The Boss is a Jersey Shore native, and for the uninitiated, ‘Jersey Girls’ is one Bruce Springsteen song that signals his affinity for the region. Staying true to his roots is nothing new for the legendary musician, and that’s one reason why Bruce is the voice of the working man.
Although Springsteen’s discography is extensive, a curious thing about the music videos that complement his singles is that most were recorded on the Jersey Shore. To be more precise, the scenic landscape of Asbury Park is a preferred backdrop for Bruce’s tunes.
The artist has revealed that this region has played a crucial role in his evolution as a musician.
Plus, at one point in the 70s, Bruce had a residency at Asbury Park.
We will examine three music videos that immortalize this popular Jersey spot.
Tunnel of Love (1987)
Many critics agree that ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ was the break-out album for Springsteen. But fans got a chance to experience his personal life via the introspective ‘Tunnel of Love.’ The lyric speaks about a young man’s misconceptions about love and the realization that it’s not an easy ride.
When talking about things close to his heart, the Boss always gravitates to home turf. And the Asbury Park boardwalk served as the perfect backdrop for Tunnel of Love. The local abandoned casino, featuring old equipment that’s a far cry from modern casino games, contributed to the spooky but entertaining music video.
We Take Care of Our Own (2012)
If you wonder how the Asbury Park landscape transforms with changing weather seasons, then have a look at Bruce Springsteen’s music videos. They do a fairly good job of documenting the transitions.
In the case of ‘We Take Care of Our Own’, fans get a glimpse of its winter atmosphere. The production managed to mobilize a lot of local extras, and they wouldn’t allow the low temperatures to prevent them from hanging out with Bruce.
Several locations get incorporated in the video essay, including the roof of the Savoy Theater. The song itself is a populist anthem of self-reliance.\
Devils & Dust (2005)
Music evolves, and the same rule applies to music video formats. However, technology can change, the music audience may have moved out of MTV and entrenched on YouTube, but Bruce stays loyal to Asbury Park.
The music video for the 2005 hit ‘Devils & Dust’ manages to discover a location that got overlooked in the previous decade. Another option is that the venue was a reserve spot for a future Springsteen music video production on the Jersey shore.
Bruce and his team chose the empty stage of Paramount Theater in Asbury Park as the scene for the video. The performance on the barren stage has symbolic meaning for many fans, which they interpret individually.
There is a longer version of ‘Devils & Dust,’ for which Springsteen recruited filmmaker Danny Clinch to help him devise a unique video story. The concept for the long-form video intermixes lyrics with a narrative from Bruce, discussing the songs from his first solo album. All previous projects were in collaboration with the E Street Band.
About the Author/s
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.
