LogFAQs > #954547399

199. Bruce Springsteen Thunder Road (1975)
from the album Born to Run

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGBXnw86Mgc

Key lyrics:
You aint a beauty, but, hey, youre alright

Bruce Springsteen kicked off his breakthrough album with a song that so perfectly captures everything he represents, sonically and lyrically. Those opening notes are quintessential Springsteen, a pondering harmonica paired with a melancholy yet warm piano. This is signature heartland rock, a driving force perfect for speeding down the highway while searching for a place to belong. Springsteen captures a sense of ecstatic optimism that stops an inch short of sentimentality. While he is very much a rock star, this track exemplifies his distinct sound. Though the dominant instrument here is the piano, the frantic energy sets him apart from piano rockers like Elton John and Billy Joel.

At one point, Springsteen offers his hand. This is an introduction and an invitation his first two albums are classics in their own right, but this is an artist knowing he has found his true voice. He might not be able to find this promised land, but the instrumentation shows he believes himself capable. His lyrics here are remarkably humble, a man certain of only his feelings and all too aware of how little he has to offer. This is the key balance to a Bruce Springsteen classic - tales of ordinary life rocketed into space by an expanding, emotive soundscape.

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My top 100 games (with write-ups): https://foolfantastic.com/top-100-video-games-project/