10 Perfect Rock Singles Of The 80s
6. Bruce Springsteen: Born In The U.S.A. (1984)
Springsteen's greatest single was also his most misunderstood. Ever the champion of the people, the Boss wrote the track as a condemnation of America's failings. Ronald Reagan had been in the White House for several years by this point; his promises to address the economic hardship of the working class had not been fulfilled.
Born in the U.S.A. dismantled the lie of America's pursuit of happiness. Posing as a triumphant, flag waving anthem, the lyrics reveal a different sentiment entirely. Those who only paid attention to the chorus thought it a rousing call to patriotism, but the verses spoke of the disenfranchisement of Vietnam vets. In a wonderful display of irony, Ronald Reagan played the song at a number of rallies during his 1984 presidential campaign. Despite Springsteen openly confirming the track is a damning critique of American policy, it was again played during Trump rallies in 2016.
It demonstrated the sheer brilliance of Springsteen as a subversive writer. Then again, when our leading figures can't even deduce the nuances of a fairly unsubtle song, it's no wonder the state of international politics is such a mess...