‘They hold the test of time’: Spike in awe of Springsteen’s new ICE protest song

After a man was shot by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis, singer/songwriter Bruce Springsteen wrote a song, “Streets of Minneapolis,” condemning the events that took place.

KIRO host Spike O’Neill joined “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio to applaud Springsteen for his new hit single, which he believes will stand the test of time alongside other generational protest ballads throughout history.

“Bruce wrote it on Saturday, recorded it on Sunday, and dropped it on Monday. The immediacy of technology these days allows a guy with a billion-dollar bank account to work in a home studio, which makes it a little easier,” Spike said. “But it is raw, and I’ve heard Bruce sing about causes his entire career. Protest songs are part of our history.

“From Pete Seeger to Woody Guthrie, Billie Holiday’s ‘Strange Fruit’ was about lynchings,” Spike continued. “‘What’s Going On’ by Marvin Gaye, ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’ by Sam Cooke, we have always had protest songs, and they’ve always moved people, inspired people, and I hope, made a difference throughout the course in American history.”

Springsteen’s protest song is ‘on the right side of history’

Of all the songs Spike mentioned, Gee found one similarity that was evident across the board.

“Spike did a very good job of naming all those songs, now, tell me which song was on the wrong side of history,” Gee said. “My point is, they’re never wrong. They’re always on the right side of history.”

“That’s why they hold the test of time, they speak to people’s true beliefs, and their priorities,” Spike responded.

Urusla was skeptical about whether protest songs could strike the same chord as they once did, when social media did not reign supreme among younger generations.

“I know that they have made a difference in the course of American history, but I’m just wondering if, right now, they still hold the same kind of water,” Ursula asked. “I would argue that the younger generation in our world they rely more on social media, not necessarily music today.”

“I think everyone, at some point, is going to be connected to music,” Gee responded. “For example, my youngest son listens to J. Cole, and I wonder, how does my son learn some of the things that he knows? He learns through J. Cole. This is why it’s important: what your kids listen to matters.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.