Shouts
Want to share your thoughts about this track? Join Last.fm or log in to leave a shout.
-
estreetsycamore
Should I set myself the goal of commenting on every officially-released Springsteen song, mostly (but maybe not entirely) in chronological order? No. Will I still do some of them anyway when I feel like it? Yes. So, #1. "Blinded by the Light". Bruce says the lyrics are nonsense that came out of a rhyming dictionary, and for a while I believed him, but I definitely don't now LOL within this song's haphazard barrage of imagery it's still fundamentally a great coming-of-age song discussing youthful rebellion. The lyrical style here of utterly frantic, jam-packed imagery still making a coherent point is unlike anything else even on the other '73 albums and especially thereafter, it really is a great feat of songwriting and I wish we had more like it in the canon. The production and the vocals on the chorus leave something to be desired, but overall the vocals on the verses facilitate the striking contrast between these early Dylanesque efforts and the more polished songs for which[...]
Actions
Replies
-
estreetsycamore
[...]he'd become more renowned, a contrast that makes these songs all the more interesting to revisit. I wonder how much this early sound would have surprised me if I'd come to know it when I was older and could better internalize it. Either way '73 Springsteen was adorable as heck and already a genius and this song captures that well. It's probably about an 8/10, B-tier Bruce song for me just because the end result is a little too held-together-with-duct-tape musically, but it's a worthy and highly distinct opener to the canon without a doubt. Hearing it live in 2016 was an absolute treat, too, and it sounded much better in that setting. I wish he'd do it live more - but I doubt he remembers the words, so I can't really blame him.
Actions
Replies
-
estreetsycamore
I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that "reminds him of the feelin' of romance" speaks to the redemptive power of love that'd run through so many more Bruce songs over the years, "Thunder Road", "Dancing in the Dark", and most of the best of the '92 material ("All the Way Home", "Real World", "Living Proof"...) being particularly clear examples. It's neat to see that as early as track 1 of the canon
Actions
-
-
-
This shout is unavailable.
-
PeteKropotkin
She was blinded by the light, cut loose like a douche, another boner in the night.
Actions
-
angel_clipped
Manfred Mann's version is just so polished. This one is raw and emotional. Just proves some songs shouldn't be covered. The true injustice is how many think Manfred's was the original.
Actions
Replies
-
SuperSonic2324
Yeah I didn’t know that this was originally by bruce springsteen because I’ve always know it only from the manfred Mann’s earth band version
Actions
-
-
-
-
-
This shout is unavailable.
-
This shout is unavailable.
-
This shout is unavailable.
-
-
-
-
charliekilo22
The Manfred Mann version is not even remotely close to being as good as the original. It's so flat and boring and lifeless. Bruce's is infinitely superior in every way.
Actions
-
-
Cassandra-Leo
@drejr1977: Bob *does* agree with that. He's performed it in Hendrix's style ever since his death in tribute, and has explicitly acknowledged that Hendrix's cover is better than his original. Anyway, both the Manfred Mann and Springsteen versions of this are superb, but they're so different instrumentally as to almost be different songs. I do agree that it would've been nice if they'd kept the funk influence longer, although the direction they went in is certainly great enough in its own right; it's hard to quibble with albums as great as Born to Run and Nebraska.
Actions
-
This shout is unavailable.
-
-
-
-
This shout is unavailable.
-
-
Bookman1974
The Manfred Mann version is an outstanding cover: it has led me to this original version, but it'll always be the Mann cover that I'll come back to.
Actions
-
Entreri9090
huh, I always thought mannfread man did the original. Learn something new everyday I suppose. Prefer bruce's
Actions
-
Natureshadow
@kerplunkin: This is the orginal. I like both Bruce Springsteen and Manfred Mann's Earth Band, but the latter realyl did a god damn great job on their interpretation of the song!
Actions
-
-
-
-
warrenzevon
At that time, Bruce was very influenced by Bob Dylan, especially in that song. He was not considered as the "future of rock'n'roll" yet. What future ?
Actions
-
BruceNY
For You is an epic visual storytelling time machine that encourages you to hop on for a ride down thunderous roads to simpler times for a journey through the heart of darkness where the fans feel so close and intimately personal with Springsteen like he's an old college buddy. This book is not just a fine addition to your collection, but is essential for any Springsteen fan. It is a treasure trove of pictures and stories that will not just take you for a ride down memory lane, but will leave you with an impenetrable sense of hope much the same way you feel cruising down the highway and having 'Thunder Road' blast from your speakers with the wind in your hair. When was the last time the written word did that?" www.foryoubruce.com
Actions
-
switchmath
I think the Manfred Mann version is more easily listenable, but, of course, there is no denying Springsteen's genius in writing and performing this song. ;)
Actions
-
This shout is unavailable.
-
Tedtrivia
According to Songfacts, Springsteen wrote this after Columbia Records rejected his first attempt at an album, telling him to make some songs that could be played on the radio. He came up with this and "Spirit In The Night." Check out http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=964 for more trivia, information and discussion on Blinded by the Light.
Actions
-
-
cereal_freak
I'm not a big fan of covers. But no summer is complete without Manfred Mann's version of 'Blinded.'
Actions