Friday, July 04, 2025

It's Independence Day. Enjoy It While You Can!!!

And in its honor -- a PowerPop tradition since 2018 -- please marvel at Bill Pullman, the greatest president of the United States who was never president of the United States...

...no, wait, now that we're living in Nazi Germany 2.0, that's not a particularly good joke anymore.

Sorry.

What I meant to say was please enjoy the late great Ben E. King and his gorgeous cover of Bruce Springsteen's "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)."

Or perhaps The Hollies' superb 1975 version.

BTW, I saw the Hollies do that live at the old Bottom Line that year, and Bruce (who was not yet the household word he became shortly thereafter when Born to Run was released) was sitting at the table directly in front of me.

Get me drunk sometimes and I'll tell you the simultaenously hilarious and tragic story that accompanied the evening. 😎

Meanwhile, have a great Fourth, everybody!!! Assuming you don't find what's happening in our Noble Democracy at the moment a little too depressing to be festive. 😎 😎

5 comments:

steve simels said...

Seriously -- I hadn't watched that Bill Pullman speech for ages until today. Wow, has it taken on a whole new emotional resonance in our current political environment....😎

Rob said...

Great Minds...
Sent my Sisters, scattered around this Great Country, my morning song - The Beatles - "Good Morning,Good Morning".
My 2nd choice, no kidding - Springsteens "Sandy" 😉
Happy 4th all
rob

Cleveland Jeff said...

I love the Hollies version, but the Ben E King is good too.

steve simels said...

The King version must have been a particular thrill for Bruce, given what a fan he was of the guy.

mistah charley, sb, ma, phd, jsps said...

yesterday missus charley and self watched a discussion at "the contrarian" beween jennifer rubin and norm eisen - they were saying that the ideals of the American revolution, never fully implemented, have historical periods during which there is a reinvigoration and attempt to get closer to them - civil war and reconstruction, FDR, civil rights era - and their sincere hope is that there will be another in reaction against MAGA - i share that hope, recognizing that not all will agree with me