<p>Well, since CC now allows YouTube links, if someone would like to post it, that would be fine. I have really grown to like that Lady Gaga song, and am now seriously disappointed I missed the performance.</p>
<p>Gotta agree with Idol audiences observation… one of the reasons I quit paying much attention to it. Not only do the audiences drown out the music, but most of the time the back up singers do, too. How are you supposed to judge and vote on someone’s performance when the back up singers drown out the vocalist?</p>
<p>I’m thankful I got to take PMKjr to see Bruce and the E Street Band play live. PMKjr sent me a text last night saying he was playing Jungleland…a fitting tribute.</p>
<p>No one can replace the Big Man, he will be missed.</p>
<p>Gotta say, I’ve been thinking about this a lot today. Have been listening to E Street Radio on XM/Sirius and they’ve replayed the DJ Dave Marsh making the announcement of Clemons death Friday night, and you could tell he was trying to get through that announcement without blubbering. Tonight they’re having a tribute where people can call in and share their thoughts. </p>
<p>And the more I’ve thought about it, I’ve run through my head of many, many concerts I have attended over the years, and I just can’t think of anyone who had (or came close to) the on-stage chemistry that Bruce and Clarence did. I’ve never bought any DVD concerts before, but I might have to go out and buy one of Bruce’s so I can watch them due their thing. Hopefully I can find one made in Blu-Ray.</p>
<p>More musings… during the week, I was following his progress and all of the updates provided. It really looked like he was going to survive this, but every report mentioned how long his recovery was going to be if he wanted to get back to playing the sax. That kind of report, for someone of his age, did not bode well in my mind and I had a sneaky suspicion that he would not play with the band again. And I kept thinking how tragic that would be for him, being alive but not being able to do what he loves so much. So perhaps this was a blessing in disguise - he did not have to wither away and grieve the loss of his talent and abilities.</p>
<p>For those who haven’t read some of the other threads I’ve posted on today, H was involved in a serious bicycle wreck Friday night and was admitted to the hospital last night with a bruised lung, broken clavicle, six broken ribs and a concussion. He was wearing his helmet (something he fought when he first started riding), which ended up being cracked, so given the severity of his injuries we can all pretty much assume that he might have been killed or sustained major brain damage if he had not been wearing the helmet. And I kept imagining how depressed and angry he would be living with a brain injury and then wondered how Clarence Clemons must have felt if he realized he probably would never play the sax again. H and I were talking about it today in the hospital (H is having surgery on his clavicle tomorrow) and he didn’t realize Clemons was 69. Brain injury aside, it was truly amazing that he was still up on that stage, even if he wasn’t as perky as he used to be.</p>
<p>First, Teri–I’m so sorry to hear about your H’s accident. Thank god he was wearing a helmet–a reminder to me to do so all the time. Wishing for a speedy recovery for him.</p>
<p>Clarence–it’s ridiculous how sad this has made me. i’m a Jersey girl through and through; I grew up on the Jersey shore near AP, and have seen Bruce’s shows many times. Clarence was such an integral part of the music and the mystique–I can’t imagine how the E Street Band can perform without him. Replacing Danny F was tough; this might be impossible. The Big Man had such presence (and that gorgeous sound.)</p>
<p>Very sad for his family, friends, and fellow musicians. Been listening to E Street stuff all weekend. </p>
<p>“When the change was made uptown
And the big man joined the band
From the coastline to the city
All the little pretties raise their hands
Im gonna sit back right easy and laugh
When scooter and the big man bust this city in half
With a tenth avenue freeze-out, tenth avenue freeze-out
Tenth avenue freeze-out…”</p>
<p>Teri: so sorry to hear about your H’s accident; glad that the helmet did his job and that he shouldn’t have to deal with any long term repercussions.</p>
<p>I had also hoped Clarence would pull through; my mom had a stroke 9 years ago and the road to recovery can be tough depending on what’s affected. With Clarence’s knee & hip issues, if it had been much more than a mild stroke he may not have been able to recover fully. And a man like Clarence is hard to imagine in a diminished state. Sometimes what looks like worst case to us is actually a blessing to the patient.</p>
<p>Garland: I am also surprised by how sad I am. I’ve been very nostalgic and had a terrible case of homesickness yesterday; I was walking down memory lane and ended up deciding I need to make a trip back home this summer. I’m veiling it as part of D2s college planning, but really I need to get on the GSP and go to the shore.</p>
<p>Rob–the only time I lived for an extended time away from the shore, was in college in Michigan. Loved the school and the town, but I always felt landlocked. GSP–I grew up between 114 and 117, lived much of my adult life off 148, but am looking to live as much of the rest of it as possible at 0. Still have a ton of love for the upper shore, but became attached to the lower part through vacations; there’s just less people and stuff down there. But in my heart, Monmouth Co will always be “home.”</p>
<p>I’ve been feeling the same way. Isn’t it weird that those of us who grew up in Jersey have such deep and continued feelings for the state (even if we currently live elsewhere) yet it’s a state that lots of others either hate or find joy in making fun of or laugh at? I haven’t lived there in many, many years but I still feel those ties and when I returned last summer for my 40th high school reunion, I loved every minute of my short visit. I am, this morning, in the midst of planning a return visit this fall. I think it may be time to revive that thread we did here on CC a few years ago about ‘you know you live in Jersey if’. Maybe someone with good search skills can find it? I never seem to be able to do that.</p>
<p>Also a NJ native,and extremely sad over the death of Clarence…as others have mentioned ,we have taken our older 2 D’s to see springsteen every time he was at Giants stadium or Philly over the last 5 years…at the final shows of both Giants Stadium and Spectrum…wife mentioned how we hadn’t taken our youngest D,11 yrs old, to a Springsteen concert,and now without the Big Man,she won’t have the opportunity to experience the magic of Bruce and Clarence…
Not sure how many,if any,tours Bruce has left in him, but our family will be there ,be it new Giants stadium or here in Philly…</p>
<p>We have a beach house in Ocean Grove, just a few blocks from Asbury Park and can see the Stone Pony from our 2nd floor balcony. If it were not for an early AM swim meet with S1, I would have been there yesterday. At least WDHA (the rock of NJ) was playing Clarence’s music all yesterday and I drove to the meet listening to Jungleland, Born to Run and Rosalita. Can wait for Southside Johnny at Stone Pony on July2!</p>
<p>I had not known he was featured on this video - he is only other person besides Gaga. </p>
<p>Love the last comment: ‘Among his many, many lifelong accomplishments, let it also be said the Clemons just got a nation of die-hard Springsteen fans to sit down and watch a complete Lady Gaga video’!</p>
<p>Count this family in as one of those in mourning this weekend. </p>
<p>One of the things about Bruce that made him so appealing was his generosity on stage to Clarence. What other star lets (no, encourages, demands) a group member upstage him at every concert? You always felt you were watching something really special, a bond that was beyond ordinary friendship. </p>
<p>Loved the Big Man. Just feeling incredibly sad knowing we will never see him in concert again.</p>
<p>I’ll never forget one the first time I ever went to New Jersey to visit a friend who lives in Manasquan. When I realized I was going, I had to look up how far Asbury Park was from Manasquan to see if I could somehow finagle my friend to drive me up there so I could say I’d been to Asbury Park. Unfortunately time didn’t allow it. </p>
<p>nj2011mom - Southside Johnny still tours? I bet there’ll be some sort of tribute to the big man.</p>
<p>Southside is the ultimate tour band… has been at the Keswick in burbs of Philly every November in recent years…this may sound crazy,but i actually like Southside Johnnys music more then ‘newer’ Bruce…once Bruce went to the phil Spector ‘wall of sound’ music, i grew more appeciative of SOuthside johnny where you can actually decipher the instruments in the band…Still love Bruce bigtime,but older Bruce or softer sounding Bruce is much better…listen to the songs from early albums,and how they were played then and how they are played now…</p>
<p>The best song i saw Bruce and the E street perform was at the Spectrum final tour, Higher and Higher by the great Jackie Wilson…goosebumps…</p>
<p>Was away from computer yesterday and just saw this. This Jersey Girl is still in shock over Clarence. I was wishing he would pull through, but also agree with others that if he couldn’t play he wouldn’t want to be here. My BIL read his book when it came out and said it was good, I guess we know what my beach book will be for down the shore this summer. I am sorry that my sons never got to see them play. The chemistry between Bruce and Clarence was amazing. I am spending a lot time today watching/reading everything. </p>
<p>Garland-- Are you sure you are not part of my family?? With those exit #s I know we must know some of the same people/places!!! But I am still up here - 150-151 and my sisters are down there -114-117 and of course my parents are 82!! Holiday City!</p>