Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6AtgHxdvghUjcjdPX1VhWN?si=da3e2fea3814416e
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWKSoxG1K7w
The problem is it's not that good a song.
Then again, neither was "We Are the World."
My inbox is blowing up with missives about this new Springsteen number. And I applaud Bruce's effort, but it's no "Hungry Heart," as in it's not an instant, one listen banger. And what you need in the Spotify era is something that grabs you in fifteen seconds, or five, and "Streets of Minneapolis" does not... It's no "Ohio," with its fat guitar and anthemic lyrics, nor is it the equal of "Eve of Destruction," wherein P.F. Sloan's words and Barry McGuire's emphatic delivery created a track that transcended the radio. Nor is it Sly's "Everyday People," never mind Bob's "Blowin' in the Wind."
Oh, don't get your knickers in a twist. That's what's wrong with today's society, everybody's paying fealty to their team to the point they're myopic, can't see the forest for the trees, and it's not only Swifties and the BTS Army, it's Trumpers and fans of the Boss too.
The biggest story today is Tesla's numbers. Without an organized effort, running on sheer instinct and hate, the public has put a huge dent into the car company, to the point where sales are off significantly and BYD owns the volume crown. People want nothing to do with Musk, and they're voting with their dollars. And we can take the same approach to Trump.
Now "We Are the World" is a dirgey, nearly dreadful composition that has a reasonable chorus, but it was a massive success. In a different era. When MTV could reach and dominate the world, and everybody was against starvation. Is everybody against Trump? No, but like a rock band of yore, the fanbase is growing and today Neil Young came down on Verizon and Apple for kissing Trump's butt. That's the kind of leadership we need, Neil has credibility, as for the Boss...
Like I said, I don't want to get into a discussion of the Boss.
But it's hard to write a catchy song on demand. If it was easy, acts would have dozens of hit records, and they don't.
In the MTV era, marketing could trump quality. Not anymore. Today you've got to lead with quality.
So...
It's very simple. It's Grammy weekend, just like with "We Are the World" forty years ago, we've got to get all the nominees, the presenters, the stars of today, peopled with a few from yesteryear, into a studio to sing a song and... If someone can write an instant hit, great. But if not, we get everybody on a soundstage and they sing Edwin Starr's "War," with new lyrics.
"ICE
What is it good for?
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!"
This song is such a slam dunk that Bruce has already covered it! It was an anti-Vietnam anthem. Just change the lyrics and...
You've got a background press story. The tale of the original song, written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong, originally performed by the Temptations. Starr and Whitfield and Strong are all deceased, their stories are ripe for the telling. By covering "War," there is instant backstory.
As for the recording...
You're part of the problem or part of the solution. The Boss can call up all of the stars and ask them whether they're going to participate. Who's going to say no to the Boss? And throw in Paul McCartney too. Trump does not only affect the U.S., hell, he's sending ICE to the Olympics!
No excuses. Either you show up and sing or we tell everybody you wouldn't commit. Force musicians to the forefront. Shame them if they won't participate. And just like with any benefit concert or record, once the superstars are on board, the lemmings come out in droves, not wanting to be left out, wanting the publicity.
As for producers?
It's a murderer's row. Dr. Dre, Rick Rubin and Andrew Watt. All behind the console.
As for the backing track, the musicians... These players all have backstories. Or, if time is of the essence, you can use the E Street Band.
"Streets of Minneapolis" is a one day phenomenon. How do you make your effort last?
One, by having a guaranteed hit song. Two, via the penumbra, the story, the background of the song and the participants and the recording thereof and...
But how do you promote it?
That's the problem, it's not like the days of yore.
So, every DSP has to be shamed into putting the song on its homepage, and keeping it there until...ICE leaves Minneapolis, or ICE removes its masks, or ICE is neutered completely, choose the limit.
As for Spotify... My inbox filled up with blowback about their ICE ads, this is an opportunity to make things right.
As for neutrality... Tim Cook isn't neutral, nor is Mark Zuckerberg or the aforementioned Musk, but somehow music DSPs have to be? No, that's about fear, pure and simple, they need to take a stand.
And then you've got the influencer army. A number at the studio recording, and then getting everybody to use the recording in their clips.
And instead of some lame kumbaya No Kings protest, we're going to assemble singers at the same time in all the major cities of America. Everybody's invited, from Boston to Honolulu. And at the same time, everybody is going to sing this new version of "War," en masse.
And if Netflix can defend Chappelle regarding his anti-trans and antisemitic remarks, they can have the making of video on their homepage. Maybe make them pay for the privilege, or get every streamer onboard, from Prime to Disney+.
As far as keeping the story alive, like I said, "War" is a hit! It's a record that never goes stale. This is a litmus test, just like with Jimmy Kimmel. Are radio stations too afraid to play this song for fear of retribution by the Trump regime?
It's time to stand up.
Or don't. But if you don't, you're on the wrong side of history. Keep defending ICE. Keep saying that Pretti was a domestic terrorist. Keep saying that Goode was asking for it. Keep denying the truth. Homey don't play that no more, even elected Republicans are switching sides.
It's time to get practical, enough with the virtue signaling, it's time to make a difference.
The real way to make change is to affect the economy. Just get everybody to stop buying, as Scott Galloway said. Put a hurt on the GDP. The nation runs on discretionary income, the people have the power, not the billionaires.
It's time to create our own bubble. Believe me, Fox News, the entire right wing blogosphere will not be able to resist talking about this song. And it's not going to look good when seemingly every musical star is on the other side. As powerful as Hannity is, he's no match for Bruno Mars or Lady Gaga.
So... This is easily doable.
But if it's not done, let's at least speak English, let's play by the rules. In order for a song to make a difference in today's world it must first and foremost be a one listen smash. Sans that, you're dead in the water. Once you've got the smash, then you can talk about marketing. As for news? What is on the homepage today is forgotten tomorrow, you need to create something that sustains.
If you're the kind of person who still can't handle the fact that I said "Streets of Minneapolis" was meh, that it was no "Streets of Philadelphia," which I heard once at a screening and couldn't get it out of my head, even though an official release was weeks away, you're part of the classic Democratic problem. Dems are so busy arguing amongst themselves that they can't get organized and make a difference. We have to worry about all the minority groups, give them a say, not offend them, become paralyzed to the point of inaction, like the DNC and those in Congress.
But they work for us. And it's time to show them where we're at. We need to take action.
Music has power, you've just go to use it.
Spotify is laden with tracks that are not listened to. You don't want to be one of those. And it's the oldsters who are against streaming, who think it's the devil. It's the youngsters keeping music alive. We've got to get them motivated by employing young acts. A few legends sprinkled in is fine, but...
Springsteen has already been neutered by the right. Been labeled. "Streets of Minneapolis" is only making those who are on his side feel good, it's not moving the needle amongst those still loyal to Trump, it's a press story. But a hit song made by people from the entire spectrum of music?
That's a start.
And we've got to start somewhere.
You never know when the whole thing will tip.
It starts with numbers and organization. And nothing is as powerful as music. LET'S USE IT!
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