I’d heard that Springsteen was covering “local” songs in Australia and New Zealand earlier this year, but hadn’t heard that he’d worked up “Don’t Change.” It surely is one of the best songs, period, an affirmation of a loved one called out at a point of turmoil, a moment of need. In my reading of it, the opening and closing guitar theme—simultaneously soaring free and coming home—describes the beauty and rock-solid character of the person being celebrated. I miss the percussive subtleties of the INXS original, but Springsteen clearly loves the song and honors it in this performance.
4 October 2014