(Credits: Far Out / Takahiro Kyono)
Sun 19 October 2025 17:39, UK
Bruce Springsteen was in attendance at the Academy Museum Gala on October 18th, where he gave a rare performance of one of his most beloved hits, ‘Streets of Philadelphia’.
At the award ceremony, he was honored with the inaugural Legacy Award, which recognised “an artist whose body of work has inspired generations of storytellers and deeply influenced our culture”.
At the event, he celebrated the award by performing three songs. He sang the Nebraska hit ‘Atlantic City’, the E Street Band single ‘Land Of Hope And Dreams’, and the Oscar-winning song, ‘Streets of Philadelphia’.
‘Streets of Philadelphia’ was written by Springsteen for the 1993 film, Philadelphia, starring Tom Hanks, which dealt with the impact of AIDS. The single was released in February 1994. The song received the Academy Award for Best Original Song and four Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year.
Writing previously about the enchantment of the track, Far Out wrote, “The song starts with a simple drumbeat, one stretched out and bouncy, before a warm synth comes in and helps us ease into the track as we slip into dreams. His vocals are as fragile and filled with meaning as ever as he sings, “I was bruised and battered / I couldn’t tell what I felt / I was unrecognisable to myself.” ‘Streets of Philadelphia’ is undoubtedly one of his most moving numbers, and it’s hard to believe that it came about purely by accident.”
Springsteen’s life will soon get the big screen treatment. Jeremy Allen White will play the likeness of the New Jersey musician in Deliver Me From Nowhere. The film depicts the rocker attempting to reconcile the pressures of success with the ghosts of his past as he records the 1982 album, Nebraska.
In a recent conversation with Jeremy Allen White held at the Spotify headquarters in London, Springsteen described the filming of the upcoming biopic as a “miracle”. It will hit cinemas on October 24th.
Watch footage of the rare performance from an attendee of the event below.
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