Bruce Springsteen (76) received a special honor at the Tribeca Festival in New York and once again demonstrated his role as a voice of social protest. The musician was presented with the "Harry Belafonte Voices For Social Justice Award" and used the stage in Lower Manhattan to deliver clear political messages.
Springsteen dedicated the award "to all the citizens of Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Portland who stood up against federal intervention in their cities this year", "Deadline" quotes from his speech. He accepted the honor "in their name".
Bono presents award to Bruce Springsteen
The award was presented by U2 frontman Bono (66), who spoke with Springsteen about his musical work and his long-standing political engagement. This was followed by a musical highlight of the evening: together with Patti Smith (79) and her longtime companion Tony Shanahan, Springsteen performed the song "People Have The Power". The performance was celebrated with standing ovations, applause and loud cheers.
Springsteen concluded the evening solo with a heartfelt version of "Land Of Hope And Dreams" - a song that has been considered one of his central musical statements for years.
Robert De Niro sharply criticizes Trump
Robert De Niro (82), co-founder of the Tribeca Festival, also shaped the evening with a clear political address. He sharply criticized Donald Trump and his supporters, speaking of "corruption and megalomania of a single person". De Niro also emphasized that Springsteen "gives this protest a face" and articulates it in the language of a poet.
Springsteen himself responded with humor and appreciation to the actor's words, saying that nobody could insult the president as well as De Niro. He particularly enjoyed how he pronounces "Donald J. Trump", which drew laughter from the audience.
Springsteen: "Art has the opportunity to shape culture"
In his acceptance speech, Springsteen also spoke about the role of his E Street Band, which he described as "made for hard times". His music has always been created with a view to social realities, shaped by his background from a working-class family. These experiences led him to artistically process the living conditions of his parents and their social circumstances.
In the long term, Springsteen said, he hopes that art can actually have a social impact. "Art has the opportunity to shape culture. Culture shapes politics. And culture and politics shape the nation", the musician stated.
