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The songs describe problems unique to America, yet Europeans have reacted more enthusiastically than Americans to WSO, the album and tour. Three shows in Dublin sold out in 25 minutes; concerts in Asbury Park had empty seats.

Why are Europeans drawn to concerts that feature songs about problems unique to America, such as the war in Iraq and the aftermath of Katrina? Is the subject matter just too heavy for an American public besigeged with the same subjects on 24-hour news networks? And why are Europeans more into American folk music than Americans are?
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I think you answered that question yourself right there:
" Is the subject matter just too heavy for an American public besigeged with the same subjects on 24-hour news networks?"

Besides that I have a feeling that europeans in common are more open minded when it comes to it?s history wether it?s politically, musically or whatever, than the americans are.

It?s an interesting question.

I’m a first friday live shows-aholic and i'm proud of it

Good Question. The easy and glib answer would be that America love Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band. Bruce has also put his head above the parapit politically and this has driven a lot of 'fair weather' fans away. The interesting period will be the release of the next studio album, if it has the full band, my guess will be it will sell as well as the rising and the tour will be as big if not bigger.
P.S. I meant to say, your right that these problems are primarily America's but they completely divide America hence they will divide bruces audience, Europe agrees with Bruce, get the troops out of Iraq but half of America think Bush is doing a great job and thus don't want to go and see a 'liberal' preaching a message they don't agree with.
[]It has nothing to do with war or NO or the Indians or Bush or any of that shit. Americans think folk music is corny, Euros don't. End of story. [/]
This is the correct answer. Europeans grow up with a tradition of folk music. Americans don't, and when they're exposed to it, most of them don't like it. About the best that can be said is that Americans take folk music and rework it to make it more palatable--just look at what groups like Flogging Molly, The Real MacKenzies, Dropkick Murphys, etc. have done with traditional Irish music.
Vive Le Resistance!
Americans think folk is 'corny' so they won't buy it. Remind me, what is Country and Western, they seem to have no problem buying that corniest shit of the lot. Americans don't like Bob Dylan, Neil Young or Springsteens Nebraska coz it's really corny. Thats really a too simplstic argument did Bruce have trouble selling tix in the states for the GOTJ, ie were there venues only half full, obviously the numbers were down on 92/93 cause it was a small tour, but I bet it sold out.
I don't know about other countries, but we hated our own folk music when we grew up. Fiddles and accordions..it sounded embarrassing compared to more exotic folk music. And american folk also sounded awful, because apart from blues and a few other types, it sounded much like our own. But since the nineties and the advent of blackmetal (I'm not joking) there's been a revival for folk music all over europe. Lots of obscure metal bands took up folk and a feeling of pride over the national heritage seems to have been woken. Blackmetal worked like punk, but had a much deeper impact. 15 years ago I laughed my ass off by the thought of listening to thrash from Poland, for example, but now you can be from anywhere in the world and be recognized for you music. Plenty of other bands and types of music have followed. The new-generation non-metal folk bands I know from Scandinavia, like Gaate, Hedningarna, Garmarna, Vamp etc have done some very exciting things to our folk music.

Just my thoughts about newer music and the younger crowd. Bands like Jethro Tull, Fairport Convention and The Waterboys have of course always been popular
Even if my die-hard days are over,I've been a Springsteen fan since I was old enough to listen to other things than music for children. A lot, ok SOME, of my metal friends respect springsteens music and even listen to some of the better albums. Black Metal is an aquired taste and you had to be at a special place and time and of a certain age to appreciate it, but other than that, more people should listen to extreme metal. Why limit yourself to a certain style of popular music, like ''rock'' or ''jazz''? It's their loss.
[]It has nothing to do with war or NO or the Indians or Bush or any of that shit. Americans think folk music is corny, Euros don't. End of story. [/]

I'm not disagreeing, but my girlfriend listens to popular country and it's the corniest stuff out there (songs about showing your pride in America by putting a ribbon sticker on your bumper). Why is that corny ok?
[]
I'm not disagreeing, but my girlfriend listens to popular country and it's the corniest stuff out there (songs about showing your pride in America by putting a ribbon sticker on your bumper). Why is that corny ok? [/]

That's not corny. Corny is four guys in sweaters, one of them playing a banjo, singing about the change of seasons and losing a fair haired lass to the wind. Popular Folk music.

Modern Country, the bumper sticker crowd? That's just lunkhead jingoism and junior high mall chics set to any random REO Speedwagon riff.
There is of course a connection between traditional music and pride in ones national heritage. Apart from a few special forms, american folk sounds much like a blend of northern and western european folk.

Which makes it all the more strange that americans find their folk corny while we embrace it.

When reading much of what you americans write about your own country, I'm not really surprised but can't help thinking how it would be percieved here where I live, if I would do the same about my own country. Much of what's written here and percieved as normal by the americans, would have gotten you into trouble. I guess it can be traced to the experiene of the two world wars.
[] That's not corny. Corny is four guys in sweaters, one of them playing a banjo, singing about the change of seasons and losing a fair haired lass to the wind. Popular Folk music.
[/]
Popular folk music is really more a single lesbian with a tank top and a rat tail singing about her menstruation. In a fair trade coffee shop.

Can you deny, there's nothing greater
Nothing more than the traveling hands of time?

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