Álbum: Wrecking Ball
Artista: Bruce Springsteen
- Fecha de lanzamiento: 5 de Marzo de 2012
- Sello Discográfico: Columbia
- Compositores: Bruce Springsteen
- Productores: Ron Aniello, Bruce Springsteen
Antecedentes: La Furia contra la Desigualdad
"Wrecking Ball" es uno de los álbumes más enojados y políticamente directos de la carrera de Bruce Springsteen. El disco es una respuesta apasionada a la crisis financiera mundial de 2008 y sus devastadoras consecuencias para la clase trabajadora. Springsteen canaliza la ira y la frustración de millones de personas que perdieron sus hogares, sus empleos y sus ahorros, apuntando directamente a la codicia y la irresponsabilidad de Wall Street.
El título del álbum, "Wrecking Ball" (Bola de demolición), es una metáfora de la destrucción de las vidas de la gente común. Es un álbum de protesta en la tradición de Woody Guthrie, pero con un sonido moderno y ecléctico que lo convierte en uno de sus trabajos más innovadores.
Proceso de Grabación y Sonido
Producido por Ron Aniello, "Wrecking Ball" presenta una paleta sonora sorprendentemente diversa y moderna. Springsteen y Aniello fusionaron el sonido de la E Street Band con una amplia gama de influencias, incluyendo el folk celta, el góspel, el hip-hop y hasta loops de batería electrónicos. Es un sonido que es a la vez tradicional y contemporáneo.
El álbum cuenta con la participación de la E Street Band, pero también de muchos otros músicos, incluyendo a Tom Morello (de Rage Against the Machine), cuya guitarra furiosa añade un filo de protesta a varias canciones. Trágicamente, fue el primer álbum de estudio de Springsteen desde la muerte del saxofonista Clarence Clemons, cuya ausencia se siente profundamente. Sin embargo, su espíritu se honra en la energía comunitaria y el alma del disco.
Análisis Musical y Temático
"Wrecking Ball" es un álbum de furia y fe. Las canciones son un ataque directo a la injusticia económica, pero también son un llamado a la comunidad y a la resiliencia. Springsteen utiliza imágenes religiosas y bíblicas para hablar de la redención y la esperanza en tiempos oscuros. Hay una tensión constante entre la ira y la compasión, la desesperación y la fe en el futuro.
Musicalmente, es un disco audaz. La fusión de los tambores irlandeses en "Death to My Hometown", los coros de góspel y el rap de Michelle Moore en "Rocky Ground", y los loops electrónicos demuestran una voluntad de experimentar que pocos artistas de su estatura se atreven a mostrar.
Análisis de las Canciones Principales
"We Take Care of Our Own": El primer sencillo es un himno de rock de estadio que, al igual que "Born in the U.S.A.", es profundamente irónico. El estribillo optimista contrasta con los versos, que cuestionan si realmente "cuidamos de los nuestros" en Estados Unidos. La canción fue utilizada prominentemente en la campaña de reelección de Barack Obama.
"Wrecking Ball": La canción que da título al álbum fue escrita originalmente sobre la demolición del Giants Stadium, pero en el contexto del álbum se convierte en una metáfora de la resistencia frente a las fuerzas destructivas. Es un poderoso himno de rock que se convirtió en una de las favoritas de sus conciertos.
"Death to My Hometown": Una furiosa canción de folk-rock celta que suena como una marcha de guerra. La letra culpa a los "codiciosos ladrones y barones ladrones" de la destrucción de las comunidades de la clase trabajadora.
"Land of Hope and Dreams": Una de las canciones más edificantes del álbum, que ya era una favorita de sus conciertos. Es un himno góspel sobre la inclusión y la redención, que presenta uno de los últimos solos de saxofón grabados por Clarence Clemons.
Rendimiento Comercial y Recepción Crítica
"Wrecking Ball" fue un éxito mundial, debutando en el número 1 en 16 países, incluyendo Estados Unidos y el Reino Unido. Fue el décimo álbum número uno de Springsteen en EE.UU., consolidándolo como uno de los artistas más exitosos de la historia.
El álbum recibió críticas muy positivas, siendo elogiado por su pasión, su relevancia política y su audacia musical. Rolling Stone le dio cinco estrellas y lo nombró el mejor álbum de 2012. La gira mundial que lo acompañó, la Wrecking Ball Tour, fue una de las más exitosas del mundo, con conciertos que eran a la vez furiosos mítines de protesta y celebraciones comunitarias de rock and roll.
Posición en listas:
- Estados Unidos (USA): 1
- Reino Unido (UK): 1
- España: 1
- Alemania: 1
- Suecia: 1
- Noruega: 1
Listado de Canciones
- We Take Care of Our Own3:54
Letra
I've been knockin' on the door that holds the throne I've been lookin' for the map that leads me home I've been stumblin' on good hearts turned to stone The road of good intentions has gone dry as bone We take care of our own We take care of our own Wherever this flag's flown We take care of our own From Chicago to New Orleans From the muscle to the bone From the shotgun shack to the Superdome We yelled "help" but the cavalry stayed home There ain't no-one hearing the bugle blown We take care of our own We take care of our own Wherever this flag's flown We take care of our own Where the eyes, the eyes with the will to see Where the hearts, that run over with mercy Where's the love that has not forsaken me Where's the work that set my hands, my soul free Where's the spirit that'll reign, reign over me Where's the promise, from sea to shining sea Where's the promise, from sea to shining sea Wherever this flag is flown Wherever this flag is flown Wherever this flag is flown We take care of our own We take care of our own Wherever this flag's flown We take care of our own We take care of our own We take care of our own Wherever this flag's flown We take care of our own - Easy Money3:37
Letra
You put on your coat, I'll put on my hat You put out the dog, I'll put out the cat You put on your red dress for me tonight, honey We're going on the town now looking for easy money There's nothing to it mister, you won't hear a sound When your whole world comes tumbling down And all them fat cats they just think it's funny I'm going on the town now looking for easy money Whoa! I got a Smith & Wesson. 38 I got a hellfire burning and I got me a taste Got me a date on the far shore, it's bright and sunny I'm going on the town now looking for easy money Whoa! (Na-na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na) You put on your coat, I'll put on my hat You put out the dog, I'll put out the cat You put on your red dress, you're looking real good, honey We're going on the town now looking for easy money We're going on the town now looking for easy money (Na-na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na-na) Whoa! Whoa! (Na-na-na-na) (Na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na) (Na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na) (Na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na) (Na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na-na) - Shackled and Drawn3:46
Letra
Great morning light splits through the chain Another day older and closer to the grave I'm closer to the grave and come the dawn I woke this morning shackled and drawn Shackled and drawn, shackled and drawn Pick up the rock, son, and carry it on Trudging through the dark in a world gone wrong Woke up this morning shackled and drawn Whoa! Alright, yeah! I always love the feel of sweat on my shirt Stand back, son, and let a man work Let a man work, is that so wrong I woke up this morning shackled and drawn Shackled and drawn, shackled and drawn Pick up the rock, son, and carry it on What's a poor boy to do in a world gone wrong Woke up this morning shackled and drawn Freedom, son, is a dirty shirt The sun on my face and my shovel in the dirt The shovel in the dirt keeps the devil gone I woke up this morning shackled and drawn Shackled and drawn, shackled and drawn Pick up the rock, son, and carry it on What's a poor boy to do but keep singing this song I woke up this morning shackled and drawn Whoa whoa whoa! Whoa whoa whoa! Whoa whoa whoa! Gambling man rolls the dice, working man pays the bills It's still fat and easy up on banker's hill Up on banker's hill the party's going strong Down here below we're shackled and drawn Shackled and drawn, shackled and drawn Pick up the rock, son, and carry it on Trudging through the dark in a world gone wrong Woke up this morning shackled and drawn Shackled and drawn, shackled and drawn Pick up the rock, son, and carry it on What's a poor boy to do but keep singing this song I woke up this morning shackled and drawn Whoa! Whoa whoa-whoa! Whoa whoa-whoa! Whoa whoa-whoa! Whoa whoa-whoa! Whoa whoa-whoa! (i want everybody to stand up) (i want everybody to stand up and be counted tonight) (you know we got to pray together) (but i want everybody to stand up) (i want everybody to stand up and be counted tonight) - Jack of All Trades6:00
Letra
I'll mow your lawn, clean the leaves out your drain I'll mend your roof to keep out the rain I'll take the work that God provides I'm a Jack of all trades, honey, we'll be alright I'll hammer the nails, and I'll set the stone I'll harvest your crops when they're ripe and grown I'll pull that engine apart and patch her up 'til she's running right I'm a Jack of all trades, we'll be alright A hurricane blows, brings a hard rain When the blue sky breaks, feels like the world's gonna change We'll start caring for each other like Jesus said that we might I'm a Jack of all trades, we'll be alright The banker man grows fatter, the working man grows thin It's all happened before and it'll happen again It'll happen again, they'll bet your life I'm a Jack of all trades and, darling, we'll be alright Now sometimes tomorrow comes soaked in treasure and blood Here we stood the drought, now we'll stand the flood There's a new world coming, I can see the light I'm a Jack of all trades, we'll be alright So you use what you've got, and you learn to make do You take the old, you make it new If I had me a gun, I'd find the bastards and shoot 'em on sight I'm a Jack of all trades, we'll be alright I'm a Jack of all trades, we'll be alright - Death to My Hometown3:29
Letra
No cannonballs did fly No rifles cut us down No bombs fell from the sky No blood soaked the ground No powder flash blinded the eye No deafening thunder sounded But just as sure as the hand of god They brought death to my hometown They brought death to my hometown No shells ripped the evening sky No cities burning down No armies stormed the shores for which we’d die No dictators were crowned High off on a quiet night I never heard a sound The marauders raided in the dark and brought death to my hometown, boys Death to my hometown They destroyed our families’ factories and they took our homes They left our bodies on the plains The vultures picked our bones So listen up, my Sonny boy Be ready for when they come For they’ll be returning sure as the rising sun Now get yourself a song to sing and sing it ’til you’re done Yeah, sing it hard and sing it well Send the robber baron’s straight to hell The greedy thieves that came around And ate the flesh of everything they’ve found Whose crimes have gone unpunished now Walk the streets as free men now And they brought death to our hometown, boys Death to our hometown, boys Death to our hometown, boys Death to our hometown - This Depression4:08
Letra
Baby, I've been down But never this down I’ve been lost But never this lost This is my confession I need your heart In this depression I need your heart Baby, I've been low But never this low I’ve had my faith shaken But never hopeless This is my confession I need your heart In this depression I need your heart And I've always been strong But I've never felt so weak And all my prayers have gone for nothing I’ve been without love But never forsaken Now the morning sun The morning sun is breaking This is my confession I need your heart In this depression I need your heart This is my confession I need your heart In this depression I need your heart This is my confession I need your heart In this depression I need your heart - Wrecking Ball5:50
Letra
I was raised out of steel here in the swamps of jersey, some misty years ago Through the mud and the beer, and the blood and the cheers, I've seen champions come and go So if you got the guts mister, yeah If you've got the balls If you think it's your time, then step to the line, And bring on your wrecking ball Bring on your wrecking ball Bring on your wrecking ball Come on and take your best shot, Let me see what you've got Bring on your wrecking ball Now my home's here in these meadowlands Where mosquitoes grow big as airplanes Here where the blood is spilled, the arena's filled, And giants play the game So raise up your glasses and let me hear your voices call Because tonight all the dead are here, So bring on your wrecking ball Bring on your wrecking ball Bring on your wrecking ball Come on and take your best shot, Let me see what you've got Bring on your wrecking ball Yeah, we know that come tomorrow, None of this will be here So hold tight on your anger, you hold tight on your anger Hold tight to your anger, don't fall to your fear Now when all this steel and these stories, They drift away to rust And all our youth and beauty, It's been given to the dust And your game has been decided And you're burning the clock down And all our little victories and glories have turned into parking lots When your best hopes and desires are scattered through the wind And hard times come, and hard times go And hard times come, and hard times go And hard times come, and hard times go And hard times come, and hard times go And hard times come, and hard times go Yeah just to come again Bring on your wrecking ball Bring on your wrecking ball Come on and take your best shot, Let me see what you've got Bring on your wrecking ball Bring on your wrecking ball (bring on your wrecking ball) Bring on your wrecking ball (bring on your wrecking ball) Come on and take your best shot, Let me see what you've got Bring on your wrecking ball - You've Got It3:49
Letra
No one ever found it, ain't no school ever taught it No one ever made it, ain't no one ever bought it Baby you've got it, baby you've got it Come on and give it to me Ain't no one can break it, there ain't no one can steal it Ain't no one can fake it, you just know it when you feel it Baby you've got it, baby you've got it Come on and give it to me Yeah, you can't read it in a book, and you can't even dream it Honey, it ain't got a name, you just know it when you see it Baby you've got it, yeah, baby you've got it Come on and give it to me Well, now listen up, your reckless love is precious so don't waste it Can't tell you what they made it of, but i know it when i taste it Baby you've got it, yeah, baby you've got it You've got it in your bones and blood, yeah, you're real as real ever was Baby you've got it, yeah, baby you've got it Come on and give it to me - Rocky Ground4:41
Letra
(i'm a soldier!) (i'm a soldier!) We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground Rise up shepherd, rise up Your flock has roamed far from the hills The stars have faded, the sky is still The angels are shouting "glory hallelujah" We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground Forty days and nights of rain have washed this land Jesus said the money changers in this temple will not stand Find your flock, get them to higher ground Flood waters rising and we're caanan bound We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground (i'm a soldier!) Tend to your flock or they will stray We'll be called for our service come judgment day Before we cross that river wide Blood on our hands will come back on us twice (i'm a soldier!) Rise up shepherd, rise up Your flock has roamed far from the hills Stars have faded, the sky is still Sun's in the heavens and a new day's rising You use your muscle and your mind and you pray your best That your best is good enough, the lord will do the rest You raise your children and you teach 'them to walk straight and sure You pray that hard times, hard times, come no more You try to sleep, you toss and turn, the bottom's dropping out Where you once had faith now there's only doubt You pray for guidance, only silence now meets your prayers The morning breaks, you awake but no one's there We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground There's a new day coming We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground (i'm a soldier!) We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground There's a new day coming We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground (i'm a soldier!) We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground There's a new day coming We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground (i'm a soldier!) We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground There's a new day coming We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground We've been traveling over rocky ground, rocky ground - Land of Hope and Dreams6:58
Letra
Oh this train... I'm ridin' this train... Don't you wanna ride? Grab your ticket and your suitcase Thunder's rollin' down this track Well, you don't know where you're goin' now But you know you won't be back Well darlin' if you're weary Lay your head upon my chest We'll take what we can carry And we'll leave the rest Big wheels rolls through fields where sunlight streams Meet me in a land of hope and dreams I will provide for you And I'll stand by your side You'll need a good companion now For this part of the ride Leave behind your sorrows Let this day be the last Tomorrow there'll be sunshine And all this darkness past Big wheels roll through fields where sunlight streams Meet me in a land of hope and dreams Well, this train Carries saints and sinners This train Carries losers and winners This train Carries whores and gamblers This train Carries lost souls I said, this train Dreams will not be thwarted This train Faith will be rewarded This train Hear the steel wheels singin' This train Bells of freedom ringin' This train Carries saints and sinners This train Carries losers and winners This train Carries whores and gamblers This train Carries lost souls I said, this train Carries broken-hearted This train Thieves and sweet souls departed This train Carries fools and kings This train All aboard I said now, this train Dreams will not be thwarted This train Faith will be rewarded This train Hear the steel wheels singin' This train Bells of freedom ringin' Come on this train... People get ready You don't need no ticket All you gotta do is Just get on board On board this train People get ready You don't need no ticket (Oh I know you don't) You don't need no ticket You just get on board (People get ready) You just thank the lord (People get ready) You just thank the lord (People get ready) You just thank the lord (People get ready) Come on this train People get ready Come on this train People get ready - We Are Alive5:36
Letra
There's a cross up yonder up on calvary hill There's a slip of blood on a silver knife There's a graveyard kid down below Where at night did come to life And above the stars, they crackle in fire A dead man's moon throws seven rings Well, we put our ears to the cold grave stones This is the song they'd sing We are alive And though our bodies lie alone here in the dark Our spirits rise to carry the fire and light the spark To stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart A voice cried out, i was killed in maryland in 1877 When the railroad workers made their stand Well, i was killed in 1963 one sunday morning in birmingham Well, i died last year crossing the southern desert My children left behind in san pablo Well they left our bodies here to rot Oh please let them know We are alive Oh, and though we lie alone here in the dark Our souls will rise to carry the fire and light the spark To fight shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart Let your mind rest easy, sleep well my friend It's only our bodies that betray us in the end I awoke last night in a dark and dreamy deep From my head to my feet, my body had gone stone cold There were worms crawling all around me Fingers scratching at an earth black and six foot low And alone in the blackness of my grave Alone i'd been left to die Then i heard voices calling all around me The earth rose above me, my eyes filled with sky We are alive And though our bodies lie alone here in the dark Our souls and spirits rise To carry the fire and light the spark To fight shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart To stand shoulder to shoulder and heart to heart We are alive