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Happy belated birthday, Bruce Springsteen.

For your 68th special day, we’ve decided the give you the gift of judgment.

As a prelude to the Boss’ debut on Broadway, the Asbury Park Press and APP.com will spend the next week sorting out the difficult and highly subjective question of:

What is the best Bruce Springsteen song?

Yes, we’ve considered his entire catalog and are about to be as judgmental as Johnny 99’s old nemesis, Mean John Brown.

But it can’t be decided with a Roll of the Dice, so here’s how it’s going to work. We convened a panel of five Springsteen admirers from our newsroom and they have seeded a 64-song tournament of favorites. Each day, we’ll reveal the songs that we have advancing until we’ve determined which song is Tougher Than The Rest.

But far be it from us to say You Can Look (But You Better Not Touch.) We want your voices to see the Light of Day, so each round we’ll open up the polls to let us know which picks you agree with and which should be Shackled and Drawn. (Voting is live for Round 2 and closes at 10 a.m. Sept. 27.) Feel free to sound off in the comments and on social media as well.

It’s like March Madness. You might be angry with the selection committee – see what we believe were our own biggest snubs – and chances are you’ll be shocked by some upsets. It should be fun and we have High Hopes.

SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY: Details from second rehearsal

SPRINGSTEEN IN CONCERT: Boss joins Van Zandt, Jackson Browne

SPRINGSTEEN HISTORY: How music saved Asbury Park

So check out our picks for Round 1 and then vote for your favorites at app.com/bossbracket. (Voting is now live for Round 2 through 10 a.m. Sept. 27. See readers' results for Round 1 here.)

Thunder Road Region

No. 1 Thunder Road vs. No. 16 Girls In Their Summer Clothes: Thunder Road was our overall top seed and for good reason, according to one panelist: “Thunder Road is not just the best song Bruce Springsteen ever wrote, it’s one of the best rock-n-roll songs ever written.” Winner: Thunder Road.

 

No. 8 The Rising vs. No. 9 Lost In The Flood: One panelist said: “The apocalyptic Vietnam era imagery still resonates with me just a bit more than the also powerful The Rising.” Winner: Lost In The Flood.

No. 5 Loose Ends vs. No. 12 Cadillac Ranch: The relationship in Loose Ends may not survive, but the song does. Winner: Loose Ends.

No. 4 Radio Nowhere vs. No. 13 Save My Love: A panelist said: “This would have been an all-time highlight for pretty much any other songwriter.” Winner: Save My Love.

No. 6 No Surrender vs. No. 11 Youngstown: One panelist said, “‘We learned more from a three-minute record, baby, than we ever learned in school,’ might be the mantra of a majority of music fans.” Winner: No Surrender

No. 3 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy) vs. No. 14 Downbound Train: Downbound Train is great, but you didn’t really think the Asbury Park Press was going to let this love letter to Asbury Park get knocked off in Round 1. Winner: 4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)

No. 7 Sherry Darling vs. No. 10 Spirit In The Night: One panelist explained: “If this was college basketball, it would be Spirit in the Night on a game-winning 3-pointer because in so many ways it exemplifies the ‘Jersey Shore sound.’” Winner: Spirit In The Night.

No. 2 Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) vs. No. 15 Brilliant Disguise: “The record company, Rosie, just gave me a big advance.” And advance it shall. Winner: Rosalita (Come Out Tonight).

Little Steven Van Zandt [left) and Bruce SpringsteenBuy Photo

Little Steven Van Zandt (left) and Bruce Springsteen perform together after Springsteen joined VanZandt and the Disciples of Soul on stage at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park, NJ, Saturday, April 22, 2017, during the Asbury Park Music in Film Festival.  (Photo: Thomas P. Costello)

 

Tenth Avenue Region

No. 1 Born To Run vs. No. 16 Lonesome Day: As a panelist said, “One of Bruce’s best 1970s songs versus one of his best 2000s songs. But you can’t go against Born to Run.” Winner: Born To Run.

No. 8 Land of Hope and Dreams vs. No. 9 For You: One panelist explained, “This can serve as a fine mission statement for the man’s whole career. He gives so much of himself to his audience, night after night and year after year, and we’re there for him in return.” Winner: For You.

No. 5 The Ties That Bind vs. No. 12 Blinded By The Light: In this tournament, the Manfred Mann does not exist. Winner: Blinded By The Light.

No. 4 Kitty’s Back vs. No. 13 Candy’s Room: Of Kitty, one panelist said, “This is probably the closest most listeners will ever get to witnessing a classic late-60s Upstage jam.” Winner: Kitty’s Back.

No. 6 Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out vs. No. 11 Born In The USA: Kid, you better get the picture: Tenth Ave. is moving on. Winner: Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out.

No. 3 New York City Serenade vs. No. 14 Meeting Across The River: As one panelist put it: “The hardest choice of the first round, because both of these songs are perfect.” Winner: New York City Serenade.

No. 7 If I Should Fall Behind vs. No. 10 Bobby Jean: Like when Syracuse drew a No. 10 a few years ago, Bobby Jean was dangerous at this seed. Winner: Bobby Jean.

No. 2 Badlands vs. No. 15 Gotta Get That Feeling: One panelist remarked, “A friend of mind once dubbed this song ‘primal scream therapy for adults.’ Indeed.” Winner: Badlands.

OK, you're halfway through. Take a break and scroll through this walk through the Asbury Park Press archives, featuring 100 photos of the Boss from 1999 through 2017

E Street Region

No. 1 The Promised Land vs. No. 16 Long Time Comin’: One panelist said, “Promised Land is the perfect live arena rock song.” Winner: The Promised Land.

No. 8 The River vs. No. 9 My City of Ruins: Razor-thin margin here because as one panelist said, “Another tough choice, but had to go with this song about how real life destroys teenage dreams.” Winner: The River.

No. 5 This Hard Land vs. No. 12 Ramrod: Classic 5-12 upset here for this infectious live experience. Winner: Ramrod.

No. 4 Growin’ Up vs. No. 13 I’m On Fire: At one of his Philadelphia concerts last year at this time, Springsteen remarked, “Before my biography, this was my biography.” Winner: Growin’ Up.

No. 6 I’m Goin’ Down vs. No. 11 The Promise: Great storytelling vs. a great pop song. Pop wins out here. Winner: I’m Goin’ Down.

No. 3 Because The Night vs. No. 14 American Skin (41 Shots): One panelist said, “Two of Jersey’s finest songwriters, Bruce and Patti Smith, joining forces, united by Jimmy Iovine to create a powerful, perfect piece of work.” Winner: Because The Night.

No. 7 Seaside Bar Song vs. No. 10 Streets of Philadelphia: “One panelist said, “Bruce’s best song of the 90s found him doing what he does best: Putting an incredibly empathetic voice to a national crisis.” Winner: Streets of Philadelpha.

No. 2 Atlantic City vs. No. 15 E Street Shuffle: “We're goin' out where the sand's turnin' to gold.” In this case: the second round. Winner: Atlantic City.

Bruce Springsteen takes the stage with the E Street

Bruce Springsteen takes the stage with the E Street Band at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Aug. 23, 2016. (Photo: FILE PHOTO (~ nfs))

 

57th Street Region

No. 1 Jungleland vs. No. 16 Hearts of Stone: For everyone who’s ever wanted to disappear down Flamingo Lane. Winner: Jungleland.

No. 8 Dancing In The Dark vs. No. 9 One Step Up: Fairly certain no one in our panel has been pulled on stage during Dancing. Winner: Dancing In The Dark.

No. 5 Adam Raised A Cain vs. No. 12 Hungry Heart: A panelist explained: “Everyone’s favorite ‘lesser-known’ Springsteen song is Adam Raised A Cain.” Winner: Adam Raised A Cain.

No. 4 Incident on 57th Street vs. No. 13 State Trooper: Epic storytelling and it inspired one of our four street-based region names. Winner: Incident on 57th Street.

No. 6 Prove It All Night vs. No. 11 She’s The One: “Baby just one kiss will get these things for you.” Things including a berth in the second round. Winner: Prove It All Night.

No. 3 Backstreets vs. No. 14 Talk To Me: A near-massive upset here as Talk To Me was a game 14 seed with one panelist calling it “pure Jersey Shore barroom pop bliss.” Still, Backstreets hung on. Winner: Backstreets.

No. 7 Racing In The Street vs. No. 10 Night: The only No. 7 seed to survive the first round. Winner: Racing In The Street.

No. 2 Thundercrack vs. No. 15 Long Walk Home: The showstopper Thundercrack was always likely to advance, but one panelist strongly advocated for Long Walk Home: “A metaphor for what Springsteen saw as unwelcome challenges to some of the country’s core values during the presidency of George W. Bush.” Winner: Thundercrack.

Now it is your turn

So you've seen our picks.

Now it's your turn.

Go vote in our Boss Bracket now at app.com/bossbracket. The Reader's Choice results for Round 1 were revealed Tuesday. Read them here and follow the schedule below.

What's next?

Here's the tournament schedule:

First Round: Panel picks revealed noon Sept. 25; Reader poll opens noon Sept. 25; Reader poll closes 10 a.m. Sept. 26; Reader picks revealed noon Sept. 26

Second Round:Panel picks revealed noon Sept. 26; Reader poll opens noon Sept. 26; Reader poll closes 10 a.m. Sept. 27; Reader picks revealed noon Sept. 27

Third Round: Panel picks revealed noon Sept. 27; Reader poll opens noon Sept. 27; Reader poll closes 10 a.m. Sept. 28; Reader picks revealed noon Sept. 28

Quarterfinals: Panel picks revealed noon Sept. 28; Reader poll opens noon Sept. 28; Reader poll closes 10 a.m. Sept. 29; Reader picks revealed noon Sept. 29

Semifinals: Panel picks revealed noon Sept. 29; Reader poll opens noon Sept. 29; Reader poll closes 10 a.m. Oct. 2; Reader picks revealed noon Oct. 2

Finals: Panel pick revealed noon Oct. 2; Reader poll opens noon Oct. 2; Reader poll closes 10 a.m. Oct. 3; Reader pick revealed noon Oct. 3

Here’s the panel: Chris Jordan (@ChrisFHJordan), Alex Biese (@ABieseAPP), Jean Mikle (@JeanMikle), Mike Davis (@ByMikeDavis) and Steve Feitl (@SteveFeitl).

http://www.app.com/story/enter...s-bracket/699290001/

____________________________________

The SPL Rocks!

Prego che tu stia danzando con San Pietro alle porte perlacee del cielo





Pulled up to my house today
Came and took my little girl away!
Giants Stadium 8/28/03



Oats

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