Awesome slick video.

In 1984, Bruce Springsteen released the album, 'Born In The
USA', and became a Rockstar over night. He already had a taste of stardom with,'Born To Run', one of my favorites,
but this was different. Now he was right up there with Michael Jackson and Van Halen! Hell, some thought of him as famous as The Babe. More than an artist, he was a Name:
"Springsteen"! He headlined shows the world over and echoing from the stands, "Bruuuuce" became a concert staple all throughout the 80's. Yes, Bruce Springsteen was the
American boy gone good, with a guitar on his back. It wasn't until five years later that he released his follow up LP, 'Tunnel
Of Love' and it was considered a commercial failure.
From the first notes of Tunnel Of Love, I [you] could tell this
album was completely different from the American Rockstar
image he portrayed in Born In The USA. The blue jeans were
gone, and so was the red bandana hanging out of the back pocket! The anthems are put away, probably for a less
commercial approach, like he was looking for. Right away,
you can hear it has a different feel and sound. With the slight Doo-wop sound, and finger snapping, in the first cut, 'Ain't
Got You', you already know this is more Buddy Holly, than
Ziggy Stardust. If your expecting a heavy rock-area album,
better take the needle right off the record, and look else
where, because this ain't it.
The strength of Tunnel Of Love lies in the middle. Beginning
with 'Walk Like a Man', it suddenly becomes an introspective,
and sometimes bitter, album. Bruce revisits well covered
ground here, his father! It's rare when an artist shares such
matter of fact truths. Every young man wants to be like his
father, at one time or another, starting with retracing their
large footprints in the sand at the Jersey shore, sometimes
a life long chase. But there us a deeper issue here. Springsteen talks of the happiness of a newly wed couple,
just after the church bells toll. Would they ever be this happy
again, he seems to ask. These are prophetic words for the rest of the album.
The big radio hit is the title track, Tunnel Of Love. Critics
didn't like it, said it was heavily synthesized 80's ear candy,
and is often left out of Bruce's catalog of songs as a whole.
I disagree, and find it is one of his best songs-ever! Maybe
it's a little over produced, but over looking this song is a
mistake. He had just went through a well publicized divorce,
and his lyrics seem to say ambiguity, responsibility, or lack
of, and a failure that might have been avoidable.
" man meets a woman and they fall in love/but the house is haunted and
the ride gets rough/And you've got to learn to live with what you can't
rise above, if you want to ride on down through this Tunnel of Love."
This song is not as angry as some of the other tracks, and he
seems to be saying fault, anger and sadness doesn't matter-
all that's left to do is bare down and rebuild. Sometimes that's the whole story.
If Tunnel Of Love is the story, than 'Two Faces' is the confession. There is no one to blame but himself, and truth be told, even he doesn't understand his own feelings.
" I met a girl and we ran away/ I swore I'd make her happy everyday/ and
how I made her cry, Two Faces have I". It is a telling of an artist,
with Springsteen's stature, no less, writing such an intimate
song, and confessing his most secret fears, failures and regrets.
Which brings me to the best tune of the LP, only a semi hit
though, 'Brilliant Disguise'. {and here comes the real anger}
With the relatable situation of trying to get into your new
lovers head, and try to figure out exactly what's going on inside. " I hold you in my arms, as the band plays/ what are those words
whispered baby, just as you turn away?/ I saw you last night, out on the
edge of town/ I wanna read your mind, to know just what I've got in this
new thing I've found/ So tell me what I see, when I look in your eyes/ is
that you baby, or just a Brilliant Disguise?"

With love, there is always a certain degree of vulnerability,
versus protection, of course. Bruce wonders out loud whether
she's worth 'walking the line' for, or is this just her brilliant
disguise, saying, "what is a women like you doing with a man
like me"? Actually, I think the truth is not if he can trust
her, but if he can trust himself? " Now look at me baby, struggling to
do everything right/and then it all falls apart, when out goes the lights/
I'm just a lonely pilgrim/ I walk this world in wealth/ I wanna know if it's
you I don't trust, cause I damn sure don't trust myself".

The last two tracks could stand on their own against anything
he has ever recorded. The beautifully and simple chorus of
'When Your Alone,' because it's the truth! "When your alone, you're
alone, you're alone, [ 3 X's]/ When you're alone you ain't nothing but
alone." There's a little more to it-but that's the gist. Doesn't
come off righteous or preachy, it's just a lonely song from a lonely man. {many of us can relate} *
'One Step Up', another great tune. Deals with the everyday
struggles people have, and the uncertainty of the future.
" Woke up this morning the house was cold/ checked the furnace, she
wasn't burnin'/ went out and hoped in my old Ford, but she ain't turnin'/
We've given each other some hard lessons lately/ But we ain't learnin'/
we're the same sad story that's a fact/ One step up and two steps back."

And last but not least, the haunting 'Valentines Day.'
" They say he travels fastest who travels alone/ but tonight I miss my
girl, mister tonight I miss my home/ Is it the sound of the leaves left
blown by the wayside/ that's got me out here on this spooky old highway
tonight?/ is it the cry of the river, with the moonlight shining through/
that ain't what scares me baby, what scares me is losin' you."
It's a slow narrative about solitude. I think Springsteen
is wondering here, "how did I get to this point, how could I
f@$k up my life so badly, and what can I do to get it all back?" Of course, to me, the beauty is the building of this
song, how the pace changes and rushes right through you.
It's the culmination of the whole album. the pay off is
wonderful, and worth every moment spent. Who doesn't
want to be held close and be told they'll be forever another's?
And the true meaning of this album? I think it's the Wants,
and the Needs of people that really matters, and not who's
at fault a relationship didn't go as planned.
The genius of Springsteen and other musical genius,
from Dylan to Brian Wilson to Kurt Cobain, is subtle but
real. They aren't writing for the audience or approval of
others, and it shows. With the Boss, sometimes he waxes
poetic lines to the point of gibberish, and other times he's
cut and dry. This LP isn't different. It isn't a "Last Power
Drive," {know what Bruce song that's from?} or even
a masterpiece. It was a way for an artist to get a lot of
crap and confusion off his chest, and an artist who was
willing to share it with the world, especially his fans.
This is heartbreak at it's best and worst, and certainly
his most honest. Maybe it's not the very first Springsteen
album I would recommend to someone, but any fan of his
could appreciate Tunnel Of Love, and recognize it's genius.
" Cuddle up angel, cuddle up my little Dove,
And we'll ride down, down in this Tunnel Of Love."

If it wasn't so easy for us to find we are able to love more than one person, we wouldn't have the problems we do today with infidelity and divorce. Someone will lose out in the end. This song uses the the comparison of one of those frightening carnival rides that people often take- and reflect Bruce's feelings for his current wife, Patti, while still married. The best line was about taking the ride with "just the three of us- you, me, and all that stuff we're so scared of!". Well said. The song is lively, Patti's voice comes through strongly through a great melody. The lyrics are easy to identify with, and the music is easy to like, and to dance to. A favorite request for Springsteen tours.

-dovetrees

it was the same time i was breaking up with someone