...I still find it great. The melodies and the songcraft still solid. I get that his voice and his style may not be for everyone, and the sound of it all is full-on 80s stadium rock This album gave voice to a certain disillusioned, working class, segment of the population. Unfortunately,I suspect it will be looked upon today as a segment that is not as important as others, and just needs to shut up. And that's misguided.

I've been deep diving into Bruce this year, in preparation for an upcoming concert (as well as "homework" for the fantastic podcast U Springin' Springsteen on my Bean?) and this is one of his finest. For a white guy now in his 70's, Bruce's politics have stayed surprisingly respectable through the entirety of his career -- which is why this album's title track always makes me laugh, probably appealing to a clueless "'Murica, fuck yeah" demographic as much as it does to me. So yeah, this is a crowd pleaser. Beyond the title track, we have "Cover Me", "I'm on Fire", "No Surrender", "I'm Goin' Down", "Glory Days", "Dancing in the Dark"...this thing is full of hits, showcasing the E Street Band at their finest and effortlessly transitioning the Boss into the '80s without sounding too dated even now, nearly 40 years later.

Classic. American. Undercurrents run deep. Surface is red white and blue.

I'm probably not going to come back to listen to this album again. It is undeniable to me though, that this is one solid rock album cover to cover. Not my preference, but I'll give Born In The USA my salute.

First time I’ve listened to it. I already knew Born in the USA and Dancing in the Dark, which I love, but I wasn’t much of a fan. Now that I’ve listened to the album, I understand why people love Bruce, it’s an amazing one!

Fucking love this album. Buzzing it popped up as I don't listen to it often. 1. Born In The USA - ironically this is the track that put me off Springsteen for so many years, assuming he was a boring dad rock patriot berk. Couldn't have been more wrong 8/10 2. Cover Me - One of his all time classics 9/10 3. Darlington County - It's very cheesey but good fun 7/10 4. Working On The Highway - As above. Chorus is v catchy 6.5/10 5. Downbound Train - A welcome change back to more classic Springsteen vibes with lyrics that paint a picture 9/10 6. I'm On Fire - Noncey lyrics, always found it a tad over-rated but it's v good 8/10 7. No Surrender - a stone cold banger 10/10 8. Bobby Jean - Best track on the album and top 5 overall, fucking love it. Especially as it's written about Steve van Zandt leaving the band <3 10/10 9. I'm Going Down - Another classic 10/10 10. Glory Days - Another in the good kind of cheesey category 8/10 11. Dancing In The Dark - Not enough guitar for me but it's incredible 9.5/10 12. My Hometown - A perfect ending 9/10

Re-listening for the generator (4 or 5 times). Pop-accessible rock at an apotheosis. Bruce and the E Street Band bat a thousand here. Down your drink whenever Clarence Clemons brings the house down. - “Born in the U.S.A.”, one of the famously misunderstood songs, blaring its chorus to obfuscate its restless subversion to the inattentive listener as the protagonist laments losing brothers at Khe Sanh and returning from hellacious Vietnam to find he’s been cast aside back home. - Bruce searches for a ride-or-die lady to back him up on “Cover Me”, followed by a sneaky favorite one-two combo in “Darlington County” and “Working on the Highway”, a little c’est la vie levity driving south down the coast before the album makes another emotional turn south. - The turn south is taken on the ode to loss “Downbound Train” and the electrically charged ode to lust “I’m on Fire” before a fiery defiance is gained on “No Surrender”, and discarded on the halfway-lamentation “Bobby Jean” discussing an old friend pulling an Irish exit. - Finally, the album points north to open the third act with an amazingly peppy look at a failing relationship and a protagonist crashing and burning when attempting to make moves on his partner, “I’m Goin’ Down”. Hey, maybe he should try that! - We’ve all got ‘em, and the E Streeters converge to describe a universal experience in “Glory Days”, jaw-jackin about the good old days. Hopefully the real glory days are yet to come; in the immortal words of Tony Soprano “‘remember when’ is the lowest form of conversation’”. - The synthesizer’s finest hour: “Dancing in the Dark”. One of my all-time favorites, the unshakeable rhythm never ceases to please, and the relentlessly relatable lyrics never fail to get a rueful yet defiant grin outta me. - We close with the meditative “My Hometown”, another set of unfortunately relatable lyrics. The author roams around his hometown, both as a son and as a father, pondering the neighborhood through trials and tribulations. (This author's hometown was permanently wounded by 90's American gov't budget cuts, from which it has settled into a slow decline. A particularly poignant closer.) Hell of an album here. Springsteen and the E Street Band take you on a joyride that feels like it’s 40/60 joy/ride relentlessly cruising down the freeway, down the boulevard, down the block; contemplating our perpetual restlessness with the windows rolled down, roaming about our territory observing a boisterously observant, seasonably warm Fourth of July. 10/10

4/5 - Springsteen is out of fashion, but fuck the haters; this is a solid album. The title track got popular for all the wrong reasons, but what are you gonna do. I like the songwriting. I like the hits. Sue me.

That run of Born in the USA, Cover Me, Darlington County and Working on the Highway is pretty hardgoing; probably what most sceptics thing of as basic, barky Bruce. Lot to love in the rest of this though. And a nice contrast with Nebraska. Glad I did a deep dive into Bruce's entire back catalogue a couple of years back. Even if it fucked with my Spotify algorithms.

A big ‘ol slice of American blue collar apple pie right here. Bruce was firing on all cylinders with this record, and it fills me with a good dose of warm and fuzzy nostalgia. Just don’t play the title track at the 1984 RNC because it might be helpful to read the lyrics first. Great album.

Starts with a miss understood classic. Great story teller with catchy music. It still feels as cutting and relatable as it did in the 80s. One I will come back to often.

A certified classic! This album is pretty good and probably Bruce Springsteen's best at this moment. Mainly, the thing that gets me on this album is the lyricism of Born in the USA (the song). While the poppy tone is there, it is one of the most somber pop songs about an average American coming home from Vietnam falling on hard times. It is one of those American songs that are based on fact rather than propaganda. It is probably one of the best and most clever songs ever written. Some other highlights on this album are songs like Glory Days and Dancing in the Dark of course. But the second song on the album Cover Me unexpectedly sounded really well-done to me in my opinion. Overall, great album and one of the great classics of the 80s! Favorite Tracks: Born in the USA, Cover Me, Glory Days, Dancing in the Dark Rating: 4.5/5

Hell yeah! 'Murica! ...oh wait... Springsteen's most popular work. Good times, bad times, high quality musicianship, a little formulaic but a Classic Rock essential. The last half is exceptional.

A timeless classic.

Born in the U.S.A. is undoubtedly iconic, but it didn’t resonate with me as deeply as it has with others. The lyrics are brilliant—Springsteen paints a raw, unflinching picture of a fractured, working-class America, full of broken dreams and quiet despair. But musically, it doesn’t quite hit the same emotional depths. Compared to Born to Run, this feels more polished, more designed for radio, and a bit less cohesive as an album. There are standouts, though. I’m on Fire is hauntingly beautiful in its simplicity, while Dancing in the Dark is irresistibly catchy, synth-heavy in the best way. The title track is thunderous, packed with righteous anger, but its relentless repetition can wear thin—by the end, I’m ready to move on. The production, full of 80s synths and drum machines, feels dated now, and it sands down some of the grit that makes Springsteen’s storytelling so powerful. Tracks like Downbound Train and Working on the Highway suffer the most from this. That said, Springsteen’s ability to write songs that dig into real, often ugly truths about life is undeniable. Even if the album feels more like a collection of singles than a cohesive journey, the intelligence and passion behind it still shine through. It’s a good record, but for me, Born to Run will always be the one that truly captures Springsteen’s magic.

This one had me reliving the Glory Days, when I was Dancing In the Dark.

MURICA, FUCK YEAH Not my favourite Springsteen album, but you can't give this one less than 4 stars.

When Darkness on the Edge of Town was generated for me last year, I wrote about how even though I’ve lived in New Jersey for nearly 40 years of my life, I never really payed much attention to Springsteen, almost to the point of actively avoiding his music. Well, Darkness blew me away and I gained a new appreciation for Bruce, but I decided to keep that mindset sort of intact and would only listen to another Springsteen album once it got generated here. So here we are, Springsteen album #2. To say I’ve never heard this album before would be a lie, or at least a half-truth. I was born in 1981, by the time this record was released I was 3 and by the time I was four or five, I have memories of the songs from this record being played by family friends and neighbors or on the radio. It was, in 1980’s New Jersey, kind of the ultimate Fourth of July barbecue record, even if a lot of people didn’t really grasp what the title track was actually about - my five year old self obviously included. Like I said in my review of Darkness, Bruce Springsteen, in this state, is inescapable. It’s just a fact of life here. So my rating here might be tainted by a touch of nostalgia or regional bias, you can decide. Where Darkness at the Edge of Town has an aggressive and sometimes outright pessimistic tone, Springsteen seems to have dialed back those qualities a bit on Born the USA. It’s certainly more musically upbeat in a lot of places, even if lyrically Bruce remains grounded and in tune with his caustic wit. I don’t think this record reaches the heights of Darkness at the Edge of Town, though it’s clearly more polished, streamlined and accessible. I suspect that i might end up finding more enjoyment from his records where he is a little more pessimistic and aggressive with his music and lyrical approach, though there are moments of that here, like on Cover Me, which was probably my favorite of the songs that I didn’t already know/forgot about. Because of that, I’m looking forward to the day that Nebraska gets generated here.

1984? You kidding me, right? Damn, I'm old. Total hit factory for Bruce; well written music that is hard to beat for pure American Rock n' Roll! Can't miss, track 1 - 12. I'm a little Bruce'd out, but if you are not familiar - please listen!

https://youtu.be/nEXVLPcvksM

This is American alright

Not much dif from rap: way of life songs, reflective more than influential. Don't think anyone stepped into that life because of BS. Songs are fairly invariable--same beat, same timing. Same elements also in Snoop Dog but a different life. He's good at what he does but I was never a fan. I'm on fire stood out, but the rest was pretty much all alike.

BITUSA has two standouts for me: title song and Dancing in the Dark. Not sure what to make of the rest, apart from I'm On Fire, which isn't far behind. I've had this record for a couple of years and usually skip through the rest, repelled by the high budget Shakin' Stevens vibe (I prefer my nostalgia middle budget). It's a bit much. Listening to the rest today, they're mostly fine, but I can understand why tB prefers Nebraska.

нахуй нам не нужна ваша версия Газманова, нам своей достаточно

It was cool

The singles are enjoyable enough Downbound Train is alright too, pretty boring overall. I just think he's quite dull and really only appeals to certain types of straight laced Americans which is fine but he's not for me im afraid. Monica danced nicely though and it's nice to see Silvio get some time away from the Bada Bing.

🦅🇺🇸🦅🇺🇸🦅

Terrible. Weirdly paedophilic, racist, too story telling esque for me. Potential with riffs and voice but ruined with the subject of the songs. Very 80s and movie sound track vibes.

I can't stand Bruce Springsteen

Bruce is bad. You know this. (Besides that one song about Atlantic City)

I was not in fact born in the U.S.A. Think this album was alright, except for the focus on wanting to get with young girls and asking if their dad was around...that shit was weird. Might have to get Chris Hansen on the next project. On a more serious note I think a lot of this album is for a targeted demo and I'm just not that. It does a lot of story telling about experiences that said demo would go through (idk Im guessing, again I'm not said demo). And because of that being the style and the content I'm just not going to connect with much of it. There were some Jammers though, Favourite tracks: Born in the USA, I'm Goin' Down, and Glory Days (which surprisingly had some depth to it and prlly was the track I could "understand" the best)

no me va

This album had a time and place. It’s place is no longer on my playlists or shelf. Patriotism is hard

Probably in the top 5 most iconic albums of the early 80's. It's Americana that isn't shoved up it's own ass. It's regretful and analytical and solemn and wild. I don't even truly care for Springsteen's music as a listener but I respect the hell out of what he did here. Culturally, the fact that it flew so far over the heads of the jingoistic crowd boggles the mind. Bruce has ever been on the side of kindness, the worker, the family, the dream of what America could be and not the feckless nonsense we are sold. This album is also extremely well-paced and varied.

# Born in the U.S.A. (1984) - In-Depth Album Review Released on June 4, 1984, **Born in the U.S.A.** represents the commercial and artistic apex of Bruce Springsteen's career—a paradoxical masterpiece that married the darkest thematic content of his songwriting with the most accessible, radio-friendly production of his entire catalog. This album didn't just dominate the charts; it fundamentally altered how American rock music could function as both mass entertainment and social critique. --- ## The Production: Polished Rebellion The sonic architecture of *Born in the U.S.A.* was revolutionary for Springsteen. After the stark, solo-acoustic **Nebraska** (1982), Springsteen and the E Street Band, working primarily with producers **Jon Landau** and **Chuck Plotkin**, crafted a sound that was unapologetically contemporary. **Key Production Elements:** - **The Yamaha CS-80 synthesizer** became the album's signature voice—most notably on the iconic opening riff of the title track, which Roy Bittan improvised after Springsteen demonstrated the song on acoustic guitar - **Max Weinberg's gated reverb drums** created that massive, explosive '80s drum sound that defined the era - **Bob Clearmountain's mixing** provided the glossy sheen that made these songs jump out of car radios The recording process was notoriously meticulous. Springsteen spent **two years** and cycled through nearly **100 songs** before finalizing the tracklist . "Dancing in the Dark" alone required **58 mixes** before completion . This perfectionism paid off commercially—the album produced **seven Top 10 singles**, a feat matched only by Michael Jackson's *Thriller* and Janet Jackson's *Rhythm Nation 1814*. --- ## Lyrical Analysis: Darkness Beneath the Gloss The genius of *Born in the U.S.A.* lies in its **deceptive packaging**. The album pairs "lively pop-rock sound with lyrics about discarded veterans, jailbirds, dying relationships, loneliness and ennui—not to mention sexual frustration" . ### The Title Track: Misunderstood Protest Anthem "Born in the U.S.A." remains one of the most misinterpreted songs in American history. With its "bombastic synths and stadium-ready sing-along chorus," it "almost defies you to try to grasp its meaning on first listen" . The lyrics tell the story of a Vietnam veteran who returns home to find "nowhere to run, ain't got nowhere to go"—a "stinging indictment of a country willing to turn its back on its own citizens, even those that fought for it" . The song fooled conservative columnist **George Will**, who praised it as patriotic affirmation, and **Ronald Reagan's** advisors, who tried to appropriate it for the 1984 reelection campaign—apparently only listening to the chorus . ### Narrative Arc of the Album The album functions as a concept record about **broken American promises**: - **"Downbound Train"** – A *Nebraska*-style narrative of economic collapse and lost love, where the protagonist loses his job at the lumber yard and his woman to another man - **"My Hometown"** – Springsteen's most explicitly autobiographical song, documenting the racial violence and industrial decline of Freehold, New Jersey - **"Glory Days"** – Bittersweet nostalgia that mocks the very sentiment it expresses - **"I'm On Fire"** – A minimalist masterpiece of repressed desire, with "catchy yet creepy" undertones - **"Bobby Jean"** – A farewell to Steve Van Zandt (who had temporarily left the band), capturing "the bonding power of rock" with "mature sentiment" that understands the past "as a thing to be cherished as well as something to move on from" ### Lyrical Peak This album arguably represents Springsteen's **lyrical peak**—striking "a good balance of direct sentiment with loftier themes in the background, without the more self-conscious wordplay that characterised his earlier work" . "No Surrender" contains perhaps the album's most perfect line: *"We learned more from a three-minute record baby, than we ever learned in school"* . --- ## Musical Architecture: Pop as Trojan Horse Musically, *Born in the U.S.A.* expanded Springsteen's palette while maintaining his core identity: **The Synthesis of Influences:** - **"Dancing in the Dark"** – "Possibly his best pure pop song" with a "strong groove tethered to that driving synth pulse" and "woozy, late-night feel" - **"Cover Me"** – Dance-rock that uses "language usually reserved for the heat of battle" - **"I'm Goin' Down"** – A bar-band blues that sounds celebratory while documenting romantic collapse - **"Darlington County"** – Boogie-rock that masks a story of futile job-seeking The E Street Band performs with **restrained power**—Clarence Clemons' saxophone provides emotional punctuation rather than dominance, and the rhythm section creates that signature "big" sound without overwhelming the songs. --- ## Themes: Reagan's America Under the Microscope The album examines **"the many contradictions of Reagan's America"** : 1. **The Betrayal of the Working Class** – Veterans discarded, factories closing, towns dying 2. **The Tyranny of Nostalgia** – Characters trapped in memories of better times 3. **Sexual and Economic Frustration** – Desire and desperation intertwined 4. **The Myth vs. Reality of America** – The gap between patriotic rhetoric and lived experience These were the same themes Springsteen had explored since *Darkness on the Edge of Town*, but here they were "put in a blender" with pop accessibility . --- ## Cultural Impact and Influence *Born in the U.S.A.* transformed Springsteen from a rock critic's darling into a **global pop icon**. The album has sold over **30 million copies worldwide** and spent **84 consecutive weeks** on the Billboard 200. **Immediate Impact:** - The **"Dancing in the Dark"** video (directed by Brian DePalma featuring a then-unknown **Courteney Cox**) played on MTV "at the top of every hour" - Springsteen became a stadium-filling phenomenon, with the subsequent tour cementing his reputation as one of rock's greatest live performers - The album proved that **socially conscious rock could achieve mass commercial success** without compromise **Long-term Influence:** - Demonstrated that synthesizers and traditional rock could coexist - Influenced countless artists to package serious themes in accessible forms - The album cover (Annie Leibovitz's photo of Springsteen's backside in jeans against an American flag) became one of the most iconic images in rock history --- ## Pros and Cons ### **Pros** | Aspect | Assessment | |--------|------------| | **Songcraft** | Contains some of Springsteen's most perfectly constructed songs—"Dancing in the Dark," "I'm On Fire," and the title track are flawless pop compositions | | **Thematic Depth** | Manages to be both commercially accessible and intellectually substantial—a rare achievement | | **Production Innovation** | The synthesizer integration expanded rock's sonic palette without sounding dated (mostly) | | **Narrative Cohesion** | Despite the singles-heavy nature, the album maintains thematic consistency | | **Emotional Range** | Moves from desperate loneliness ("Downbound Train") to exuberant friendship ("No Surrender") to creepy desire ("I'm On Fire") | | **Commercial Achievement** | Seven Top 10 singles proved that quality and popularity weren't mutually exclusive | ### **Cons** | Aspect | Assessment | |--------|------------| | **Over-familiarity** | The ubiquity of the singles has somewhat dulled their impact—it's hard to hear "Dancing in the Dark" with fresh ears | | **Production Aging** | Some of the drum sounds and synthesizer tones are unmistakably '80s, which may alienate listeners seeking "timeless" production | | **Misinterpretation Risk** | The very accessibility that makes the album great also enabled its widespread misreading as simple patriotism | | **Filler Perception** | While tracks like "Working on the Highway" and "Darlington County" are solid, they don't reach the heights of the singles | | **Loss of Mystery** | The album's success made Springsteen a celebrity, which arguably diminished the "everyman" mystique of his earlier work | --- ## Verdict *Born in the U.S.A.* is a **triumph of subversion**. It smuggled complex social commentary into suburban homes through the Trojan horse of pop hooks. The album's central irony—that its most patriotic-sounding song is actually a cry of despair—mirrors the larger American condition it documents: the gap between appearance and reality, between what we're told to feel and what we actually experience. While some purists prefer the unvarnished *Nebraska* or the epic scope of *Born to Run*, *Born in the U.S.A.* represents Springsteen's most complete synthesis of **artistic ambition and popular reach**. It proved that rock music could be smart, sad, sexy, and successful simultaneously. The album doesn't just document Reagan's America—it remains a vital document for understanding America itself, then and now. **Essential Listening:** "Born in the U.S.A.," "Dancing in the Dark," "I'm On Fire," "Downbound Train," "My Hometown," "No Surrender"

9.5/10

Ok this was 1000x better than the movie… in all seriousness, this was an incredible project from start to finish. The beauty of this 1001 project is it puts these artists reverence into perspective. I never knew why people loved this man and that was due to ignorance of his work but now I understand. This was well crafted, the arrangement on Bobby Jean was chef’s kiss. Downbound Train is my standout with I’m Goin’ Down being a close second. Great start to the day!

For me, the biggest hits like "Born in the U.S.A." "Glory Days," and "Dancing in the Dark" are marred by 80s synths and glossy production, but then there are others, like "Downbound Train" and "I'm On Fire" where the production is fantastic. "Downbound Train" in particular is interesting because I've been recently listening to the Nebraska-era versions, and this one is much superior to those. I just wish they woulda used pedal steel or something instead of synths. Overall, the songs come through and they're consistently as good as the singles. 4.5 rounding up.

Obviously

Good stuff

An absolute classic. There is not a weak link on this record. Springsteen at his peak. From the album cover to the opening notes and of Born in USA, this record grabs the listener immediately and demands attention. The storytelling and stirring music keeps the listener captivated. A true cohesive work. Springsteen paints pictures of working class Americana and the pursuit of the American dream. He sings of passion and despair. Throughout it feels so authentic, In addition to the great songwriting and unforgettable anthems, the album also boasts exceptional musicianship, not just from Bruce, but the whole E Street Band. Easily one of the greatest records ever.

The Boss! This album has so much to really like on it, especially for someone like me who likes a lot of heartland rock (ala John Mellencamp). What's interesting to me is that there is more variety than I was expecting. The title track is a great, great song, even if it is often a misunderstood anthem. Regardless, the driving nature of this song is fantastic and a great way to kick off this album. That's quickly followed by Cover Me, another excellent tune that has a ton of energy, which best reflects who Bruce is. The album then wanes a bit for me with Darlington County and especially Working On the Highway. Wasn't a big fan of either of these. Both felt a bit like filler to me. Back on the right side though with Downbound Train, one of the songs on here that I hadn't heard before which I really enjoyed. Interesting dichotomy between how this song is constructed (generally up tempo) and the theming (more depressing). I'm On Fire is different than just about everything else on this album and really shows some of the diversity I quickly mentioned earlier. Another great track. No Surrender, Bobby Jean, and I'm Goin' Down are all solid rock tracks. Nothing amazing, but all good tunes in their own right. Wouldn't seek them out separately, but also wouldn't skip them as I listen to the album in totality. Glory Days is an amazing nostalgic track that we have all heard tons of times. What's amazing is how well this holds up, which can't be said for some songs, especially from the 80s. It's every bit as good as the first time I heard. An excellent listen. Dancing In the Dark, for me, is Bruce's best song. Yeah, I know, others will pick various others from his catalog for different reasons, all probably more reasonable than what I think. I just love how this is constructed: the driving drums, the energy he brings to it, Clarence Clemons sax at the end, all of it. Is it relatively simple? No doubt, but that's what makes it great, as it allows more room for Bruce to dominate at the front of it. My Hometown is an interesting way to end, given what had preceded it. It's a bit somber, but it still hits. Frankly, this isn't a cover-to-cover listen for me, which means I am squarely at 4.5 stars again, like I was for the Iggy Pop record I just reviewed yesterday. That said, going with 5 because of the impact this album had on the music landscape, how successful it was (30m+ sold!), and the fact that I ended up downloading more than half of the songs into my personal library.

Woah-oh-oh-oh he’s a working class man —— Another all-time great album. A little hard to get past all the “little girl” references these days, but I’m willing to overlook this time around. Also can’t believe I’ve spent my whole life loving “Cover Me” and never once realising it was The Boss.

One of the few Springsteen albums I think I’ve actually listened to as a whole, excited to give it a proper listen again as it’s been a long time. Springsteen is great because the serious lyrics behind his songwriting here are accompanied by the most mainstream pop inspired rock and roll music. It’s filled with hits and great songs but the sound is very “dad rock” at times. But it’s all very good. You get these deep great tracks on the first side like Cover Me and Downbound Train and I’m On Fire. That more serious sound is Springsteen at his best. Like No Surrender is the perfect example. It sounds like a pop song but the story being told through the lyrics is so great. As a whole it’s really good. You get to the second half and it’s just well known classics like Glory Days and Dancing in the Dark. But something about that overly 80s pop sound behind a lot of the songs makes me like it a bit less. I’ve been giving a lot of 5s, this might be a notch below at a high 4, but it’s hard to argue against a 5. It’s all so catchy and the storytelling really elevates it all. Seems like would be a very easy re-listen.