Springsteen's Super Bowl Playlist

By Jim Shearer on 01/30/2009

Even if you're not into sports, I'm sure you're well aware of the fact that Super Bowl Sunday is only a couple days away. Sports-minded or not, I'm sure there's a good chance you'll be dipping into a bowl of spinach & artichoke dip at a party centered around the big game.

If you don't know, (my hometown!) Pittsburgh Steelers will be facing off against the Arizona Cardinals.

(left: The Boss gets ready to rock a Super-Bowl-sized Super Bowl crowd this Sunday.)

Not into the teams? How 'bout the halftime show then? Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band will be gracing the stage, and since he gets major love from both the mainstream and indie-minded crowd, a good time is promised to be had by all.

Using The Boss' rich catalog of material, here are some special dedications I'd like to send out this Super Bowl weekend:

"Working On A Dream"
What kid--growing up playing sports--doesn't dream about playing in the Super Bowl one day? To both teams, I offer you up this brand new (just released Tuesday) Bruce Springsteen track.

"Born To Run"
For years and years Steelers football has been centered around running. John Henry Johnson, Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier, and Jerome Bettis have all made a name for themselves by gritting it out on the ground. I'd like to send this one out to Willie Parker, who like the great Steelers before him, is "Born To Run."

"Dancing In The Dark"
I'll be doing this on Pittsburgh's South Side this weekend. Hopefully I'll be doing it following the Super Bowl as well.

"Better Days"
I'll be a good sport and offer this one up to the Cardinals, who are seeing "Better Days" this year (their franchise hasn't won a championship since 1947).

"Brilliant Disguise"
Troy Polamalu (Steelers' safety) this one's for you! Will he blitz? Or drop back into coverage? No one knows, and for that reason his defensive scheme is a "Brilliant Disguise."

"Hungry Heart"
Steelers' wide receiver, Hines Ward, will be playing this Sunday on a sprained right knee. You think his heart's not hungry? Cardinals' Kurt Warner has a "Hungry Heart" as well--he's the third oldest Quarterback (37) to ever play in a Super Bowl.

"The River"
We've got three of them that converge at The Point in Pittsburgh. This one goes out to the fine folks of Western PA!

"Surprise, Surprise"
Coach of the Cardinals, Ken Whisenhunt, is the master of the trick play. If you think the flee-flicker is only for backyard football games, think again. Whisenhunt will keep the Steelers on their toes as they anticipate the "Surprise, Surprise."

"Cover Me"
This one's for Cards' wide-receiver Larry Fitzgerald--pound-for-pound the best receiver in football. For the sake of this playlist I'm reworking the title: "Cover Me (If You Can)"

"I'm On Fire"
This could easily be dedicated to anyone on the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense--the best of all units in the National Football league. "Thunder Road," "No Surrender," "You'll Be Comin' Down," "Reason To Believe," and "Blood Brothers" could also go out to the squad led by the rough-and-tough James Harrison and James Farrior.

"Glory Days"
To the Steelers' championship teams of the past, this one goes out to you. If Pittsburgh is victorious on Sunday, they'll have more Super Bowl titles (six) than other team in the history of football, making their "Glory Days" the most glorious of all!