Thanks to Townsman cherguevarra for passing this baby along. Somebody must have had an ax to grind with The Boss.
21 Responses to “DROP EVERYTHING…and DEAL WITH IT! (Pt. 5): Outtakes of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” Video Require Your Analysis and Commentary”
I am somehow reminded of John Travolta in that awful Staying Alive movie. I’m not a big fan of Bruce to begin with, but of all his “classic” albums, Born in the USA has become the most dated. Must be all those synthesizers.
Sure, it’s fairly horrifying when viewed through today’s sophisticated lens, but don’t forget that this was filmed during the peak MTV years during the middle of the cheesy 1980s. I don’t think it’s possible for us to now reconstruct that context. We would need cheese-colored glasses to properly appreciate this film relative to its cohorts. Considering the MILLIONS of dollars he made from this song, he obviously struck a chord with the people who lived in that time.
Recall that, in another effort to fit in with the trends of the day, there was a 12″ single remix version of this song with backing singers and synth bells.
I know his target audience turned out to be everyone on the planet, but it’s nice to see that he was really only shooting for men in ballet troupes at the beginning. I hated that song before, and now that I see how much work went in to it I hate it even more.
I’ve been playing a great video game lately — the third chapter in the “Uncharted” series. The graphics are, in general, amazing — but it seems that even with today’s best technology, facial expressions are still not adequately replicable in digital format. So the programmers fix this problem by furnishing us with a kind of ur-face — sort of washed out in action sequences. Recognizable by basic features (relative size of nose, position of mouth, etc.), but kind of weird-looking. This washed-out, nth-generation video copy produces the same effect. It’s like I’m watching a “Dance Dance Revolution” game featuring a cheap Bruce replicant called “Bryce Springstone.”
Getting back to the issue of people who f*ck for a living being good dancers — does the reverse hold true? I mean, Bruce seems to have just one “move” here. His private life is none of my business, but I wonder how much fun his wife has.
Goes to show you the need for rehearsals, choreography and stage blocking even if you are a serious rock star. Actually, that fits with my overall impression of Bruce – he is a bit of a workaholic drudge but his behind the scenes efforts pay out when he hits the big stage.
And, man, is he beady-eyed in this clip. I never noticed that before.
Bruce made his reputation as one of the real guys. He seemed tough, streetwise (but compassionate), and unpretentious – the type you’d find sitting with a beer at the corner bar located next door to the brake shop rather than standing in line at the latest pastel-hued nightclub. I wonder how much damage would have been done had this rehearsal video been released back in the day.
Remember that discussion of “selling out” not too recently. Some say he sold out with Born To Run. I’m saying he not only sold out with “Dancing In The Dark”, he damaged his entire repertoire in the process. He should have nixed the concept of this video after the first take. That it took 3 takes for him to realize this, calls into question his “street cred”. The fact that the DePalma video continued this phony ass dancing is further proof of him jumping the shark and every other aquatic animal in the sea.
The fact is that whereas the Dancing in the Dark video launched Courtney Cox, the Boss owes her bigtime for distracting from his stupid-ass dancing. I mean, HankFan is right about context and all, but there was no context in which this isn’t incredibly lame. Like, Mod, I even like the song–that is, apart from the super-repulsive production, which is rather a large caveat in this case.
I am somehow reminded of John Travolta in that awful Staying Alive movie. I’m not a big fan of Bruce to begin with, but of all his “classic” albums, Born in the USA has become the most dated. Must be all those synthesizers.
Sure, it’s fairly horrifying when viewed through today’s sophisticated lens, but don’t forget that this was filmed during the peak MTV years during the middle of the cheesy 1980s. I don’t think it’s possible for us to now reconstruct that context. We would need cheese-colored glasses to properly appreciate this film relative to its cohorts. Considering the MILLIONS of dollars he made from this song, he obviously struck a chord with the people who lived in that time.
I like when Clarence appears at the end, but I kept waiting for Sheilds and Yarnell to show up too.
Hey, no joke: “Dancing in the Dark” is probably my favorite Bruce song. I think these outtakes are important for their own merits.
Ah, Staying Alive is a horrible movie with one brief, redeeming scene! I’ll have to find the piece I wrote about that years ago…
Here we go: http://overlookedgems.blogspot.com/search?q=staying+alive
I think this is from a rejected video directed by Jeff Stein not the one MTV played featuring Courtney Cox which was directed by Brian DePalma
Recall that, in another effort to fit in with the trends of the day, there was a 12″ single remix version of this song with backing singers and synth bells.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8lKaYgcSH4
This is what happens when you get successful enough to afford a personal trainer. Check your look in the mirror indeed.
I know his target audience turned out to be everyone on the planet, but it’s nice to see that he was really only shooting for men in ballet troupes at the beginning. I hated that song before, and now that I see how much work went in to it I hate it even more.
I’ve been playing a great video game lately — the third chapter in the “Uncharted” series. The graphics are, in general, amazing — but it seems that even with today’s best technology, facial expressions are still not adequately replicable in digital format. So the programmers fix this problem by furnishing us with a kind of ur-face — sort of washed out in action sequences. Recognizable by basic features (relative size of nose, position of mouth, etc.), but kind of weird-looking. This washed-out, nth-generation video copy produces the same effect. It’s like I’m watching a “Dance Dance Revolution” game featuring a cheap Bruce replicant called “Bryce Springstone.”
Getting back to the issue of people who f*ck for a living being good dancers — does the reverse hold true? I mean, Bruce seems to have just one “move” here. His private life is none of my business, but I wonder how much fun his wife has.
Good point – to have called this “outtakes” is inaccurate. Imagine how Bosstory might have been negatively affective had this version moved forward.
Brilliant analysis, HVB. If not for you feeling the need to “work blue” at the end there I would show your comment to my 14-year-old gamer son.
I’m glad you brought this up, HVB, not me, but I had the same thought. Unfortunately the other image that came to mind was flogging a wet noodle.
Although I was scratching my head thinking of male ballet costumes that included suspenders, so he missed his mark.
Goes to show you the need for rehearsals, choreography and stage blocking even if you are a serious rock star. Actually, that fits with my overall impression of Bruce – he is a bit of a workaholic drudge but his behind the scenes efforts pay out when he hits the big stage.
And, man, is he beady-eyed in this clip. I never noticed that before.
Remember the thread about Billy Squire and the video that wrecked his credibility as a serious rocker?
https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/index.php/video-killed-the-radio-star/
Bruce made his reputation as one of the real guys. He seemed tough, streetwise (but compassionate), and unpretentious – the type you’d find sitting with a beer at the corner bar located next door to the brake shop rather than standing in line at the latest pastel-hued nightclub. I wonder how much damage would have been done had this rehearsal video been released back in the day.
Remember that discussion of “selling out” not too recently. Some say he sold out with Born To Run. I’m saying he not only sold out with “Dancing In The Dark”, he damaged his entire repertoire in the process. He should have nixed the concept of this video after the first take. That it took 3 takes for him to realize this, calls into question his “street cred”. The fact that the DePalma video continued this phony ass dancing is further proof of him jumping the shark and every other aquatic animal in the sea.
The possibilities are endless:
http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inthemix/Old-Time-Seger-with-Springsteen.html
This bothers me less, but it got me thinking about a thread. The E Street Band VS. The Silver Bullet Band. Vintage 70’s era, of course.
I smell a full-blown RTH tournament to get us through the holiday season. Stay tuned! Thanks for the idea.
The fact is that whereas the Dancing in the Dark video launched Courtney Cox, the Boss owes her bigtime for distracting from his stupid-ass dancing. I mean, HankFan is right about context and all, but there was no context in which this isn’t incredibly lame. Like, Mod, I even like the song–that is, apart from the super-repulsive production, which is rather a large caveat in this case.