If You Saw Bruce Springsteen Busking, Would You Give Him Money?

posted in: Music News • Pop • Rock

This question probably crossed the minds of a few people early last week. If you happened to be visiting Boston’s Public Gardens on September 1st you may have come across a certain singer-songwriter. No, no this wasn’t that kid down the hall from you in your down sophomore year (he was busy serenading co-eds on the quad). It was none other than Bruce Springsteen himself.

Having borrowed a guitar from a street performer he had encountered earlier in the day, Springsteen briefly played in the park, much to the delight of anybody who happened to notice. This wasn’t some publicity stunt or promo for an upcoming album. Springsteen was in town dropping his son off at Boston College and decided to kill some time in maybe the most awesome way that he could. Now, this isn’t the first time that Springsteen has been caught performing on the street like this, but still! How cool is that!

Spotting a major musician in public is usually pretty boring. If you’re in New York City or Los Angeles, you’ll catch stars of all walks of life out and about all the time. Boring. Still, Bruce’s little jam reminded us of some of our other favorite artist’s most awesomely public moments.

Neo-Soul singer Erykah Badu can be confrontational. She is an artist, damn it, and you’re going to know it. In 2010, Badu shot a video for her new single “Window Seat”, off her album New Amerykah Part Two (Return Of The Ankh) in downtown Dallas, TX. Not one for small gestures Badu decided to shoot her new video guerilla style. In one take, Badu hops out of her ride, strolls down the street and casually starts shedding her clothing until…

Keep in mind, this is all real. Passersby had no idea what was going on and were, unsurprisingly, shocked by the surprise nudity. Badu got slapped with a $500 fine and a few years probation for disorderly conduct. She also had to endure accusations that she was disrespecting the memory of president John F. Kennedy. It could’ve turned out worse”video directors Coodie and Chike stated that they had bail money on hand in case Badu got arrested during the shoot.

Some stars seem to have a thing for airports and planes. Kanye West took time during a flight last November to blow off some steam, dropping verses of “Gold Digger” and “The Good Life” over the plane’s PA system. Eighties pop superstar Cyndi Lauper, being a bit more grounded than Kanye, sang her signature hit “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” over the airport loudspeaker while she was waiting for her connecting flight in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

But maybe no star has made impromptu public performances into a thing then Beyoncé. Beyonce has made a habit of randomly dropping in for quickie performances. First it was at her sister Solange’s DJ gig in early 2010 in NYC. Then, last July, Beyoncé made the day of every kid in the Harlem Boys & Girls Club when she appeared during a dance event being held at a Target in Harlem. Wait until 1:11  in the video below for a real cute “D’AWWWWW” type moment. If you ever wonder why she’s the Queen, it’s for stuff like this.