Springsteen Wows TikTok With Surprise Cover of Harry Styles’ “As It Was”
In a move no one saw coming, legendary rocker Bruce Springsteen took to TikTok this weekend and dropped a heartfelt, acoustic cover of Harry Styles’ modern pop anthem “As It Was.” The video, posted with no fanfare or advance notice, has since gone viral — amassing over 18 million views in just 24 hours and igniting an unlikely cultural crossover between Gen Z and rock ‘n’ roll royalty.
Sitting in his home studio surrounded by vintage guitars and vinyl, Springsteen appeared relaxed and reflective. With nothing but an old Gibson and a steady voice, he stripped down Styles’ synth-heavy hit into a soulful, folk-rock ballad. Fans were quick to praise the reinterpretation, noting how “The Boss” brought a depth of melancholy to the lyrics, especially the haunting refrain: “You know it’s not the same as it was.”
“Harry wrote a great song,” Springsteen says in a brief comment at the end of the clip. “Thought I’d give it the Jersey treatment.”
The unexpected cover has drawn praise from both the rock community and pop fans alike. Styles himself responded via Instagram, writing, “What an honor. Absolutely surreal to hear Bruce sing that. I grew up on Born to Run.”
TikTok was ablaze with reactions — many from users too young to have grown up with Springsteen’s catalog. “Why is Bruce Springsteen singing my breakup anthem better than I can cry to it?” joked one comment. Another wrote, “I just found out who Bruce Springsteen is and now I’m crying to Born in the U.S.A. at 3 a.m.”
This isn’t the first time Springsteen has experimented with modern platforms. He joined Instagram in 2022 and has occasionally posted behind-the-scenes footage of his tours. However, this marks his first major foray into TikTok, a platform dominated by a much younger audience.
“It’s a great way to connect,” Springsteen told a local radio station later. “Music’s supposed to reach people wherever they are — even if that’s on a phone, between cat videos.”
Rumors are already swirling about a potential covers EP or even a collaboration between Springsteen and Styles. While nothing official has been confirmed, fans are eager. One viral comment summed it up best: “Give us the duet we never knew we needed — The Boss and the Prince of Pop.”
For now, the video remains pinned at the top of Springsteen’s newly launched TikTok account, simply captioned: “Not the same as it was.”
