Richie and Jon interviews

Here are a couple of recent interviews with Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi.

Richie spoke with Hugh Sundae from the New Zealand Herald ahead of the Auckland concert on December 5. Topics include sequencing a record, iTunes and digital music, support acts, the "hair metal" scene, musical influences, playing live and tour withdrawals.


Meanwhile,Jon has spoken to Indian media in promotion of the Greatest Hits. Most of the responses are pretty standard to all the Greatest Hits promo interviews, but there is a bit of localised flavour to the questioning:

You’re yet to visit India. why’s that?
I would like to visit India, but we keep our touring schedule such that it does not really get too exhaustive or excessive. We’d like to tour in a manner that is not excessive and so, we haven’t.

Have you ever considered collaborating for a Bollywood project?
I’d love to collaborate. I’m always excited about the prospect of collaborative efforts because music is a universal language and doesn’t have to do anything with borders or even language barriers.

Read the rest of the article here.

AMAs, Altiyan wins X Factor, Aussie VIP gig, GH vinyl

Bon Jovi performed at the American Music Awards on Sunday, November 21. They played a medley of "What Do You Got?", "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "It's My Life".



Also on November 21, was the first half of a two-night grand finale on The X Factor Australia which culminated in "my boy" Altiyan Childs being crowned the winner on Monday night. I've been shamelessly plugging him on Twitter for the past couple of months, as well as posting his performances of "Livin' on a Prayer" and "Blaze of Glory" on this blog. Anyway, Altiyan reprised "Prayer" on the Sunday night show so here's more blog fodder. :P


In more Down Under news, I remember watching with amusement as we went into frenzy over Oprah Winfrey's visit in December... Seems Bon Jovi, who are also in Australia in December, will be doing a private VIP concert at Star City for Oprah's touring party:

The new management of Star City want to make a statement . . . the private Bon Jovi concert show and the after-party will be one of the biggest VIP events Sydney has seen in more than a decade, a source said.

Invited guests include Cate Blanchett, Russell Crowe, Keith Urban, Nicole Kidman, James and Erica Packer, Lachlan and Sarah Murdoch, Hugh Jackman and Deborah-Lee Furness.

And Sydney Confidential readers should stay tuned for a special offer.

And for old school audiophiles, the Greatest Hits has also been released in vinyl.

Bon Jovi still rocking 'n' rolling (interview)

This interview with Jon from the Malay Mail is a few days old, but it's in promotion of the Greatest Hits which is still current.

Jon talking about the new songs:

Well to be honest we wanted those who already had the songs from previous albums to have something extra to look forward to. The new material needed to fit what the Greatest Hits was, which was a representation of a body of our work thus far. They are mostly anthemic rock songs about who we are, where we are (or were) in late 2008. They're very lifting and optimistic and they befit the Greatest Hits, which is a "celebration" album.

This part cracked me up to no end:

You have over five million fans on your Facebook page. What do you think about social networks and are you a frequent Facebook or Twitter user?

There was an occasion when my kids were texting while watch­ing something on YouTube, and in the distance the TV was on and they claimed to be watching a programme. And I asked my daughter "How is it that you think you are doing all these three things well?"

And she looked at me like I was an idiot and said "Can't you do all that at the same time?"

And I just shook my head and took my newspapers into the next room and felt like an old man. I can't even read when the TVis on but it's very natural for kids nowadays to multitask. I do not Tweet but it is an amazing way to reach five million people who are interested in you with just a touch of a button.

Doesn't really look like there'll be an Asian tour (apart from Japan) anytime soon though:

You last toured Asia (more specifical­ly Malaysia) 15 years ago. Any plans to tour here again?

We would love to but we're trying to keep our touring to a schedule that doesn't really inflict too much pain. Err... how I can put that better? We like to tour in a manner that is not too ex­cessive and since the Crush tour, we've kept the touring schedule to about a hundred shows a year but because of the success of The Circle and hopefully The Greatest Hits, we've extended it by about 30 shows, so Asia may play into our plans in the coming year.

I know that response kind of left the door open, and it's hard to read the tone when you only have text in front of you, but I interpreted this as a diplomatic way of saying "no". Hopefully for fans in Asia I'm wrong though!

Anyway, check out the full article here.

CNN Heroes + Greatest Hits hits #1

Bon Jovi will be among the stars appearing on CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute which will air in the US on Thanksgiving night and on CNN International on November 25 and 26:

Rock legends Bon Jovi also will be part of a two-hour celebrity-studded tribute to the top 10 CNN Heroes of 2010.

The supergroup will perform "What Do You Got?" a new song from their greatest hits album which debuted November 9.

I was under the impression that "supergroup" referred to a band whose individual members had already achieved fame prior to the band's formation (e.g. Traveling Wilburys, CSNY, Chickenfoot, Velvet Revolver) which would preclude Bon Jovi, but whatever. It's not very often you'll see Bon Jovi described as "rock legends", so savour the moment, folks. :P

In other news, the Greatest Hits has topped the charts in Canada, Ireland, Japan, Portugal, Sweden, and my native Australia.

Greatest Hits worldwide, Bon Jovi movie review, VEVO webcast, iheartradio

With the release of Bon Jovi's Greatest Hits and The Ultimate Collection (the 2-disc version) in North America on November 9, it should now be available worldwide. I actually only received mine today, having pre-ordered it along with The Ultimate Video Colletion, but seeing as it wasn't a brand new studio album, waiting a few days wasn't such a big deal. I haven't had a chance to check it out yet but Hath posted Catte's review of the DVD over at her blog.

Hath's blog also features a review of the Bon Jovi movie that screened in the US on November 8.

There was also a webcast last night courtesy of VEVO and Letterman. I didn't get to see it but I've been told Richie Sambora was on fire. Did anyone record this by any chance? ;) Apparently the set list was:

You Give Love a Bad Name
We Weren't Born To Follow
Lost Highway
It's My Life
What Do You Got?
When We Were Beautiful
Wanted Dead or Alive
Who Says You Can't Go Home?
Keep The Faith
Bad Medicine / Shout! [Isley Brothers cover]
Livin' on a Prayer

A four-song "stripped" set for iheartradio was also broadcast on 450 US radio stations. If you're in the US you should be able to watch the performances here.

Is a Jon Bon Jovi solo album on the cards?

This Billboard article sees Jon considering his post-tour activities:

"I'm going to sit on a beach for August, which is usually what I do, and come September figure out what's next," Bon Jovi tells Billboard.com. Some possibilities? "A smaller-sounding solo record and/or focus more on the philanthropy and sports ownerships," he says. "I don't see any acting in the immediate future. It'll be out of the political cycles, and there's nothing else I wish I could do. I'm not a coulda, shoulda, woulda kind of guy. If I wanted to do it, I tried it, so it's not like I have any hidden desire to become a chef or anything."

If he does take the solo album route, Bon Jovi -- who went it alone on the 1990 soundtrack for "Blaze of Glory -- Young Guns II" and on 1997's "Destination Anywhere" -- predicts he'll go for "a lyric-driven, acoustic-sounding kind of thing with piano, a couple guitars, a B3 (organ) and a violin. I do these solo things oftentimes for charity, and I enjoy the atmosphere because it really gives the singer a chance to sing. You're not competing with the loud amps. So I could see myself doing a singer's type of a record. We'll see."

Sounds cool. And if one Richie Sambora finally gets to finish and release his own North Korean Democracy, that would be pretty sweet too. ;)

Jon also talked about the shift from The Circle Tour to what is essentially the Greatest Hits Tour...

"While we're in the midst of 'The Circle' tour, this 'Greatest Hits' made the most sense," Bon Jovi explains, "because the tour's going to continue through the summer of next year. For those who have just found the band in this rather prolific decade, this is a great introduction, and for the fan who's been there the last three decades, this is everything you've ever known and then five new songs. So I feel like they're getting value added, too."

(Sure thing, mate, but will I get to hear of the best Circle songs in Australia?)

And the new songs...

Bon Jovi says two of the new songs, the single "What Do You Got?" and "This Is Love, This Is Life," were started during "The Circle" sessions but didn't fit the album and were finished for "Greatest Hits," along with "This Our House," an MP3 download premium for those pre-ordering the album. The other two, "No Apologies" and "The More Things Change," were written specifically for the compilation.

He says he was surprised that "What Do You Got?" got the nod to be the first single. "I said, 'If anyone wants to pick a single, you tell me. What do I know?' " recalls Bon Jovi, who favored "No Apologies." "That was the one that floated to the top, and I was taken aback because it was the (last) of the five I would've picked. But people have really been relating to the lyric, and seemingly for...radio, it's a hit."

For what it's worth, I would have gone with "This Is Love". It's got a catchy singalong hook and experiments with some different sounds but is still unmistakably Bon Jovi. The chorus of "No Apologies" is a little uninspiring for me personally, and I think it would remind people too much of songs like "It's My Life", "Have a Nice Day", "Everyday" and "We Weren't Born to Follow".

The More Things Change (with lyrics)

I mentioned in my previous post that "The More Things Change" was accidentally leaked on BonJovi.com momentarily. No surprises that it's since been shared, but if that link gets pulled you only have to wait a couple of days to hear it "officially" released on BonJovi.com.

Anyway the lyrics according to my ears:

The more things change the more the stay the same
The more things change the more the stay the same

Ah, is it just me or does anybody see
The new improved tomorrow isn't what it used to be
Yesterday keeps comin' 'round, it's just reality
It's the same damn song with a different melody
The market keeps on crashin'
Tattered jeans are back in fashion
'Stead of records, now it's MP3s
I tell you one more time with feeling
Even though this world is reeling
You're still you and I'm still me
I didn't mean to cause a scene
But I guess it's time to roll up our sleeves

The more things change the more they stay the same
The same sunrise, it's just another day
If you hang in long enough they say you're comin' back
Just take a look, we're living proof and baby that's a fact
You know the more things change the more they stay the same
The more things change the more they stay the same

You're either runnin' round in circles or you're runnin' out of time
Everybody somewhere either 12, 3, 6 or 9
The times they are a-changin'
We're here to turn the page
It's the same old story but it's told a different way

The more things change the more they stay the same
The same sunrise, it's just another day
If you hang in long enough they say you're comin' back
Just take a look, we're living proof and baby that's a fact
You know the more things change the more they stay the same
Never and forever just keep comin' back again
Don't hold out for tomorrow or hold onto yesterday
The more things change the more they stay the same
The more things change the more they stay the same
The more things change the more they stay the same

Here comes the na na na na na na nas
These days it's the raise the roof instead of sha la la
Here come the rappers, the dancers and the remixed drum machine
This one is for the CEOs and record companies
And if you're waitin' on a happy ending
We're gonna hit the hook one more time

The more things change the more they stay the same
The more things change the more they stay the same
The more things change the more they stay the same
The more things change the more they stay the same

You know the more things change the more they stay the same
The same sunrise, it's just another day
If you hang in long enough they say you're comin' back
Just take a look, we're living proof and baby that's a fact
You know the more things change the more they stay the same
Never and forever just keep comin' back again
Don't hold out for tomorrow or hold onto yesterday
The more things change the more they stay the same
Whoa oh oh oh
Oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh

See what I mean about the ironic, almost self-deprecating lyrics? Or is it just me? ;)

EDIT: You can now listen to "The More Things Change" on BonJovi.com!

This Is Love, This Is Life (full song with lyrics)

After "No Apologies" was released a couple of days ago, "This Is Love, This Is Life" is now streaming on BonJovi.com.

Lyrics according to my ears:

These days what's left of me ain't no Prince Charming
And my Cinderella feels like she stayed at the dance too long
We ain't got much but what we got is all that matters
We're pickin' up the pieces, tryin' to put 'em back where they belong

Ohh, it's gonna be alright
This is love, this is life
When times get tough we're still worth the fight
This is love, this is life
The road here's paved with the brokenhearted
We gotta finish what we started
Ohhh, better hold on tight
This is love, this is life

These days it seems like there's three sides to every story
There's yours, mine, lately there's the cold hard truth
Who cares who's wrong or right when we turn out the lights?
We'll find forgiveness when we're in each other's arms tonight
It ain't pretty but somehow we always make it through

Ohh, it's gonna be alright
This is love, this is life
When times get tough we're still worth the fight
This is love, this is life
The road here's paved with the brokenhearted
We gotta finish what we started
Ohhh, better hold on tight
This is love, this is life

Ohh, it's gonna be alright
This is love, this is life
When times get tough we're still worth the fight
This is love, this is life
The road here's paved with the brokenhearted
We gotta finish what we started
Ohhh, better hold on tight
This is love, this is life
This is love, this is life
This is love, this is life

If BonJovi.com doesn't work, try listening to it here.

So what do you think? I like it but they seem to be stacking on the effects on these new songs, so I'm not sure how it's all going to come across live.

"The More Things Change" was accidentally released earlier tonight; I heard it once before it was taken down, and the effects are all over that song too. I will also say that it cracked me up in the way a Meat Loaf song typically might (which is not necessarily a bad thing, given Bat Out of Hell is actually one of my favourite albums). I did like "The More Things Change" based on that solitary listen, but the lyrics seemed rather ironic or self-deprecating. So I'm hoping Jon and whoever else wrote the song were consciously taking the mickey out of themselves. ;)

No Apologies (full song with lyrics)

"No Apologies" is now streaming on BonJovi.com. They've taken measures to prevent us from ripping the audio, which makes sense from a commercial perspective, but it means I have to keep refreshing the page to listen to the song because the Listen/Stop button doesn't seem to work a second time. You'd think Bon Jovi could afford to have a website that looked good, worked, and didn't take forever to load, but apparently not... and I will not be apologising for that snipe. :P

Lyrics according to my ears:

No apologies (no apologies)
We will not back down (no apologies)
We are not afraid (no apologies)
Not a drop of doubt

Let's start this from the happy ending
Just another white trash train track kid
Fightin' for survival
Tryin' not to do like his daddy did

Double down the devil at Three-Card Monte
No apology, he just knew when to quit
Push your luck, say your prayers
Make believe you don't care
Take a chance, sometimes it's all you need

No apologies
No apologies (no apologies)
We will not back down (no apologies)
We are not afraid (no apologies)
Not a drop of doubt (no apologies)
Hand in hand across this land
Our voices shouting out
No apologies
No apologies

You wanna start a personal revolution
I think you're livin' somebody else's life
You can lie about retribution
But there ain't no fire in your lover's eyes
Seems like everybody's sellin' their dreams 'round here
But no one's buyin' and it's closing time
Light the fuse, make your breaks
There's no time left to waste
Baby, just like freedom, nothing's free

No apologies
No apologies (no apologies)
We will not back down (no apologies)
We are not afraid (no apologies)
Not a drop of doubt (no apologies)
Hand in hand across this land
Our voices shouting out
No apologies

You wanna start a personal revolution
What else you gotta do tonight?

No apologies
No apologies (no apologies)
We will not back down (no apologies)
We are not afraid (no apologies)
Not a drop of doubt (no apologies)
Hand in hand across this land
Our voices shouting out
No apologies (no apologies)
No apologies
(no apologies)
No apologies
Hand in hand across this land
Our voices shouting out
No apologies

Corrections welcome. I'm particularly unsure about the "Three-card Monte" line, as I know absolutely nothing about card games.

If anyone has trouble getting BonJovi.com to work, listen to "No Apologies" here.

"This is Love, This is Life" will debut on BonJovi.com on October 25, and "The More Things Change" on October 27.

November is Greatest Hits month...

Media release from BonJovi.com:

(October 20, 2010 – New York, NY) Over 1 billion consumer impressions worldwide – encompassing social networks and traditional media – will support the November 9th release of Bon Jovi’s brand new GREATEST HITS compilation on Island Records, featuring new single, “What Do You Got?” - the fastest growing Hot AC single in Bon Jovi’s history!

The project is topped by several high-profile campaigns – ranging from the ongoing “It’s My Life Animoto Video Contest” at BonJovi.com/ItsMyLife; to the two-month Comcast takeover (reaching 26 million households); and the unprecedented 45 minute “Live on Letterman” webcast concert performance (presented by AT&T) on the release date, November 9th, in conjunction with the band’s two-song broadcast appearance on the show that same night.

Prior to Bon Jovi’s Letterman date on November 9th, the band will perform live at the MTV EMAs in Madrid on November 7th, where they will be presented with the first-ever Global Icon Award. The next night, November 8th marks the premiere of the Bon Jovi movie One Night Only, documenting their historic concerts at the New Meadowlands Stadium in New Jersey in May 2010. One Night Only will premiere on over 750 movie screens worldwide.

In addition to the Letterman date on November 9th, Clear Channel Stripped/iheartradio will also air a 5-song performance broadcast on over 450 radio station websites. November 9th also marks the launch of the new RockBand 3 video game, featuring Bon Jovi. Another historic event will take place on November 10th, when New York’s WPLJ radio presents Bon Jovi Live from the Best Buy Theater in Times Square, at which the band will give fans an intimate sneak preview of their upcoming 2011 world tour.

Bon Jovi’s November 9th Letterman webcast concert performance, which will stream live on www.cbs.com/late_night/liveonletterman and VEVO.com, and will be broadcast on CBS radio stations nationwide, kicks off nearly a month of live tv performances in support of the album. These continue with NBC’s The Today Show (Nov. 12th); A&E’s Private Sessions (Nov. 14th); ABC’s American Music Awards (Nov. 21st); the syndicated Ellen (Nov. 23rd); CNN’s Heroes (Nov. 25th); and CNN’s Larry King Live (interview only, Nov. 29th).

Bon Jovi GREATEST HITS will transport listeners back in time through the band’s worldwide monster hits of the past and offer a bridge to the future with the debut of four brand new tracks. The single-CD 16-song program will be chock full of their biggest chart-toppers including “Livin’ On A Prayer,” “Always,” “It’s My Life,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” to name a few. Two new songs round out the tracklisting, including the new single “What Do You Got?” whose video was shot in stunning stereoscopic 3D with noted director Wayne Isham.

A second configuration, GREATEST HITS - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION will be a 28-song double-CD package. Disc one will contain the 16-song standard edition CD, and disc two will feature beloved fan favorites including “Bed of Roses,” “Blood on Blood,” “These Days,” and “Keep The Faith,” to name a few. Disc two will also contain the third and fourth new tracks. All four new tracks – “What Do You Got?,” “The More Things Change,” “No Apologies,” and “This Is Love, This Is Life” – were written and recorded specifically for inclusion in this compilation.

The complete tracklistings for Bon Jovi GREATEST HITS and Bon Jovi GREATEST HITS - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION is available at BonJovi.com. THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION will also be available on vinyl as a limited edition 4-LP box set, and also as a Bon Jovi logo-shaped USB flash drive.

For more information on all things Bon Jovi, please visit BonJovi.com.

Thank yous, EMAs and Greatest Hits news

Hi Joviacs,

Let me first extend my apologies for not being as "on the ball" with this blog as I'd like to be. I'm in my final month of the semester so with assignments, as well as my other (paid) writing commitments, I haven't had as much time to scour videos and news as I'd like. But after this month, I'll be free to feed the blog with all the Jersey boy nutrition it deserves. ;)

Thanks for the continued readership, support, comments, tweets, likes, etc. They do not go unappreciated! I blog as much for you guys as I do for my own crazy love. ;)

Secondly, Bon Jovi will be presented with the Global Icon award at MTV Europe Music Awards in Madrid on November 7, 2010:

"There's no question that Bon Jovi has achieved iconic status across the globe and is widely recognized as one of the most beloved and influential rock bands of all time," said Bruce Gillmer, Executive Vice President, Music and Talent, Programming/Events, MTV Networks International.

"Over the years, MTV and Bon Jovi have given fans an incredible array of amazing and unique experiences and we are thrilled to honour such a seminal act as Bon Jovi with the first-ever MTV EMA Global Icon award."

Read the full article here.

Thirdly, Australian fans can pre-order the Greatest Hits from JB Hi-Fi for the chance to win 2 VIP packages to the third Sydney show on December 19. You can listen to some more clips of the new songs on Amazon.

Based on these, the previews on iTunes, and previously released snippets -- which Savvi has kindly edited together -- here are the lyrics (I think) for each song so far:

"No Apologies" --

Double down the devil at Three-Card Monte
No apology, he just knew when to quit
Push your luck, say your prayers
Make believe you don't care
Take a chance, sometimes it's all you need
No apologies
No apologies (no apologies)
We will not back down (no apologies)
We are not afraid (no apologies)
Not a drop of doubt (no apologies)
Hand in hand across this land
Our voices shouting out...

"This Is Love, This Is Life" --

We ain't got much but what we got is all that matters
We're pickin' up the pieces, tryin' to put 'em back where they belong
Ohh, it's gonna be alright
This is love, this is life
When times get tough we're still worth the fight
This is love, this is life
The road here's paved with the brokenhearted
We gotta finish what we started
Ohhh, better hold on tight
This is love, this is life
These days it seems like there's...

"The More Things Change" --

I tell you one more time with feeling
Even though this world is reeling
You're still you and I'm still me
I didn't mean to cause a scene
But I guess it's time to roll up our sleeves
The more things change the more they stay the same
The same sunrise, it's just another day
If you hang in long enough they say you're coming back
Just take a look, we're living proof and baby that's a fact
You know the more things change the more they stay the same
The more things change the more they stay the same
You're either runnin' round in circles or you're runnin' out of time
Everybody somewhere either...

Based on these previews, which songs do you like/dislike?

Ultimate Video Collection, Rock Band, Soul Foundation, Facebook, Bridge Over Troubled Water

This is a bit of a "catch-up" post... a few days is a loooong time in Jovi Land. ;)

First of all, there'll be a deluxe edition of the upcoming Greatest Hits featuring The Ultimate Video Collection: a DVD featuring 16 of the band's music videos (presumably the singles on the Greatest Hits standard edition or first disc), plus 17 live tracks including "We Weren't Born to Follow" from the roof of the O2 arena. I don't yet know if this is getting a worldwide release but if worse comes to worst, you should be able to buy it online:

• Bravado (Germany)
• CD WOW! (Australia and New Zealand)

If anyone finds any more links or information about this, leave a comment or let me know.

Secondly, Bon Jovi has partnered up with the makers of Rock Band 3 as part of the Greatest Hits promotion:

The band’s entire Greatest Hits collection, which hits shelves on November 9th, will be available as DLC for Rock Band. And the publisher has partnered with the group for promotional activity.

“Bon Jovi is undergoing all manner of promotional activities, including a tour. And we are partnering with them to help bring that to the masses,” MTV’s SVP of electronic games and music, Paul DeGooyer, told MCV.

Read the rest of the article on MCV. By the way: DLC = downloadable content and SVP = senior vice president.

I might actually have to start playing games again. ;)

Thirdly, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation (formerly Philadelphia Soul Foundation) celebrated its fourth anniversary on October 5. Here's what Jon had to say on their Facebook page:

it's been 5 years since President Bill Clinton came to Philadelphia to launch the JBJ SOUL FOUNDATION. time flies when your having fun. thanks to so many for so much. our work is helping families all over the country get a much needed hand up. check out our website to see what we've done and how you can help out... jbj

Fourthly, Bon Jovi hit five million Facebook fans on October 7 (Tico's birthday). Jon posted a thank you video which you can view at this link.

And finally, in the wake of Mercedes' (Amber Riley) rendition of the Simon and Garfunkel classic "Bridge Over Troubled Water" on Glee, Vulture is running a poll YouTubed performance of the song. The options are:

• The Keytones
• Radojka Šverko
• Bobby Darin
• Clay Aiken
• Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora
• Mercedes

Click here to watch all the versions and vote. Despite its High School Musical-esque reputation, I personally love Glee (although I haven't seen this episode yet because the show is on hiatus in Australia during the Commonwealth Games) but Jon and Richie take the prize for me.

Greatest Hits / Ultimate Collection tracklists

I posted/linked to the North American and Japanese tracklists for the upcoming Greatest Hits and The Ultimate Collection about a fortnight ago but it looks like there are other international variations (The tracklist for Germany is here and it's the same as Australia's so I'm guessing Europe and New Zealand will get that tracklist too). There are a couple of additional songs outside of North America, but most of the differences are just in track order. Some 90s tracks that are only on the ultimate edition in the US have been moved to the standard version on international releases.

Here's a side-by-side comparison based on what we now know:

DISC 1 (Ultimate & Standard)
1. Livin’ On A Prayer
2. You Give Love a Bad Name
3. Runaway / In These Arms / It's My Life
4. Bad Medicine / Have a Nice Day
5. Born to Be My Baby / Wanted Dead or Alive
6. I’ll Be There For You / Bad Medicine
7. Lay Your Hands On Me / We Weren't Born to Follow
8. It’s My Life / I'll Be There For You
9. Always / Born to Be My Baby
10. Wanted Dead or Alive / Blaze of Glory
11. Blaze of Glory / Bed of Roses / Who Says You Can't Go Home
12. Who Says You Can’t Go Home (feat. Jennifer Nettles) / Who Says You Can't Go Home (rock version?) / Lay Your Hands on Me
13. Have a Nice Day / Always
14. We Weren’t Born to Follow / Runaway
15. What Do You Got? (new song) / Tokyo Road
16. No Apologies (new song) / What Do You Got?
17. No Apologies

DISC 2 (Ultimate Collection Only)
1. In These Arms / Runaway
2. Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night
3. Lost Highway
4. Keep The Faith / I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
5. When We Were Beautiful / In & Out of Love
6. Bed of Roses / Keep the Faith
7. This Ain’t a Love Song / When We Were Beautiful
8. These Days / Blaze of Glory / Bed of Roses
9. (You Want to) Make a Memory / This Ain't a Love Song
10. Blood on Blood / These Days
11. This is Love, This is Life (new song) / Make a Memory
12. The More Things Change (new song) / Blood on Blood
13. This is Love, This is Life
14. The More Things Change

I'm confused as to why there are no tracks from Bounce on any version. "Everyday" was a top 10 hit in several countries and I think even "Misunderstood" did okay here. And unless "This is Love" or "The More Things Change" is the same length as "Dry County", I'm sure there'd be room on that second disc. Even "In & Out of Love" is on the international releases and Jon has said he won't play that song ever again. "In & Out of Love" wasn't exactly a world beating smash hit either. Could Jon possibly hate Bounce even more than he hates 7800 Fahrenheit?

Listen to a preview of No Apologies

A 30-second snippet of "No Apologies", the fourth new song from Bon Jovi's Greatest Hits is now streaming on their Facebook page. Click on the BandPage tab or listen to it here.

These are the lyrics I heard:

Push your luck, say your prayers
Make believe you don't care
Take a chance, sometimes it's all you need
No apologies
No apologies (no apologies)
We will not back down (no apologies)
We are not afraid (no apologies)
Not a drop of doubt (no apologies)

We're definitely seeing a thematic pattern here aren't we. :P

You can also preview the other new songs on Facebook. I transcribed the lyrics to "This Is Love, This Is Life" and "The More Things Change" in this post. Meanwhile, "What Do You Got?" made its live debut last night and the lyrics are here.

Preview new Greatest Hits tracks

Bon Jovi's Facebook page now has 30-second previews of "This Is Love, This Is Life" and "The More Things Change" from The Ultimate Collection/Greatest Hits. Listen to them at this link.

Here are the lyrics from the snippets as far as I can hear...

We ain't got much but what we got is all that matters
We're pickin' up the pieces, tryin' to put 'em back where they belong
Ohh, it's gonna be alright
This is love, this is life
When times get tough we're still worth the fight
This is love, this is life

and

I tell you one more time with feeling
Even though this world is reeling
You're still you and I'm still me
I didn't mean to cause a scene
But I guess it's time to roll up our sleeves
The more things change the more they stay the same
The same sunrise, it's just another day
If you hang in long enough they say you're coming back
Just take a look, we're living proof and baby...

Greatest Hits and Ultimate Collection tracklist

The tracklist for Bon Jovi's upcoming Greatest Hits and The Ultimate Collection according to Island Def Jam (where you can also pre-order the album and get an mp3 of "This Is Our House"):

DISC 1 (Ultimate & Standard)

1. Livin’ On A Prayer
2. You Give Love a Bad Name
3. Runaway
4. Bad Medicine
5. Born to Be My Baby
6. I’ll Be There For You
7. Lay Your Hands On Me
8. It’s My Life
9. Always
10. Wanted Dead or Alive
11. Blaze of Glory
12. Who Says You Can’t Go Home (duet featuring Jennifer Nettles)
13. Have a Nice Day
14. We Weren’t Born to Follow
15. What Do You Got? (new song)
16. No Apologies (new song)

DISC 2 (Ultimate Collection Only)

1. In These Arms
2. Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night
3. Lost Highway
4. Keep The Faith
5. When We Were Beautiful
6. Bed of Roses
7. This Ain’t a Love Song
8. These Days
9. (You Want to) Make a Memory
10. Blood on Blood
11. This is Love This is Life (New Song)
12. The More Things Change (New Song)

In summary:

• 13 of the 28 tracks were on Cross Road.
• "Born to Be My Baby" and "Living in Sin" were both top 10 hits that were left off Cross Road. "Born to Be My Baby" is now in but "Living in Sin" is still out in the cold. Interesting (though not entirely surprising I guess) given certain other inclusions are only "greatest hits" in Jon's Fairyland, changes in the music industry notwithstanding.
• The only 90s songs on the first disc or single disc edition are "Always" and "Blaze of Glory" -- nothing from the band's studio albums that decade. "Runaway" is the only song from the first two albums.
• Bounce and 7800 Fahrenheit are not represented.

A tracklist for the Japanese edition has also been posted on CD Japan. Apparently it includes "Tokyo Road", "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead" and "In and Out of Love". You can pre-order this version too.

What Do You Got on Grey's Anatomy + Greatest Hits tracks so far

"What Do You Got" is being used in a promotional video for Grey's Anatomy in Canada. Click here to watch it.

As a side note, this now means that two of my favourite bands (the other being The Fray) have been used to promote this show, which I have still never watched. :P

As for the Greatest Hits tracklist, these are the songs that have been revealed so far on Facebook:
Lay Your Hands on Me
Blaze of Glory
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Have a Nice Day
We Weren't Born to Follow
Livin' on a Prayer
Always
It's My Life
Wanted Dead or Alive
You Give Love a Bad Name
Runaway
Bad Medicine
Born to Be My Baby
I'll Be There For You

That's 14 songs and disc one is meant to have 16 including two new tracks, so presumably this is the track list for the first disc minus "What Do You Got" and the other new song. That would mean "Always" is the only song from the 90s on there. I suggested last month that the single disc might be a US-oriented Greatest Hits, with the two disc edition paying more attention to the hits that were bigger internationally, but it's still disappointing if they've ignored both their 90s studio albums on the main version.

Greatest Hits album cover revealed on BonJovi.com

Behold the album cover of Bon Jovi's upcoming Greatest Hits. It's been great to see the vintage "Bon Jovi" font back on "What Do You Got" and now this, after a 15-year absence. It might be a one-off for the Greatest Hits singles and album, but I hope not.

The heart and dagger logo seems to have had a few mixed responses on BonJovi.com but I love it personally. Although I'm not 100% sold on the gold colour yet. What do you think?

BonJovi.com has also posted a photo of Brazilian model Michelle Alves modelling a new Greatest Hits T-shirt as Jon looks on.

Facebook, Greatest Hits, JBJ Soul Foundation

Posted to Bon Jovi's official pages on Twitter and Facebook:

For every 10,000 new people who "like" our page we will reveal a new track that will be on our Greatest Hits album! Check out what's already revealed under the "BandPage" tab and get your friends to join our page! The faster people join, the faster we will reveal! Also- the brand new songs will have a 30 second sneak peak so click that "like" button!

According to this page on the Spanish Bon Jovi site, there'll be 30 tracks altogether on The Ultimate Collection (two disc version of the Greatest Hits) in their region, which is two more than the 28 announced for the US version. An Australian radio station also announced 30 tracks for The Ultimate Collection last month. And this Universal Music Japan site says the Japanese edition will have 32 songs. So it sounds like there'll be at least a couple of international variations.

Bon Jovi (or their social media managers) are also encouraging fans to "like" the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation page. Jon posted this message yesterday:

dear all.
I have just been informed that the Soul Foundation Page has just hit 20,000 members. Thanks for checking in. For the last 6 years we have been chipping away at the issue of homelessness and affordable housing. Having provided 260 places people can call HOME. thanks to you and so many like you we are making a ...difference . One Soul at a time..jbj

New single: What Do You Got - audio and lyrics

Bon Jovi's new single premiered on 95.5 PLJ today and can now be listened to on BonJovi.com. You can also get the mp3 at this link.

Here are the lyrics according to my ears... feel free to make corrections.

Everybody wants something, just a little more
We're makin' a living and what we're living for
Rich man or a poor man, a pawn or a king
You can live on the street, you can rule the whole world
But it don't mean one damn thing

What do you got if you ain't got love?
Whatever you got just ain't enough
You're walkin' a road but you're goin' nowhere
Tryin' to find your way home but there's no one there
Who do you hold in the dark of night?
You wanna give up but it's worth the fight
You can have all the things that you've been dreaming of

If you ain't got someone you're afraid to lose
Everybody needs just one someone to tell them the truth
Maybe I'm a dreamer but I still believe
I believe in hope, I believe that change can get us up off our knees

What do you got if you ain't got love?
Whatever you got just ain't enough
You're walkin' a road but you're goin' nowhere
Tryin' to find your way home but there's no one there
Who do you hold in the dark of night?
You wanna give up but it's worth the fight
You can have all the things that you've been dreaming of
If you ain't got love, it's all just keepin' score
If you ain't got love, what the hell we doin' it for?

I don't wanna have to talk about it
How many songs I gotta sing about it?
How long you gonna live without it?
Why does someone somewhere have to doubt it?
Someday you'll figure it out

What do you got if you ain't got love?
Whatever you got, it just ain't enough
You walk on that road but you're goin' nowhere
Tryin' to find your way home but there's no one there
Who do you hold in the dark of night?
You wanna give up but it's worth the fight
You can have all the things that you've been dreaming of
If you ain't got love, it's all just keepin' score
If you ain't got love, what the hell we doin' it for?

(Whoa oh oh oh) Ohh, what do you got if you ain't got love?
(Whoa oh oh oh) Ohh, what do you got if you ain't got love?
(Whoa oh oh oh) Ohh, what do you got if you ain't got love?
(Whoa oh oh oh)