Eddie Vedder Honors Bruce Springsteen With Subtle Protest Ballad in Pittsburgh
At Pearl Jam’s May 17 show in Pittsburgh, Eddie Vedder offered a heartfelt and pointed tribute to Bruce Springsteen by performing a solo acoustic rendition of “My City of Ruins.” The quiet, emotional performance stood in contrast to the political noise surrounding Springsteen, who has been under fire from former President Donald Trump for his outspoken criticism of the current U.S. administration.
Vedder did not introduce the song or mention Trump or Springsteen by name, but the choice was unmistakably timely. Springsteen has been using “My City of Ruins”—originally written in 2002 about Asbury Park—as a vehicle for condemning what he calls attacks on civil liberties and democratic norms in America.
The performance came just one day after Trump labeled Springsteen “overrated” and “dumb as a rock,” even threatening to bar him from returning to the U.S. post-tour. Springsteen, undeterred, responded with another impassioned speech in Manchester, calling out what he sees as a betrayal of American values.
In Pittsburgh, Vedder let the music speak volumes, lending solidarity through song in a moment where silence said everything.
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Photo Credit: Matteo Chinellato / Shutterstock.com
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