There’ something particularly poetic about Bruce Springsteen receiving this year’s Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award at the Tribeca Festival.
The award, introduced by festival founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal and followed by a lengthy conversation with Bono on June 13, comes as the festival celebrates its 25th anniversary, a week after Springsteen cut the ribbon on the new Center for American Music in New Jersey that bears his name, and as he concludes his Land of Hope & Dreams Tour across the U.S.—an impassioned urging for the return of democracy and evisceration of the Trump administration through song and speech.
Dedicating the accolade to the people of Minneapolis, Portland and Los Angeles who’ve stood “against the federal invasion of their cities this year,” the 20-time Grammy winner acknowledged, “I’m a little embarrassed to get this award. At best,” he told Bono, “I’m just a concerned citizen. And what do I do? I sing my songs, I say a few things and wish for the best.”
In his introduction, De Niro characteristically pulled no punches as he praised Springsteen’s ability to “move people with the music he creates… He uses it to lead the resistance. He knows what the problem is and he names it: Donald J. Trump and his feckless enablers. That’s so important, because this isn’t about reasonable disputes on policy. This is about the corruption and megalomania of one person. Bruce Springsteen puts a face on it, and he does it with the words of a poet.”
As Springsteen put it, “I warned everybody what the tour was going to be like so they didn’t waste their money before they came in. So I figured I did my job and it was every man for himself after that.”
Bono, another musician who knows a thing or two about using his art and platform to speak out against injustice, guided an insightful conversation that touched on topics ranging from how to reopen doors of human connection to the origin story of Springsteen’s Oscar-winning song “Streets of Philadelphia” to Springsteen’s ability, or not, to still connect with the everyman.
“Are we on the left ready to accept that we sometimes lose touch with working people. People who are out on the street and doing a day’s job and who have been the subjects of your [songs] for over 40 years? I fear sometimes that the young and the left have just lost a little bit of that. And that the accusations of elitism that are out there for people like me are not inaccurate,” Bono mused. “Has it cost you? Do you feel torn at all thinking there’s people in this town that used to come see my shows who don’t now? Or have you made peace with that?”
“I’m not sure,” Springsteen answered. “You have to do two things. There’s the classic folk song, “Which Side Are You On?”—you have to make your stand and follow your beliefs and you have to have the faith in them that they will be explicable and understandable by your fellow citizens. And you have to believe that America is a sacred argument and a compromise.”
“As I said when I was on the road… people aren’t supposed to be agreeing with each other all the time, it was born in disagreement. It’s a blessed, sacred argument that you’re supposed to be having every day with your fellow citizens and with your representatives. That’s embedded in the country itself,” Springsteen continued.
“The key to that is you have an argument while recognizing each other’s common humanity and
dignity. That is in short supply at the moment from obviously the top of our administration on down. But it’s through that argument and through that recognition of your fellow citizens—your brothers and your sisters and your neighbors—that’s where you find a common narrative. It’s very difficult for a country to survive intact without a common story it tells itself about itself. And I think we’re in a struggle for that today.”
He ultimately landed on optimism, adding, “I believe we’re going to find that narrative because I believe America renews itself. I’m in the hearts and minds business and so you change those in a group or one at a time. That’s my job… and that’s essential to maintaining not just the humanity in my heart but the humanity in my audience.”
Despite his legacy of uplifting social justice, Springsteen has always been particular about the opportunities he says yes to—something Bono took the opportunity to lightheartedly revisit. After listing several past failed inquiries for his friend to sign various petitions, Bono recalled getting a firm “no” when he asked Springsteen to license his 2007 song “Girls In Their Summer Clothes” for a Gap commercial. Bono at the time was partnering with the clothing brand for the (PRODUCT) RED campaign to raise funds to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa.
Springsteen jumped in on this one. “That was a big mistake, too, I should’ve said yes,” he said., telling the crowd the song is a personal favorite despite not having commercial success. “I should have f–king done it. I have to apologize.”
At the conclusion of the conversation, the two welcomed to the stage fellow artist and activist Patti Smith, who accompanied by Tony Shanahan performed two songs—“Peaceable Kingdom” and “People Have the Power,” with Springsteen backing her on acoustic guitar for the latter.
Then came a surprise for all in the audience. Springsteen changed up guitars, stepped up to the mic and delivered a stunning, soulful version of “Land of Hope and Dreams.” Amid the standing ovation, Springsteen offered one final prophetic gesture before leaving the stage: “Go Knicks!”
