To some, Bruce Springsteen is the musician’s musician. So, it makes sense that he has solid music taste. Let’s take a look at just a few of Bruce Springsteen’s favorite songs, per his appearance on the BBC’s Desert Island Discs from a few years ago!
Videos by American Songwriter
1. “Like A Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan
This one isn’t particularly surprising. Springsteen has covered this song, after all. And Bob Dylan is more or less Springsteen’s contemporary, though their genres differ quite a bit. This iconic 1965 track from Highway 61 Revisited is the folk rock track.
“This could be at the top of the list,” said Springsteen of “Like A Rolling Stone”. “I was a creature of Top 40, so the first time I really heard him with this song, it just instantly started to change my life.”
2. “Hound Dog” by Elvis Presley
Springsteen spent his childhood in the Elvis Presley era, so it’s not surprising that The King made it to his list of favorite songs. Specifically, Springsteen is a longtime fan of the 1956 track “Hound Dog” from the album of the same name.
“When I heard it, it just shot straight through to my brain,” said Springsteen of when he heard “Hound Dog” for the first time as a child. “You were dealing with the pure thrust, the pure energy of the music itself. I was so very young but it still hit me like a thunderbolt.”
3. “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye
Bruce Springsteen’s got great taste, and it makes sense that “What’s Going On” by Marvin Gaye is one of his favorite songs. His interview with Desert Island Discs was not the first in which he mentioned his love for this 1971 track and the album of the same name, either. He brings up how much he adores this soul album on the regular.
“This entire record, from start to finish, is a masterpiece” Springsteen gushed. “It was sultry and sexual while at the same time dealing with street level politics. That had a big influence on me.”
4. “Madame George” by Van Morrison
Springsteen has penned some powerful rock tunes through the years, but he definitely has a soft side, too. He’s a big fan of Van Morrison’s 1968 track “Madame George” from his famed album Astral Weeks. Specifically, Springsteen noted that the record as a whole was “extremely important” for him.
“It made me trust in beauty, it gave me a sense of the divine,” said Springsteen. “The divine just seems to run through the veins of that entire album.”
Photo by Andre Csillag/Shutterstock
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Leave a Reply
Only members can comment. Become a member. Already a member? Log in.