Yo everyone, Shabbat Shalom! Alright, so Shabbat will be starting soon. Like in 5 or 6 hours. Ooh, I need to go shopping soon; I forgot to buy some candles! I have a hotdog-shaped candle, but I actually do have two candles for Shabbat. Normally, I light two candles for Shabbat, and then I need another four—two for myself and two for my hour. My grandmother raised me, and that reminds me, this is just a test broadcast. I'm still trying to learn how to do podcasting.
As I mentioned, my original idea is to create this podcast from a liberal perspective, particularly focusing on leftist Zionism. It’s kind of funny to be part of a podcast and not even know how to pronounce certain things! Recently, I was listening to some YouTube videos and came across a beautiful almond cookie recipe that I decided to try. It turned out pretty good! I also need to buy some snacks for my daughters.
When I go shopping, I’m sure I’ll end up spending another 200-300 shekels. It’s funny how just a few years ago, I remember buying things for $2, and now they cost $6—it's unbelievable! Speaking of unbelievable things, after I found those recipes, I took down some information. You know how YouTube works; it automatically plays the next video. Normally, I disable autoplay, but by default, you can’t do that unless you’re logged in. I don’t like logging into the YouTube app because it feels like they already know too much about me.
While browsing, I came across a channel by someone named Russell, who was talking about Bruce Springsteen. He mentioned that Springsteen is a "piece of shit" and that he was very vocal about his political views. This seems to reflect a misunderstanding between baby boomers and the younger generation regarding political ideas. Personally, I love Springsteen's music; his songs resonate with me deeply.
Interestingly, the first time I heard Bruce Springsteen's song "Thunder Road" was in my first car. It’s a funny story: when I was 17 or 18 years old, living in Johannesburg, my grandmother's friend called one evening. She said that everyone was moving to Cape Town, and since I wanted to buy a car, she offered me one for cash at a great price—30% cheaper than anything else, and it had very low kilometers, under $7,000. My grandmother, who was the same age, and I went to check it out.
It was a rainy day, and we took the bus and walked there, wearing those old-school 80s and 90s raincoats and rubber shoes, with an umbrella in hand. Believe it or not, when it rains in South Africa, it really pours! The weather back in the 80s and 90s is so different from what it is now; it’s like night and day.
When we arrived, I looked at the car from the outside, but I couldn’t tell the color.
Alright, hello! I have to pause for a moment because I'm trying to use Google Docs to type, and I got distracted by something, which caused me to stop. So, I checked out the car, acting as if I knew everything, and then we went inside. My grandma and her friends were talking about how her friend was moving to another city. They were excited about it, especially since we had relatives there, and I think we were planning to visit Cape Town eventually.
As teenagers, we were all eager to go after getting the necessary information. Finally, we got the details, and the guy who was the same age as me had a full license. I had to learn how to drive, so last night, I decided to take the wheel. He sat next to me, and a bunch of us were in the back. I put the tape in, and the first song that played was "Thunder Road." That’s how I remember it.
If you know this song, many people think it’s about working-class struggles, which might be true, but it’s not entirely the case. Springsteen's intention with the song was to attract girls. Back in the day, when this song was written, people were into ripped jeans and the image of a working-class guy fighting against the system. They were still reeling from the Vietnam War and all that turmoil.
Interestingly, Bruce Springsteen himself wanted to get rid of this song. It was only thanks to Max Weinberg, the drummer, who convinced him to keep the spirit and theme of the song focused on the blue-collar experience. However, this wasn’t what Springsteen originally wanted, and his own personality shines through in the song. If you listen closely to the end, it explains everything: "It's a town full of losers, I'm pulling out of here to win." That line reflects how Springsteen feels about his people who spend their money on his songs.
Now, regarding Springsteen's persona, it’s not just about his music; it also ties into his political views. His relationship with figures like Trump and his silence during the Obama administration show that he wanted to stay on the good side of the rich and powerful. During the housing crisis, while many were struggling, he was calling out to Obama, who was the first Black president and a Democratic leader. Unfortunately, Obama enacted laws that led to the arrest of people who made mistakes with their mortgages, which protected the powerful but hurt many everyday people.
Those of us who have pointed this out multiple times in the past have unfortunately been dismissed, but not in a good way. At the synagogue social, Trump pointed out that some people just never liked his song. Well, it sounds beautiful, and I’m never going to take away someone’s talent and skills. I mean, he is artistically talented; he has survived in this industry and continues to sing, getting all these people to love him. That’s a talent you can’t take away from someone.
However, the fact is that, like anything else, just because you’re smart doesn’t mean you’re a good person, and just because you’re not very bright doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. He became rich and powerful, and that corrupted him. It’s just the way it is. In his case, it wasn’t just luck; he listened to people who gave him good ideas. One of those people was Max Weinberg, who is now the lead drummer for Conan O’Brien’s show. It worked out for him; otherwise, he would have been just another name that nobody would remember.
This is just a little bit I wanted to point out. I have good memories associated with this song, and I still enjoy playing some of his music. You can’t deny his accomplishments, but just because you’re accomplished doesn’t give you immunity from criticism.
Regarding Obama, it’s worth noting that when he was standing next to Biden, he could have spoken up, but he didn’t. It seemed like he was completely disengaged, and he did nothing about it.
As for the claims about having advanced cancer, well, cancer doesn’t just disappear. For Shabbat, I’m not going to put too much effort into getting upset about someone I don’t really care about. Instead, I’m going to keep practicing my podcasting skills because I have a long way to go. You learn from the best and then move on with your life.
Good luck, baby boomers, with your disappointment in the people you should never have considered in the first place. It’s a shame that thousands of dollars go to concerts, and at the end of the day, it feels like you’re being spat on, only to have them pretend it’s honey. Well, if it’s not honey, it’s a disease, so get over yourself.
Anyway, thank you for listening, and guys, Shabbat Shalom! Love you all, and peace, love, and all the good stuff.
