Bruce Springsteen in Marseille: Rock celebrates a dream of a fair and open America

The day was slow and nervous, as usual in Marseille. The city smells of salt, sometimes of sewers on a street corner, as always. But tonight there's a little less clamor in the squares. The bars with their light blue neon lights are idling, the streets are hesitant, almost gloomy. A shame. Tonight, PSG risks becoming European champions, and no one really wants to talk about it.

At the Vélodrome, 60,000 spectators are trying not to think about it: they're waiting for Bruce Springsteen. The stands are filling up, the buzz is rising. Come on, it's time to make a little noise to forget the bad news. As soon as they enter the arena, the sound is brutal, too high-pitched, heavy. The signature of the venue, it seems. Under the spotlights, a well-behaved audience, mostly graying, wearing promotional T-shirts, ready to commune. The singer appears, smiling, and starts a conversation. The old king of rock has recently become known for his increasingly "engaged" speeches.

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