This is a guest post by Shannon about the evolution (or devolution as some would argue) of Bon Jovi's music. Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below!
I was cruising down the streets of my hometown this morning on the way to work, when the song “Novocaine” shuffled up on my iPod. I started singing along and tapping the steering wheel in time to the beat and realized that I had forgotten how much I liked the song. It’s not that I don’t listen to the Have a Nice Day record, but, well, maybe sometimes I don’t really listen to it.
Recently while driving I have been running through my favorite Jovi tunes in my head, trying to pick out which songs are my favorites from which records – I find it impossible to pick just ONE favorite out of the entire Bon Jovi catalogue, so I have to go album by album. Every time I get to Have a Nice Day, however, I can’t pick just one song. Or even two. That’s when I realize that I like the whole record. I mean, I really, really like it.
I like the rockin’ anthemic beat of “Have a Nice Day”. I like the message of “Welcome to Wherever You Are”. I sing along with “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”. And it’s possible I was dancing in my chair at work today while blasting “Story of my Life”, but there were no witnesses and you can’t prove anything! *grin* I truly enjoy every song. When it was first released, I remember thinking, “THIS is the Bon Jovi that I know and love!” I am, sadly it seems, in the minority.
Over the years I’ve seen many comments in cyberspace from folks about how Slippery When Wet is the greatest Bon Jovi record of all time and they wish the band would start making music like that again. I don’t disagree that it’s a great record, but the guys were in their 20s when they made that. If they were still writing songs declaring that love is a social disease, I think I’d worry about them. Artists have to grow and develop and change. I still feel that there is a through line in all the Jovi records that lets me know it’s still my favorite band, but each record also changes and I think that’s great.
Initially I planned to write this piece as a defense of the HAND record since I know there are quite mixed feelings about it, but the writing process of this guest blog post changed my mind. I don’t think this record – or any other – has to be or needs to be defended (ok, ok, maybe I need someone to defend This Left Feels Right to me because I pretty much hate that record). Music is so subjective. It’s based so totally on personal taste. Just because I like or dislike something doesn’t mean it is good or that it’s bad. It simply means that my taste and preferences lean in one direction while someone else’s may lean in another.
I don’t expect to ever change someone’s opinion of the band and their music and its evolution; I can only share mine.
I’m a Jovi lifer. I’ve been at the party since the summer of 1984 when one of my two favorite songs was “She Don’t Know Me” (which is a whole other discussion since that’s the only song they’ve put on a record that they didn’t write and I know they don’t have good feelings about it, but I still love it). I’ve always been in it for the long haul and I personally love how their records change.
Would I want them doing all the way country? Of course not! But I enjoyed Lost Highway as something different. (Yes, I freely admit to liking the Lost Highway record and have no shame in that admission.) I also love cranking up Bounce and some of the hard cranking guitar on that record. Slippery flashes me back to the summer of 1986 when I waited soooo impatiently for its release and couldn’t understand why everyone else in the world didn’t feel the same way. 7800 Fahrenheit makes me think of a conversation with my older brother when I bought it in the summer of 1985. He heard the cassette (you know, those things we had before CDs?) playing in my bedroom and came in and stared at me saying, “Do you know what you bought?” Uh… he was not enthused (and I stopped trying to convert him into a fan years ago). But I sure was!
Do I love very song the band has ever recorded? Of course not! If I never hear “Joey” again it will be too soon. There are others, by why dwell on the negative? Someone out there loves the songs I don’t and hates the songs I love.
Circling back around to Have a Nice Day… I am sitting here typing and listening to the record and keep dancing around in my chair, wanting to sing along, but since I’m writing this blog on my lunch hour at work, I have the feeling full on belting out of tunes is likely frowned upon in the workplace. I’ll keep listening and loving though. That’s how I am with this band. I listen to every song and every record and while I might not love it all, I try to appreciate it. I try to enjoy it and if something isn’t my favorite, well, I have plenty of other tunes to jam to.
In the end, I’m simply grateful that the band keeps releasing new records. What About Now isn’t my favorite (another discussion for another day) and I was sick over the situation with Richie (not a discussion I even want to have anymore), but I still found tunes to enjoy on the new record. And if they release things that don’t thrill me on every track, well, I can always go back to Have a Nice Day and crank it up and have a listen.
What do you think of Have a Nice Day or the band's more recent output? What's your favourite Bon Jovi album?
About the Blogger:
Shannon works in higher education in South Carolina and is currently studying conversational French in an attempt not to shame herself greatly when she one day runs away to live in Paris. She has been a Bon Jovi fan since the summer of 1984 when she first discovered the band via MTV and the video for "She Don't Know Me". She first saw the band live in October 1985 in Columbia, SC when they were opening for the band Ratt in support of the 7800° Fahrenheit record after begging her parents for tickets for her 14th birthday. She's seen the band live 7 times (2 times in Columbia, SC - 1985 and 1989; Atlanta, GA in 2003; Charlotte, NC in 2006, 2010 and 2013; and Greenville, SC in 2006) and still gets a little giddy that David Bryan saw her "Happy Birthday" sign in 2006. Another proud moment is that she attended all but the 2013 show with her father, who started going with his teenager daughter to shows to keep her safe, but eventually turned into a big fan who never wanted to miss a gig! Shannon blogs about this and that (though admittedly not a lot about Bon Jovi) at Blonde Ambition (www.bonjovigrrrl.blogspot.com) and you can follow her on Twitter (@bonjovigrrrl), though she makes no promises about the nonsense she might tweet!
Showing posts with label guest blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label guest blog. Show all posts
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Friday, March 16, 2012
Another side to The Circle
This is a guest post by Jag Lall about an album that has had somewhat mixed reviews among Bon Jovi fans since its release in 2009. Leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Throughout Bon Jovi’s career there have always been songs which harked to a wider socially conscious level (‘Keep the Faith’, ‘Dry County’, ‘All I Want Is Everything’); however the torn side which they so effortlessly displayed in the Keep the Faith and These Days albums has only surfaced sparingly in recent years. Compared to several previous efforts The Circle has darker tones and socially conscious subject matter sweeping right across the record. There seems to be a real acceptance of the band to show their emotions of hurt and longing far more readily. Also, there is a sense of realism, maturity and perspective running right through the album where even upbeat anthems such as ‘We Weren’t Born to Follow’ proclaim not to give up but also don’t live in some fantasy either.
From the bleak angst of ‘Bullet’ to the inner look of ‘Thorn in my Side’, Bon Jovi created The Circle as almost a scrapbook of the world they see and feel. ’Bullet’s chorus questions faith in humanity ‘God are you listening or have You just given up?’ The song makes us look at ourselves, have we as a humanity pulled the trigger and spilt blood so many times that even God has had enough? The anger and puzzlement also comes out in the line ‘How can someone take a life in the name of God and say it’s right’. The song’s lyrics carry a feeling of hopelessness and being unable to comprehend the endless bloodshed which engulfs society today. In contrast, ‘Happy Now’ shows a more hopeful slant, no doubt bloomed from Jon’s involvement with President Obama but ‘When we were Beautiful’ is a social and political postcard from the era of where Jon longs the world to get back to. The lyrics paint a very deliberate picture of a muddled reality soaked in doubt, ‘Am I blessed or am I cursed cos the way we are ain’t the way we were’. Lyrically the track delves deeper than most on the album and takes the listener on a journey of yearning, despair and reflection.
The sense of longing continues and is felt in ‘Superman Tonight’. Masked by soaring guitars the song is tinged with a sense of pain of not being able to pull someone out of their darkness. The Superman logo has become part of Jon’s identity but here he uses that strength as a wishful hope because he realises that there is no Superman, no ultimate hero or saviour. The narration has a feel of defeat and of not being strong enough to save those most dear to them which is a far cry from the anthemic power ballads of ‘I’ll Be There For You’ and ‘In These Arms’. The lyrical spike of hurt and loss only truly came to the fore when the band performed this acoustically on the The Circle/Greatest Hits tour where the song’s words elevated above the studio version.
The sense of identifying one’s limitations bounces right across the album. In ‘Work for the Working Man’ the poignant lyric ‘I only know what I know how to do’ is a heart wrenching line because it manages to convey both a sense of pride and helplessness. The undercurrent of realism and limitations occurs in ‘Fast Cars’ too, ‘How can I defend let’s live for now but not then’. It’s a song where Jon and Richie try to find a sense of personal freedom while dealing with life’s failings and hardships without pretending to make believe.
Although the likes of ‘Work for the Working Man’ and ‘Bullet’ are sources of social commentary, the band’s more personal emotions come to the fore in ‘Learn to Love’. Here, the song touches on the subject of mortality which shows flashes of Bon Jovi’s willingness to display emotional vulnerability and ultimately, acceptance. ‘Learn to Love’ deals with finding that resolution in our own actions and having the willingness to let go of the regret of our past mistakes so that we can find compassion and forgiveness for who we are and for the tracks that we have laid. Whilst the chorus is penned as ‘you gotta learn to love the world your living in’, the ‘world’ is your own heart and soul, that lyric points itself directly to the listener, learn to love who you are. In many ways this song best reflects where mentally the band are right now as swashbuckling enthusiasm and wide eyed wonder has blended into resolution, contentment and drive. The band rarely touches the subject of life and death but it’s this extra layer in their song writing which is untapped. It has been touched upon by Jon himself that the These Days record contained many songs which were too personal to play live and showed his fragility and thus prefer not to perform such cuts such as ‘Hard Letting You Go’, ‘Something to Believe In’. However on The Circle/GH tour the band performed more songs from that album than the past few tours combined. Perhaps this is a sign that Bon Jovi are becoming more comfortable and willing to bare their soul and heartache on stage.
There is no denying that The Circle is a social glimpse of the murky times we live in; economic crisis to wars and revolutions but underneath that subject matter lays a light that shines on the personal growth of a band who have learned to love and live with who they are, albeit with a thorn in their side.
How do you rate The Circle?
About the Blogger:
Jag Lall is an artist and storyteller of social commentary and positive change. Involved in peace, interfaith and tolerance projects in all sorts of mediums, Jag Lall works on a wide range of media ranging from paintings, book covers to storyboards and music. You can find out more information on his website: www.jaglallart.com
Throughout Bon Jovi’s career there have always been songs which harked to a wider socially conscious level (‘Keep the Faith’, ‘Dry County’, ‘All I Want Is Everything’); however the torn side which they so effortlessly displayed in the Keep the Faith and These Days albums has only surfaced sparingly in recent years. Compared to several previous efforts The Circle has darker tones and socially conscious subject matter sweeping right across the record. There seems to be a real acceptance of the band to show their emotions of hurt and longing far more readily. Also, there is a sense of realism, maturity and perspective running right through the album where even upbeat anthems such as ‘We Weren’t Born to Follow’ proclaim not to give up but also don’t live in some fantasy either.
‘I’ve learned to pray but it’s too late now’
From the bleak angst of ‘Bullet’ to the inner look of ‘Thorn in my Side’, Bon Jovi created The Circle as almost a scrapbook of the world they see and feel. ’Bullet’s chorus questions faith in humanity ‘God are you listening or have You just given up?’ The song makes us look at ourselves, have we as a humanity pulled the trigger and spilt blood so many times that even God has had enough? The anger and puzzlement also comes out in the line ‘How can someone take a life in the name of God and say it’s right’. The song’s lyrics carry a feeling of hopelessness and being unable to comprehend the endless bloodshed which engulfs society today. In contrast, ‘Happy Now’ shows a more hopeful slant, no doubt bloomed from Jon’s involvement with President Obama but ‘When we were Beautiful’ is a social and political postcard from the era of where Jon longs the world to get back to. The lyrics paint a very deliberate picture of a muddled reality soaked in doubt, ‘Am I blessed or am I cursed cos the way we are ain’t the way we were’. Lyrically the track delves deeper than most on the album and takes the listener on a journey of yearning, despair and reflection.
‘If somebody sent you an angel to save you, what would you tell him to turn him away’
The sense of longing continues and is felt in ‘Superman Tonight’. Masked by soaring guitars the song is tinged with a sense of pain of not being able to pull someone out of their darkness. The Superman logo has become part of Jon’s identity but here he uses that strength as a wishful hope because he realises that there is no Superman, no ultimate hero or saviour. The narration has a feel of defeat and of not being strong enough to save those most dear to them which is a far cry from the anthemic power ballads of ‘I’ll Be There For You’ and ‘In These Arms’. The lyrical spike of hurt and loss only truly came to the fore when the band performed this acoustically on the The Circle/Greatest Hits tour where the song’s words elevated above the studio version.
The sense of identifying one’s limitations bounces right across the album. In ‘Work for the Working Man’ the poignant lyric ‘I only know what I know how to do’ is a heart wrenching line because it manages to convey both a sense of pride and helplessness. The undercurrent of realism and limitations occurs in ‘Fast Cars’ too, ‘How can I defend let’s live for now but not then’. It’s a song where Jon and Richie try to find a sense of personal freedom while dealing with life’s failings and hardships without pretending to make believe.
‘You leave it all on the table if lose or you win’
Although the likes of ‘Work for the Working Man’ and ‘Bullet’ are sources of social commentary, the band’s more personal emotions come to the fore in ‘Learn to Love’. Here, the song touches on the subject of mortality which shows flashes of Bon Jovi’s willingness to display emotional vulnerability and ultimately, acceptance. ‘Learn to Love’ deals with finding that resolution in our own actions and having the willingness to let go of the regret of our past mistakes so that we can find compassion and forgiveness for who we are and for the tracks that we have laid. Whilst the chorus is penned as ‘you gotta learn to love the world your living in’, the ‘world’ is your own heart and soul, that lyric points itself directly to the listener, learn to love who you are. In many ways this song best reflects where mentally the band are right now as swashbuckling enthusiasm and wide eyed wonder has blended into resolution, contentment and drive. The band rarely touches the subject of life and death but it’s this extra layer in their song writing which is untapped. It has been touched upon by Jon himself that the These Days record contained many songs which were too personal to play live and showed his fragility and thus prefer not to perform such cuts such as ‘Hard Letting You Go’, ‘Something to Believe In’. However on The Circle/GH tour the band performed more songs from that album than the past few tours combined. Perhaps this is a sign that Bon Jovi are becoming more comfortable and willing to bare their soul and heartache on stage.
There is no denying that The Circle is a social glimpse of the murky times we live in; economic crisis to wars and revolutions but underneath that subject matter lays a light that shines on the personal growth of a band who have learned to love and live with who they are, albeit with a thorn in their side.
How do you rate The Circle?
About the Blogger:
Jag Lall is an artist and storyteller of social commentary and positive change. Involved in peace, interfaith and tolerance projects in all sorts of mediums, Jag Lall works on a wide range of media ranging from paintings, book covers to storyboards and music. You can find out more information on his website: www.jaglallart.com
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Bon Jovi's Hidden Gems
This is a guest post by Daniel Ross... Enjoy!
Bon Jovi plays the hits. Thatʼs what the crowd wants and Jon, especially, gives the crowd what they want. As a die-hard fan who follows the tours, downloads bootlegs and occasionally engages the crowd over at the JoviTalk message board, this is not the Bon Jovi we love. Donʼt get me wrong, I LIKE the shows and I LIKE “Prayer,” “Wanted,” etc. but the Bon Jovi I LOVE is found in deeper album cuts that rarely, if ever, will see the light of day at their live shows.
Taking at look at each album the band has released (minus two greatest hits collections and the abomination that was “This Left Feels Right”) and four solo albums, one can find hidden gems. Below are my favorites. These arenʼt necessarily the best songs on the album (for instance “These Days” is definitely the best song from the “These Days” album, but itʼs not all that hidden to many fans). These are songs that arenʼt played live all that much (if at all) either these days.
Bon Jovi
None. “Runaway” is the only song from this album that I ever listen to. The rest is pretty Velveeta. This isnʼt a proper Bon Jovi album, in my opinion, as the band had not found its footing yet.
7800 Fahrenheit
7800 Fahrenheit isnʼt much better than the debut album but “King Of The Mountain,” though VERY 80s, is a fun song with a great chanting chorus. This one sounds better on vinyl so you can take the way-back machine to 1985.
Slippery When Wet
“Wild In The Streets.” This one used to be played live quite often but then dropped. I fell in love with this one through the live version found on a “These Days” import single (recorded live at Wembley, 1995). Specifically, I love the intros to the solos Jon shouts out on the live cut. “Slippery” is so pervasive that there arenʼt many true deep cuts on this one.
New Jersey
“Stick To Your Guns.” I have a theory that this was their attempt to recreate the success of “Wanted Dead Or Alive.” For a bunch of guys from New Jersey, they can pull off the cowboy motif very well. I prefer the studio version to any (rare) version Iʼve ever heard. I also get the impression that, were Richie in charge, this one would get more play. The line “And when you pray for independence” with Jonʼs impassioned vocal and Richieʼs harmony is the best part of the song.
Keep The Faith
“Little Bit Of Soul.” A buddy of mine in high school lent me his VHS copy of “Keep The Faith: An Evening With Bon Jovi.” This is the song I latched onto immediately. Itʼs so hopeful and has always been a great pick-me-up. Pure rock nʼ roll. Love Richieʼs playing on this one.
These Days
“My Guitar Lies Bleeding In My Arms.” The “These Days” album is my favorite. Much of it has to do with where I was in life when it came out (entering college and liking a very uncool band). However, I also think the band took more chances and stretched more as songwriters on this album than any other and the results showed. So much of me wishes theyʼd revisit this attitude. “Guitar” is a prime example of this. Dark and brooding with a huge chorus that addresses the listener with honesty. I also really dig Richieʼs fat Les Paul sound on this song (specifically the lick at 4:16).
Crush
“Next 100 Years.” Very Beatle-esque and a absolutely killer outro. Remnants of “These Days” songwriting are apparent.
Bounce
None. Maybe “The Distance” but, otherwise, itʼs not a very good album. They chased the success of “Itʼs My Life” with a whole album of misfires.
Have A Nice Day
“Novocaine.” Itʼs kind of bitter and not all that happy but it has a sweet sound. Iʼve always wondered if Richieʼs marriage troubles were starting around this time. Production could be better though.
Lost Highway
None. See “Bounce” but swap out “Whole Lotta Leavinʼ” and “Who Says...” as reasons this album isnʼt better.
The Circle
“Thorn In My Side.” They really killed it live with this one (via the YouTube videos I saw) with the extended guitar-mony jam at the end. The stops make this song.
SOLO ALBUMS
“Santa Fe” and “Itʼs Just Me” for Jon and “Father Time” and “Harlem Rain” for Richieʼs solo albums.
What are your favorite hidden gems on each album?
About the Blogger:
Daniel is the Music and Communications Minister at the Christian Church of Jasper in Jasper,
Indiana. He is the father of two girls and husband to a beautiful woman. He has been a Bon Jovi
fan since 1987 when his older sister dubbed a copy of Slippery When Wet from her friend and he would sneak into her room to listen to it. He was also a rock star in the garage of his Tennessee home playing the tennis racquet (along with his friend Jeremy) and singing “Bad Medicine” (which had been recorded by holding a tape recorder up to the radio speaker. Heʼs seen Bon Jovi live four times (3 times in Nashville - 1995, 2008 and 2010 and once in Louisville, Ky. - 2010). Daniel writes and records his own music with the band Narrow Path (www.narrowpath.us) and blogs (very occasionally) at Alien Soil (www.aliensoil.blogspot.com). You can follow him on Twitter (@jdanielross).
Bon Jovi plays the hits. Thatʼs what the crowd wants and Jon, especially, gives the crowd what they want. As a die-hard fan who follows the tours, downloads bootlegs and occasionally engages the crowd over at the JoviTalk message board, this is not the Bon Jovi we love. Donʼt get me wrong, I LIKE the shows and I LIKE “Prayer,” “Wanted,” etc. but the Bon Jovi I LOVE is found in deeper album cuts that rarely, if ever, will see the light of day at their live shows.
Taking at look at each album the band has released (minus two greatest hits collections and the abomination that was “This Left Feels Right”) and four solo albums, one can find hidden gems. Below are my favorites. These arenʼt necessarily the best songs on the album (for instance “These Days” is definitely the best song from the “These Days” album, but itʼs not all that hidden to many fans). These are songs that arenʼt played live all that much (if at all) either these days.
Bon Jovi
None. “Runaway” is the only song from this album that I ever listen to. The rest is pretty Velveeta. This isnʼt a proper Bon Jovi album, in my opinion, as the band had not found its footing yet.
7800 Fahrenheit
7800 Fahrenheit isnʼt much better than the debut album but “King Of The Mountain,” though VERY 80s, is a fun song with a great chanting chorus. This one sounds better on vinyl so you can take the way-back machine to 1985.
Slippery When Wet
“Wild In The Streets.” This one used to be played live quite often but then dropped. I fell in love with this one through the live version found on a “These Days” import single (recorded live at Wembley, 1995). Specifically, I love the intros to the solos Jon shouts out on the live cut. “Slippery” is so pervasive that there arenʼt many true deep cuts on this one.
New Jersey
“Stick To Your Guns.” I have a theory that this was their attempt to recreate the success of “Wanted Dead Or Alive.” For a bunch of guys from New Jersey, they can pull off the cowboy motif very well. I prefer the studio version to any (rare) version Iʼve ever heard. I also get the impression that, were Richie in charge, this one would get more play. The line “And when you pray for independence” with Jonʼs impassioned vocal and Richieʼs harmony is the best part of the song.
Keep The Faith
“Little Bit Of Soul.” A buddy of mine in high school lent me his VHS copy of “Keep The Faith: An Evening With Bon Jovi.” This is the song I latched onto immediately. Itʼs so hopeful and has always been a great pick-me-up. Pure rock nʼ roll. Love Richieʼs playing on this one.
These Days
“My Guitar Lies Bleeding In My Arms.” The “These Days” album is my favorite. Much of it has to do with where I was in life when it came out (entering college and liking a very uncool band). However, I also think the band took more chances and stretched more as songwriters on this album than any other and the results showed. So much of me wishes theyʼd revisit this attitude. “Guitar” is a prime example of this. Dark and brooding with a huge chorus that addresses the listener with honesty. I also really dig Richieʼs fat Les Paul sound on this song (specifically the lick at 4:16).
Crush
“Next 100 Years.” Very Beatle-esque and a absolutely killer outro. Remnants of “These Days” songwriting are apparent.
Bounce
None. Maybe “The Distance” but, otherwise, itʼs not a very good album. They chased the success of “Itʼs My Life” with a whole album of misfires.
Have A Nice Day
“Novocaine.” Itʼs kind of bitter and not all that happy but it has a sweet sound. Iʼve always wondered if Richieʼs marriage troubles were starting around this time. Production could be better though.
Lost Highway
None. See “Bounce” but swap out “Whole Lotta Leavinʼ” and “Who Says...” as reasons this album isnʼt better.
The Circle
“Thorn In My Side.” They really killed it live with this one (via the YouTube videos I saw) with the extended guitar-mony jam at the end. The stops make this song.
SOLO ALBUMS
“Santa Fe” and “Itʼs Just Me” for Jon and “Father Time” and “Harlem Rain” for Richieʼs solo albums.
What are your favorite hidden gems on each album?
About the Blogger:
Daniel is the Music and Communications Minister at the Christian Church of Jasper in Jasper,
Indiana. He is the father of two girls and husband to a beautiful woman. He has been a Bon Jovi
fan since 1987 when his older sister dubbed a copy of Slippery When Wet from her friend and he would sneak into her room to listen to it. He was also a rock star in the garage of his Tennessee home playing the tennis racquet (along with his friend Jeremy) and singing “Bad Medicine” (which had been recorded by holding a tape recorder up to the radio speaker. Heʼs seen Bon Jovi live four times (3 times in Nashville - 1995, 2008 and 2010 and once in Louisville, Ky. - 2010). Daniel writes and records his own music with the band Narrow Path (www.narrowpath.us) and blogs (very occasionally) at Alien Soil (www.aliensoil.blogspot.com). You can follow him on Twitter (@jdanielross).
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