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Bruce Springsteen has long had a fan base in Japan, where Space Shower Books published a Japanese-language edition of my Springsteen on Springsteen: Interviews, Speeches, and Encounters. Now, the Japanese TV show Song to Soul—which has aired weekly since 2007 and has an audience of eight million—is turning the spotlight on Bruce.
The music documentary series, which examines a different song on each 60-minute show, has previously featured tracks by more than 70 artists, including the Doors, the Beach Boys, Simon & Garfunkel, the Eagles, King Crimson, Led Zeppelin, and Bob Marley. Now the spotlight turns to Springsteen’s “Born to Run” for a program scheduled to air next March or April.
Song to Soul’s Megumi Schomburg recently interviewed me at my home for the show, which will also incorporate conversations with Born to Run co-producer Mike Appel, veteran rock critic Robert Christgau, and singer/songwriter Elliott Murphy, among others. Murphy, who wrote the foreword to my book, has known Springsteen for decades and may have performed “Born to Run” on stage with him more than any other non-band member.
The program will air on Japan’s Tokyo Broadcasting System in March or April and may subsequently show up, at least in part, on YouTube.
By Jeff Burger 