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Splendid review, Shelby! Thank you for your contribution and participation. Keep it up, please! Yo, Planet Lord (my new moniker for you. Cap'n doesn't justly honor your godly achievement)! If I correctly understand the nBP Liberal Arts rating principle, judges are rating reviews not the reviewed subject. So IMO, Shelby shouldn't be penalized because you're not thrilled by the music in Springsteen's song. Furthermore, I think that rating citizens' reviews is a bad idea -- has the potential for ego-wounding and engendering resentment and bad feelings. Thank you for the explanation. However, I still think that rating reviews is a bad idea. You award a review a favorable rating, then I give the same review a negative rating -- essentially challenging and refuting your opinion and questioning your taste and judgement . . . not to mention possibly offending the reviewer. What is the point? To me, rating reviews is counterproductive to building and nurturing a community; nBP citizens need more encouragement (more "trophies") to stimulate their participation in nBP forums (which need all the help they can get, I think). I see (said the blind man). My obtuseness is caused by the (to me) confusing, challenging , and inconsistent layout and design of nBP buckets. Because I was rating Shelby's review instead of Springsteen's song, I've revised my star rating. "The Boss's" music does not move me and never has moved me -- no offense intended, Springsteen fans. I'm not wild about the "Consumer Reports" approach regarding art (music, literature, fine art). To me, expressing one's opinion of art in a review is sufficient. Stars, thumbs, tomatoes, et al. are superfluous. I get the reason for using graphical images to rate something: instant comprehension by the ADD and TLDR crowds. But, my argument is moot because it seems that the star rating feature is a software element that you have no control over, eh, Planet Lord?

i love the message of the song and courage behind it. I had to deduct a few points because, as a Springsteen fan, the music is a little too familiar. even if someone is not a fan, they've got to appreciate him finding a rhyme for Minneapolis

Wow, to see the progression. But I’m happy with the younger generations who’re carrying the protest torch - Rage Against the Machine, Hozier, etc. I get so irked when people insult today’s music as if my generation (technically boomer, but I prefer Generation Jones) has the monopoly on good music. I’d love to see what you wrote expanded to today. 🥰

Good list Macphysto I have to add a few The times they are a changing- Bob Dylan Blowin in the wind - Bob Dylan Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2 Rockin in the free world- Neil Young My city in ruins - Springsteen Born in the USA - Springsteen Land of hope and dreams - Springsteen Imagine - John Lennon

To me, Rod Serling's "sermonizing" was sometimes heavy-handed and didactic (e.g., The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street). He's Alive is afflicted with the writer’s characteristic moralizing. Yet, it is redeemed by Serling's prescience and, sadly, by its timeliness and relevance during the dark, bleak, and dangerous American era of DJT.

The Great Gatsby is a great choice. There is a moral to the story, and it is so beautifully crafted. I'd first read the book in the 1990s, and had what I consider a surreal experience shortly afterwards. I was listening to NPR in my car one afternoon when suddenly I heard a passage being read from the book (I forget what the program was about). The reading was from the opening paragraphs of the chapter where Fitzgerald describes the summer party scene at Gatsby's residence "under the constantly changing light". I remember getting goosebumps as I listened, because I had just finished reading the book and that description was still fresh in my mind. I'd later watched the film and had enjoyed it too. Once again, a great choice for this forum.

i had to deduct few points because some of them (like Woody and Harvey) touched some of us in inappropriate ways too. And come to think of it, the industry and fans do fawn over them in lavish, self-serving, drawn-out award ceremonies several times every year. They get gold statues and outrageous paydays for playing make-believe, while in the real world, hard-working heroes get ignored by society. So, screw 'em. And the high horse they rode in on the red carpet. 🐴 but ya gotta love their movies. Let's do talk about them...