Monday, November 16, 2009

Holy Kisses

Have you ever seen a Springsteen concert live?
I've seen two and at both of them, Bruce and his massive horn player, Clarence Clemons have kissed each other on the lips. It's rather shocking the first time you see it because these are two obviously extremely, well, men who like women a LOT and yet, when they kiss it is with great passion and bravado, great energy and obvious love.

I sort of doubt there's any tongue involved but neither you nor I will ever know that.

There was an AP article in the paper today about Clarance and I won't copy the whole thing. I know my love for The Boss is a bit over the top. But if you do want to see it, you can go here and there it will be. In the article Mr. Clemons talks about his long-time career with the E Street Band (thirty-four years), his long-time love for Bruce, and his health, which is not good. He's had, among other things, two knee replacements and three hip replacements and has a pace maker. He's suffered a lot of pain. He's spent time in a wheel chair, done a lot of PT, worked hard to be able to stand on stage to play his sax again with the band he loves.

And man, reading all this just moved me.

He says, in one part of the article, that although Springsteen was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the E Street Band was not (and how the FUCK did that happen?), "When a fan says, `Man, you saved my life; I heard Jungleland ... and I cried ... and I felt joy in my life again,' that's my hall of fame."

And I was thinking about that. How music can save your life. I've written about this before and it's true. It might be Joni Mitchell that saved your life or it might have been Bach or it might have been Loudon Wainwright III singing a song about suicide that was so freaking great and made you laugh and cry that you decided not to kill yourself or may have been a song by his son. I think the Beatles have probably saved more lives than heart surgery. But no matter what music it is that finds its way to you when you need it the most, it's always music that was written (and usually played) from the heart, the balls, the ovaries, the gut, the unknowable muse of the mud of the blood of the bone of the soul.

At least that's what I think.

Clarence himself said, "The stage is a healing floor — no matter how bad you hurt."

And of course, of course- it all boils down to some sort of love.

And there you are- two big ol' men who love each other and what they do together on stage so much that they kiss. Here's another quote from the article:

"It's the most passion that you have without sex," says Clemons. "Two androgynous beings becoming one."

"It's love. It's two men — two strong, very virile men — finding that space in life where they can let go enough of their masculinity to feel the passion of love and respect and trust. Friendships are based on those things, and you seal it with a kiss."

So okay, for me, that's like a Holy Ritual. A Holy Ritual Of The Church Of The E Street Band, another religion which this particular branch of the Church Of The Batshit Crazy recognizes.

Wouldn't it be awesome if everyone had that much faith in a friendship, that little fear of being labeled? Wouldn't it be even more awesome if there weren't labels?

Part of this past weekend's performance called for the sound effect of a kiss and during one of the rehearsals, Kathleen and I just leaned over spontaneously and kissed each other. We kept it in and it cracked up the audience. But why? Women kiss each other all the time. I guess not onstage unless they're Madonna and Brittany who were so cutting edge with that kiss they shared a few years back.

But that kiss wasn't shit or original compared to what Clarence and Bruce have been doing for thirty-something years. And the funny thing about it is that it has never gotten THAT much attention- that kiss. Which tells me that it's so much a part of what they're already doing onstage with their music that it's just one more step in what all musicians are trying to do with their music- create something together which is so powerful that it can save lives, it can change worlds, it can put a healing on ya. The E Street Band is as known for their long-time relationship as they are for what they have done in that relationship. Like a good marriage, they can finish each other's sentences, they know what each other's strengths and weaknesses are, they prop each other up, they create a family, a life, something that is bigger than the sum of the members put together. And like in a marriage, they can kiss any damn time they want to.

The E Street Band has had several deaths in the last few years. I'm sure those deaths have rocked the band to its core. But the band is still rocking, still doing what they do.

And I hope that Clarence Clemons is around for a long time to come to rock with them. I hope he and Bruce have the opportunity to kiss each other on the lips for years and years to come with the joy and abandon they have always had, even if they are in their fifties, sixties, or seventies.

That's what I hope.
And I hope I get to see them at least one more time. Drag my sorry, agoraphobic ass up and out to go to an actual concert, feel the love and sweat and joy coming from that band. It would probably change my life.

Ah well. That's what I'm thinking about today.

That and men kissing.

I guess it's time for Mr. Moon to come home.




37 comments:

  1. uh! that was the last thing i expected from the boss..but its hot in a spiritual way...

    i m oiften surprised how people fear body contact...how they avoid to touch each other...for example people always are a bit..hm..turned off by the fact that i kiss my sister on the mouth when we meet or say goodbye...or that i kiss in general all women ..not all on the mouth but at least on the cheeks..as well as i hug everyone..also men...its totally normal and natural for me..its a sign of joy respect and happyness to see / meet someone

    but here in germany people usually dont touch/hug/kiss each other...its sad

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  2. I played the violin in our school orchestra for 8 years in middle / high school. And yeah, there really is something to be said about the feeling one gets when making music along with others. I remember getting the goosebumps up there on stage during our performances...that whole passion w/o sex quote is a good one.

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  3. Yes. We have to listen to men talking all the time about how it turns them on to see two women kissing, gay or not. Here's the subversive twist on that! I saw Bruce for the first time last year and just about died. Clarence was hobbling around and sitting on a stool for the most part while he played, and they didn't ever kiss so I'm glad that you posted about it. And I got to personally meet Clarence once at a big benefit in NYC for epilepsy (the foundation that I helped to found). He was funny and loud and so, so friendly. I'll have to look for the photo...

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  4. Hey mama, where did you lift that picture? I might need to know the attribution info for that.

    More kissing, I say.

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  5. DTG- I don't know. I just google-imaged "Bruce Springsteen, Clarence Clemons kissing." I think maybe it ws someone's flicker stream. I'm a crook.

    Danielle- Men hardly ever kiss here. Not on the lips, ever, if they're straight. Seriously. Or walk around holding hands. They can hug. That's allowed. It's freaking sad.

    Elizabeth- He seems like a man full of joy.

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  6. Kissing is fun, and men kissing is hot.

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  7. Kissing is fun, and men kissing is hot.

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  8. While I don't think mens kissing is hot (come to think of it, the whole women kissing thing doesn't do much for me either; I kiss two of my women friends quite regularly and it doesn't get me all worked up), I DO respect and love that they can do that, and do it without thinking, without worrying, just because it is a natural extension of whom they are and the depth of their relationship. I posted about love today, too, and I come hear and read more about love, and it just knocks me on my ass EVERY time when people I love are thinking the same things at the same time. Odd, you know? Maybe in a different context, but still, love.

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  9. I still haven't got past the kissing photo. I'll have to process the rest and form an opinion in a moment. It's just the oddest picture for my mind to wrap around. I wouldn't have that stumped moment in my brain if it were George Michael or Elton John, you know? But Bruce? I'm confused.

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  10. I love men kissing, too! I wish my husband would kiss my brother and father, but they're all shaking hands and nothing else. They don't even hug. At least he hugs his own father. More love is always a good thing, no matter what shape or form.

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  11. You and I have the same emotion about Bruuuuce. He's just beyond.
    I love that picture of them kissing- that is something I didn't know and if it's possible the Boss is now even cooler.

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  12. Loved this post. Love you, too.

    Clarence and Bruce ROCK!

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  13. ahhhh this is why i love ya! and i have missed you

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  14. Ginger- And I know you didn't mean to, but that comment was worth posting twice. Thanks!

    Kori- Yep. We both read the other's post and got the same thing out of it and then commented about that at the same time. Ha!

    Marsha- Read it and you'll see.

    Maggie May- I knew you loved him. Another bond of ours.

    Ms. Bastard- I love you too! If you can, check out the link to your Rufus's daddy's song. I think it was the very first song I ever heard by Loudon on the BRAND NEW FM station! In 1971. Oh yeah. I'm old. But guess what? It's still a GREAT song. I went directly to the record store and ordered that album because of course they did not have it. But I got it and it was so cool and I still love it. And yes, I still have it, too. Vinyl rocks.

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  15. Ms. Bliss- WHERE THE DAMN HELL HAVE YOU BEEN? JESUS!

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  16. I really hope that if I'm ever gone, you greet me just like you did Ms Bliss up there ;) And I'm serious!

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  17. SJ- Well you know damn well I would! Just don't disappear to test the theory. Okay? I mean it!

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  18. Justme- I skipped you! I'm sorry. I have no idea why. But yes- and can you imagine playing music with the same people for over thirty years? Jesus.

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  19. I think Bruce is someone whom everyone should kiss. Like Jesus.

    But yes. Men kissing. Nummm.

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  20. Ms. Jo- Oh. You put it so well. I myself would kiss the hem of his garment (Levi's).

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  21. Ms. Moon, I am acquiring an appreciation for Mr. Springsteen that I previously never thought possible.

    thanks

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  22. Two men kissing is always a good thing in my book.

    And definitely when it's Bruce and Clarence. It's just so damn right.

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  23. That's just wrong that the E Street Band wasn't inducted along with Bruce. Great post!

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  24. SJ- That is good to know.

    Michelle- I've been in love with him since about 1978. You don't have to like him. I love him enough for both of us.

    HoneyLuna- Amen, daughter.

    Joy- I know. How the hell did that happen?

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  25. We are a family of huggers, kissers, and hand holding fools. No person who walks inside this home is safe. A divorced friend once told me "I love to come and visit you and B. because you two are the only human beings who touch me now". I just wanted to cry after she left. I wanted to invent a way to make hugs in a box to send her so she could have hugs when she wanted to. We hug the dogs and the cat, they learned to give "kisses" and I think I would hug a lamppost as my son once said if there wasn't anyone around to give a good night hug and a kiss.

    I hug you from here, and I kiss you too because I hug and kiss those I love.

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  26. oooo i thoroughly enjoyed this! yes. more kissing. more passion. more connection. more hope. :)

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  27. Does he kiss the whole band or just Clarence?

    Let's hear it for man love! Man love is a good thing... Boss love, damn, they we're going to have to come up with a new adjective to describe that feeling.

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  28. Sigh. This is fantastic. Man music passion kissing. Right on. Great musings by you as always Ms Moon.

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  29. Ms. Allegra- I imagine that a hug from you would remind me of a hug from a woman I knew as a child who is at least half the reason I am as sane as I am. She hugged with all of herself and did not hold a thing back. It was all for you and the joy of it.
    I wish I could hug you the same way because I know you would return it and with so much more. And there would be kisses too.
    Loving you...M

    Learner- Never too much of those!

    Ms. Fleur- Clarence is the only one he kisses on the mouth, I think, but the way he and his other musicians hug and laugh with each other is just about as good.

    Bethany- Exactly. Man music passion kissing.

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  30. Them kissing each other is a satanic pagan ritual for success. They have a pact to fulfill. You need to get out of the darkness and seek out what these kisses really mean. It's easy to find if you seek it.

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  31. I need to find out more about this ritual. Hypothetically speaking, of course.

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  32. Debra W- Again, I'm so glad you found this if it gave you pleasure. So nice to meet another Springsteen fan. What joy he has given me!

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  33. Yes, only those of us who are lucky enough to have caught the fever truly understand what it is like to love Springsteen and The E-Street Band. I have grown up with them. I was there on the night Bruce turned 30 and to see him still creating and doing his thing with the best band in the world is pure joy!

    I love your Boss posts:) Thanks for reminding me about the true essence of this amazing group of people.

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  34. i can't say anything except you are the man and keep up your great writing
    Etcoe

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.