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Tom Waits' 'Jersey Girl.' Use Springsteen's Version. There, That'll Work
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I am a New Jersey native and not, strangely, a fan of either Bruce Springsteen or Jon Bon Jovi, but anything by either artist would be better than the song that, after decades of lobbying by its now nonagenarian writer/performer, is poised to be named New Jersey's official state song: "I'm From New Jersey," a hokey, corny piece of steamed poop that is one of five songs being proposed by three Democrats in the State Senate for honors. They'd have that as the state song, and name a state anthem, children's song, ballad, and popular song. All are likely crap. "I'm From New Jersey," by a guy who calls himself Red Mascara, is embarrassing. And we're talking about a state that produced Springsteen, Bon Jovi, the Four Seasons, Whitney Houston, Frank Sinatra, the Smithereens, the Fugees, George Clinton, Fountains of Wayne, Tom Verlaine, My Chemical Romance, Yo La Tengo, Jack Antonoff of fun. and The Bleachers, the Feelies, Dramarama (with my old Y107 cohort Chris Carter), Gloria Gaynor, Uncle Floyd (you want old style, he's your guy), Phoebe Snow... you get the idea. That state song has a high bar to jump, and a rinky-dink corny 1940s-style ditty can't do that. (Asbury Park Press)
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