Sound Check

Bruce Springsteen’s Unfortunate Choice of Words

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At the 54th Annual Grammy Awards, Bruce Springsteen got started slightly off-key. Reeling the from the news of the death of the music industry's own Whitney Houston, the Boss sounded tone-deaf as he asked, "America, are you alive out there?"

He then launched into the song "We Take Care of Our Own." In Springsteen's defense, he starts many of his shows with that same question, a lyric from his song "Radio Nowhere."

The song was immediately followed by a touching memorial to the dead songstress. The host, LL Cool J, reminded the audience that "tonight we celebrate music, and we celebrate Whitney."

"We've had a death in the family," said LL Cool J, as he started the show with a prayer for Houston and a clip of the music legend singing "I Will Always Love You" from the 36th Annual Grammy Awards.

 
  • Big Andy  •  Newmarket, Ontario  •  3 months ago
    Ridiculous, sensationalist headline, but what else is new? Yahoo, you should be embarrassed by the levels you'll stoop to in order to get people to click links to your articles. Springsteen did nothing wrong. Stop being stupid, and quit trying to create a story where there isn't one. (Like that'll ever happen.)
  • Seed of Abra...  •  Toronto, Ontario  •  3 months ago
    Someone like Whitney may have died in body.. but her Spirit will live on! Nothing wrong with that statement made by Bruce. Great performance too!
  • Kristopher  •  Guelph, Ontario  •  3 months ago
    I bet there's going to be big lines at Whitney's funeral....
  • Dave  •  3 months ago
    When Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston died from drugs, the world cried. When Mr. nobody died from drugs, the world laughed. WTF!
    • Kristyn 3 months ago
      And what exactly was your contribution in helping Mr. Nobody?
    • Jim 3 months ago
      Yep, I agree with you except to say that the death of such people from such ways brings the reality home to all of us Nope I do not the person in my hood who OD's, but this is someone for whom I feel a connection, sameas friends who have made the bad choice. No need to be harsh about this.
    • speak English 3 months ago
      You must hang around with some weird people if they laugh when anyone dies.
  • CDNsoldier  •  3 months ago
    Complete sucky baby political CRAP. To connect what Bruce said to a death in the biz yesterday is just so "reaching to CREATE a nothing story". Hope bobby Browns happy- that thug from the hood made sure she did crack, coke, and all other forms of crap. While no one forces anyone- there is no way Brown the punk was anything but an awful influence on her in her life. Hes even now doin a two bit show-instead of being with his distraught daughter-guys a low life #$%$All to often we see women go down in flames, while having "fell in love" with the scumbags in our society.You want proof???- go to certain sections of toronto and see all the girls with babies, from a bum who doesnt work, do and sell drugs, pocket the money-while the "mom" - usually a teen collects welfare. Women who fall for thugs lose their life in many ways.
    • BETH 3 months ago
      Hallelulah! You are so right on! Time for things to change for all of the women who are victims of domestic violence! Yes we can
      1
  • Joan of Arc  •  Nanaimo, British Columbia  •  3 months ago
    Everyone's got to be a critic nowadays
  • Sharon  •  Ottawa, Ontario  •  3 months ago
    What is so wrong with what he said? Why do we all of a sudden have to analyze everything to death becasue of someon'e death? Bruce rocked, he certainly had my attention. Stupid headline!
    • cobbler's kid 3 months ago
      it's like saying the same thing at a memorial service, would you dare do that???
    • Jack Singer 3 months ago
      except this wasn't a memorial service... it is the grammy's. first of all he starts most of his shows now a days with that line, and the line wasn't a jab at whitney, it was a call that, although whitney's death is sad, we cannot dwell in the past and sulk over her loss. we have to celebrate her, what she meant to everyone around the world
  • Lisa  •  Markham, Ontario  •  3 months ago
    Whitney truly was a talented woman.
    • Reality_check 3 months ago
      If you call snorting coke for weeks on end without sleep a talent, then i guess she was.
    • SLP 3 months ago
      You're an idiot ^. Poor choices do not make your talent any less significant.
    • CanCon 3 months ago
      And amazing talent doesn't cancel out poor choices. Works both ways.
  • p r  •  3 months ago
    Yes, a stupid time-wasting headline grabbing article; I'll never click you again!
  • GARY  •  Toronto, Ontario  •  3 months ago
    The media can be cruel and here is a prime example. Bruce showed no disrespect. God bless Whitney, God bless Bruce, God help the media.
  • gail_rao  •  Hamilton, Ontario  •  3 months ago
    It seems to be a common part of a famous and gifted person's life. They drugs and other stuff. Whitney was a great singer and leaves a lasting delightful gift to us all!
  • Jeff Sneyd  •  Edmonton, Alberta  •  3 months ago
    Are you alive out there!!!! Perfect attention getter Bruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucccee!!!
  • Nels  •  Toronto, Ontario  •  3 months ago
    what a moronic, idiotic and superficial article.
  • A True  •  3 months ago
    Yes, it's sad someone died, Yes, it was a famous singer. Yes, we all know her songs....but to keep this going on and on and on.......the boo hoo-ing, the over play of her songs on the radio?!? It's not like we all knew her personally. I bet it's the same people who made of fun her when she was "whacked on crack", called her a waste case when her drunken photos were in every mag are now the ones with the croc tears........hypocritical...maybe!?! Anyways, Bruce said nothing wrong!!!
  • A Yahoo! User  •  Toronto, Ontario  •  3 months ago
    Is there not any other news out there that you can critic? I mean really? Like someone mentioned earlier, should he have asked "is anyone dead out there?" What a way to start the grammy's! He did a great job and rightfully so. As for Whitney, respects were paid to her at the appropriate time. Find some real news to talk about instead of a headline that is false just to grab the readers.
  • Cassandra  •  3 months ago
    I don't watch the grammy's and frankly the death of Houston does not impact on me
    personally. So I won't be crying any crocodile tears.
  • fitqueen  •  Burlington, Ontario  •  3 months ago
    Whitney Houstons death was terribly sad. but her death was her own choice. As a mom, I am terrifically horrified that she would spiral so far out of control when she has a young daughter who has to be looked after and cared for and considered. Who was she thinking about? And all she had to do was open her mouth and she made millions. How some people would love to have that gift and she used and abused it. I have very little pity for addicts because I believe their actions are self serving and selfish. This is one big pity party and Im sorry she wasted her talents, her life and her love for her only child. Shame on you, Whitney.
  • Mon  •  Markham, Ontario  •  3 months ago
    Bruce meant the economy, had nothing to do with Whitney. She was honored enough tonight, I think. She did it all to herself, with help from her druggie husband. As I said before, too much money, not enough brains. But may she rest in the peace she didn't find in the real world. I liked Jennifer Hudson rendition a lot better than Whitney's. Now that's a singer
    I hope will stay off drugs.
  • Tom  •  Kansas City, United States  •  3 months ago
    Based on the Zap's logic - M.I.A can now say she was sending a message to Whitney to say no to the frigging drugs and booze. Zap you are either a PC moron or just trying to stir shit up...
  • S  •  Prince George, British Columbia  •  3 months ago
    ummmmmm where was the family when she needed them?????? Hypictrits
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