by Mrs Captain Kidd
Bon Jovi Mood of the Week: Happy now?
It's crazy how we are never fully satisfied, we always need something to fix and we forget that "you are born and you die and it's gone in a minute". That dangling carrot is our very doom...but in the meanwhile, if there's good music to accompany us on our way, things seem so much brighter :D
Memphis lives in me
Goosebumps! Goosebumps! I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it in the Box set, right away, and seeing it live, with all the emotion Dave puts into it is just breathtaking, what a beautiful song, it will become a classic of the Broadway plays, bet my head on it!
Answer with a song
I love this game! It's perfect for us music freaks, here we go
1. How are you feeling right now?
Lucky
2. Where are you from?
Brokenpromiseland
3. What's your name?
Wildlfower
4. Where in the world do you want to visit?
Garageland
5. How old are you?
Just older
6. What kind of pet do you have/what kind of animal do you like?
There is no answer
7. What's your favorite food?
Blood on blood (...)
8. What is your hobby?
Living in sin
9. What's your favorite color?
Summertime blues
10. What do you feel like doing right now?
Bounce
11. If you could say something to your mother right now, what would it be?
Keep the faith
X vs Bobby
The end is near my friends, and I'm not talking about May 21st, I'm talking about the American leg of the Tour, so it's time to do some reflection upon what's to come.
With Richie's pending but uncertain return, the question arises as to what would happen with Phil if and when Richie returns for the European leg. I have read some posts online that advocate for Phil to actually stay and let Bobby go, and though I'm leaning towards these idea, I think it's a long shot for many reasons.
Without getting into a prons-and-cons situation, I dare say Bobby will stay. On the one hand, X has that "heavier" edge, some coolness to him that adds a lot to the band, and though he's being portrayed as "the kid" I was amazed at the fact that he's actually 45! (what do these rockers drink!?). Both B and X come from different sides of the R n' R spectrum, and by keeping Phil there's a possibility that this will atract a different kind of audience (leaving aside the fact that he's easy on the eyes, and aesthetically speaking fits into the band perfectly). It's obvious that Phil has had much more notoriety for the fact that he was filling in for Richie so all eyes were on him and even though Jon (IMO) "ignored" him during the first concerts (playing more to B), his role was still much more important and noticeable than Bobby's.
On the other hand, Bobby is an impecable and respected musician, plus the fact that Jon worships him and has worked with him for years AND he's in Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes. His role has always been similar to Hugh's (perhaps just a little more noticeable during the Jukebox set), a "supporting" musician, sorta speak. However, if Phil was to be kept, I doubt he could play Bobby's role, and of course he couldn't keep his actual role, since Richie would be back. Not to mention the fact that Phil's presence has a kind of "negative" connotation since it's associated with Richie's absence.
All in all, however much I would like for them to keep Phil and let Bobby go, I don't see how Phil would fit in the general lineup once Richie is back, I don't see Bobby leaving and I don't see Phil playing Bobby's role.
X, we'll miss ya.
Eye Candy
My teeth, gum, palate AND lips hurt and I couldn't decide which one of these pics to post, so I might just as well publish 'em 'all...
(Awww the TD Era...always puts a smile on my face - no matter how sore it is)
(Awww the TD Era...always puts a smile on my face - no matter how sore it is)
Bon Jovi Mood of the Week: Something for the pain
Dayum, having those veneers done turned out to be so much more painful than expected...ouch ouch ouch...Jon, how did you do it?!
Drift Away
Until I heard this song (funnily enough, because they covered it) I had never found a way to express what I felt so accurately.
So as a thank you to my boys, here it is...
So as a thank you to my boys, here it is...
Drift Away (Written by Mentor Williams)
Day after day I'm more confused Yet I look for the light through the pouring rain You know that's a game that I hate to lose And I'm feelin' the strain, ain't it a shame Ohh give me the beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock n' roll And drift away Ohh give me the beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock n' roll And drift away Beginning to think that I'm wasting time I don't understand the things I do The world outside looks so unkind And I'm countin' on you, to carry me through Ohh give me the beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock n' roll And drift away Yeah, give me the beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock n' roll And drift away And when my mind is free You know a melody can move me And when im feelin' blue The guitars comin' through and soothe me Thanks for the joy that you've given me I want you to know I believe in your song Rhythm and rhyme and harmony You help me along, makin' me strong Ohh give me the beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock n' roll And drift away Give me the beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock n' roll And drift away Ohhhh give me the beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock n' roll And drift away Ohhh, hey hey give me the beat boys and free my soul I wanna get lost in your rock n' roll And drift away now now now, won't you take me
Update on Richie
There's word that Jon mentioned in Des Moines that Richie was already back in California, which means he has left the Circle Lodge (I still find it funny it's called "Circle" Lodge) located in Utah. So yey!
BUT...it begs the question: aren't rehab programs supposed to last at least 28 days? Since he entered rehab around the 26th April, this would mean he stayed there for less than 20 days.
Hope he's not rushing it, take as much time as you need darlin'!
Update 05_23_2011: X has confirmed via Twitter that St. Louis was his last show with BJ, so as predicted he's not staying and duh-dah...Richie'll be back for the European leg of the tour! It's good that he still has a couple weeks to rest and get his in place. Only God knows what I'd give to be at the show when he comes back...
BUT...it begs the question: aren't rehab programs supposed to last at least 28 days? Since he entered rehab around the 26th April, this would mean he stayed there for less than 20 days.
Hope he's not rushing it, take as much time as you need darlin'!
Update 05_23_2011: X has confirmed via Twitter that St. Louis was his last show with BJ, so as predicted he's not staying and duh-dah...Richie'll be back for the European leg of the tour! It's good that he still has a couple weeks to rest and get his in place. Only God knows what I'd give to be at the show when he comes back...
That's gotta hurt
Who's missing in this pic? Did they notice? Does he care? Anyway, WE noticed and WE care, change this banner RIGHT.NOW!
10th May Columbus, Ohio
So I don't usually copy/paste BJ news unless I really have something to say about it, and I found this review of last night's show and just HAD to share it. For those who were not there (not even close in my case) it's nice to read a fairly objective and very informative review. Apparently Jon was in a great mood last night and the show was packed with superhits. The highlight of course was the Richie Doll someone threw onto the stage. I can't even begin to describe how sweet I think this was, and what Jon did with it, it just warms my heart and moves me in so many levels, the fact that they love each other so much and share the amazing gift of music and the love of millions of people really speaks volume to a karma-believer like myself.
Rocker draws from Ohio for inspiration
Wednesday, May 11, 2011 12:29 AM
By Kevin Joy
The Columbus Dispatch
FRED SQUILLANTE | DISPATCH
Jon Bon Jovi performs for his adoring fans last night in a two-hour-plus show at Nationwide Arena.
Who ever said Bon Jovi was only about New Jersey?
Shortly into a two-hour-plus show last night in Nationwide Arena, the band's 49-year-old frontman paused to explain what spawned his 2009 tune Work for the Working Man - whose sobering verses speak of lost employment, wiped-out pensions and waning hope.
Inspiration, he said, came from a 60 Minutes episode detailing the plight of Wilmington, Ohio, residents (a couple named John and Angela Pica in particular) after DHL Express moved its shipping operations and left thousands jobless. Extended applause followed after the song.
It was a moment of solemnity during an otherwise upbeat affair that served as a veritable time machine, taking a capacity crowd back through nearly three decades of familiar, fist-pumping favorites.
Right from the start, Jon Bon Jovi wasted no time in cueing up jukebox favorites, from You Give Love a Bad Name and I'll Be There for You to the synth-tinged Runaway that first propelled the working-class heroes to a life of fame.
Clad in leather pants and vest, the still-boyish singer had no trouble eliciting shrieks and call-and-response vocals from the rhinestone-clad female crowd - which could easily have doubled as a casting call for The Real Housewives of Columbus.
Suave without seeming too much like a Chippendales retiree, their midlife idol transcended his age - strutting like a rooster, ascending an impressive set of stairs made of rotating video screens whose stilts resembled something from the Terminator movies and making time to acknowledge folks in the cheap seats (including packed rows behind the stage with limited views).
At one point, he simply stood on a catwalk and allowed adoring fans to snap pictures. Only during the ballad Bed of Roses did his slow-motion, Romeo-style shtick veer into cheesy territory (big surprise: the ladies didn't mind.)
Newer hits such as It's My Life and Have a Nice Day - which share plenty of pulsating hallmarks to the band's early fare - blended well in the mix, which also included a medley of the Doors' Roadhouse Blues and Bob Seger's Old Time Rock 'n' Roll sandwiched between 1988's Bad Medicine.
The only thing detracting from the party was the notable absence of guitarist Richie Sambora, whose April re-admission to rehab left the group scrambling for a replacement (a Canadian named Phil Xenidis filled the spot adequately, if not quietly).
There was no mention of his nonattendance an audience member tossed onstage a rag doll that resembled Sambora during the concert's close.
Bon Jovi picked up the tiny replica, trying momentarily to get it to strum his guitar.
"I'll do it myself," he mumbled to the audience's cheers before launching into Wanted Dead or Alive, the second of a three-song encore that closed with Living on a Prayer - the group's signature hit to perseverance and pride, even to those who aren't from Jersey.
Wish I had been there *sigh*
My two cents
Disregarding Bon Jovi as junk music has become such an automatic standard reaction that most people don’t even think about it anymore, they just take that for granted, and this has made me think, why? Is it because of unsupportive critics and journalists (nowadays, even any regular blogger like myself)? But then again, does their (or my) opinion count more than the opinion of not just fans but people who like Bon Jovi in general? I used to just stop reading when someone started trashing Bon Jovi “just ‘cause”, because I always thought that since it’s a matter of opinion, we should have to agree to disagree, everyone’s entitled to one, even if we don’t like it.
Then instead of just not reading the bad criticism I started to pay attention to the information that’s presented as back up and found so many mistakes, misinformation, and partial truths that I decided I should right a couple lines in order to balance the scales and for people to have ALL the information to form an opinion by themselves (as it should be since the journalists’ job is to inform, and the critic’s job is to provide reference, background knowledge and perspective, but some seem to have just forgotten that) and these are my two cents towards throwing a different light on what they have to say. Bon Jovi don’t need defending, people will continue to love/hate Bon Jovi regardless, I won’t change the world, but it wil give me peace of mind just to get it out of my system. I’ll try to be as reasonable as possible. Promise.
I also know that it’s not all journalists and critics are BJ detractors, so those with a clean soul, please don’t take this personally. I won’t try to undermine your job, insult you or directly contradict you, either.
I have a huge list of artists and musicians I like (The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash to name a few) but listening to Bon Jovi is always like coming home, because they were there to say the things I needed to hear and say myself when no one would listen. OK, probably everyone has their own band/musician that did that for them, but in my case it was Bon Jovi, I can’t change that. And I’m not saying this as an apology, mind you.
* The more obvious criticism nowadays seems to be that Bon Jovi represent “unabashed commercialism”. I assume this is not based on the fact that they are best-selling artists, because if it is, then this label should be applied also to U2, right? They sell as many albums and concert tickets, so why don’t they get the same treatment? What’s more: it takes two to tango, baby, so if anyone’s to blame for their commercial success it’s us, the fans who support them, buy their music, enjoy it, go to their concerts, etc. It insults me to my very core when it’s implied that us BJ fans are “lured” into buying every little merchandise piece, every CD, DVD out there like we were dumb sheep. But surprise! The Beatles’ fans do it, The Rolling Stones’ fans do it. Why is it “wrong” if BJ fans do it? When did commercially successful become a synonym of bad quality? Maybe they write songs with the sole purpose of being commercially successful, just give people what they want to hear, throw anything at them and they’ll take it. This is like trying to explain the color red to a blind person: if you’ve never felt how a song supposedly written with the “let’s make a best-selling-hit” recipe, let’s say Who says you can’t go home, touches you in the very moment when you’re thousands of miles from home, for months, missing your families and friends, then there’s no way I can explain this to you, but let’s try more reasonable examples:
- The Lost HighwayCD, even when it was one of the most “commercially successful” overall, it was not so amongst fans (yours truly included) because it derailed from the rocker track, and If it was successful, it was because of a whole new audience they captured. They took a risk, who’s to blame if they were lucky?.
- When they first released the WWBT single and video, Richie received so many negative comments from the fans who expected more of his guitar solo that he went back into the studio to redo it before the album came out. We already know what we are gonna get, but we expect the best.
- “They released the GH CD just before Christmas in order to milk it”. So what? I’d do the same! So they have to be stupid to be respected? Are we living in the same world? These statements are contradictory with others that say that Bon Jovi are over because their success is not as big as it was in the 80’s. This is comparing apples and oranges. Do you really think that even Michael Jackson himself could have sold 40 million copies in the digital era? Please…
Bottom line: It’s their job, we like what they do and we pay for it. It’s as simple as that.
* Then there’s the “quality” issue. That they lack instrumental expertise, lyrical depth and musical relevance. This statement seems to ignore the fact that the guys have never claimed to be something they’re not. They’re humble in that way and remain just the kids that love rock n’ roll at heart, and that’s what makes them also so engaging, that we feel we can do it too. They acknowledge their influences and keep to a classic and traditional writing/composing/playing scheme. Let’s not forget the level of production of their records, that alone sets them apart from the rest. I’m tired of the criticism based on “You give love a bad name” and “Bad medicine”, nobody seems to give them a break for that, like that was all they ever wrote…please people DO YOUR JOB before spitting out nonsense and no, Slippery when wet is NOT a song. I think there’s no denying the quality, range, volume and character of Jon’s voice, the soulful and power of Richie’s guitar playing, the genius of David’s keyboard playing and the presence of Tico’s drums, but like we say in Spanish “No hay peor ciego que el que no quiere ver” (The blindest people are those who are not willing to see).
Bottom line: It’s like being in love: if you don’t like something, let it go, you don’t dump your husband or wife because they have one or two mistakes, you take them as they are, warts n’ all. So what if they are not avant-garde, original or pretentious… that’s what we like about them! So what if they are not pioneers of rock. There's depth and heart in their songs, that’s what matters.
* “Bon Jovi is for mature women”, “Bon Jovi is for teenage girls”. Other than the fact that they don’t seem to agree, seriously, these people have NO IDEA what they’re talking about. Whoever says this CLEARLY has never been to a BJ concert, where you can see people from different ages, fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, friends, couples. Yes, there is a bigger percentage of 20 to 50 year-old women in the audience than usual, but again, and specially in this case, they are not the ones to blame.
* “Bon Jovi are just glamorous pretty boys”. So apparently not only do you have to be stupid to be respected, but you also need to be ugly?
* “Bon Jovi are an 80’s hair band”. Oh, remember you also need to NOT EXIST beyond the decade you became popular to be respected. Come on! Not only were they smart enough to go into hiatus when the 80’s collapsed and the grunge era began, but they also were smart enough to return to their roots (basic, classic rock n’ roll) and come up with something completely different from what they were doing (KTF) and then top it off with one of the best albums of all time (TD). Give them a listen (it doesn’t hurt) and if you still think those albums would fit in the 80’s then you and me have nothing else to talk about, have a great life.
Bottom line: They have stood the test of time and still make #1 records, 28 years and counting…
I could go on, but this pretty much sums it up. Some will continue to defend them for the same reasons we always have, and some will continue to attack them as they always have with the support of the musical status quo of the tour that has established what’s politically correct and what differs from its vision. But please before trashing Bon Jovi keep in mind: LEAVE.THEM.ALONE.
Bon Jovi Mood of the week: Everybody's broken
In your own words baby...it's ok to feel a little broken.
Jazzfest 2011
Soooo, I waited throught the weekend to read all the reviews and see the videos and pics before commenting on it. Not that I was looking for an ass-kissing review, but this one puts into words almost exactly what I think, so I'll leave it to the pros.
From http://www.spinner.com/:
(...)Filling in for Sambora was the extremely proficient Phil "X" Xenidis, who comes complete with his own set of rock star hair and great moves, though his playing excludes Sambora's nuanced, often bluesy touch.
(...)Not that Jon Bon Jovi -- dressed in a black sleeveless vest that became increasingly unsnapped as the show wore on -- needs an apologist, but critics have seldom given him the credit he deserves as a tremendously compelling and commanding frontman who has only gotten better with age. Like U2's Bono or Bruce Springsteen, he works the crowd ceaselessly, constantly taking their collective pulse to see how to take them higher. And while some of the rock star moves may seem rote, the sheer amount of work he puts into making sure the fans have fun deserves far more respect than he's gotten.
But achieving longevity has its own reward, especially when it's been done on the nearly unparalleled worldwide level of success that Bon Jovi has attained and almost all of the groups born out of the same hairband movement of the mid-'80s have long faded away or grown bald.
During 'The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same,' a new song featured on last fall's greatest hits set, Jon Bon Jovi playfully delivered a little speech that more than made his point: "Look around and you've got Justin Bieber. Honey, I remember when there was a Justin Timberlake." He then name checked Jay-Z, noting that he recalled when Ice Cube and N.W.A. ruled the rap world. Then it was Lady Gaga's turn. "Hell, I was there before there was a Madonna... Things change, but there's only one constant... You're looking at it."
Yes, there's a reason almost 30 years since the release of the band's debut album, they remain one of the biggest touring attractions the world over. The Jazz Fest show was prime proof, with Jon Bon Jovi doing whatever it took, whether it was spreading his arms wide open, messianic style; pumping his fists into the air, jumping up and down or even doing a very funny and credible imitation of Mick Jagger's rooster walk during 'Start Me Up' to keep the energy high. And it worked, as it has thousands of times before, like a charm. With his million-watt smile and mirrored shades, he had the 50,000-plus audience eating out of his hand, as they sang loudly to all the hits.
None of this would matter much if his voice wasn't still vital. Even though he started off a little reedy at the Jazz Fest show, Jon Bon Jovi's pipes remain tremendously powerful and gained strength as the two-hour show wore on. Plus, he delivers the rockers, even sub-par ones such as 'Have A Nice Day' and 'We Got It Going On,' bolstered by drummer Tico Torres's relentless pounding, with the same verve as Bon Jovi classics like 'Bad Medicine.'
Oddly, during the main show Jon Bon Jovi never addressed the pink elephant in the room -- that his partner-in-crime for many years was not beside him on stage -- other than to coyly say to the audience, "And what's been going on in your life?," several songs in.
For the encore, Jon Bon Jovi smartly trotted out in a New Orleans Saints jersey, screaming "Who dat," before launching into 'Dead or Alive.' As well as Xenidis played, it was one of the times that Sambora's absence was palpable. To close the show, Bon Jovi performed 'Living on a Prayer,' with the lead singer kicking it off with an a capella verse, his voice having only gained momentum as the night progressed. In the only clear acknowledgement that Sambora wasn't present, Jon Bon Jovi said, "I'm sending this out to our brother Richie." Then, though visibly ragged around the edges from the heat, he went back to bouncing around on stage, with an almost superhuman determination to end the show with as much, if not more, energy that when the band started.
Whadda ya think?
From http://www.spinner.com/:
(...)Filling in for Sambora was the extremely proficient Phil "X" Xenidis, who comes complete with his own set of rock star hair and great moves, though his playing excludes Sambora's nuanced, often bluesy touch.
(...)Not that Jon Bon Jovi -- dressed in a black sleeveless vest that became increasingly unsnapped as the show wore on -- needs an apologist, but critics have seldom given him the credit he deserves as a tremendously compelling and commanding frontman who has only gotten better with age. Like U2's Bono or Bruce Springsteen, he works the crowd ceaselessly, constantly taking their collective pulse to see how to take them higher. And while some of the rock star moves may seem rote, the sheer amount of work he puts into making sure the fans have fun deserves far more respect than he's gotten.
But achieving longevity has its own reward, especially when it's been done on the nearly unparalleled worldwide level of success that Bon Jovi has attained and almost all of the groups born out of the same hairband movement of the mid-'80s have long faded away or grown bald.
During 'The More Things Change, The More They Stay the Same,' a new song featured on last fall's greatest hits set, Jon Bon Jovi playfully delivered a little speech that more than made his point: "Look around and you've got Justin Bieber. Honey, I remember when there was a Justin Timberlake." He then name checked Jay-Z, noting that he recalled when Ice Cube and N.W.A. ruled the rap world. Then it was Lady Gaga's turn. "Hell, I was there before there was a Madonna... Things change, but there's only one constant... You're looking at it."
Yes, there's a reason almost 30 years since the release of the band's debut album, they remain one of the biggest touring attractions the world over. The Jazz Fest show was prime proof, with Jon Bon Jovi doing whatever it took, whether it was spreading his arms wide open, messianic style; pumping his fists into the air, jumping up and down or even doing a very funny and credible imitation of Mick Jagger's rooster walk during 'Start Me Up' to keep the energy high. And it worked, as it has thousands of times before, like a charm. With his million-watt smile and mirrored shades, he had the 50,000-plus audience eating out of his hand, as they sang loudly to all the hits.
None of this would matter much if his voice wasn't still vital. Even though he started off a little reedy at the Jazz Fest show, Jon Bon Jovi's pipes remain tremendously powerful and gained strength as the two-hour show wore on. Plus, he delivers the rockers, even sub-par ones such as 'Have A Nice Day' and 'We Got It Going On,' bolstered by drummer Tico Torres's relentless pounding, with the same verve as Bon Jovi classics like 'Bad Medicine.'
Oddly, during the main show Jon Bon Jovi never addressed the pink elephant in the room -- that his partner-in-crime for many years was not beside him on stage -- other than to coyly say to the audience, "And what's been going on in your life?," several songs in.
For the encore, Jon Bon Jovi smartly trotted out in a New Orleans Saints jersey, screaming "Who dat," before launching into 'Dead or Alive.' As well as Xenidis played, it was one of the times that Sambora's absence was palpable. To close the show, Bon Jovi performed 'Living on a Prayer,' with the lead singer kicking it off with an a capella verse, his voice having only gained momentum as the night progressed. In the only clear acknowledgement that Sambora wasn't present, Jon Bon Jovi said, "I'm sending this out to our brother Richie." Then, though visibly ragged around the edges from the heat, he went back to bouncing around on stage, with an almost superhuman determination to end the show with as much, if not more, energy that when the band started.
I feel the need to be honest, while I watched the videos I felt awful, like I was "cheating" on Richie, I kinda felt I HAD to dislike this new guitarist, but as much as I tried anyway, I couldn't get over Richie's absence, it's all I could think about, regardless of X's guitar playing abilities. I mean, Richie is more than JUST the guitar player, he is also half of the vocals (maybe not in quantity but most of all in quality) and half the chemistry. I have never been one to like changes in the band (beat me up, after 15 years I'm just, maybe just, starting to accept Hugh, and don't get me started on Bobby...), and this was a hard pill to swallow...I couldn't even start to compare them, what's the use? He's not Richie and that's it.
Whadda ya think?
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