“There came a moment near the end of Springsteen’s overwhelming and uncategorizable Broadway show, when it seemed possible to see straight through his many masks to some core truth of his being….‘Springsteen on Broadway’ is a solo act by a solo artist with an artist’s steel…A painful if thrilling summing-up at 68: a major statement about a life’s work, but also a major revision of it…As portraits of artists go, there may never have been anything as real — and beautiful — on Broadway.”
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"The hits are here, including ‘Born to Run’ and ‘Dancing in the Dark,’ but stripped down and edged with wistfulness; ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ is pared into a skeletal, nearly acapella blues. It’s an intimate show and a generous one, not just to past friends and collaborators but also to the audience, inviting us on a cross-country journey that is now, as he approaches 70, less about the gunning of his engines than the steadiness of his drive. He pulls it all off; he’s understood. It’s magic."
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"'On Broadway' weaves personal anecdotes and performances of poignant songs into a seamless, theatrical presentation...As with any Springsteen stage performance, you learn that his voice and personality are much bigger than the body housing them. But ‘Springsteen on Broadway’ is a poignant reminder that in spite of the myth and legend, Bruce Springsteen is made of the same blood, muscle, and bone, and motivated by the same fears and desires, as the rest of us.”
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"Unlike the other solo and acoustic tours that he has undertaken, the show is scripted and largely unchanging...The result is an earnest meditation on his life and work, a 'long and noisy prayer' delivered by a diligent and practiced showman...A show in the old-fashioned sense...His voice is so steady and solemn...His rearrangement of 'Born in the U.S.A.' felt deliberate...Springsteen’s mission has always been to be a useful conduit—to reflect or articulate something back at us."
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"'Springsteen' is an enjoyable though not entirely successful recasting of the singer-composer...It worked best when Springsteen brought the audience closer, it sagged when he reverted to the outsize character...Exhortations about the glory of rock that pump up screaming stadium-packed multitudes were heavy-handed in a venue in which the audience sat quietly in rapt attention...Best seen as a special concert rather than a glamour event."
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"You might think Bruce Springsteen doesn’t belong on Broadway, but you would be wrong…‘Springsteen on Broadway’ is a perfect concert…An electrifying (well, an acoustifying) session of mostly big big songs rendered without embellishment…‘Springsteen on Broadway’ is written as much as sung and, rock’n’roll or no, it’s a serious gig. Bruce flattered everyone there with his attention, and the attention to detail."
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“‘Springsteen on Broadway’ is intimate and persuasive, satisfying and soul-stirring…A tightly scripted chronological narrative tracing his life…Between acoustic arrangements and slow tempos, lyrics really resonate. Springsteen is in complete command when he’s singing…Being locked to a script at times stunts his naturalness and ease. But the intimacy of the setting — and his magnetism — make up for occasional lapses in spontaneity.”
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"A kind of live autobiography...The songs take a back seat to the stories, acting almost as illustrations or interludes or interjections...While he’s faithful to the original feel of most songs, he drastically reinterprets some of the biggest ones...Springsteen’s everyman persona can obscure his deep intelligence and formidable talent as a wordsmith...As much a self-made monument to its master’s vision and hurricane-force ambition as it is to his life and career."
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