Bon Jovi released Forever a little over a year ago -- and on October 24, they'll be releasing it again, this time as a collection of duets with one brand new song.
Here's the official music video for that new track -- "Red, White and Jersey":
I like it... it's nothing groundbreaking, just catchy and inoffensive, and feels similar to "Legendary" really... except for this line that made my ears perk up:
"It ain't no surprise that your blue eyes still feel like home to me / we'll always be red, white and Jersey"
If I'm not mistaken, Dorothea, aka Jon's high school sweetheart and wife of over three decades, has brown/hazel eyes. You know who else Jon has known and chased dreams with since they were teenagers... and has blue eyes? David Bryan.
"Red, White and Jersey" is a love letter to our favourite keyboard player and you will not convince me otherwise.
(Yes, I realise the lyrics could also just be a work of fiction, but don't ruin my dreams, okay? 🤣 )
The other song that has dropped is "Hollow Man", now featuring Bruce Springsteen. Here's the official lyric video:
Plenty of folks didn't really care for the original, but I don't mind these sorts of songs, and they suit current day Jon. Plus, I love me some Springsteen... I've had the privilege of seeing him live nine times and they've all been brilliant shows.
Maybe it's because I was revisiting Bruce's Nebraska album recently, but as soon as the harmonica kicked in on "Hollow Man", I knew this track would be elevated by his contribution. Bruce's harmonies blend beautifully with Jon's vocals, and the song just feels deeper with the two of them on it together. Though I do note with amusement that the Boss left the "masturbate" line solely to Jon.
"The People's House" featuring The War & Treaty was released in October last year, so we're waiting to hear how 11 other tracks turned out.
The track list for Forever (Legendary Edition) is:
- Red, White and Jersey
- Legendary - with James Bay
- We Made It Look Easy - with Robbie Williams
- Living Proof - with Jelly Roll
- Waves - with Jason Isbell
- Seeds - with Ryan Tedder
- Kiss the Bride - with Billy Falcon
- The People's House - with The War & Treaty
- Walls of Jericho - with Joe Elliott
- I Wrote You a Song - with Lainey Wilson
- Living in Paradise - with Avril Lavigne
- My First Guitar - with Marcus King
- Hollow Man - with Bruce Springsteen
- We Made It Look Easy / Hicimos Que Pareciera Facil - with Carin Leon
Look, let's be real... no one was really begging for another edition of Forever. But I enjoyed the original album, and some of the collaborators did (and do) intrigue me.
Can't believe they're going to make me listen to Avril Lavigne though, lol... nothing against her personally, but unfortunately, I still have some lingering damage from when "Sk8er Boi" came out and all the other girls in school suddenly rocked up wearing ties and 50 layers of black eyeliner, thinking they were punks. Also, given Jason Isbell, Ryan Tedder, and Billy Falcon are duetting on the songs they co-wrote, I'm a little surprised Ed Sheeran isn't the one on "Living in Paradise", but hey.
Jon admits this release is "an album borne out of necessity" since they obviously couldn't do a Forever tour. (Check out Rolling Stone: Bon Jovi Revisit ‘Forever’ LP With Bruce Springsteen, Jelly Roll, and More.) As much as I'd still go see Bon Jovi if they toured, I don't think I really want them to unless Jon can get his live vocals back to where they were circa 2010. If he can't and we instead get more studio work, I'm okay with that.
What do you think of the new tracks? Or the upcoming album release?
Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊
