Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Sambora fans unhappy with his performance

As some of you know, I was all set to go to RSO's concert at Metro City in Perth until it got cancelled. A couple of people have since messaged me suggesting I may have dodged a bullet, after fans went on Richie Sambora's Facebook page to vent their anger at his performance at Melbourne's Margaret Court Arena.

Noise11 has summarised some of the comments, but the general consensus seems to be:

  • RSO came on stage an hour late with no apology or explanation;
  • Richie appeared drunk or stoned and didn't know the lyrics;
  • Orianthi did a good job of trying to hold the show together on her own;
  • There were too many Bon Jovi songs and covers, only one solo Sambora song, and none of the promised new material from the upcoming RSO album;
  • Fans left early and are trying to get refunds.

It's worth noting that the concert in Adelaide, which is Orianthi's hometown, didn't attract the same level of vitriol. Most fans I heard seemed happy with the Adelaide show, and while there was criticism of the set list, it was mainly from people who hadn't been there. So who knows what sort of performances Sydney and Brisbane are going to get?

Here is RSO's cover of Sonny and Cher's "I Got You Babe" from Adelaide:


And their version of "Wanted Dead or Alive" from Melbourne:

Have you seen RSO on their Australian tour so far? What did you think?

Friday, September 23, 2016

New Bon Jovi song Labor of Love #THINFS


Another song from Bon Jovi's upcoming album This House Is Not For Sale is now available. The track's called "Labor of Love". If you pre-ordered the album on iTunes, you should have automatic access to the song. You can also listen to "Labor of Love" on Spotify.



Here's my attempt at transcribing the lyrics:

Smoke stack blowing, there's a fire in the sky
Fahrenheit rising up higher than high
Pressure's building up, sparks are gonna fly
I know where this is going when I look into your eyes
I know where this is going when I look into your eyes

Sweet sweat's rolling down the middle of your spine
Bodies move together, perfect rhythm and time
Baby, say my name, I'll write yours in the sky
Higher than a rocket on the 4th of July
Higher than a rocket on the 4th of July
It's good, it's good, it's good to be alive

It's a full-time job, the work's never done
24/7, it's a labour of love
Yeah, everything I've got, it's all about us
Baby, this ain't working, it's a labour of love
Baby, this ain't working, it's a labour of love

Only fools count treasure in silver and gold
I don't want for nothing that these hands can hold
If you need something done, put it on the list
If I need some sugar, I'll get it from your lips
If I need some sugar, I'll get it from your lips
It's good, it's good, it's good to be alive

It's a full-time job, the work's never done
24/7, it's a labour of love
Yeah, everything I've got, it's all about us
Baby, this ain't working, it's a labour of love
Baby, this ain't working, it's a labour of love

The taste of your lips, every night, every day
I know every curve but it's never the same
If love is a fire, I'd go down in those flames
I wanna die in your arms hearing you say my name
I wanna die in your arms hearing you say my name
I wanna die in your arms hearing you say my name

It's a full-time job, the work's never done
24/7, it's a labour of love
Yeah, everything I've got, it's all about us
Baby, this ain't working, it's a labour of love

It's a full-time job, the work's never done
24/7, it's a labour of love
Give everything I've got, I can't get enough
Baby, this ain't working, it's a labour of love
Baby, this ain't working, it's a labour of love

As usual, any and all corrections are welcome. :) "Labor of Love" was written by Jon Bon Jovi, John Shanks, and Billy Falcon.

Jon did a Facebook live Q&A earlier this month in which he compared the new album to Have a Nice Day and These Days. You could hear "Have a Nice Day" in "This House Is Not For Sale"  and perhaps in "Knockout", so I'm guessing "Labor of Love" is one of the songs Jon is thinks would fit on These Days. It reminds me of some of the songs from Burning Bridges personally, and maybe a bit of Destination Anywhere.

What do you think of "Labor of Love"?

Saturday, September 10, 2016

New Bon Jovi song Knockout + #THINFS tracklist

Annnnnd we officially have the "live your life" song that's been on most Bon Jovi albums since 2000. Although who knows, there could be more than one on this album?

Anyway, This House Is Not For Sale, which is due out on 21 October 2016, is now available for pre-order. If you pre-order it on iTunes, you'll get the title track (which came out last month) and a new song called "Knockout".

If you're disinclined to purchase the album at this stage, you can also listen to "Knockout" on Spotify.



Here are the lyrics (I think):

Every day I wake up with my back against the wall
Anytime you get up someone wants to see you fall
If you're afraid to lose it all, you're never gonna win
I'll be giving you the finger and sticking out my chin
Boom boom boom
Here comes the boom boom boom

Here comes the knockout
My time is right now
Turning your lights out
I'm throwing down
Here comes the knockout
Until the last round
I'm throwing down
Go start a fire, go start a fight
No regrets, this is your life (hey)
Here comes the knockout
My time is right now
I'm throwing down

Are you living in a nightmare, are you living in a dream?
Do you stand for something, will you fall for anything?
It's easier to count me out but you can count me in
Coz I'm giving you the finger and sticking out my chin
Boom boom boom
Here comes the boom boom boom

Here comes the knockout
My time is right now
Turning your lights out
I'm throwing down
Here comes the knockout
Until the last round
I'm throwing down
Go start a fire, go start a fight
No regrets, this is your life (hey)
Here comes the knockout
My time is right now
I'm throwing down down down
Down down 
Throwing down down down
Down down

Did you really live your life or did it pass you by?
What's it take to tell yourself you really were alive?
Look me in the eye

Here comes the knockout
My time is right now
Turning your lights out
I'm throwing down
Here comes the knockout
Until the last round
I'm throwing down
Go start a fire, go start a fight
No regrets, this is your life (hey)
Here comes the knockout
My time is right now
I'm throwing down

The lyric I've written as "boom" sounded like "pull" the first couple of times I listened to it, so I don't know how accurate this transcription is. "Knockout" was written by Jon Bon Jovi and John Shanks.

To be honest, I'm not really digging this one, but maybe it'll grow on me. I don't mind the boxing metaphor.

The track listing for This House Is Not For Sale is as follows:

  1. This House Is Not For Sale
  2. Living with the Ghost
  3. Knockout
  4. Labor of Love
  5. Born Again Tomorrow
  6. Roller Coaster
  7. New Year's Day
  8. The Devil's in the Temple
  9. Scars on This Guitar
  10. God Bless This Mess
  11. Reunion (previously performed for Rutgers University graduates)
  12. Come on up to Our House
    Bonus tracks (Deluxe Edition):
  13. Real Love
  14. All Hail the King
  15. We Don't Run (previously released on Burning Bridges)
  16. I Will Drive You Home
  17. Goodnight New York

I like some of those titles, but I also know better than to judge a song by its title. ;)

Of the two tracks that have been released from the album, which song do you prefer -- "Knockout" or "This House Is Not For Sale"? Or do you love/hate both?