There’s a certain electricity in the air when Bruce Springsteen walks onto a stage, but on a recent night in Manchester, that charge felt different.
The Boss Takes the Stage—and a Stand
The crowd at Co-op Live was already buzzing, but as Springsteen gripped the mic, the anticipation shifted from the promise of rock anthems to something more urgent—a message from an American icon about the state of his homeland.
Springsteen, now 75, didn’t mince words. “In my home, the America I love, the America I’ve written about that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent and treasonous administration,” he declared, his voice echoing through the arena. The audience, thousands of miles from the U.S., erupted in cheers, a testament to the global resonance of his words and music. I’ve seen Springsteen live before, but never with this kind of fire—this was less a concert, more a call to arms.
A Litany of Grievances—and a Plea for Hope
Springsteen’s remarks, delivered before launching into “Land of Hope and Dreams,” were not off-the-cuff. He’s always been a storyteller, but this time, the story was America’s present, not its past. He accused the Trump administration of “taking sadistic pleasure in the pain that they inflict on loyal American workers,” rolling back civil rights, abandoning allies, and “siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom”.
He didn’t stop there. Springsteen painted a picture of a country where “residents are being removed off American streets and, without due process of law, are deported to foreign detention centers and prisons.” He called out the defunding of universities that refuse to “bow down to ideological demands,” and the persecution of citizens for exercising free speech.
It was a litany of grievances, but also a plea: “Raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!” he urged, channeling the righteous power of art and rock ’n’ roll in what he called “dangerous times.”
The Politics of Performance
Springsteen’s political outspokenness is nothing new. He’s campaigned for Democratic candidates from John Kerry to Barack Obama, and more recently, Kamala Harris. But his Manchester speech stood out, not just for its content but for its timing. In an era when many artists have dialed back their political commentary, Springsteen’s words cut through the noise. It reminded me of the first time I heard “Born in the U.S.A.” as a kid—how its anthemic chorus masked a searing critique of American policy. Decades later, the Boss is still holding up a mirror to his country, unafraid of what it reflects.
The White House, for its part, dismissed Springsteen’s remarks as the out-of-touch musings of an “elitist celebrity,” suggesting he “stay overseas while hardworking Americans enjoy a secure border and cooling inflation thanks to President Trump”. But Springsteen’s critique wasn’t just about policy—it was about the soul of a nation.
A Message That Resonates Beyond Borders
What struck me most, watching the crowd in Manchester, was how Springsteen’s message transcended borders. Here was a roomful of Brits, singing along to songs about American towns they’d never seen, now cheering as the singer called out the failings of his own government. It was a reminder that the American experiment—its ideals, its struggles, its contradictions—matters far beyond its shores.
Springsteen closed his speech with a note of hope: “The America I’ve sung to you about for 50 years is real and, regardless of its faults, is a great country with a great people. So we’ll survive this moment.” It was classic Springsteen—clear-eyed about the darkness, but always searching for the light.
The Power of Speaking Out
In a world where celebrity activism can feel performative, Springsteen’s words in Manchester felt anything but. They were raw, urgent, and deeply personal. As someone who’s followed his career for years, I left the arena reminded of the power of music—not just to entertain, but to challenge, to comfort, and, sometimes, to lead.
If there’s a lesson in Springsteen’s Manchester moment, it’s that the fight for democracy and justice is never over—and that sometimes, the loudest truths are sung, not shouted.