Filed under: Too Beautiful to Live
That's how Bruce Springsteen introduces "Raise Your Hand" on the greatest box set ever released, Live 1975-1985. He then goes on to sing:
If there's something you need
That you just don't have
Well just don't sit there
Feeling bad
Come on now get up
Try and understand
Just raise your hand
Well BPP fans new and old, and young and old, you've certainly done that.
I want to first apologize for being largely M.I.A. online since this maelstrom hit. The truth is, the outpouring of affection for our show has been surprising to the whole BPP crew, and while some understandably take comfort in knowing this thing was really reaching people, I've found it more maddening than anything. It's even harder to handle being cancelled when you're faced with so many reminders that you were succeeding.
Working on a radio show is strange in a way, because you never see your audience. Sometimes friends ask me, "Don't you get nervous when you go on the air?" And I always respond, "No. Because I convince myself nobody's listening." (Why would going into a room and talking to your friends make you nervous?) But thanks to the wonders of the interwebs, the studio wall, like so many others, is coming down. And I just want to say thanks to everyone who's written so many nice things about the show, especially Shelley Bishop, who named a baby chick after me. (It's not her firstborn son, but she did promise not to eat it, so I can't complain.)
Although the weight of the BPP's cancellation is heavy, I'm cheering myself up by looking forward to this Sunday, when I'm going to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in Giants Stadium, in New Jersey. All music fans remember their first concert, and mine was Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in Giants Stadium, in New Jersey...in 1985. I was eight.
For those of you who aren't lucky enough to be going to the show, I promise to post a full recap and review on the new site Monday morning. (You didn't think a little cancellation would stop us, did you?) For now, enjoy Bruce and the boys back in the day performing "Raise Your Hand." They have other songs I love more, but this one sure seems applicable right now, especially about 2:30 into the video. And it got my booty shaking...
Dan Pashman
7:03 PM ET
|
07-23-2008
|
permalink
|
comments (7)
|
e-mail post
Filed under: Music
Philly indie rock band Dr. Dog stopped by last week to chat and play songs from their new album, "Fate." We played a portion of the interview on the show today, but since the BPP's time is short, we didn't have space for the whole thing. Here's the full Dr. Dog interview, with an additional song performance that didn't air today:
Stream the entire new album on the band's MySpace page.
Dan Pashman
11:02 AM ET
|
07-23-2008
|
permalink
|
comments (6)
|
e-mail post
Filed under: The Best Song In The World Today, Too Beautiful to Live
Let's make a deal.
iStock
We're in the middle of our last week here at the BPP and at stage three in the Kubler-Ross model of grieving -- bargaining. Today on the show, I talked about hoping that we could find a way to keep this show alive. So many of you have shared your suggestions and strategies for saving the BPP this week , and it's nice to know you are feeling the same sort of desperation I'm dealing with. Unfortunately for all us, yesterday we did get an official answer from NPR's interim CEO Dennis Haarsager, and it wasn't what we were hoping for. He is the official and final word from NPR, but still you never know. I mean it could happen, they could change their minds....right?
Caitlin Kenney
9:33 AM ET
|
07-23-2008
|
permalink
|
comments (37)
|
e-mail post
Filed under: Links From the Show
Mr. Methane is the top performer in a highly specialized arena. Our editor Tricia McKinney has a soft spot for his rare art.
It's the BPP's Ramble.
Hip-hop star Nas protests FOX News 'Obama smears' / Last-Ditch Resort: Move Polar Bears to Antarctica?
Laura Silver
6:05 AM ET
|
07-23-2008
|
permalink
|
comments (3)
|
e-mail post
