Springsteen apologizes – Bruce Springsteen told Bono at the Tribeca Festival that he should have agreed to license his 2008 song “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” for a Gap commercial tied to Bono’s (RED) AIDS foundation—calling the refusal a “big mistake” and saying he “should have fuc
When Bono turned to Bruce Springsteen during a Tribeca Festival moment, the conversation was supposed to be praise. It became something closer to a confession.
Bono had been giving Springsteen a hard time for refusing to license his song “Girls in Their Summer Clothes” for a commercial for the clothing brand Gap—partnering with Bono’s AIDS foundation. (RED). While presenting Springsteen with the Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award at Tribeca Festival. Bono recalled how he tried to get the “Boss” to say yes.
“I tried to get you to give … I said, ‘Bruce, this song “Girls in Their Summer Clothes,” this is like one of the great pop songs ever … Would you think about using it for a commercial, for (RED) and the Gap?’ And you said, ‘No.’” Bono said.
Springsteen didn’t argue. He agreed—out loud, and with the kind of blunt punch that made people laugh. “That was a big mistake,” he said. Then he added the line he came to the moment to deliver: “I should have said yes.”
He said the 2008 song is one of his “personal favorites. ” and that he believes the audience wouldn’t have minded if it showed up in the commercial spotlight. “That was just a song that I love,” Springsteen said. “Damn it. I still think back: ‘Bono asked you to put this thing on a commercial on television.’ I should have fucking done it!. People would hear it like a hit, you know?. So I have to apologize.”.
Earlier in the event. Tribeca Festival founders Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal introduced Bono. who then offered heartfelt praise for Springsteen. “Bruce Springsteen is America,” Bono said. He described Springsteen as someone who “made poetry from the voices of the people and set that poetry to music. ” and said the room was honoring him “as a musician and poet and as an activist and a patriot.”.
In a brief conversation, the two also talked about bringing resistance on the road for Springsteen’s Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour, on which he has blasted President Donald Trump and sang his recent ICE protest song, “Streets of Minneapolis.”
Patti Smith, backed by Tony Shanahan, closed the event by singing her 1988 song “People Have the Power” in honor of Springsteen. Then Springsteen and Bono joined for a reprisal, joyously singing backup vocals on the chorus.
After the singing, Springsteen stayed on stage and treated a room full of fans in Lower Manhattan to an acoustic version of the fan favorite “Land of Hope and Dreams.”
Bruce Springsteen Bono Tribeca Festival Gap (RED) Girls in Their Summer Clothes Land of Hope and Dreams Harry Belafonte Voices for Social Justice Award Patti Smith People Have the Power
If it was for a good cause then why even say no in the first place.
Gap + (RED) feels kinda weird to me. Like I get the AIDS foundation thing but it’s still a commercial?? Bruce said sorry though so I guess that helps.
Wait so Bono asked and he just straight up refused then later apologized? I thought Springsteen is super political, so refusing a charity ad seems backwards. Also the article says “should have fuc” and then it just cuts off lol like what happened
This is honestly the most celebrity thing ever. Like imagine turning down a song for Gap and then weeks later being like “damn it I should’ve done it.” I bet everyone’s gonna pretend it’s about AIDS when it’s really about marketing and rights and money and the whole Tribeca vibe.