Like when you first heard it on the radio were you like "oh, there's another million dollar sellout synth-pop song for Bruce" or did you actually kinda like it?
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Did you guys hate stuff like this in 1988...??
- Thread starter Cadillac_Mike
- Start date
Despite playing in a hardcore band at the time I kinda dug it.
I actually hated anything he did..synths or no synths.
That's cool. The lead solo cutting through the synth pads and drum machines on that 50's butterscotch Tele is pretty sick! (perfect lead tone)
Actually one of my favorite Springsteen songs. Lofgren kills on this in the live shows.
I grew up in the New England area - I was surrounded by OG Springsteen fans that grew up seeing him play small clubs. When this came out, they mourned the lack of Springsteen’s honest and organic sound that made him successful, and so did I.
The record that this tune came from was more of a Bruce solo project than a Bruce Springstee and the E St. band effort. He had E St. band members play on some of it, but he did program a lot of the parts himself using the technology available at the time.
The record that this tune came from was more of a Bruce solo project than a Bruce Springstee and the E St. band effort. He had E St. band members play on some of it, but he did program a lot of the parts himself using the technology available at the time.
If I ever listened to Tunnel of Love all the way through, it wasn't by choice. IMHO 
“Sell-out synth-pop”? Like ZZ Top and their sequencers and robot beats?
I actually liked that tune as a composition, regardless of whether it might have featured synth pads or just organ chords instead. It sounded contemporary, I liked the production/arrangement on it. It was a powerful song, and an interesting comeback after the oversaturation and aftermath of “Born In The USA”, which had a prominent string synth hook. That album and tour elevated him to true superstar status, after the stark and bleak Nebraska album before it(which didn’t do that well).
The Born tour was the only time I ever went to see him live. I enjoyed it, I was entertained, I had the experience, but on the other hand, while I generally didn’t mind hearing his stuff on the radio, he was never an artist that I would go out of my way to pursue. I had vaguely heard some of his earliest material when he first emerged, I was very “whatever” about as it sounded like a watered down Dylan imitation with old school R’n’B backing. When all the writers and critics were peeing their pants about him and Born To Run, I just didn’t get it. But then, I was over(by 1973/74)what Rolling Stone(in particular)had to say about anything.
At that time I was deep into prog and fusion, plus(ironically)bands and artists who were forerunners of punk/new wave. Things had changed immensely by the time Darkness On The Edge Of Town came out, but once again, while I generally liked it, it was an album that I’d borrow instead of own. The River was OK, I guess, I didn’t dwell on it much.
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I turned 18 in '88 and started college. That was about when I stopped paying attention to rock and pop music and was interested in (mostly Celtic) folk music, jazz and Broadway. So this particular song wasn't on my radar at all. I don't even recognize it, was it a hit?
I would say it exemplifies WHY I lost interest in popular music on the radio. A lot of the existing artists were getting bland and milquetoast. I didn't have anything against synths or anything, but only if the artist was going to use them in an interesting way. I liked Art of Noise, Howard Jones and Depeche Mode. But this kind of thing was the equivalent of those 60s bands slathering their songs in saccharine string arrangements.
I would say it exemplifies WHY I lost interest in popular music on the radio. A lot of the existing artists were getting bland and milquetoast. I didn't have anything against synths or anything, but only if the artist was going to use them in an interesting way. I liked Art of Noise, Howard Jones and Depeche Mode. But this kind of thing was the equivalent of those 60s bands slathering their songs in saccharine string arrangements.
Honestly what I love about Bruce is how much his fans love him, and how they do it, seems genuine, positive, wholesome.
I listened to TUnnel of Love all day long but it was the Dire Straits song, still a piece of art to this day.
Springsteen, not so much. I think he's a good writer and singer but the music isn't to my taste.
Springsteen, not so much. I think he's a good writer and singer but the music isn't to my taste.
I didn't mind it, I don't mind it now...unless I'm exposed to it for too long and it's not turned up too loud.
Bruce is an artist that, while he wasn’t a trend follower, he wasn’t afraid to embrace new things. Looking back decades later, yes, some of his work holds up better than others. If you haven’t put out as many albums as he has, it’s not fair at all to cherry pick a tune you don’t think is his best and criticize it.
Although I’m not the most ardent Bruce follower, I have seen him in concert, and he’s not only good at coming up with good songs, he works as hard as any performer you’ll ever see.
Although I’m not the most ardent Bruce follower, I have seen him in concert, and he’s not only good at coming up with good songs, he works as hard as any performer you’ll ever see.
Agreed. This is the only Springsteen tune I can stand. I'm going down the rabbit hole looking for better covers.
Riis
I was 8 years old when Born in the USA came out, and most of those songs were force fed to me. I liked some of them but never became a huge fan. By the time this album came out, I was already headed in a different direction with my musical tastes (into the new and exciting world of thrash metal) and it barely registered a blip on my radar. Think of it in context ‐ it was less than a year since Metallica's Master of Puppets, Slayer's Reign In Blood, and Megadeth's Peace Sells had come out. I was also in NY and surrounded by radio stations that were playing this new freestyle music out of the Bronx. Complete opposites, but that's where my adolescent brain was focused, not on some middle aged heartland rocker experimenting with synths.
I wasn't even planned in 88, but I can try to draw analogies to modern music. And honestly, I don't hate any music. The worst music can be for me is boring.
Given the commercialism and cheese of the era, I can't really find anything to like in 1988. Most of that decade sucked for me. Hair bands.
Actually I really like Tunnel Of Love because of the great songs. It was almost like he was following up Nebraska but in a real studio this time.
I know people will say that the sound is dated because of the synths, wait a few more years. Think of all the bands out there right now using the same analog synth sounds we thought were dated 35 years ago. Oh and how about the return of fuzz bass
Nobody else ever thought of doing Texas blues with synthesizers. Genius…seriously.
I know people will say that the sound is dated because of the synths, wait a few more years. Think of all the bands out there right now using the same analog synth sounds we thought were dated 35 years ago. Oh and how about the return of fuzz bass
“Sell-out synth-pop”? Like ZZ Top and their sequencers and robot beats?
Nobody else ever thought of doing Texas blues with synthesizers. Genius…seriously.
