Member Since: 6/2/2011
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Bruce S credited with fall of Berlin wall
Quote:
So when Bruce Springsteen was suddenly booked to play a rare East Berlin concert on July 19, 1988, Galenza still made sure he was there, despite it being organized by the Communist authorities.
"It was really unbelievable," Galenza said. "He came onto the stage and for us really it was a shock...some people really cried because they were there and listening to him."
The concert was allowed in a desperate attempt to pacify East German youth who were increasingly alienated by the policies of the Communist German Democratic Republic.
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According to the author of a book on the concert, it may have even, along with other factors, led directly to the fall of the Berlin Wall 16 months later.
"Secret opinion polls of East Germany showed that the number of people who wanted to leave East Germany was rising dramatically," says Berlin-based Erik Kirschbaum, a journalist and author of Rocking the Wall.
"There [were] 300,000 young people [at the concert], full of energy, having the time of their lives, getting a taste of freedoms. And after that concert, they wanted more."
Kirschbaum believes Springsteen shaped his message to the crowd from the start.
He points out that the artist started his concert with Badlands, the first time he had done so since his tour started. He then played Born in the U.S.A. — while the crowd sang along — and he then delivered a short speech he'd had translated into German.
"I'm not here for any government," he began. "I've come to play rock and roll for you in the hope that one day, all the barriers will be torn down."
"People went wild," Kirschbaum said in an interview.
"It never happened before," he explained. Many had given iconic speeches on the western side of the wall — including two U.S. presidents — but Springsteen "was inside East Germany and gave this speech. It just blows me away to think about it."
Songs of freedom, everyday life resonated
Following the speech, Springsteen played his version of Bob Dylan's Chimes of Freedom.
"So he was sending all kinds of messages to the young East German people. 'Hey, don't give up.'"
They didn't give up. They had heard the message loud and clear. Perhaps more in the music than even the speech itself, says Galenza.
"It was one piece of the puzzle," he said. "I'd define this concert as one where minds were opened."
"You had everything there. People with long hair, short hair, punks, some hippies, workers, apprentices … It was a very interesting scene."
Springsteen sang for four hours, an epic show that was also televised.
"He sang about everyday life, normal people like us. We could really relate to that and loved it," said Galenza.
Sixteen months later they began to dismantle the wall.
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Complete article: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/how-a-b...wall-1.2825639
When will your favs topple communism? 
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