You can sing the melody to me and I can write a couple lines

Right off the bat, I'm going to admit this is a very self-serving blog post -- but hopefully it's of interest to some of you too!

In one of my other lives, I fancy myself as a writer. And now my debut novel, Black and Blue, will be released into the world on November 1! It's a contemporary coming-of-age story and the main character, Jade, just so happens to be a huge Bon Jovi fan among other things because... why not? It's something I clearly have a lot of firsthand experience of. 😀

Jade is 18, and this band saved my life when I was a teenager -- and I wanted to honour that in some way. Especially since I didn't know if I'd ever publish another book after this one (and technically I still don't, but I certainly intend to).

Anyway, like I said, this post is shamelessly self-serving. The point of it is basically to tell you all that I have a book coming out and you can pre-order it now if you want to.

Learn more about Black and Blue and find it at your preferred online retailer. 🙂

Now, you might have noticed the title of this post and concluded that I don't care about SEO. But to bring it all back to Bon Jovi, it's also a lyric from "(You Want To) Make a Memory". I love the song, but the music video is also one of my faves and it was recently remastered. I don't know about you, but that sounds like a great reason to watch it again to me. 😉

  

And one month before my book comes out, Diana: The Musical -- with music by our favourite Tony award-winning keyboard player, David Bryan -- will make its debut on Netflix.

---

Feel free to share your thoughts below. 😊

Want to stay connected? You can find us on Facebook @blameitonthelove, Instagram @blameitonthelove and Twitter @bonjoviblog.

Bon Jovi in Dublin (night 2) 16/06/19

After performing in Dublin the night before, Bon Jovi headed back to RDS Arena for Round 2. Here's what was played:

Dublin, Ireland - RDS Arena - June 16, 2019 set list

1. This House is Not For Sale
2. Raise Your Hands
3. You Give Love a Bad Name
4. Born to Be My Baby
5. Roller Coaster
6. Lost Highway
7. Runaway
8. We Weren't Born to Follow
9. Have a Nice Day
10. Keep the Faith
11. (You Want to) Make a Memory
12. Bed of Roses
13. In These Arms
14. It's My Life
15. We Don't Run
16. Wanted Dead or Alive
17. Lay Your Hands on Me
18. Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen From Mars
19. We Got it Goin' on
20. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
21. Bad Medicine
    
    Encore #1: 
22. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
23. I'll Be There For You
24. Livin' on a Prayer
    
    Encore #2: 
25. These Days

Videos from Dublin (night #2)

"Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" - The first two minutes of the video is the crowd waiting for the band to come back on. Song starts at 2:12:

"Make a Memory":

"These Days" - Jon sounds way better on this one than he did the night before:

Feel free to share your thoughts, video links, etc.

Extras

Base Wood Fired Pizza had welcomed JBJ back to Dublin with an offer of free pizza...

View this post on Instagram

Another reason to love Ireland. Thanks!

A post shared by Jon Bon Jovi (@jonbonjovi) on Jun 14, 2019 at 8:52am PDT

... which he claimed before heading to the UK!

View this post on Instagram

It is safe to say that the team in @basewoodfiredpizza Ballsbridge are star struck. Thank you @jonbonjovi @bonjovi for dropping in to say hi and for some pizza of course 🍕🥰 it was a pleasure. #basewfp #bonjovi #baseballsbridge #woodfiredpizza #dublin

A post shared by Base Wood Fired Pizza (@basewoodfiredpizza) on Jun 18, 2019 at 6:32am PDT

Want to stay connected? You can find us on Facebook @blameitonthelove, Instagram @blameitonthelove and Twitter @bonjoviblog.

Bon Jovi in New York 10/05/18

Bon Jovi returned to Madison Square Garden to play the second of two consecutive shows. Here's the set list from night 2:

New York City, NY, USA - Madison Square Garden - May 10, 2018

1. This House Is Not For Sale
2. Raise Your Hands
3. You Give Love a Bad Name
4. Whole Lot of Leavin'
5. Lost Highway
6. Roller Coaster
7. Who Says You Can't Go Home
8. Born to Be My Baby
9. It's My Life
10. We Weren't Born to Follow
11. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
12. Keep the Faith
13. Amen
14. Bed of Roses
15. Lay Your Hands on Me
16. Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars
17. When We Were Us
18. Bad Medicine
    
    Encore:
19. In These Arms
20. (You Want To) Make a Memory
21. Wanted Dead or Alive
22. These Days
23. Livin' on a Prayer

"These Days" and "Captain Crash" made their second appearances of the year. "In These Arms" was listed as an audible, but ended up being played.

Videos from New York City, night #2

Jon talks about Bon Jovi opening for ZZ Top at Madison Square Garden before performing "When We Were Us":

"These Days":

"Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen from Mars":

"In These Arms":

"Make a Memory":

If you'd like to share any videos from MSG, feel free to link to them in the comments.

Bon Jovi in Charlotte 21/04/18

Bon Jovi's Charlotte show brought a couple more surprises. "Living with the Ghost" was played for only the second time on the This House Is Not For Sale Tour, and the first time this year. "Raise Your Hands" also made its 2018 debut, while "Make a Memory" was back in the set. Here's what was played:

Charlotte, NC, USA - Spectrum Center - April 21, 2018

1. This House Is Not For Sale
2. Raise Your Hands
3. You Give Love a Bad Name
4. Whole Lot of Leavin'
5. Lost Highway
6. Born to Be My Baby
7. Who Says You Can't Go Home
8. It's My Life
9. We Weren't Born to Follow
10. Runaway
11. We Got It Goin' On
12. Keep the Faith
13. Amen
14. Bed of Roses
15. Lay Your Hands on Me
16. Living with the Ghost
17. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
18. Bad Medicine
    
    Encore:
19. (You Want To) Make a Memory
20. Wanted Dead or Alive
21. Livin' on a Prayer

Videos from Charlotte

"Raise Your Hands":

"Living with the Ghost", following an introduction in which Jon kind of alluded to what the song is about:

"Make a Memory":

If you'd like to share any videos from Charlotte, feel free to link to them in the comments. 🙂

Bon Jovi in Sao Paulo 23/09/17 + Where to next?

Bon Jovi wrapped up the South American leg of their This House Is Not For Sale Tour in São Paulo. Here's what was played:

São Paulo, Brazil - Allianz Parque - September 23, 2017

1. This House Is Not For Sale
2. Raise Your Hands
3. Knockout
4. You Give Love a Bad Name
5. Born to Be My Baby
6. Lost Highway
7. We Weren't Born to Follow
8. Lay Your Hands on Me
9. In These Arms
10. New Year's Day
11. (You Want To) Make a Memory
12. Bed of Roses
13. It's My Life
14. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
15. Wanted Dead or Alive
16. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
17. Have a Nice Day
18. Keep the Faith
19. Bad Medicine
    
    encore:
20. Always
21. Livin' on a Prayer
22. These Days

Jon danced with a fan during "Bed of Roses", while "Make a Memory" made its tour debut.

Videos from São Paulo

"Bed of Roses" (I was pretty much grinning through for most of this):

Here's most of "Make a Memory":

"You Give Love a Bad Name"... and Jon working the catwalk with some nice mic stand twirls:

"Lay Your Hands on Me":

"Always":

"These Days":

"Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" (including a reflective speech for Jon mid-song):

If you'd like to share more videos from this show, feel free to link to them in the comments.🙂

Jon's voice has been the subject of plenty of discussion in fan circles over the last few years (for good reason), but there have been signs during the South American leg that it's improving. It's nice to see a bit of rock star swagger in these videos too. 😉

Were you in São Paulo?

There's been no official word on any other tour dates, but Phil X tweeted that Europe is on the cards for 2018:

Is it true that you're coming to Europe on May next year? We're desperate to have you guys here!

— maría tt trash (@jonsmanager) September 22, 2017

i'm not sure it'll be May but it will be next year. https://t.co/R7riqJXUFR

— Phil X (@TheRealPhilX) September 22, 2017

Meanwhile, the Gold Coast Bulletin is reporting that an Australian tour is set for late 2018:

BON Jovi are set to answer Gold Coast music fans’ prayers next year when they bring their 2018 Australian tour to Metricon Stadium.

Leading promoter Paul Dainty, president and CEO of TEG Dainty, said he had been working to deliver local music fans a stadium show at the home of the Gold Coast Suns AFL team.

“When Bon Jovi tours next year, I’ll bring them to Metricon,” he said.

“We had something for February next year but we couldn’t get it in there with the Commonwealth Games but we’ve got Bon Jovi coming in 2018/2019.”

I wanted to be your valentine: Bon Jovi in Montreal

Some of the vaguely Valentine's Day themed songs from Bon Jovi's February 14 show in Montreal.

Bed of Roses


I'll Be There For You


(You Want To) Make a Memory


Superman Tonight


Wild is the Wind -- This is actually from the previous night at the Bell Centre, and was also played in Washington DC and Connecticut but was swapped out for Superman Tonight on February 14. I thought the song deserved a little play so I included it in this loosely themed post. ;)


Do you have a favourite? Which ballad do you think they should have done?

Bon Jovi's Because We Can Tour continues in Toronto tonight.

Videos: Unplugged gems in Sydney

Part two of the bumper Sydney videos showcase features songs from the acoustic section of the shows.

Make a Memory (Night #1: December 17, 2010)


Living in Sin / Chapel of Love (Night #2: December 18, 2010) - My favourite New Jersey song, even sans screams. But I'd like to see them use "Diamond Ring" for the outtro. I first suggested this back in 2008 and it's never happened, but you never know, one day Jon might read my pleas and give a damn. :P


Never Say Goodbye (Night #2: December 18, 2010)


Hallelujah (Night #3: December 19, 2010) - An special moment for Sydney in the summer rain.


What Do You Got (partial) + Squeeze Box (Night #3: December 19, 2010)


Part one is at this link, with plenty more videos to come. Remember, you can also check out Hath's Circle Tour blog to stay up to date with vids.

Make a Memory and Bad Medicine from Seattle 2nd night

A couple of vids from February 20 in Seattle. Full set list for this show here.

MAKE A MEMORY - Some love this, some hate it, some are just bored by it. It's actually one of my favourite Lost Highway songs but I'm pretty sure it would go down like a brick if they played it in my hometown. ;)


BAD MEDICINE - with a medley song other than "Shout!" at last. Robert Palmer's "Bad Case of Loving You (Doctor Doctor)" was nicely segued into an entertaining performance.


I still haven't found Richie's rendition of "Homebound Train" from either night in Seattle but hopefully someone captured it and gets it up on YouTube.

First Magnetic Hill videos

I still don't have a confirmed set list but a few early videos of Bon Jovi's gig at the Magnetic Hill Music Festival in Moncton have popped up.

I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU (Richie Sambora lead vocals)


MAKE A MEMORY; partial


HALLELUJAH; partial


There's also video here of an incident between security staff and a member of the crowd during "Raise Your Hands".

Summerfest videos Round 2

Set list is here.

Previously posted videos can be found here.

(YOU WANT TO) MAKE A MEMORY


LIVIN' ON A PRAYER


HUGH MCDONALD IS BACK IN THE BOW!! :D On the Lost Highway tour, you might recall, they would have one bow with everyone on stage and then Hugh would have to leave with Bobby Bandiera and Lorenza Ponce while the four "official" band members bowed again. Being the massive Hugh fan that I am, I thought that was a bit poor because Huey might be unofficial but he's more than just a tour musician in the band. So yes... humour my excitement, even if you can't relate to it. :P

As I type this, no one has yet posted "Last Man Standing"; then again it's barely been 12 hours since the show ended. :P I hope someone managed to capture and Youtube it.