The Springsteen- and Bon Jovi-free DNC acceptance speech

"Now please welcome... who?" One of the big debates among inhabitants of section 524 at Barack Obama's Invesco Field at Mile High acceptance speech on Thursday involved the musical acts that would be taking part -- especially the headliners. Over the previous week or so, the media had been filled...

By Michael Roberts

August 29, 2008

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"Now please welcome... who?"

One of the big debates among inhabitants of section 524 at Barack Obama's Invesco Field at Mile High acceptance speech on Thursday involved the musical acts that would be taking part -- especially the headliners. Over the previous week or so, the media had been filled with contradictory reports. Bruce Springsteen and Jon Bon Jovi are both going to appear. Springsteen won't, but Bon Jovi will. Bon Jovi won't, but Springsteen will. So we were filled with anticipation until the announcer introduced that the final musical act of the night would be... Michael McDonald? The foggy voiced guy from the second iteration of the Doobie Brothers? Singing a somnambulant version of "America the Beautiful" that gave everyone another reason to wish that Ray Charles was still alive? There's got to be someone after him, right? Right? But no -- Springsteen was represented by two spins of "Born in the U.S.A.," and I don't remember hearing any Bon Jovi at all. That kind of decision gives love a bad name. -- Michael Roberts

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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