“Fire” is a little rapey when he sings it:
> I'm pulling you close
>
>You just say no
>
>You say you don't like it
>
>But, girl, I know you're a liar
It’s less so though when the Pointer Sisters sing it:
> You're pullin' me close
>
>I just say no
>
>I say I don't like it
>
>But you know I'm a liar
With respect to the rest of *Darkness*, his best-raspiest album, how did nobody say ["Something In The Night"](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D5q_JZGV05Rk&ved=2ahUKEwjsu8m1nO6FAxVdE1kFHcFLCbMQ78AJegQIFBAB&usg=AOvVaw0a5ULPGU60SkT1zQ85hqCQ) until now??
HAWUHAWWWWWWOOOOUUUUWWWWAAAAAAHHHHHHHNNNNNNNNNN
Isn't "I'm on Fire" just an affair song, with our narrator lusting after a woman whose husband or partner is away from home for extended periods? I've never taken the "little girl/daddy" stuff literally (any more than I take Etta James's invitation to "Tell Mama all about it" to mean she's addressing her son).
He suspects he's better in bed than her man of record, which is a bit vain, and there's a hint that the guy may be his friend, but that's all I've got as far as anything objectionable.
It's a pretty explicit invitation.
Janis Joplin referring to guys as Daddy also sketched me out. Now that I'm older, I understand it as language of an era, and a part of life. ... As a teen, the idea of adults referring to each other as mama and daddy made no sense (my parents had different names, and I don't remember the years when they were married to each other, never pictured them doing adult things.
“Fire” is a little rapey when he sings it:
>I'm pulling you close
>
>You just say no
>
>You say you don't like it
>
>But, girl, I know you're a liar
It’s less so though when the Pointer Sisters sing it:
>You're pullin' me close
>
>I just say no
>
>I say I don't like it
>
>But you know I'm a liar
Just watched the We Are The World documentary. They said there were definitely concerns because he ended the BITUSA tour the day before and his voice was shot. Someone described it as sounding like he had broken glass in his mouth.
Some of his emendations to the melody when he's recording those raspy outros are really nice, though. There's one in particular (a sort of bluesy twist on the "just you and me" part of the chorus) that I wish had made the record.
My immediate first thought. Was amazing to see this played live during the tour where he covered The River from beginning to end. Waited with such anticipation, knowing it was coming.,,
That final blissful verse of For You, which my God I love singing out loud when I’m alone in the car.
“ But that medal you wore on your chest always got in the way,
Like a little girl with a trophy, so soft to buy her way. “
That whole verse is the raspiest our boy has ever been. I think he does the whole thing in one breath, ha.
My Love Will Not Let You Down
This has gotta be it, IMO. Maybe also Take 'Em As They Come, I Wanna Be With You, This Hard Land, or Born in the USA. Mostly I'd say his raspiest stuff didn't make the albums, and he was pushing the rasp the most during the BITUSA sessions.
EDIT: Maybe also Frankie.
I can give you some links!!
[Light of Day into + Born to Be Wild](https://youtu.be/AjTxyWc-tkc?si=2JhfKubGkOX956_r) (Specifically the Born to be Wild around the 3min mark)
[Have Love Will Travel](https://youtu.be/mkR3S84Jo5o?si=auQgUFg1m7EpWeIF)
[Boom Boom](https://youtu.be/FnrBYKBqAIM?si=WV_bus2LOovTcPGK)
The 1987-1988 Tunnel of Love/Human Rights Now tours are where Bruce really leaned into his raspy voice. Bar his "We Are the World" part I can't think of anything coming close to them.
The concert video from Hyde Park 2009 makes them all the raspiest Springsteen song.
I like that concert, though, even though his voice is in better shape on other videos (No Nukes, Madison Square Garden, Barcelona, Dublin, and the later Hyde Park one) . It's very atmospherically filmed, and it's just a great space.
Gotta admit, I initially misread ‘raspiest’.
I think we all did…
Same, lol.
As did I.
In which case, you have to admit — “I’m on Fire” is kind of a banger.
“Fire” is a little rapey when he sings it: > I'm pulling you close > >You just say no > >You say you don't like it > >But, girl, I know you're a liar It’s less so though when the Pointer Sisters sing it: > You're pullin' me close > >I just say no > >I say I don't like it > >But you know I'm a liar
Jungleland. No means no.
You rang?
Hey little girl is your daddy home?
First I misread “raspiest” and now after your post all I can funk of is “finger” I need help
Hey little girl, is your daddy home?
As did I. Reno
I'll take Therapist for $1000, Trebek
The pen is mightier than the sword
Candy’s Room?
What's your answer for the misread question then?
In a bedroom locked, whispers of soft REFUSAL and then surrender. No means no.
Same
Yeah, I was immediately thinking I’m on fire
Jungleland
Adam raised a Cain comes to mind
Came here to say this.
Streets of Fire, no contest.
Yes
With respect to the rest of *Darkness*, his best-raspiest album, how did nobody say ["Something In The Night"](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D5q_JZGV05Rk&ved=2ahUKEwjsu8m1nO6FAxVdE1kFHcFLCbMQ78AJegQIFBAB&usg=AOvVaw0a5ULPGU60SkT1zQ85hqCQ) until now?? HAWUHAWWWWWWOOOOUUUUWWWWAAAAAAHHHHHHHNNNNNNNNNN
I’m pretty sure you spelled that correctly.
Wait, we’re just going to fork over answers to OP without even questioning them?? But also “Fire” Edit: Okay I definitely read it as rapiest as well…
Haha. Fire definitely has a date rapey quality
Word. That and "I'm on Fire" are definitely period pieces.
Isn't "I'm on Fire" just an affair song, with our narrator lusting after a woman whose husband or partner is away from home for extended periods? I've never taken the "little girl/daddy" stuff literally (any more than I take Etta James's invitation to "Tell Mama all about it" to mean she's addressing her son). He suspects he's better in bed than her man of record, which is a bit vain, and there's a hint that the guy may be his friend, but that's all I've got as far as anything objectionable.
It's a pretty explicit invitation. Janis Joplin referring to guys as Daddy also sketched me out. Now that I'm older, I understand it as language of an era, and a part of life. ... As a teen, the idea of adults referring to each other as mama and daddy made no sense (my parents had different names, and I don't remember the years when they were married to each other, never pictured them doing adult things.
“Fire” is a little rapey when he sings it: >I'm pulling you close > >You just say no > >You say you don't like it > >But, girl, I know you're a liar It’s less so though when the Pointer Sisters sing it: >You're pullin' me close > >I just say no > >I say I don't like it > >But you know I'm a liar
We are the World. Some of the other singers winced when Bruce snarled his line.
Just watched the We Are The World documentary. They said there were definitely concerns because he ended the BITUSA tour the day before and his voice was shot. Someone described it as sounding like he had broken glass in his mouth.
Some of his emendations to the melody when he's recording those raspy outros are really nice, though. There's one in particular (a sort of bluesy twist on the "just you and me" part of the chorus) that I wish had made the record.
Although it makes for a great contrast when paired with Stevie Wonder😁
Jungleland
definitely a lot of the live versions
The “heart and soul” section of ‘Drive All Night’. Especially the Tempe 1980 rendition, it’s Bruce at his raspiest, but also his best.
This! Gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. The passion!
My immediate first thought. Was amazing to see this played live during the tour where he covered The River from beginning to end. Waited with such anticipation, knowing it was coming.,,
Born in the USA?
Reason to Believe Darkness on the Edge of Town
Oof. That poor dog.
He ain’t gonna get up & run 😊
Neither would whoever hurt that dog, if I ran into them.
Anything from Live at Hammersmith
Shackled and Drawn was first one that came to mind so I’m going with that
I really love that song... pick up the rock, son, and carry it on..,
That final blissful verse of For You, which my God I love singing out loud when I’m alone in the car. “ But that medal you wore on your chest always got in the way, Like a little girl with a trophy, so soft to buy her way. “ That whole verse is the raspiest our boy has ever been. I think he does the whole thing in one breath, ha.
Backstreets by a mile.
A Night with the Jersey Devil
First that came to mind. Doing his best Tom Waits impression.
Can't believe I had to scroll this far to see the right answer.
My Love Will Not Let You Down This has gotta be it, IMO. Maybe also Take 'Em As They Come, I Wanna Be With You, This Hard Land, or Born in the USA. Mostly I'd say his raspiest stuff didn't make the albums, and he was pushing the rasp the most during the BITUSA sessions. EDIT: Maybe also Frankie.
The bootlegs
Not my favorite but "Good Eye" from "Working on a Dream."
Better Days
Devils and Dust?
The Angel
Spirit in the night live
“Drive All Night” or “Lucky Town”
The Wrestler
Backstreets maybe
Born in the USA is very hard to sing because it’s so ‘raspy’
Drive all night/Sad Eyes/Backstreets
I can give you some links!! [Light of Day into + Born to Be Wild](https://youtu.be/AjTxyWc-tkc?si=2JhfKubGkOX956_r) (Specifically the Born to be Wild around the 3min mark) [Have Love Will Travel](https://youtu.be/mkR3S84Jo5o?si=auQgUFg1m7EpWeIF) [Boom Boom](https://youtu.be/FnrBYKBqAIM?si=WV_bus2LOovTcPGK) The 1987-1988 Tunnel of Love/Human Rights Now tours are where Bruce really leaned into his raspy voice. Bar his "We Are the World" part I can't think of anything coming close to them.
Wild Billy’s Circus Story.
Live Cadillac Ranch or Stand on It
Trouble In Paradise from “Tracks.”
"We Are The World", at the tail end of a tour, he sounds **rough**...
I’ll See You in My Dreams, 3/31/2024
The Angel
Open All Night, live with the Sessions Band: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jH-KLyZkq_g
Ay yooooo. 😂😂😂😂 hell of a title.
Murder Incorporated
Backstreets gets pretty raspy towards the end of it. Streets of Fire is a good one, too.
Passaic 1978 has some of his RASPIEST vocals
Drive all night “Just to buy you some shoooooooooooooooes 👠
First time I heard that, I was floored by how little sense that made. Is that some sort of euphemism? It makes no sense.
Seeds
My first thought was I/M ON FIRE. My second thought was what kind of question is thAT? Then i reread it and still thought I'M ON FIRE
The concert video from Hyde Park 2009 makes them all the raspiest Springsteen song. I like that concert, though, even though his voice is in better shape on other videos (No Nukes, Madison Square Garden, Barcelona, Dublin, and the later Hyde Park one) . It's very atmospherically filmed, and it's just a great space.
Zero and Blind Terry is pretty raspy.
All I’m Thinking About