Round 1 Pick 1
THE BOSS
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3vUKBOJ5sU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWQV7agBFtE
Is Bruce Springsteen the greatest value here? No. But I don't care. One thing that I do think is true is that Springsteen is probably closer to whatever BN you have atop your lame un-boss draft charts.
For almost 40 years Bruce has been one of the mainstays in American music. He is considered the great songwriter of his generation by many, and the best live act by most. He has created classic albums with a band and by himself. He has made countless great American songs; Spirit in the Night, Rosalita, The River, Badlands, Jungleland, Tenth Avenue Freeze Out, Atlantic City, Born in the USA, Born to Run, Thunder Road, the thing about AIDS, I could go on forever.
This is Bruce's prime:
# 1973: Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. (–)
# 1973: The Wild, the Innocent & the E Street Shuffle (–)
# 1975: Born to Run (#3)
# 1978: Darkness on the Edge of Town (#5)
# 1980: The River (#1)
# 1982: Nebraska (#3)
# 1984: Born in the U.S.A. (#1)
Really a fantastic 10 year stretch, and while he didn't make it last for 30 he still can put out really good albums and put on really good shows at age 60. He has great longevity and a huge peak. He is versatile, with stuff like the River to stuff like Dancing in the Heart. With a full band or an acoustic guitar.
The key component to this draft is timelessness and I think The Boss has that quality in spades. Nath made a point that ticket sales don't matter for concerts, and I agree. What sets Bruce apart from other huge acts is that his live career is incredibly timeless. Yes, he has a great discography and a great bunch of songs and he is a great writer, but he is imo the most transcendent live performer of his generation. From small bars to incredible stadiums his performances are timeless and still watched and talked about today. I think most of us are a little young for Bruce's apex, but his live shows were the biggest thing in music. He was on the cover of time and newsweek the same week. He was, The Boss. I wasn't there, so I can't really do it justice, but I've always loved this quote:
"I saw rock and roll future, and its name is Bruce Springsteen. And on a night when I needed to feel young, he made me feel like I was hearing music for the very first time."
I didn't want to pick or choose between members of an all time great band, or pick someone who doesn't completely resonate with me. After hemming and hawing between a few people I wasn't overly happy or sure about, I said **** it and picked one of my favorites. Why? Because he is The Boss, bitch.