I knew Bruce's "Streets of Minneapolis" reminded me of a Dylan song

[underpants]

I do not mean this as any kind of a slight.
I love the song. I’m sad it had to be made.


I was thinking “My Back Pages” but no.


And better still, Springsteen borrows the melody, at least in part, from “Desolation Row,” the classic number from Minnesota’s own Bob Dylan, who knows a thing or two about protest tunes.
https://www.salon.com/2026/01/28/bruce-springsteens-streets-of-minneapolis-revives-the-sound-of-protest/

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[Martin68]

1. It is a protest song in the classic Dylan style, but Dylan isn't doing it anymore, and Springsteen did it beautifully.

[underpants]

2. I think the tie-in to Minnesota fits

👍

[AZJonnie]

3. Although he himself often borrows from Dylan's vocal stylings, the first comparison I thought of was Steve Earle

In particular the sound of number of Steve's songs from the late 90's-early 2000's i.e. El Corazon - Transcendental Blues - Jerusalem - The Revolution Starts Now. I guess you might say it sounds like Steve Earle sounding like Bob Dylan

[Martin68]

4. I'm not familiar with Steve Earl. I'll check him out on Youtube. There were quite a few performers who had a dylanesque

style in the 60s and 70s. Barry McGuire's performance of "Eve of Destruction" was one that stood out. Good to remember that Dylan styled himself on Woody Guthrie, so perhaps they are all imitating Guthrie.

[AZJonnie]

5. Really?!? OMG, yes you really must. He has a very long career though and his vocals vary as his voice has aged

I'm not nearly as big a fan of his later stuff (though I still love the guy, I went and saw him solo last year in fact), but the era right after he got clean and out of jail (for heroin possession) circa 1994 is my favorite part of his career. The albums Train A Comin', I Feel Alright, El Corazon, The Mountain (all bluegrass album) and Transcendental Blues was an amazing run.

He's a very solid liberal too.

From the 80's, and his biggest selling album (Copperhead Road the song is also his biggest hit)

From 1996, I Feel Alright is, IMHO, his greatest top-to-bottom album. Triumphant return from the depths of addiction.

From 2004, Bush/Iraq refs abound on this record: