Turing the focus away from touring for a moment, I just wanted mention one of the most most hauntingly beautiful pieces of music I've ever listened to: Paradise.

This is a song that passed me by for such a long time. The Rising is my favourite Bruce Springsteen album but this track was always the one forgettable song from the album, along with The Fuse, truth be told. But not too long ago I was listening to the album in my car and this track came on and as I was not paying attention I failed to skip past it and I usually would. Half way through the song I found myself enjoying it. Now it's a serious contender for my favourite Bruce Springsteen song.

The subject matter is breathtaking. Starting out following a suicide bomber and his/her attempt to reach paradise, then proceeding to the life of a loved one who was left alone due to the bombers action; the emptiness and worthlessness of life without that other person in his/her life that leads him/her to contemplate suicide before realising the value of life and that the only paradise to be found is in this life. It's absolutely phenomenal, and a song that only Bruce Springsteen could make work. The music is somehow both desolate and chilling yet at the same time soulful, rich and hopeful. It captures the essence of the lyrics and the mood of the song perfectly.

I never see this song being discussed as being amongst Bruce's greatest works. Anybody else feel the love for this song as much as I do?

Oh GOD YES.

It's in my Top 5 BS songs of all time, I totally understand why you love it :D

I always knew you were a man of great genius!

The entire album "The Rising" is absolutely spot on in my opinion. Perhaps it has something to do with 9/11, but I spent 10 nights in Giants stadium in 2003 being blown away by this album. At the end of the summer I felt better - and I still thank Bruce for the piece of mind that I arrived at - 2 years after the fact.

If Bruce had done nothing else but write The Rising he would deserve my utmost respect. Being Bruce - he has done this shit his entire life and has continued to make me revise my opinion of him - for the better at all times.

Ok so I don't know if these are just rumours or wishful thinking or what but
this list was posted on a Swedish message board. Nobody knows if they're
for real or not....

20/11/2009, O2 Arena, Dublin, Ireland
21/11/2009, O2 Arena, Dublin, Ireland
24/11/2009, Geldredome, Arnhem, Netherlands
28/11/2009, Palau Jordi, Barcelona, Spain
29/11/2009, Palau Jordi, Barcelona, Spain
02/12/2009, Palais Omnisports De Bercy, Paris, France
04/12/2009, Datch Forum, Milano
05/12/2009, Datch Forum, Milano
08/12/2009, Velodrom, Berlin, Germany
10/12/2009, Forum, Copenhagen, Denmark
12/12/2009, Globen, Stockholm, Sweden
13/12/2009, Globen, Stockholm, Sweden
15/12/2009, Telenor Arena, Oslo, Norge
16/12/2009, Telenor Arena, Oslo, Norge
18/12/2009, Telenor Arena, Oslo, Norge

Asok, I've never really spoken to you outside this thread so I don't know you too well but if these dates turn out to materilize I am going to find you and give you one hell of a kiss. Or maybe just a firm hand shake, you can choose.

Hahahaha ok ok steady now!! Alright then.... if they really are true...you're on!

Great news Asok, if the dublin shows are true i will try my best to be at both :D

Okay, no laughing. I bought another ticket. :oops: They moved the Nashville show from September to November AND announced that they'd be doing the entire Born To Run album there. The September date didn't work for me, but I decided I could make the November one work! Very excited . . .

Atleast this is one addiction that's legal :p
haha i would have done exactly the same if i had the money :D