Bon Jovi Abu Dhabi set list 1/10/15

In another setback to the tour, Bon Jovi's two scheduled concerts in Taipei, Taiwan were cancelled due to Typhoon Dujuan.

So next up was Abu Dhabi. Jon had the #18 on his guitar in honour of Evan Murray, a New Jersey high school quarterback who died during a football game. It was a touching tribute.

When Bon Jovi played in Abu Dhabi on the Lost Highway tour, that show marked the first time the electric version of Bed of Roses had been played in five years. This time around there were no such pleasant surprises, and sadly, this review highlighted what many of us have known about Jon's voice for quite some time. It used to be that only a certain type of diehard fan really noticed when Jon sounded bad, but it seems like it's getting to the point where we can't just say "Oh, he's having an off night" most nights anymore. I say this not to be mean, but because Jon is one of my musical idols and frankly, it hurts to hear a guy who used to have one of the best rock voices now struggling to hit the notes in his own songs.

Anyway, here's what was played.

Abu Dhabi, UAE - du Arena Yas Island - October 1, 2015

1. That's What The Water Made Me
2. You Give Love A Bad Name
3. Raise Your Hands
4. Born To Be My Baby
5. We Got It Going On
6. We Weren't Born To Follow
7. Lost Highway
8. Whole Lot of Leavin'
9. We Don't Run
10. It's My Life
11. Because We Can
12. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night - acoustic
13. Wanted Dead Or Alive
14. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
15. Who Says You Can't Go Home
16. Keep The Faith
17. Bad Medicine
Encore:
18. In These Arms
19. Captain Crash & The Beauty Queen From Mars
20. Have A Nice Day
21. Livin' On A Prayer

LH Magic Memory #6: Welcome to Abu Dhabi

On paper, the Abu Dhabi show wasn't overly special (20 songs and "Capt. Crash" in the freaking encore?!) but the significance of the gig went beyond the set. For starters, it was the first time Bon Jovi had ever played in the Middle East. I won't pretend that money wasn't a factor in picking Abu Dhabi and there's no need for anyone else to pretend either (I mean, China has a communist government and a capitalist economy; money talks. I sure don't begrudge my favourite band for getting paid to do something they love!). But it would be interesting to find out how many of us in the Western world -- when we hear the words "Middle East" -- automatically think of terrorists, planes crashing into buildings, and bombs going off? And how many of us come to those conclusions without actually knowing anything about Islam OR the Middle East (they are different things!) outside of what the media and politicians tell us? So it's a fluffy romantic ideal but I guess I'm a true believer in the power of music to transcend real or perceived borders between cultures.

But if you think everything I just wrote is crap, then here's another reason why this show was special: "Bed of Roses". The This Left Feels Right version had already been played during the Lost Highway and Have a Nice Day tours, usually on a platform out in the crowd. Great for the girl who gets to dance with Jon, and great for the casual fans who can't tell the difference between the two versions, but not so for those of us who missed the original.

But on May 20, 2008, the electric version as it appears on Keep the Faith was performed for the first time in five years. I have a real soft spot for this song as it was the first Bon Jovi song I ever fell in love with. The keys are great; that wailing guitar gives you goosebumps that TLFR can't even begin to reach; and I was just so proud of Jon for bringing "the real Bed of Roses" back! Check out the video.



Now back to earlier point about music transcending cultural barriers... This is by no means the best performance of "Livin' on a Prayer" of the tour, but Jon for one looks pretty impressed by the crowd's reaction to his a'cappella intro. Not bad for a "corporate" gig! Who knows, the band might even return to the Middle East someday.



Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Emirates Palace (20/5/08)
LOST HIGHWAY
BORN TO BE MY BABY
YOU GIVE LOVE A BAD NAME
SUMMERTIME
SLEEP w/ Rockin' All Over The World & Start Me Up
RUNAWAY
(YOU WANT TO) MAKE A MEMORY
WHOLE LOT OF LEAVIN'
IN THESE ARMS
WE GOT IT GOIN' ON
IT'S MY LIFE
BAD MEDICINE w/ Shout
I'LL BE THERE FOR YOU - RICHIE VOX
BED OF ROSES
WHO SAYS YOU CAN'T GO HOME
HAVE A NICE DAY
KEEP THE FAITH
LIVIN' ON A PRAYER

ENCORE:
CAPTAIN CRASH & THE BEAUTY QUEEN FROM MARS
WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE