I saw Philadelphia again on TV a few days ago. Nothing about it has changed. It is just like it was 16 years ago, an engrossing photoplay that passes oh so quickly across its over three hours running time. Therefore I heard the song Streets of Philadelphia on the soundtrack again.
Written and performed by Bruce Springsteen, Streets of Philadelphia won the Academy Award as Best Song Written for a Motion Picture in 1993. It has a strong message that aims for the gut about how the City of Brotherly Love can also be ill-informed, judgmental and cruel as shown by the way AIDS-afflicted lawyer Tom Hanks was treated in the story.
That was Springsteen’s first ever nomination and win at the Oscars. He was nominated again in 1997 for Dead Man Walking, about a convict awaiting his execution on death row, but he lost out to My Heart Will Go On from Titanic. That was no reflection on the quality of his work. Anybody else would have lost to My Heart Will Go On at that time.
I expected Springsteen to get another Academy Award nomination this year. After all he had already won the Golden Globe for Best Song for The Wrestler. This is the theme from the movie of the same title that stars Mickey Rourke. It is about a down and out wrestler who cannot seem to resist the lure of the mat and the roar of the crowd even at the expense of his life and people he loves.
But third time at bat did not happen to Springsteen. Oscar passed up on The Boss despite the fact that the Academy listed down only three nominees this year and could have easily added another and in this case, very deserving name.
Vying for the trophy are Down to Earth from Wall-E by Peter Gabriel and two songs with a distinct Bollywood touch, Jai Ho and O Saya, both from Slumdog Millionaire. So which one will Oscar bless? Slumdog is hot but Wall-E is sweet and it would be nice to see Gabriel with the Oscar.
Anyway back to Springsteen who from the way he has been everywhere that mattered lately, can afford not to feel bad about Oscar’s slight. He wasn’t at the Grammys but his Girls in Their Summer Dresses from Magic was named Best Rock Song. He gave a rousing performance at the Obama pre-inauguration pop concert. And best of all millions watched him give the half-time show at the Superbowl. Read somewhere that he is currently on tour though I doubt very much if Manila is in his itinerary.
All these activities are in sync with the promo for Springsteen’s latest album, Working on a Dream. It is a tight set that echoes his early work in the ’70s. Lighter and more optimistic in mood, it is actually the most radio-friendly I have heard from him in years. He is also back with his usual back-up, E Street Band whose playing is also in the same playful mood.
The heaviest stuff in the CD is The Wrestler, which is presented as a bonus track. Springsteen’s movie songs are usually dark and about flawed characters in desperate straits. He really hits a home run with this one and it is a good thing it comes as the last cut and does not detract from the tongue in cheek themes in the other songs.
Just think, he has a very young bank robber in Outlaw Pete. He has honest to goodness love songs in My Lucky Day and Surprise Surprise and as he says in Queen of The Supermarket, the object of his affections is the girl at the check-out counter. I agree this is not the Bruce Springsteen fans are familiar with. But I see no reason why he should not be allowed to be happy and have fun with his music.
Springsteen fans have no problem with the change. They are still buying. Working On a Dream debuted at the Billboard Top 200 Albums in No. 1 two weeks ago. It is also the second biggest selling rock CD in the US this week. It has gone down to the second slot, that means lower, yes but it is still doing great.