Jersey Girl - Bruce Springsteen & Tom Waits

[matseman46]

OMG! would loved to see this....

[bleedingcherub]

Don't even try to call who is better. They are both just too good.

[TheNellamaria]

Unforgettable!!!!!

[Malaka57]

Why the fuck do people have to be attacked verbally for having an opinion that might not go along with the majority view? Have we reached an era of cultural naziism. Is that what we have come to?

[sighedeffects]

@Malaka57 No. it's just that Tom Waits is so fucking amazing that speaking ill of him could cause time and space to rupture and then we are all done.

[Malaka57]

@sighedeffects I really like the TW version, actually, but I understand that some people might not prefer it. What I would like to know is why exactly. It's a subjective thing. But I do think we have reyched cultural naziism, where "the majority is always right"... and we swallow so much bullshit with that uncritical approach as to gag a volcano. What I mean by critical, BTW, is also in the positive. Using a "Like" sign is barely critical...

[Ullbritt]

Haha he says girls instead of whores :P

[anguelroumy]

I LOVE TOM Waits !!!Bruce is also Ok ,but Tom WOW is fantastic as usual !

[gmartinz01]

I agree: although I love Bruce, Tom rules this version.

[JasonXP1000]

it's very dark!!

[shanereel]

no wonder they don't show..that'd be like seeing God and Buddha talking and having a chat

[dcconsi]

too fast. sounds like tere in a hurry to finish the song. i wudnt like to be yere wives

[JensdePens]

Full version: youtube.com/watch?v=1MXX0Y81eD­I

[Lilolane]

@JensdePens thanks!! :)

[lennybrucelee]

Tom did write this song and Bruce has made it his own, but they are both paying a great respect to people like The Drifters.

[InvictaEast]

@lennybrucelee yeh I always thought that... right from the opening bar

[87riverswells]

The Boss and Tom Waits. Together. The amount of terrifying, unbridled manliness I'm hearing might just end me but by God I will see it through.

[mlcurley]

"jersey girl ", was written and composed by tom waits not bruce springsteen

[gooble1973]

Tom wipes the floor with the lower register and beautiful rendition . What a magnificent concert his must have been. People haven't lived until they hear this one. Hell it's Tom's song for his wife...so it's no wonder he kick ass on it.

[gooble1973]

Tom wipes the floor with the lower register and beautiful rendition . What a magnificent concert his must have been. People haven't lived until they hear this one.

[KleWdSide]

Love Tom , but Bruce is definitely better overall. Better voice, charisma & songwriter.

[tybruce4everything]

Have to disagree, Bruce blows everyone away!!!

[namedULaika]

Two of my favorite musicians ever! No need to say who is better. They are both brilliant in their own respect.

[lammiura]

Bruce Wins Hands Down. The better singer or perhaps a better seasoned voice over the years. Tom Watts sounded like he was struggling to sing it.

[joninpgh]

@lammiura Nah, Tom Waits always sounds like that. LOL.

[Wclmkay]

two great performers but for me Tom owns this one!

[KansasGirl57]

I saw Tom Waits perform this song at a Springsteen concert I believe in 1985 in L,A. That's when I fell in love with Tom. (I already loved Bruce.) Outstanding! (I wonder if this recording is from that show?

[gug86]

@KansasGirl57 It was on 24.08.1981, and yes, it's from that show, since it has been the only time they performed this song together. I envy you for being there at this great encounter! There are no photos around,unfortunately

[KansasGirl57]

I saw Tom Waits perform this song at a Springsteen concert I believe in 1985 in Los Angeles. That's when I fell in love with Tom. (I already loved Bruce.) Outstanding! (I wonder if this recording is from that show? hmmm)

[Arv1160]

Shalalala... I love it.. :D

[Georg105]

Some people are brilliant! And this is the best of both worlds, life can be so nice!

[StonefieldJim4]

Beautifully put, ollie. :-)

[cinedores]

i love tom but i also love bruce........FIGHT

[hiddeninromance]

Tom Waits!

[MrMrvideoz]

This is awful

[misslizahallam2009]

@MrMrvideoz

[misslizahallam2009]

@MrMrvideoz 

[scientificamerica]

i wish the end was included, im sure they just sing the chorus a few more times and fade out but still, would love to hear the musical end

[Mita49]

The most love song ever heard! En så sta<rk kärlekssång!

[shadowcat7879]

@Mita49 Ja, det ar bra :)

[Gloryboy4]

Two geniuses singing a brilliant song together. It couldn't get any better...except all I get is the sound over a black screen! This needs to be re-loaded. Please someone, take care of this.

[semiticlovestud]

This video is a blank screen . Can you reioad it?

Semeticlovestud.

[DONKthemanager]

Best video ever.

[someguy2099]

It just does not get better then this...

[shawntnt]

magic

[Lonechimpanzee1]

God that was good.

[spamjelly5]

guys, it's spelled lyricist.

...a lyRACIST is something slightly different ;P

[6ollie66]

@spamjelly5 OK. , .... but surely the context never places any doubt!? Anyway, well told.

[brelfan]

They both wrote songs for the movie Dead Man Walking. Springsteen won an Oscar for it. He's more accessible and popular. Waits is the more moving lyracist. Brilliant lyracist. If I were listening to CDs on my death bed, would surely be listening to Waits.

[6ollie66]

I'm not sure about best lyracist. I've always felt, and rod stewart has bourne this out for me ( can't listen to the whole album 'Raindogs' because of his 'cover' of 'Downtown train' !!!!), that waits .., at least in his early career spoke hobo, and the only person who can sing them songs is waits, .. every other atempt is hopelessly sentimental! ... But with tom, they ring true. What i'm saying is that tom writes songs that he can sing, but bruce can be covered by anyone.

[brelfan]

@6ollie66 I think Waits is one of three great lyracists alive. Lyrics ring so true, they sting. Time after time after time through many years. Rank him with Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. Like Springsteen. He was cute. Accessible. Shows his appreciation for other artists often. I think sex appeal is a big part of what makes popular musicians hits, and he had his share. Lyrics are okay. Music is okay. Waits kicks you in the gut and haunts you forever after.

[6ollie66]

F **** me! We like are songwriters, Waits, Dylan, Cohen, Springsteen! Can't say much to that! Love them all. Just saying, with waits the margin between lyric and voice is sooooo much greater than with anyone else. In other words, waits is UNIQUE!

[brelfan]

@6ollie66 He sure is. I love them all but Springsteen. I like Springsteen. Serious cutie in his day. And I've loved a few of his performances. The others have superlative lyrics, can't think of better in the English language now. And all the pathos in the world.

[6ollie66]

Springsteen - 'Used cars' ? Simply for me, critical!!! It hurts me so much!!! ..... Anyway, Want to say as much here as i can to a interested party. To me, Waits has two careers, pre & post 'Swordfish trombobe'. B4 he's a hobo singing a hobo's contrition, ..... a plea to humanity. Post... he sings pure hobo, these are the angles and emotions i measure! ... This is PURELY unique in popular music! In this he can only caricature the caricature! In other words, no sentimentality!

[brelfan]

I agree with pre and post Swordfish Trombones. Looking back at pre, seems he was acting some, the hobo, drunk, cocain user, etc. Went on stage as if he had tuberculosis. I loved him then but find his lyrics became more universal and profound post Swordfish. I'll YouTube used cars.

[TheStr8love]

Great clip, beautiful black from beginning 'til the end. Only the music is not of a superb quality. I like the Tom Waits version from VH-1, that's better to see and to hear. One of the finest moments on VH-1.

[easiddle]

Wow!! Genius! Can't get enough of Tom, but with Bruce this is absolutely beautiful!!

[latvianderk]

2 of my favorites.. making magic, what a wonderful rendition.... great,chilling music..

[jimmydeboy]

magic- springsteen is complete

[jimmydeboy]

@jimmydeboy

[6ollie66]

'Complete', .... I like! Well said.

[TheAmazingRoger]

they were together at the Roy Orbison tribute

[6ollie66]

The only America i have ever known was brought to me by these two people. Sensational!

[martybop]

What a great and interesting comment.. Are you from the USA? I would agree that they paint great musical pictures of the country. I am not for there but I love going. And I love music of these two stalwarts of song.

[6ollie66]

From USA? No. Their music is the nearest thing to authenic american ( 'urban' ) folk that i know of. No i'm from ireland, .. we love our stories!

[deltapunk]

@6ollie66

same here , ain't that the truth

[lsullboy]

I love Bruce but Tom blows him away on this song. No contest.

[pmarasa]

Why does it have to be a contest? Isn't it enough these two great guys came together like this?

[DarkeningSkies1]

@lsullboy The fact that Tom wrote the song probably gives him the edge- he knows exactly what he wanted the words to mean on an emotional level, whereas Bruce is giving his own read.

[RudyCasordapek]

@DarkeningSkies1 Exactly...The author gets the props.

[BrianGriffin83]

@lsullboy Get a pair of brand new ears, mate.

[lsullboy]

@BrianGriffin83 . I just ordered a new pair on E-Bay thanx 4 the suggestion. FYI- I've seen 78 Bruce shows since '78 and Waits only once. Overall, I love Bruce more but it's not really a contest, I just think Tom takes the top prize on this one say 51-49% ; )

[mmgpsych]

Goosebumps! Floor to ceiling!

[ColdRoses]

They are my top two performers. Have they ever played together besides this?

[dsta123]

Visuals ain't necessary when listening to this duo perform - just close your eyes and think of that girl on the shore.....

[gf102]

Just so everyone knows, this is from August 24th, 1981, in L.A. Awesome performance.

[galf1966]

I would love to hear Southside Johnny cover this one..

[catbusman]

Bruce does a decent performance, covering Tom Waits. However, noone can even compare with the original. If you cover an artist, especially one at Tom's level, you should make something new out of the old material. Springsteen just played it over again, and that is why the original is still superior to Springsteen's version of this song.

[Huckxxx]

well actually springsteen does add a verse of his own

[matedog2]

And if I remember correctly, Bruce's version adds the backing "aaahs" during the sha la la part and the sax solo at the end which are nice touches. Both versions are quite good but you have to give props to the songwriter.

[zeliemike]

at the time, tom waits was still not well known, when most people covered his songs for that matter. i think if bruce did not cover jersey girl, and tom didn't get all those fat royalty checks he couldn't have gone off to do whatever the hell he wanted, and make the great songs he made later in his career.

[grbosss]

I disagree. Springsteen's performance fits for stadiums and arenas.

[Wowbagger86]

I totally agree! But I would rather prefair a legend like Bruce Springsteen to cover it than someone like Ronan Keathing *shivers* I'm not found of Rod Stewart's versio of Downtown Train though ;)

[isdahle]

I totally agree with you Wowbagger86, Many an artist have literally defiled Tom's material, but Bruce's version is different. It is more refined and artistic than most Waits covers i have heard. As mentioned above, Eagles raped Ol'55, which is not the case with this performance.

[Jisseppe89]

beautiful.

[maxdsteel]

Where is this from? This is incredible. Thank you!

[ernie19081975]

What a great, great moment, Tom Waits and Bruce Springsteen appearing together doing one of the few songs that Springsteen covers, which the ultimate complement and songwriter can receive.

They're friends and respect each other, and I'm sure Tom appreciates the royalties.  Bruce does one heck of a lot better with Jersey Girl than the Eagles do with Ol' 55.

I think this is just fantastic.

[boils]

forget Bruce. When the songwriter Tom Waits is, it's something else.

[igniseXseriessupreme]

why are you negative for speaking the truth

[fatimagranico]

fantastico...i love love this song.forever