There are some things you should not do in certain areas of the United States. Texas bull runs don’t use bad salsa. In New York, people don’t eat pizza with a knife and fork. There’s no shouting, “Belichick is a big, fat fraud!” In a crowded Boston bar (if that’s even true).
And if you live in New Jersey or the United States, never take the sacred name of Bruce Springsteen in vain in any way. So why would a New Jersey representative think of cheating on his listening habits when it comes to The Boss?
9to5Mac discovered a strange post about X by U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.). The congressman shared what appears to be the year’s Spotify Wrapped playlist, with one list consisting of Springsteen classics like “Glory Days” and “Thunder Road,” and the other featuring various Spotify wrapped playlists. It was filled with songs by hip-hop stars. In his post, he sought to solidify his respect for Springsteen by saying, “My first ever concert was at the Meadowlands to see The Boss!” Well, it didn’t take long for anyone who has used the internet or Spotify to figure out that he fabricated the entire list just to kiss voters.
Gottheimer’s list has inconsistent font sizes, improper spacing between albums on the list, and the title of both lists reads “Yours” even though one list only has Springsteen albums. It contained obvious mistakes, such as the fact that it was listed as “Top Songs”. He also did not use the same font type or size for all track and album entries.
So how did Gottheimer deal with this musical failure to the press? He dug his heels into a Springsteen song and blamed his two children for the rest. He admitted to NJ Advance Media that he created the fake Spotify rap lists, but said the songs on each list were accurate because he shared the account with his children. That’s because it’s easier than going back in time and setting up a family plan.
“If I hadn’t shared my account with my 12- and 15-year-old kids, this would have been my Spotify wrap,” Gottheimer told the outlet. “It’s Springsteen all day long for me, but don’t get me wrong, I still love listening to Taylor Swift!”
Gottheimer later deleted the post and replaced it with a list of his most listened to Springsteen songs. He’s trying to save face in a tight race for governor, but if he wants to secure a move to the New Jersey governor’s mansion, he’ll need to spread the word about his love for The Boss throughout the Garden State. There is. If Gottheimer is also going to vote for “a father who disgusts his kids with their music choices,” he rocks.
