Author: chimesfreedom

Editor-in-chief, New York.

Super Bowl Songs: I Am a Patriot

It is time once again for Chimesfreedom to take a look at songs related to each Super Bowl team. With this year’s battle between the New England Patriots and the New York Giants, we first consider the Patriots, using a song incorporating the New England mascot instead of going with Barry Manilow’s “Weekend in New England.”

Back in the 1980s before there was the Internet where you can find a large amount of music and concert footage of your favorite artist, I was desperate for anything related to Bruce Springsteen for the long years between albums. In one of those periods, I discovered the music of Little Steven and “I Am a Patriot.”

Little Steven, of course, is “Miami Steve” and Silvio Dante and Steven Van Zandt, a guitarist and singer in Springsteen’s E Street Band. While Springsteen’s songs gradually included more political allusions, Little Steven wore his social issues on his sleeve. “I Am a Patriot,” though, he reclaims the word “patriot” from the politicians and asserts its meaning as an advocate for freedom.

And I ain’t no communist, and I ain’t no capitalist;
And I ain’t no socialist;
and I sure ain’t no imperialist;
And I ain’t no Democrat;
And I ain’t no Republican either;
And I only know one party,
And its name is freedom;
I am a patriot.

Little Steven recorded several very good albums on his own during the 1980s, including Men Without Women (1982), Voice of America (1984), Freedom No Compromise (1987) and Revolution (1989). He added one last album in the 1990s with Born Again Savage (1999), which was not as successful as his previous albums. “I Am a Patriot” is off of Voice of America, and the song has been covered by Jackson Browne and Eddie Vedder, among others. Browne also has performed the song with Little Steven.

As for this weekend, at the end of the day on Sunday, New Englanders are hoping they can proudly assert the refrain of the song. Meanwhile, check out the Super Bowl song for the New York Giants.

Are you a fan of Little Steven? What other songs are appropriate for the New England Patriots? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Stuffed Plush Groundhog Toy Happy Groundhog Day! Today, Punxsutawney Phil, “Seer of Seers, Sage of Sages, Prognosticator of Prognosticators and Weather Prophet Extraordinary” saw his shadow, predicting six more weeks of winter. The prediction might not be so bad considering how mild the winter has been in the Northeast this year. For a little information on the holiday and some background on the Bill Murray and Harold Ramis feud behind the film Groundhog Day (1993), check out our post from last year. Read more about Groundhog Day. . .

    For those wondering about the current working relationship between Murray and Ramis, there have been rumors of a Ghostbusters 3. But a little more than a month ago, Murray supposedly sent a shredded script to Ramis and Dan Akroyd, rejecting the idea with a note saying, “No one wants to pay money to see fat, old men chasing ghosts!” But we are always up to see fat old men chasing groundhogs.

    What do you think of the idea of a Ghostbusters 3? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    New E Street Band Sax Player: Eddie Manion?

    southside johnny Yesterday, in The Record, Southside Johnny talked about his friendship with Bruce Springsteen, adding, “He’s stealing my saxophone players to replace Clarence, so we steal from each other’s bands occasionally.” Southside did not mention a saxophone player by name — and he did use the plural “players” unless that was a misprint. But one may assume that the theft at least includes Eddie “Kingfish” Manion. Manion played with Springsteen as part of The Sessions Band when Springsteen was touring to promote The Seeger Sessions. In addition to being an original member of Southside’s Asbury Jukes, Manion also played with The Miami Horns and Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul. He also was part of the backing horns when Springsteen played the Super Bowl halftime in 2009, and he played baritone sax with the E Street Band in the Carousel House video shoot for songs from The Promise in December 2010. So, considering the long relationship, the rumor seems like it could be true. [Feb. 9, 2012 Update: As noted below, it has been confirmed now that Manion will be playing saxophone on the upcoming tour — with another saxophonist.]

    If you are wondering what will happen to “Jungleland” on tour, here is Manion playing a tribute to Clarence Clemons after the Big Man passed away.

    And here is Manion with Springsteen and The Sessions Band playing “Pay Me My Money Down” (video set to start at a Manion solo):

    Assuming Manion is part of the tour, it is unclear whether Manion will be a full-fledged permanent member of the E Street Band or whether he is just filling in for the upcoming tour or whether he will be one part of a larger horn section. Of course, Southside’s comment is not official and Springsteen has not made any announcements yet. Nobody can replace Clarence and those are some mighty big shoes to fill, but the music must go on. Welcome, Kingfish.

    Update: Blogness on the Edge of Town speculates on the addition of a horn section while noting that we may not know the makeup of the touring band until the first rehearsal show.

    Update 2 (Feb. 9, 2012): Bruce Springsteen’s website has now confirmed that Eddie Manion will be playing saxophone on the new tour along with another saxophonist, Jake Clemons — the nephew of Clarence. The tour will also feature singers Cindy Mizelle and Curtis King, trombonist Clark Gayton, and trumpeters Curt Ramm and Barry Danielian.

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    There are a number of references to the film in the commercial. How many can you see? Some references are obvious while others are less obvious, like the name of Broderick’s agent, Walter Linder, which was listed above the name of Abe Froman (the Sausage King of Chicago) in the reservation book in the fancy restaurant in the film.

    Some of the references go by like life. Remember, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” While you are thinking about the film, check out Ferris Bueller Was Dating His Sister in Real Life (Plus 15 Other Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Ferris Bueller’s Day Off).

    What do you think of the new commercial? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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