Bruce Springsteen

Born in the U.S.A. is both a seminal 1984 album and its iconic title track by Bruce Springsteen, marking the peak of his commercial success and cultural influence.

While often mistaken for a purely nationalistic anthem due to its booming chorus, the song is a bitter critique of the treatment of Vietnam War veterans.

It tells the story of a working-class man "born down in a dead man's town" who is sent to fight in Vietnam, only to return home to economic hardship and social alienation.

Despite its critical lyrics, it was famously co-opted by Ronald Reagan during his 1984 re-election campaign as a "message of hope," leading Springsteen to publicly clarify the song's darker intent.

The track is characterized by Max Weinberg’s "exploding" gated-reverb drums and Roy Bittan’s driving synthesizer riff.