Home Jambase See Bruce Springsteen Dust Off ‘My Hometown’ By Popular Demand In Zürich

See Bruce Springsteen Dust Off ‘My Hometown’ By Popular Demand In Zürich

June 14, 2023

Zürich is located nearly 4,000 from Bruce Springsteen‘s hometown in New Jersey, so you can understand The Boss’ surprise when he noticed many members of the audience hoisting signs requesting “My Hometown” at his concert in the Swiss city last night. Springsteen and the E Street Band came through by performing the 1985 single on Tuesday at Letzigrund Stadion for the first time since February 21, 2017.

Turns out, the campaign to get Bruce to play the song was an organized effort. Swiss radio personality Judith Wernli came up with the idea to surprise Springsteen with lots of “My Hometown” signs in Zürich. The SRF 3 DJ and longtime Bruce devotee spread the word on both the radio and social media in the weeks leading up to the show that fans should design and wave signs requesting the Born In The U.S.A. classic.

Three fans went on create huge “My Hometown” banners that led to a wrinkle in the plan. Bruce’s tour management learned of Wernli’s efforts and informed SRF 3 on Monday that signs could be no larger than the A4 format due to safety concerns. The other issue is that Springsteen has avoided playing songs in response to signs this tour. Judith and the radio station’s listeners didn’t give up and made t-shirts and signs on A4 sheets on which “My Hometown” was printed.

Wernli had a spot close to the stage and both she and a number of fans had their signs in hand and t-shirts on. The special moment arrived halfway through last night’s concert when Springsteen pointed out all the requests for “My Hometown” he spotted. “My first question is why?” The Boss quipped. “Why are there so many signs that say ‘My Hometown?’ I’m puzzled! I’m slightly puzzled. BUT, the people have spoken!” And with that, the E Street Band launched into the tour’s first “My Hometown” sending Judith Wernli and those who supported the campaign into a frenzy.

In fan-shot video of Springsteen’s banter and ensuing “My Hometown” performance fans could be heard singing along at high volume. Watch how it went down below:

!function ($) {

$(function(){ // document ready

$(‘.video-sticky’).stickybits(
{
stickyBitStickyOffset: getNavbarsHeight()
}
);

});

}(window.jQuery);

.video-content .panel-body {
padding-top:40px;
padding-bottom:40px;
}
.video-sticky {
z-index: 999;
background-color: #fcfcfc;
}
.honorable-mentions {
padding-left: 0;
margin-left: 1.375em;
}
.honorable-mentions li {
margin-bottom:5px;
}
.honorable-mentions .fa-li {
margin-top:-2px;
}

.video-summary-wrap table.glance-table.jambase-videos-songs-table{
background-color: #e2e8ef;
}

My Hometown	00:00:00

#jambase-tv-info-table tr:first-of-type > *{
border-top:none!important;
}
#jambase-tv-info-table tr:last-of-type > *{
padding-bottom:0;
}
#jambase-tv-info-table th{
padding-left:0;
width:65px;
}

Channel	jumaa7
Band	Bruce Springsteen (See 480 videos)

While last night’s “My Hometown” was a tour debut and bust out for the E Street Band, Bruce sang an impromptu version at an Irish pub in May while exploring his family’s roots in the town of Kildare. Springsteen struggled to remember the lyrics at the pub but had no such issues on Tuesday. As proof the fix wasn’t in, the stage setlist for Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s concert in Zürich did not include “My Hometown.”

“Darlington County,” another Born In The U.S.A. gem, was also played last night in response to a sign. The song had only been performed three previous times this year with each coming on the North American leg that started Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band’s 2023 International Tour. Additionally, Springsteen trotted out “Working On The Highway” from the 1984 record for just the second time this tour in Zürich. “The E Street Shuffle” was dropped from the setlist after performances at all prior 2023 concerts.

The tour continues on Friday in Birmingham, England.

Setlist (via BruceBase)

Set: My Love Will Not Let You Down, No Surrender, Ghosts, Prove It All Night, Letter To You, The Promised Land, Out In The Street, Working On The Highway, Darlington County, Kitty’s Back, Nightshift, Mary’s Place, My Hometown*, Last Man Standing, Backstreets, Because The Night, She’s The One, Wrecking Ball, The Rising, Badlands, Thunder Road

Encore: Born In The U.S.A., Born To Run, Bobby Jean, Glory Days, Dancing In The Dark, Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out, I’ll See You In My Dreams

* – Tour Debut

.article-summary-wrap {
margin-top:25px;
}

.panel-article .list-posts > li {
border-style: dotted;
}
.panel-article .list-posts > li:last-of-type {
border-bottom-width:0;
}
.panel-article .list-posts .excerpt {
margin: 3px 0 0;
}
.panel-article .list-posts .btn-sm {
margin-top: 10px;
padding: 3px 10px;
}

More Bruce Springsteen News

!function ($) {
$(function(){ // document ready
var ga_event_args = {
hitType: ‘event’,
eventCategory: ‘Article Summary Shortcode’,
eventAction: ‘Show Article Summary’,
eventLabel: ‘https://www.jambase.com/article/bruce-springsteen-my-hometown-irish-pub’,
nonInteraction : true
};
console.log( ‘JB – Analytics Event’ );
console.log( ga_event_args );
try {
__gaTracker(‘send’, ga_event_args );
} catch(err){}
$(document).on(‘click’, ‘.article-summary-wrap a[data-guid=”1037300724ada71b-3c42-429d-9181-da482a751658″]’, function(e){
var ga_event_args = {
hitType: ‘event’,
eventCategory: ‘Article Summary Shortcode’,
eventAction: ‘Click Article Summary’,
eventLabel: ‘https://www.jambase.com/article/bruce-springsteen-my-hometown-irish-pub’
};
console.log( ‘JB – Analytics Event’ );
console.log( ga_event_args );
try {
__gaTracker(‘send’, ga_event_args );
} catch(err){}
});
});
}(window.jQuery);

Watch Bruce Springsteen Sing ‘My Hometown’ With Patrons At An Irish Pub
!function ($) {
$(function(){ // document ready
var ga_event_args = {
hitType: ‘event’,
eventCategory: ‘Article Summary Shortcode’,
eventAction: ‘Show Article Summary’,
eventLabel: ‘https://www.jambase.com/article/bruce-springsteen-michelle-obama-glory-days-barcelona-video’,
nonInteraction : true
};
console.log( ‘JB – Analytics Event’ );
console.log( ga_event_args );
try {
__gaTracker(‘send’, ga_event_args );
} catch(err){}
$(document).on(‘click’, ‘.article-summary-wrap a[data-guid=”10341967d982875c-4a11-4071-85d0-6555fe0e9f02″]’, function(e){
var ga_event_args = {
hitType: ‘event’,
eventCategory: ‘Article Summary Shortcode’,
eventAction: ‘Click Article Summary’,
eventLabel: ‘https://www.jambase.com/article/bruce-springsteen-michelle-obama-glory-days-barcelona-video’
};
console.log( ‘JB – Analytics Event’ );
console.log( ga_event_args );
try {
__gaTracker(‘send’, ga_event_args );
} catch(err){}
});
});
}(window.jQuery);

Watch Michelle Obama Sing Backup With Bruce Springsteen On ‘Glory Days’ In Barcelona
!function ($) {
$(function(){ // document ready
var ga_event_args = {
hitType: ‘event’,
eventCategory: ‘Article Summary Shortcode’,
eventAction: ‘Show Article Summary’,
eventLabel: ‘https://www.jambase.com/article/bruce-springsteen-day-newark-jersey-girl-setlist-video’,
nonInteraction : true
};
console.log( ‘JB – Analytics Event’ );
console.log( ga_event_args );
try {
__gaTracker(‘send’, ga_event_args );
} catch(err){}
$(document).on(‘click’, ‘.article-summary-wrap a[data-guid=”102640814d686186-9a60-463d-94d9-92836c3c83f0″]’, function(e){
var ga_event_args = {
hitType: ‘event’,
eventCategory: ‘Article Summary Shortcode’,
eventAction: ‘Click Article Summary’,
eventLabel: ‘https://www.jambase.com/article/bruce-springsteen-day-newark-jersey-girl-setlist-video’
};
console.log( ‘JB – Analytics Event’ );
console.log( ga_event_args );
try {
__gaTracker(‘send’, ga_event_args );
} catch(err){}
});
});
}(window.jQuery);

‘Local Hero’ Bruce Springsteen To Be Honored With Own Day In New Jersey & Breaks Out ‘Jersey Girl’ In Newark
!function ($) {
$(function(){ // document ready
var ga_event_args = {
hitType: ‘event’,
eventCategory: ‘Article Summary Shortcode’,
eventAction: ‘Show Article Summary’,
eventLabel: ‘https://www.jambase.com/article/bruce-springsteen-born-in-the-u-s-a-ubs-arena-setlist-video’,
nonInteraction : true
};
console.log( ‘JB – Analytics Event’ );
console.log( ga_event_args );
try {
__gaTracker(‘send’, ga_event_args );
} catch(err){}
$(document).on(‘click’, ‘.article-summary-wrap a[data-guid=”10238673108571b8-26dd-495e-bdd5-1d0b7ef0638c”]’, function(e){
var ga_event_args = {
hitType: ‘event’,
eventCategory: ‘Article Summary Shortcode’,
eventAction: ‘Click Article Summary’,
eventLabel: ‘https://www.jambase.com/article/bruce-springsteen-born-in-the-u-s-a-ubs-arena-setlist-video’
};
console.log( ‘JB – Analytics Event’ );
console.log( ga_event_args );
try {
__gaTracker(‘send’, ga_event_args );
} catch(err){}
});
});
}(window.jQuery);

Watch Bruce Springsteen & E Street Band Perform ‘Born In The U.S.A.’ For 1st Time Since 2016
!function ($) {
$(function(){ // document ready
var ga_event_args = {
hitType: ‘event’,
eventCategory: ‘Article Summary Shortcode’,
eventAction: ‘Show Article Summary’,
eventLabel: ‘https://www.jambase.com/article/bruce-springsteen-marys-place-ubs-arena-setlist-video’,
nonInteraction : true
};
console.log( ‘JB – Analytics Event’ );
console.log( ga_event_args );
try {
__gaTracker(‘send’, ga_event_args );
} catch(err){}
$(document).on(‘click’, ‘.article-summary-wrap a[data-guid=”102203483497a0b2-e67e-4636-b0cd-6f3536598437″]’, function(e){
var ga_event_args = {
hitType: ‘event’,
eventCategory: ‘Article Summary Shortcode’,
eventAction: ‘Click Article Summary’,
eventLabel: ‘https://www.jambase.com/article/bruce-springsteen-marys-place-ubs-arena-setlist-video’
};
console.log( ‘JB – Analytics Event’ );
console.log( ga_event_args );
try {
__gaTracker(‘send’, ga_event_args );
} catch(err){}
});
});
}(window.jQuery);

Watch Bruce Springsteen Bring ‘Mary’s Place’ To Long Island At UBS Arena Debut