Springsteen and Joel sing for Obama
Bruce Springsteen performed last night at New York’s Hammerstein Ballroom to support Barack Obama‘s campaign. Backed by Billy Joel’s band, Bruce sang some of his own songs, plus various duets with Joel, and one with India Arie and John Legend.
First onstage were India and John, and Bruce joined them in their last song. After that Springsteen sang acoustic solo versions of «The Promised Land» and «This Hard Land». Then it was time for Billy Joel and his band, with Bruce and Patti, and all together they went into «Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out», «Thunder Road», «Spirit in the Night» (video), «The Rising», «Glory Days» and «Born to run» (video), plus some of Billy Joel’s songs (Bruce and Billy trading verses) as «River of Dreams», «Allentown» or the classic «New York State of Mind» (video). See complete set list.
Springsteen dedicated «Born to Run» to senator Obama. After the musical performances, Senator Obama went onstage for a speech. He called the show «a magical event» and then said: »I was sitting offstage with (wife) Michelle, and I said, ‘Honey, the reason I’m running for president is I can’t be Bruce Springsteen. I can’t be Billy Joel’.»
