Palestinian call to boycott Israel

Bon Jovi is set to perform in Israel for the first time in 2011, but given the complexities of the ongoing conflict in the region, it's probably no surprise that not everyone is thrilled with this idea. The Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel has published this open letter in the Palestine Chronicle, urging Bon Jovi to cancel their planned Israel concert on the basis that performing there would be an endorsement of human rights abuses and apartheid:

It is with great disappointment that the undersigned organizations learned of your scheduled performance in Israel set for 2011 as part of your 'Circle Tour'. Given that Israel is involved in grave violations of international law and human rights, particularly as indicated in the UN Goldstone Report, we urge you to cancel this gig until the time comes when Israel is in compliance with its obligations under international law and fully respects Palestinian rights.

We were particularly surprised by news of your planned performance given your deep involvement in affordable housing and homelessness issues. As part of its ongoing dispossession of the Palestinian people, Israel continues to demolish Palestinian homes and entire villages, including the Bedouin village of Al-Araqib, which was destroyed seven times this year. Indeed, the entire modern history of the Palestinian people is based on dispossession and homelessness as more than 750,000 people were made refugees to enable the creation of the state of Israel, then kept in permanent refugee status despite the requirements in international law that they be allowed to return to their homes. In your commitment to effect change you have understood that your position as a respected and prominent musician can weigh on politics and contribute to advancing freedom, justice and human rights. It is in this spirit that we address you.

Read the full article here.

Jon Bon Jovi in Reader's Digest

In this Reader's Digest interview, Jon talks about The Circle, politics, and getting old.

RD: What is your new single, We Weren’t Born To Follow about?
JBJ: It deals with events like the re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran. It’s meant to be an empowerment song for people who are committed. People like the young Iranian demonstrator Neda who (in June 2009) gave her life for her conviction. She was a leader, not a follower.

What? I know the video contains lots of stock footage, but... what? Never ceases to amaze me how songs like "It's My Life", "Have a Nice Day", and "We Weren't Born to Follow" can all sound the same yet supposedly be about completely different things.

There's a lot of politics being talked about in this interview (which I'm okay with because I'm "left leaning" but if you're more right-wing it might annoy you) but Jon also reiterates that he has no intention of entering politics himself because he has "too thin a skin".

RD: But then again you are always looking for new responsibilities. Are you a multi-tasker by heart?
JBJ: Perhaps that’s the answer. In any case I never was one to rest on yesterday’s successes. I’m much more motivated to find new challenges.

Check out the full interview here.

A distinct lack of Republican musicians?

Less than three weeks out from the US Presidential elections, and Bon Jovi are the latest musicians (following the Foo Fighters, Heart, John Mellencamp, and Jackson Browne) to take issue with the Republicans' use of their work. Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin has been playing "Who Says You Can't Go Home" at her campaign rallies this week. Jon gave this statement to TMZ.com:

We are surprised to hear that our song, "Who Says You Can't Go Home" was used by the McCain campaign at rallies yesterday and today. We wrote this song as a thank you to those who have supported us over the past twenty-five years. The song has since become a banner for our home state of New Jersey and the de facto theme song for our partnerships around the country to build homes and rebuild communities. Although we were not asked, we do not approve of their use of "Home".

Of course, JBJ is a known Democrats supporter but this isn't even a political issue to me. More like "moral rights". I know I can be insanely protective of my work, whether it's published or not. While art is open to interpretation, as an artist, I'd hate for my works to be misappropriated. I cringe when people try to turn Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the USA" into a flag-waving celebration. Or when people dedicate Heart's "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You" to their spouses. Although the use of "Who Says" by the Republicans doesn't miss the point to THAT extent!

It does raise another issue though. Most of musicians, artists, and entertainers you see tend to support the Democrats. As far as Republican musicians go, I think we've got Kid Rock, Ted Nugent, Johnny Ramone, Hank Williams Jr, and I'm sure many others. Might be safer for the Republicans to go with one of those next time.

In other news, I cobbled together a header and promotional banner for the blog. Do you like them?

Saving a prayer for 9/11

The obvious Bon Jovi song for the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks (I know it's the 12th in many parts of the world including Australia but if I'm not mistaken it's still the 11th in the US at the time of writing) would be "Undivided". Maybe a little too obvious. Besides, I wrote a bit about that song in my Randers post. So given Keep the Faith won VoteNumber1.com's best 90s rock album poll today, let's go with one of the tracks that could have made a classic album even better.

Here's an unofficial fan video for "Save a Prayer" which was a bonus track on some versions of Keep the Faith (and IMO should definitely have been on the album proper). It also appeared on the Special Edition Bonus CD of Cross Road. The song has some relatively simple yet deeply profound lyrics and is right up there with my favourite Bon Jovi songs.

Dear Jesus, Buddha, Allah, or can I just call you Joe?
I got a lotta things to tell you and some things I gotta know
I'm tired of hearin' talk about this world's about to end
If we can die together then why can't we all be friends?

Oh, and I know it's been more than a "couple" of days but Magic Memory #16 WILL be up soon.

Politics

I've tried not to get overly political in this blog, preferring to focus on the music that I presume most Bon Jovi fans are here for. On the other hand, it's been no secret that politics plays a big part in the life of Jon Bon Jovi these days, and I think it would a bit narrow to ignore that entirely.

Last week, Jon highlighted his philanthropic credentials by donating $1 million towards the construction of some apartments in Newark, New Jersey for people with special needs. :)



Then it was onto the hosting of a campaign fundraiser for Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama, and I think this might have tickled a few feathers. Bon Jovi is a band that, despite never being particularly fashionable, appeals to a wide audience. So it's inevitable that such an audience is going to include some conservatives and Republicans. (If I'm not mistaken, former bassist Alec John Such is a conservative). Jon also attracts criticism from people who point out that he never used to be a political activist, or that he used to say things like "I'm normal, I'm Republican". Well, all I can say to that is that people's views change over time. My own political views have certainly evolved in the last few years as I grew up, encountered different people, and began to observe the world around me. So there's no reason why the same can't happen to Jon Bon Jovi. As for him supporting the Democrats (He also campaigned for John Kerry in 2004), he's entitled to hold and voice his political opinions like anyone else in a free country, and you are entitled to agree or disagree with them. No one is actually tying you up and forcing you to vote for Obama just because JBJ does... Hell, America doesn't even have compulsory voting. ;) I'm a bit of a so-called "loony lefty" myself but if I believe in democracy, then I must respect the rights of others to be right-wing, apathetic, or whatever they choose.

Jon also tends to keep his politics and music separate. I think this is partly because the rest of the band may not be as politically minded as he is, but mostly for fear of isolating large sections of his fans. "Have a Nice Day" is as close as Jon is likely to get to a protest song. As much as I love that song, it does sound a bit like "It's My Life Part 3" and I'd like him to write something a little ballsier. Be bold and angry! The downside to that would be the inevitable comparisons to Bruce Springsteen...

Too lightweight one minute, too political the next... but constantly criticised all the same... Bon Jovi must be used to it after 25 years! I've just voted in an election that resulted in a hung parliament, so there are plenty of thoughts running through my head, but these were just a few that related to Bon Jovi. I hope it was reasonably coherent and diplomatic. ;)

My next magic memory will be posted in the next couple of days... Stay tuned!

LH Magic Memory #14: Randers

Barack Obama formally accepted his party's nomination for the US Presidency at the Democratic National Convention overnight, which also happened to be the 45th anniversary of Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech. The times they are a-changin'... We'll find out in a little over two months just how much they've changed.

In Jovi Land, let's take a little trip back to June 19, 2008 when Bon Jovi played a very memorable show in Randers, Denmark...

UNDIVIDED - Jon endorses Obama before the band launches into the opening track from Bounce, which was played for the first time this tour. Given Jon's voice hadn't been all that great in the preceding five years, this could well be the best live vocal performance ever of this song.


THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG - Played for the first time since 1996! Cool song from an excellent album... Jon might need to have the lyrics taped to the stage but he sounds great. Now if he'd thrown down the mic stand and crashed to his knees like in Wembley '95, it would have been perfect. :P


I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU - Richie Sambora on lead vocals, as he is for this song most nights, but I thought this was an incredible performance from Richie and the rest of the band.


ALWAYS - One of the best performances of "Always" on the Lost Highway tour. Just compare it to Des Moines... Jon seems so confident singing it now, and Richie's solos take your breath away.


FEVER - Jon had to teach Hugh McDonald the song right there on stage, but he learned pretty quickly. After two decades, surely he deserves to be considered an actual part of the band...


On top of all that, "Back in the USSR" was sung for the first time since the New Jersey tour!

Randers, Denmark - Messepladsen v/ Gl. Estrup (19/6/08)
LOST HIGHWAY
BORN TO BE MY BABY
YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME
CAPTAIN CRASH & THE BEAUTY QUEEN FROM MARKS
RUNAWAY
I'LL SLEEP WHEN I'M DEAD w/ Jumpin' Jack Flash, Start Me Up, Back In The USSR
BLAZE OF GLORY
WHOLE LOT OF LEAVIN'
THIS AIN'T A LOVE SONG
IN THESE ARMS
WE GOT IT GOIN' ON
IT'S MY LIFE
KEEP THE FAITH
I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU (Richie)
UNDIVIDED
HAVE A NICE DAY
WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME
LIVIN' ON A PRAYER

ENCORE:
ALWAYS
BLOOD ON BLOOD
FEVER (Peggy Lee cover)
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE
BAD MEDICINE w/ Shout