I first saw the trailer for Blinded by The Light, the new film by Bend it Like Beckham writer/director Gurinder Chadha, before a screening of Late Night. (Late Night was wonderful, I highly recommend it.) The audience was thrilled and you can tell from the trailer how freaking delightful the film is. That trailer is below. It made me laugh out loud a few times, it has an inspirational vibe and I’ll definitely watch it in theaters soon. It’s about a British teen in 1987 who loves Springsteen’s music and travels to New Jersey to see the Boss’s hometown. His parents, who are from Pakistan, don’t understand his obsession or interests and want a more traditional life for him. Chadha explained to US Weekly that she adored Springsteen as a teen and that’s how she was inspired to write the film. However the lead in her film is a young man, played by Viveik Kalra. She had the opportunity to screen the film for Springsteen and he hugged and thanked her!
Chadha, who wrote the film with husband Paul Mayeda Berges, was personally moved by The Boss in her life too.
“I remember the moment I saw the [album] cover of Born to Run and was like, ‘Huh, this is kind of unusual,’” the Bend It Like Beckham scribe, 59, says exclusively in the new issue of Us Weekly, on newsstands now. “It was something that I wasn’t used to seeing at that time. That was what first made me interested. Then I heard the album, and that was it.”
From that, she found the perfect cast to tell the story — even though they didn’t know much about Springsteen’s music.
“None of the lead actors had even heard Springsteen, those crazy kids,” she laughs. “During auditions, I had them dance to Born to Run! It was fun but nerve-racking for them because they thought they looked like idiots.
However, it was all worth it when she got to sit down with Springsteen, 69, himself as he watched the movie.
“It was the cherry on top,” she says. “I was terribly nervous. I said, ‘Here’s the movie and everything I’ve done. I’ve tried to make it work for you.’ He watched and laughed and at the very end, he hugged and kissed me and said, ‘Thank you. I’m blown away.’”
I used to be friends with a woman whose mom worked for Springsteen. (Those are the only details I should give as I don’t want to out my friend.) She had nothing but nice things to say about him! He’s said to be gracious, down-to-earth, and kind to fans, who often overstep. The stories she told him were about other people being mildly shitty and him being a standup guy. So it’s not surprising to hear that no only did Springsteen watch the movie with Chadha, but that he was so effusive about it. I’m sure it’s an excellent film too because Bend It was wonderful. So far it has a 92% critics rating and 93% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. I’m so excited to see it!
This makes me wonder how the songs were licensed for the film. In an interview with Yahoo! Chadha said that while so many hits were licensed, you won’t hear “Born in The USA.” She doesn’t say why, but does talk about a scene in the movie where her lead, Javed, explains that the song isn’t the ode to American patriotism that so many people assume. More on that here. Also, I can’t believe the actors hadn’t heard Springsteen! My teen knows and has heard Springsteen.
Here’s the trailer. Watch it you won’t be disappointed.
Ooh I just looked up the pictures and Springsteen performed at the premiere!
Here’s one of Springsteen’s recent Instagram posts. The movie has an unreleased track!
photos credit: WENN
Raised on Springsteen, I cannot wait for this movie.
Bruce’s son Sam is a firefighter. That shouldn’t impress me as much as it does but in today’s world for a privileged youth to take on a job like that? Yeah…I’m impressed.
Oh, I didn’t know that, about his son. That’s amazing!
Think about all the rich kids of famous people who do nothing but try to be “influencers” or some dumb useless startup, and this young man will put his life on the line every day he goes to work. Admirable indeed.
All his kids are doing well. His oldest son works for Sirius XM. I’m not sure exactly what job title he has, but he’s been there awhile now. His daughter is an equestrian. I recently read she is currently ranked 5th best in the USA and the top five go to the Olympics. It’s the only sport both men and women compete in together so that’s pretty impressive, especially at her age. Her dad’s money has obviously helped but she’s worked hard to get where she is. She’s very pretty too!
My boys are 7 and 4, and both can hear one note of him singing and go, “BRUUUUUUCE!!!!!!!!” My older one could sing most of dancing in the dark starting around age 3. They love his version of Purple Rain. My husband is a Jersey boy and he’s a total Springsteen nut in case you couldn’t tell.
I like his music, I do think he goes on and on and on sometimes at concerts. I cant handle his Broadway show (now on Netflix) because of that but my husband says its “BRUCE TELLING HIS STORY!!!! DONT YOU WANT TO HEAR HIS TRUTH?!?!?!?!” I’m like…i’m good. LOL.
I will say that the excessive preaching aside, if you aren’t sure you’re a Springsteen fan, go to one of his concerts. There is something about 30k people singing along and fist pumping to every word of Born to Run or Badlands that is just incredible. And his concerts are so basic – there’s no special effects, no costume changes, its just Bruce and the E Street Band, performing. It’s good old fashioned rock and roll and its fun.
I may have become a bit of a fan too, lol. So I think my husband will prob see this movie in the theater, but I’ll wait and watch when it comes out on streaming/on demand.
OH and I also I have heard that about how nice he is. A friend of mine from law school grew up in Long Island, and he was in the marching band, and they were doing some performance at MSG I think as part of a big show, and he was backstage waiting to go on and was talking to some guy in jeans and a denim shirt, who was apparently so nice and laid back and they talked for 15 minutes. The guy walked away and my friend’s friends were all like “OMG THAT WAS SPRINGSTEEN!!” and he had had no idea.
There’s also a really cute and well known story about him at the jersey shore, playing guitar, and an engaged couple asked him to take their picture, and he asked if they wanted one with him and they looked at him really funny lol.
I one-thousand percent agree with your statement about going and seeing him live. It will change how you feel about him for sure! I HATED him as a kid/teen because my mom was obsessed but then she forced me to go see him with her and I walked out a huge fan. Seeing him live is transformative. He is talented, poetic, thoughtful and pure entertainment. I cannot wait to see this film!
I am an Albertan girl raised on Springsteen by my Mom.
My husband wasn’t a fan – until we went to Chicago and saw him play at Wrigley Field. He was a fan from that moment on. He’s since gone back and listened to the catalogue and is amazed at how Bruce can capture a sentiment.
“Born in the USA” is about the beginning of the end of US manufacturing jobs and the bad treatment of Vietnam veterans during the Reagan era. It isn’t an upbeat song.
I think George W. Bush wanted to use that song for one of his political campaigns and Springsteen responded (paraphrasing): “I don’t think he actually read the lyrics.”
I don’t know about GWB, but Reagan definitely tried to use it and Springsteen’s camp shut that down as fast as they could. It’s clear that anyone who thinks its a patriotic song hasn’t actually listened to it.
Grew on with my parents blasting Bruce, and I love him even more as an adult – I still get choked up at the weirdest moments and exhilarated listening to his music on the way to work. I loved Bend it Like Beckham and am so excited to see Blinded by the Light tonight
I was the age depicted in the film during that same time period…I was THAT KID…MUSIC SAVED MY LIFE AND SOUL…so YES…I WILL BE SEEING THIS!!!!!!!!
Anyone remember that song, Blinded by the Light? I realize I’m in my own head at this moment, but I clearly remember singing this as a kid, loud and proud, but with the words, “Blinded by the light… Wrapped up like a douche you know a runner in the night…” Lmao. What a goober.
My brother is four years younger and he’d belt out, “Let my Love Open the Door.” And don’t ask me why he thought these were the lyrics. I never corrected him because it was so bizarre, made me giggle hysterically and I loved it when anyone else heard it. “High Low Pump of the Log.” Every damn time and to every repetition of Let My Love Open the Door. And there’s a lot. Over and over, high low pump of the log. I can’t tell you how much joy it brought me. 😏
It’s OK — the Manfred Mann version — which got a lot more airplay back in the day — very clearly says “douche”. But don’t go out tonight — there’s a bathroom on the right!
I think they are saying “dooce” (doose?), which was 70s slang for a joint (I think! That’s how my dad explained it anyway.)
I’m pretty sure deuce is a car reference. I was a kid though, so eh lol. I also thought, “Long Cool Woman (in a BLACK DRESS) was a song about Batman hey heh.
Yes, Bruce has said it was deuce like the Beach Boys little deuce coupe. He wasn’t thrilled with the Manfred Mann change.
He and his family live their life here in central New Jersey, go shopping and work out and eat at restaurants, nobody gives a hoot. He’s always riding his motorcycle or driving some classic/fancy car. Wasn’t always like that, they fled in the 90s because Bruce said he felt like he was Santa Claus at the north pole.
I’m a Jersey Girl, born and bred. Springsteen is in our blood. Bend It Like Beckham is one of my all time favorite films! I’ll be seeing this one soon!
My whole family *loves* him, and so I’m so glad that folks who know him can confirm that he’s a good guy! He’s meant a great deal to us over the years, especially to my dad, whose early years were difficult in a lot of the same ways. His music helped me to understand class and our family when I was a teen, too. Even just thinking about his Netflix show is making me misty-eyed–I can’t wait for this movie!
My favourite Springsteen song is the original version of ‘My City of Ruins’ that he performed for ‘America: A Tribute to Heroes’. He opens with ‘This is a prayer for our fallen brothers and sisters’. I have it on my ipod (yes, I still have one of those) and it doesn’t matter where I am, I cry when it comes on.
Dancing in the Dark and Hungry Heart are my favorite Springsteen songs. I’m not a fan but I do appreciate his music.
My boyfriend is an audiophile and has some crazy-expensive super-loud speakers. The first time I played Springsteen’s “Paradise” for him on those speakers he loved it and couldn’t guess who it was, and was shocked when I told him. If you’ve never heard it, do it! It’s something else. His talent seriously knows no bounds. The Rising and Wrecking Ball are my favorite albums, and The Rising (the song, about unity after 9/11) gives me GOOSEBUMPS. I’m in my mid-20s and love the Boss 😂 these kids man!!!
Wrecking Ball is so good. We had tickets to what was supposed to be the last concert at Giants Stadium, and then they added three more shows. My husband is still bitter over that 😉 But hearing him perform Wrecking Ball at that stadium, in the swamps of Jersey, was an experience.
Bruce played the very last show at the LA Sports Arena before it was torn down, and they played Wrecking Ball. It was a great show!
A Bruce show is like going to church. He knows how to whip up the crowd into a frenzy!
@Becks1, I was there at old Giants Stadium! Wrecking Ball is my favorite album of his. I’ve seen him about 15 times in a 30 year period. He’s my music boyfriend. Hands down, best songwriter in the last 40 years. Taylor who?
@H – right? He’s an excellent songwriter and storyteller. I’m still waiting for them to make the broadway play with his songs.
I can totally believe the kids had never heard of him. I was about 7 or 8 when he was popular and was too young to care. I never heard his songs on the radio growning up and he isn’t mentioned often when referring to the greats. This isn’t to say people don’t respect him, I just don’t think he stood out enough to get noticed by younger generations.
That is completely untrue. He still sells out stadiums in about 15 minutes. He’s popular in Europe and when I lived overseas, people knew who he was. Now I’m a huge fan, but I can’t imagine people not knowing the Born to Run album, which is on Rolling Stone’s Top 100 albums of all time.
He’s often mentioned when referring to the great rock and roll stars of all time. He’s been inducted into the HoF twice. He almost has his EGOT. He’s a lot like Billy Joel, in that he can just tour constantly. Sometimes he puts out an album, sometimes not, but he just tours and he’s selling out huge stadiums very quickly. And there is a wide range of ages at his tours. Some people were fans from the 70s, some from the 80s, and there are a lot of 20 somethings there as well.
I’m not even THAT big a fan but the idea that he “didn’t stand out enough” is kind of laughable.
As an early 20s Brit back then, I was into the more alternative side of the 80s. I saw this movie last night (now living in the US, first day of release here) and absolutely loved it. I got a lot of the English references, not sure how some of them will travel, but go see it.