I get a rush from Bon Jovi: studio albums

BON JOVI - 1984

The first thing that crosses my mind when I think about this album is innocense in many different levels. First of all because of their age, and in hindsight, because it was the beginning of an amazing journey into their wildest dreams that would later not only come true, but become even bigger than anyone could have imagined. Though it's full of ambition, it's also quite humble, the structure of the songs is simple and on a first listen the songs tend to fade into each other. The songs are melodic yet powerful, the lyrics not going too deep into the feelings but rather paying more attention to the story they are telling, the narration is overall clear and simple and in my opinion this is the beginning of one of the main Bon Jovi trademarks. There's some little abuse of the high notes but it's understandable given they were trying to show off Jon's amazing voice and vocal range. I like the overall feeling of hunger for success there is in this album that you can feel runs through all the layers of the music.

Runaway - What more can be added to this more than iconic song? Completely timeless, unforgettable (keyboards), now unreachable high notes...if you are the average Bon Jovi fan you can't just have enough of it. When I saw them playing it live with 45.000 thousand people singing it from the top of their lungs, having 27 years passed since its creation, just gave me goosebumps. If little Jon was shown that part of the future back in 1984 he would have laughed at your face and then slapped you on the face silly. They probably KNEW they would make it, but this I bet was beyond their expectations.

In Jon's words: "If you ever wanted to torture me, you would tie me up and force me to watch our first five videos" so here it is. (Well, if I had him tied up probably making him watch their first five videos wouldn't be in my to-do list...)

Roulette - I just LOVE this song, its heavy drums and guitar, the story is engaging to say the least, one can picture all the images they are trying to portray and the relations involved. This is definitely my favourite track of the album and one of my all-time favourites.

Here is an absolutely amazing performance of this song they did during The Circle Tour, even though they had to lower the high notes that takes away lots of its "spiciness", one can see how not only the topic but also the style just never gets old (watch out for Jon's heavy metal face!! - haha)

She don't know me - This was the first "old Bon Jovi song" I heard when I started digging in the 80's albums and I could swear I had heard it all through my childhood, I felt I already knew it almost by heart and it always gives me that feeling of familiarity. Of course there was the shock of the "grammatically wrong" sentence that demanded a little investigation on my part (I was half way in my English language learning and was not quite ready to break the rules just yet)...and the impossibly tight jeans! Anyway, to the day I don't quite get the story of the video (maybe I get a little distracted when I see it...)

Shot through the heart - A song with an interesting change of pace and sound balance. I like the monologue quality of the lyrics. Guitar-wise it's amazing, with different sounds and riffs. I would LOOOOOVE to see this song performed live.

Love Lies - Maybe my least favourite of the whole record, beacuse of the heavyness of the pace and the sounds.

Breakout - Another nostalgic song for me (it was used in a local store radio ad during my childhood). I really like the demo quality to it.

Burning for love - Great song: the rythm, the lyrics, the guitar solo, the melody, just great.
"You need love and I need satisfaction".

Come Back - Probably one of the "heaviest" of the record. It could perfectly be sung like a ballad unplugged today and would sound amazing!

Get Ready - I just love it, it's so much fun! Great saturday night song. I can't listen to it and just sit down! Oh and the laughter...

Outtakes and demos
American Dream
Tonight
Better think twice
Broke my heart
Head over heels
Promises
Summertime blues

Though they are all OK (I particularly like Better think twice), I'm pretty happy with the choice they made, none of them would fit in with the rest of the songs.

7800º FAHRENHEIT - 1985

It's easy for me now, after 25 years, to analyze and disect this album having listened to all that came afterwards and appreciating it in a rather nostalgic way, but at the same time it's hard to cut through the "flop" label it has. I have to tell you that the first time I listened to this record I did it with a pre-judgement: that I WAS going to like it no matter what. I WANTED to like it because I couldn't believe it was so ill-loved by everybody. Yeah, it's not "engaging" as the first one, and it's pretentious, complicated, with a touch of arrogance and kind of self-involved (sounds like Jon to me!). The cover and the name are SO COOL. Just in case you've been livin' in a cave for the last 28 years, the name refers to the temperature at which rock melts. The second record is always a tricky one and knowing what came later, I can only think this one is the natural step towards the third album, they were looking for their "music personality" but it wasn't mature yet, it overall lacks a little "stamina" (and I'm not talking about Desmond Child here). Apparently they had some producing issues (yeah, we can tell). If Bon Jovi was more of a "Jon's high notes" album, 7800 is more of a Richie's guitar skills in a way. So guess what? Yeah, I LIKE IT. It may be the only true Heavy Metal Bon Jovi album and that's why it has my utmost appreciation.

In & Out of Love - "Any resemblance with actual events is pure coincidence" cannot be applied to this song. It is what it is. They were in their 20's and they were beautiful and they were having fun, that's all (this is me trying to justify the lame phrases in the middle of the solo...). The guitar is just amazing. And now please let's move on to Richie in the white overall...

The Price of Love - Luv luv luv the guitar riffs and the almost a-capella quality of some verses. Let's just not even talk about the lyrics (you can do soooo much better than that!).

Only Lonely - Soooooo 80's! Another almost a-capella + great guitar riff combo. I enjoy the pace of this, kinda reminds me of Kiss, don'tya think? My fave part is the "I got this time bomb tickin' in my head, this time I think she's gonna blow, how can I say get away when I just can't let it go?" Troublesome relationships do mess with your head like that and that's the perfect way to say it (personal experience here). And Jon, baby, remember never EVER to wear a baret over that crazy mane of yours...leave it for less cute guys like Brad Pitt :p. I was going to post the live version they did last year in Ocean Beach, but this vid just puts a smile on my face, ha ha.

King of the Mountain - A real headbanger, huh? This is what I mean when I say the album is not "engaging". The lyrics to me are cold and almost a little bitter, but the music saves the day here.

Silent Night - This is the seed of the future Bon Jovi ballads in my opinion. It's a little too slow and the pace is kind of strange. The balance between the guitar strums and the keyboard is a little off to my taste, but the lyrics and the story are great (this is the older sister of 'Til we ain't strangers anymore) and mature and sweet, to me, the most heartfelt song of the whole record. And it's co-written by Dave! Plus, the video is the first really good BJ video, though technically it's not perfect (we are talkin' 80's here!) I enjoy the almost surreal concept of the walls coming to life and then turning into brick walls, we wouldn't see another "conceptual" BJ video for a long time (maybe 'til I believe?...)

Tokyo Road - a classic. The lyrics are well put together, a catchy melody and good guitar riffs. The Japanese girl singing at the beginning is soooo creepy! The only not-quite-a-ten part is Jon's voice, it's a little too subdued for my taste and for what the lyrics needed. It would have been much more powerful if he had gone all out there with his voice.

The Hardest Part is the Night - Such a pity, it has some good melodies and arrangements, but again, it lacks power, it sounds too easy and safe. It's also a sad street story, the first of many more to come (maybe like Hey God, dare I say?).

Always Run to you - Sambora amazing yet again. Catchy chorus.

To the Fire - Strange, with one toe over the pop-rock line. Strange Alphaville-like background beats...Nice chorus though.

Secret Dreams - This...is...soooo...sexAY. Can hardly pay attention to anything else but the fantasy of the lyrics. It helps that the whole thing is easy and safe so I can concentrate on the good stuff. It does have some neat guitar and keyboard arrangements to keep it interesting.

SLIPPERY WHEN WET - 1986

A.k.a The Hitmaker. It's certainly (and apparently inexplicably) not my favourite album. Maybe because when I listened to it as a whole for the first time, I had already heard those songs so many times it wasn't a surprise. But one thing I can say for sure and bet the farm on it: ANY of the songs could have been cut as a single and it could have been a huge success. I know they are kind of in luuuuv with Livin' on a prayer, but I think it would have happened anyway, with any of the songs. The productions is impecable, the songs each tell a different story in a particular way and they are perfectly different but work as a whole at the same time. I feel it tells a story in different chapters, the story of their lives in that moment, and even though each record is supposed to do that, this one succeeds better than the others in the atempt. Jon's voice is so powerful and it cover all the ranges, I can feel that hunger for success, and that arrogance at the same time. Richie's solos are mind-blowing, they were really at their best and they knew it. What I enjoy about this record is that when I was half way through it I started to wait for the

"slowing down" of the third quarter, but it never came, and when Wild in the streets finished I was still waiting for it and it never came! Wow, what an amazing record...each time I listen to it it seems to become better and better so watch out New Jersey!

Let it rock

Again: wow, what a great way to start a record with those sounds. I thought it was an instrumental song at first and thought WTF?! but then...it has so many different pieces put together in a perfect ensemble. It also has many items of the BJ mythology like Captain Kidd. The image of Chino dancing a tango with a broomstick in his hand always cracks me up. And overall, it goes perfectly well with the whole idea of the album: just a rock n' roll band trying to have some fun. It's a great introduction to the whole theme of the album. When I heard the version they did in the O2 Arena in 2010 my jaw dropped. Yeah, Jon struggled with the notes, but the song has held up soooooo good, it was fresh, it had so much power and I thought it was so cool of them to play it, it was one of those moments that has made me proud of them.

You give love a bad name

Well, for starters let's just pretend we don't know it was written for Diane Lane, ok? (that was such a turn-off...). I find myself at a loss for words, I can't analyze this song, it has passed to a realm beyond any objective analysis. I don't even know if I like it or not anymore. It just is what it is: a classic.

Livin' on a prayer

So simple, so powerful. There comes a time when you think: could I ever listen to that song again? And then before you know it you're singing along again and you can't skip it when you're listening to the record. You've heard so many versions, so many times...but I guess that what makes a song such a classic: you just never get tired of it. This is definitely BJ's pet song, though it almost didn't make it in the record because Jon wasn't quite sure of it. The video is so much fun, I always enjoy watching it! (oh those faces ha ha)

Social Disease

The legend says they wanted Steven Tyler to sing some vocals in this song, and then that they could probably have given it to Aerosmith, and yeah, it sounds a lot like it would fit in Aerosmith but anyway, they thought it went ok with the general feel of the album so they kept it. If Aerosmith had done it I'm sure it would've been a monster hit.

Wanted Dead or Alive

To write this I have to get down on my knees and put my hands in prayer position in front of a BJ poster and say "thank you, THANK YOU, for this song". Absolutely timeless, perfect, inspired, inspiring. This is how you express what you feel and think through music. You can see my review of it here.

Raise your hands

Hands down the guitar is the best part of it and what makes this song a great song. It's simple and catchy. I believe it become a hit with time, and they play it live A LOT.

Without Love

This may be my least favourite of the whole album, it's a little sticky and dense for my taste. I know the message is supposed to be important but somehow it doesn't have the same emotional depth the others have.

I'd die for you

This one is also a very simple song but for some reason I can relate to it and it says something to me. That feeling of a man holding things inside and only being able to express it through music is sooooo apealing to me. It also feels so honest and so real, I bet most guys feel like that, and even we girls feel like that sometimes, just not being able to

express clearly enough how much we care about somebody else.

Never say goodbye

So finally the first hit ballad. Yeah, the lyrics are a teeny bit lame, but in this song, it's not the words that speak but the guitar. Sometimes I forget it even has lyrics. This song is Richie singing through his guitar. So awesome.

Wild in the streets

With this song the album comes full circle, it starts with the guys getting ready to rock, and it ends...well, kinda the same way, no? What I like the most about this song is the rythm and also Jon's voice. It's so strong and powerful. I have this version of this song a capella and it gives me goosebumps. Here there's again that hunger, that strive, that need for success and to show how good they were, almost like a scream. Great way to end the record.

OUTTAKES AND DEMOS:
Deep cuts the knife

Game of the heart

Lonely is the night

Borderline

Take me home (Take me all)

There is no answer

Edge of a broken heart

The Promise

Walk don't run

In the still of the night
Out of bounds

Personally the only ones that could have had a shot at making it into the record are Borderline and Edge of a broken heart but they still have needed some work.

NEW JERSEY - 1988

Now THIS is what I'm talking about. First of all, I want that album cover as my tombstone.

Holy mother of all things amazing. This record blew my mind from the first second. I had heard Lay your hands on me before, but wow, it made so much more sense as the introduction to this record. To me it has it all: very well (though sometimes way too) produced songs, demo-like tracks, stuffy tracks, clean-cut tracks...I heard that the process for the selection of the songs was by choice of an audience that picked them out of a bunch. In my opinion, together with the Bounce record, this album has the best outtakes and demos of all the others. When I started listening to all of them a 12 track record seemed so short! It was also the last album they recorded with analog sounds and they took advantage of that. I admit that to me it's a little bit messy, but that's its charm I guess.

I know this was a terrible era for Jon and all of them, that they were exhausted and drained, but maybe that is what lead them to write such powerful and raw songs, they were free of many limitations. Yeah, I know they wanted to prove they weren't one-album wonders, but this is just over the top. It's like they wrote songs from a place beyond good and evil, in another dimension. Some songs are trully timeless (Wild is the wind, Stick to your guns, Blood on Blood they take me places that are not in this world), some you can get tired of listening to them (Bad Medicine) and some you can never get enough of (Love for sale, Ride Cowboy Ride). Jon's voice is thick and he displays his whole vocal range all along the record, along with growls, screams, groans, moans, etc. Vocally it's genious.

I also love this era's looks, they had dropped some of the glam stuff and were a little more back to jeans and Ts. They all looked amazing, Richie was at his muscular prime and Jon (with that exhausted face and all) looked just delicious (darker and less fluffed up hair). Wow I really wish I could have experienced that era first-hand.

Lay your hands on me

Knowing that their writing method is beginning with a title name, we pretty much get the idea where they were going. I admit that at first my hormones didn't quite let me see past the sexual connotations, but now maybe old age or just years of listening to it has allowed me access to its true meaning, which is an invitation to all of us fans, an aknowledgement that when they are onstage, they belong to us...just as much as we belong to them. It's so powerful you can't ignore it, it draws you in, it enchants you. I really can't tell if it's a good or a bad song (I'm not a music critic, or I wouldn't be talking about Bon Jovi in a good way, right?), I just know that much: that with this song the band and us are a whole.

Bad Medicine

This songs is literally a little too much. So dense, so many levels, overdone, saturated, thick, powerful and overall crazy. Once I spent almost 5 years without being able to listen to it again, and that was when I saw them playing it live and it took a whole other different life for me. Who would have thought that for many of us it would become our fandom anthem he he, and they are our drug! Crazy, crazy song.

Born to be my baby

Another lockdown song, what's NOT to love about it? It creates a wonderful atmosphere of intimacy but the song itself isn't sticky n' sweet, it's needy, powerful, possesive and demanding. Awww...who doesn't love a man so determined to have your love and keep it? (and write a perfect song about it?). I also love what they did with the video (playing the different levels of sounds in different parts), that's how I began collecting a capella and instrumental versions of the songs, it's great to be able to identify each component of the song, that's why I don't like electronic sounds or overlayering of sounds in the songs, I like them just raw and simple.

And have mercy! do they look good in the video!

Living in sin

I gotta tell ya this video destroyed my sexual life as a teenager, I could soooo relate to it and was so afraid the same would happen to me ha ha ha. Anyhow, the song in my opinion is all about Jon's voice, that sexy way of singing almost as in a whisper and then exploding in the chorus with such ferocity and desperation is all I can ask for. It also tells a story in a very clear way, which is something underlying the whole record, the songs are very clear in their message and almost more prosaic than poetic (except maybe for a couple). Another vid to drool over, for God's sake major eye candy.

Blood on Blood

This is another "branch" of the BJ music catalogue, the bro songs. I know many musicians write about this, but I'm pretty sure not as much as our guys here, with the addition that we actually SEE and experience their relationship and how much they care for each other (and have cared over the years) so it's a completely honest and believable song. It's surprising how many people who like BJ but are not actually fans didn't know about this song until this last Greatest Hits came out, to me it has always been classic BJ.

Homebound Train

To put it in just one sentence: over the top. Wow, they really went all the way with this one, didn't they? The guitar is IN.SANE! The message is again very clear and honest and still so dated, how they long to be with their families when they are on the road. We could say that I-love-my-hometown-and-miss-my-family songs are also a BJ trademark that appear more often than not in the records. This is probably my second favourite song of the record.

Wild is the wind

Strange song. It "kind of" a love song but it doesn't sound like one I guess. Anyway we can see here once more the balance between a soft but powerful and contained verse and a strong, demanding bridge and chorus. Wow, Jon's voice is so amazing, it summons all of my attention, to me it could a capella and I wouldn't know the difference.

Ride Cowboy Ride

Love it love it love it. The mono, the guitars, the voices, the duration. Perfect. I can always picture them having so much fun recording this. Richies background vocals steal the show. I love it when they do these kind of songs, I could listen to them unplugged and guitar + voice only forever. Similar to what they did with Gotta have a reason (which in my opinion is much better than RCR, but anyway).

Stick to your guns

I guess it all started with Wanted, but it took me quite some time to wrap my head around the cowboy thing, I mean, aren't they from Jersey? This seemed so strange to me, but then I got used to it I guess, and it works so well for them, it's also kind of a BJ trademark, right? I love the power blasts in this song, the drums are awesome and the melody exquisite.

I'll be there for you

I've made it clear before: I'm not too much into the happy-go-lucky songs, and this is sort of the case. Too mellowy for my taste. I know, I have come to better terms with it after the Lost Highway tour and Richie's version and what it meant to him, and the fact that they made this a song for their audience, but that's about it for me. A classic but definitely not one of my favourites.

99 in the shade

I guess this is where they stopped writing songs about their young age without the nostalgia. These memories seemed pretty fresh he he. The usual boys-having-fun song with a nice atmosphere. Fun song and I love the guitar riffs in the chorus.

Love for Sale

The best song in the album BY FAR. I just can't get enough of it, I used to be kind of obsessed with it. It's supposed to have been recording during "one hell of a party" and it shows. It's got everything you need tossed in there: guitar, harmonica, lots of talking and laughing going on, Tico's background voice, you name it. I don't appreciate the Elvis impersonation Jon has done in this song live, but it's so much fun I can live with it. It's definitely not a sentimental song but it has so much soul in it I can forgive everything. Great, great song. They mostly play it in small, acoustic shows so I hope some day I get to see them play it live.

Demos and Outtakes
Backdoor to heaven

Does anybody really fall in love anymore (later recorded by Cher)

Growing up the hard way

House of fire (Alice Cooper cover) - awesome song

In America

Judgement day

Let's make it baby - can you say HAAAWWT? Audio Joviporn. WTF were they thinking? Whoever gave them whatever they were on when they did this: thank you!
Love hurts
Love is war - amazing

Now and forever
The boys are back in town (Thin Lizzy cover )

KEEP THE FAITH - 1992

OK, so I actually got involved with the band when they were just releasing Crossroad, but inmediately went a couple years back and this is my first real encounter with a Bon Jovi studio album so it has a special spot in my heart. I was obsessed with this record for a looong time, and it remained one of my favourites after I had gone through their entire discography by the time they released These Days.

I loved the freshness and the combination of hope, rebelion and really sweet songs, but I would be a total hipocryte if I were to say I didn't care about the looks, I mean...how gorgeous were they then? I have to admit I was not so much into Jon's perfect, hair-mousse-stiff golden locks, but all in all the more clean and polished look was also refreshing.

Jon's voice is just about perfect, fresh and full of new aspects we get to appreciate that in earlier records were hidden behind the overproduction of some songs. The high notes are amazing, though not so much Richie's background voices. But what I love most about this album is that only 2 of the songs were co-written by Desmond Child, and oh surprise not my two favourite ones. Nothing against Desmond, it's just that it bugs me when Bon Jovi's success is put in Desmond's name and not the songwriting merits of our fab twosome. Also noteworthy is that many songs (more than in any other records) were written by Jon and Jon alone, and great songs indeed...

I also like the back-to-basic-rock'nroll approach, I'm sure it took some restraining to not go over the top with production and keep it simple, it shows and we liked. That's what makes many of the songs so timeless, because it's classic rock n' roll. As a message, a clean start, a promise of what was to come, it works perfectly. It's still a joy to listen to this record, mostly because it reminds me of the "puppy love" stage I went through with the band. A promising prelude to These Days.

I believe

I was so obsessed with this one for YEARS. The structure and the melody are very simple but the energy and power get the message accross very clearly. I just love it, the voice, the melody, the guitar, the message. It's perfectly timely and timeless, as is the video. I like to play this songs to people who think BJ are a ballad band ha ha. So in-your-face. Just love it.

Keep the faith

Well, if Wanted is the National Anthem of JoviNation then this must be a kind of call to arms, right? Once a "is anybody still there?" message thrown at the world, with time and all the band has gone through and accomplished, with the help of a couple maracas and spot-on fireworks, it has become an undeniable classic, and a constant reminder of our favourite band summoning us to Jonny's Church of Rock n' Roll.

I'll sleep when I'm dead

Just two words: Auricular Adrenaline. Can you stay seated and not grin with this?

I also obsessed over the video for quite some time (it was so hard to get on MTV!), it's just hilarious, I still enjoy watching it, soooooo much fun.

In these arms

This was my instant favourite "the first time I heard the music". So fresh, so different. That deep, husky voice in the verse and that strong, high-pitched chorus. And again, what girl who has blood running through their veins wouldn't like this song to be sang to them? Christ...whatever they do, they know EXACLTY how to do it. Another setlist must, another song that has evolved into a song from the band to us their loyal and all-forgiving fans. And credits to Dave on this one! (Love his version BTW)

Another amazing video with scenes from live shows, maybe the best one of its kind (Jon kinda flamenco-dancing during Richie's solo, Jon's upper-lip lift at the end...those laceups...priceless).

Bed of Roses

Well this one has it all doesn't it? Jon's masterpiece has all the love, all the homesickness, all the fan inclusion (the mistress), all the rockstar life, all the guitar solo, all the poetry, all the high notes you will ever need. It still amazes me that this is never in my favourite songs list...maybe because I once heard the Spanish version and that about ruined everything in this song for me... (why why why why WHY did you do this?!!!). The guitar solo itself would have made ANY song a masterpiece.

If I was your mother

OK, OK, yeah, the approach is somewhat questionable - If you were my mother I wouldn't want you having those feelings for me. But I do, however, get where they were going: a love so deep and posessive they crave for a lasting, trustful and unique relationship with someone which ultimately can only be had by a mother-child relationship, no other kind of relationship can be so defining and unique. Lyrics aside, what I dig most about this song is the headbanging quality to it, and that's what makes me listen to it over and over. It may be one of the most powerful Bon Jovi songs ever.

Dry County

Masterpiece written ALL.OVER. Epic, lengthy, hard, desperate, best guitar solo EVER. If you've already read My Top 10+5 Favourite Bon Jovi songs, then you know what you think, if you haven't, go check it out.

Woman in love

Nice song, but probably just filling. I can't believe they left out The Radio Saved my life tonight and included this one. I once heard Jon say he was sorry he didn't include TRSMLT in the album, apology accepted.

Fear

The ever present blue-collar song. Kinda "the downer" of the record but it's powerful enough to pull it off.

I want you

Yeah, a heartbreak song, but way toooooo mellowy for my taste, way tooo sweet.

Blame it on the love of rock n' roll

Now THIS is what we're talking about. Probably the most underrated song in this album. Boogie-woogie, neat guitars and perfectly adjustable to what happened to us fans when we first heard their music. This song prevents you from killing yourself because the last three songs are not quite good and there aren't many left before the record is over! I wish they played it more live.

"It feels so good it ought to be illegal" - yeah, I know how that feels LOL.

Little bit of soul

Fantastic end of album song. The guitars are delicious (I love that the acoustic guitar comes upfront in many parts). It's a goodbye but reminding us of what's important, it's a gift from the band until we see each other again in the next record. To sum up, it reminds me of their music, and how it gets me up and acts as the salt in my life - it makes everything else taste better. It's like them saying "here, this is what I got, hope you enjoy it and ads something to your life, remember that all you need to get by...". Just wanna hug them and thank them...

Outtakes and demos

Save a Prayer (to U2ish for my taste, don't you think?)

Starting all over again

I'm not even going to mention the Spanish version of Bed of Roses

The radio saved my life tonight - unbelieveable

I wish every day could be like Christmas (a classic, best modern X-mas song)

Love ain't nothing but a four letter word
Fields of fire - another shameful omission on their part, I would change Fear for this one in a second

The sole truth

THESE DAYS - 1995

Let's get things straight from the beginning: as much as I love the NJ album and is my favourite, TD is the best BJ album to date, there's just no way 'round it.

Perfect, flawles, well produced (when it could have easily been over-produced), timely but timeless, cohesive, voices at their prime (higher notes overall in compariso to at least the previous two records), guitars at their prime (each song has an individual and memorable "personality"), music and lyrics and emotions and expressions at their prime. Fine, fine album. I couldn't believe when it wasn't included in RS's best 100 albums in the history of rock n' roll, but being RS I wasn't surprised either. The entire album is a catalogue of everything you can do when your voice reaches impossible high notes. Then why is it not my favourite BJ album? Too dark, I have to find the right moment to listen to it or it sucks the life outta me.

A mature, ballsy, full of confidence album that put BJ back in the rock-gods category (KTF had been a little shy and more modest, it was a leap of faith) and even a step higher, crowned at the Wembley Stadium shows.

Don't ask me why (maybe because of the videos), but I get a more California vibe in this record. Your guess is as good as mine.

The guys at their best too image-wise. This is how they will always look to me, the TD era is the archetype of BJ aesthetics. If the KTF era was oh-so-pretty, the TD era is bow-in-front-of-the-ones-you-serve. Beautiful and messy and sassy. OH.MY.GOODNESS. I can't even put it into words without my hormones going crazy, so let's move on to the music.

Hey God

The first thing I though when I heard the first seconds, listening to the voices in the studio, was "wow, I feel like I'm IN the studio with them!" and that set the pace for the rest of the album. It was as if they played it non-stop and recorded it just for me, in HD quality, I swear I can feel I'm in the studio. The sounds are so clear, so crisp, one can listen to all the layers and all the instruments and tell them apart one from the other. So the album begins questioning God, calling out to Him, and backed up by Something to believe in, the whole album is a journey of search for that something, this feeling oozes to all the other songs. If there's no God (or he's not listening) what and who do we turn to for comfort? Sex/drugs/gurus (SFTP)?, spite and the past (TAALS/IHLYG)?, lies (LTM)?, sin (D)?, music, even when even music turns its back on us (MGLBIMA)? The guitar riffs are even louder and more demanding than the lyrics themselves and Richie does an amazing job with it. Wonderful, pure, hard rock.

But to put a smile on our faces there's the video. I actually cried when I first saw it I couldn't believe I was looking at something so beautiful. Jon looks sooo much better with short dark hair, and those eyes...

Something for the pain

The IT song of the record. For comments please check My Top 10+5 Fave BJ songs.

This ain't a love song

Another song ruined for me by the Spanish version. Jesus people stop doing that! So at first I kinda elluded it, but with time and a couple heartbreaks in my pockets I rediscovered it and let it finally speak to me and boy it did. What an amazing non-love, spiteful love song. Powerful, romantic but not mellowy, great personality, great atmosphere.

These days

I certainly lives up to the part of being the title track. One of the two or three songs in the album that actually has a tint (just a little bit) of optimism. At least we got each other, right?

The mixture of the guitar and piano at the intro is delicious, the solo is unforgettable. The video with the images of the Tour and the Wembley shows of Jon jumping and screaming and Richie's faces during the solos rocking that guitar give it even more power and make it even more vibrant. The high notes Jon's voice reaches are just impossible.

Lie to me

A song that could have easily gone terribly, terribly wrong but thanks to a very smart production was turned into a helluva song. The instruments are barely there and what they did with Jon's and Richie's voice is amazing, as they take us on an in crescendo journey that gets the point across in a wonderful way: "If you don't love me lie to me cause baby you're the one thing I believe", I'd rather believe a lie than nothing at all, someone so helpless the only thing he can count on to pull through is a lie.

Damned

Funky, upbeat, raw...wrong and naughty. There's a kind of desperation but he seems to be having fun to me!

My guitar lies bleeding in my arms

Or Ode to My guitar gently weeps. It's ok to pay homage, but only if you do it right. If we are talking about getting the point across this song is a masterpiece, I do end up curled up in my bed with tears running down my face and a huge void inside. I also avoided it for some time because it sounded too Guns n' Roses-ish to me. The "I can`t right a love song" part sounded so Axl Rose I couldn't stand it.

(It's hard) Letting you go

So by this time I was trying to keep myself out of the kitchen or I just might reach for that kitchen knife...Wow this song gets me down down down. I mean, it's not a BAD song, but I don't need to be depressed. I could easily trade this one and put Prostitute instead.

Hearts breaking even

Thank God they put this song here to lift the spirits up. Beautiful, romantic, bluesy heartbreak song. Just love it. I can picture Richie's faces while he plays this song, it's so Richie, I'm sure he had a lot to do with the overall feeling of it.

Something to believe in

Perfect, simple, deep, universally western topic. Completely underrated, it was a nice surprise to see them play it during The Circle Tour last year, and even more surprise to hear Jon singing it so beautifully and reaching the highest notes. Everyone can relate to this song, everyone in some point or other of their lives have come to a point where they just don't know what to hold on to, and I think in part that's very western, we trust in logic and reason so much, but they can only take us so far, there comes a time when we need "The fire inside" sorta speak, and we have to look somewhere else, and this culture is not very generous in that area...

If that's what it takes

Maybe the most positive, optimistic and romantic song of the whole album. I just NEED to listen to it sometimes. It's about hard times, but it's also about determination to overcome the obstacles. I love the commitment involved in what is said in this song. It's a love song with balls. It takes a helluva strong man (ok, maybe two) to write it, sing it, and mean it.

Diamond ring

The crazy album track that became a classic. Maybe because it took it a really long time to make it into a record (I believe it was written during the NJ Tour). A beautiful song with a sort of Spanish and mysterious vibe to it. The guitar is just beautiful, the voices incredible and the melody fantastic. Sweet song. They have also revisited it during The Circle Tour, I was kinda hope it they played it in Buenos Aires but it didn't happen, snif. Anyway, the way they're doing it nowadays is just awesome, so intimate, so sweet. I love what they're doing in general with the acoustic versions.

All I want is everything

Well, maybe this is the anwer to all the questions of the songs in this record: the problem is that we are never satisfied, there's always something wrong and that's because we are looking at the glass half empty and not the other way. A really high-wattage song to end the record with a maximum level of energy, definitely a head-banging song, I was a teenager back then and just loved playing it and jumping and screaming "well I want it aaaaallllll, yeah". Ha Ha, so much fun. Anyway...the grass always looks greener on the other side, if we learned to appreciate what we have we would know that what we are looking may just be closer than we think.

Outtakes, demos, bonus tracks

Bitter Wine - I absolutely ADORE the electric version of this song but understand why they changed it to go with the feeling of the rest of the album and it really does, I just wished they had included it, I don't care if it sounds like Wild Horses, it's a great song with a great story.

Prostitute - ohhhh, the S&M in me looooves this song. I know it's a demos so the voice was not polished but I kinda like it that way, it has a surrender feeling. The more I listened to it the more I felt it was the relationship us the fans have with the band. "Tonight I'll be your prostitute", "you say talk for me, baby smile for me", "tell me I'm the one", sounds like things they would say onstage, huh? Well, I do tend to twist things a little bit...

Lonely at the top - For Kurt Cobain. Another hidden gem. Goes in the line of Life is real (Queen tribute to Lennon)

When she comes - B- side of This Ain't a love song. Luv it, but I guess it was too sweet for the general feeling of the record.

The End - it's at the same time deppressing and sweet. It hurts me to listen to it, "we'll all be together in the end" kinda makes me so nostalgic.

Wedding day - B- side of This Ain't a love song. Wow, what a fantastic song. That desperation but at the same time a kind of apology for being gutless, so sweet and worthy of a slap in the neck at the same time. Delicious irony and perfect ambiguity.

The Fire Inside - Awesome song

CRUSH - 2000

I was so Bon Jovi-starved when this record came out I just wolved it. I listened to it for week in loop playmode. When I saw the It's my life video I thought I was gonna die I was so excited. It was fresh and rocking and yet so Bon Jovi. The video was simple but exciting and young and cool. The CD was so refreshing you could feel the new era coming. The detractors say this was BJ's most commercial album, and maybe it was, but whatever, the songs are great and if that's what it took for them to survive, I take it. All I can say is that I enjoyed listening to it immensely, each song is really different from the other (well, maybe not She's a mystery and Mystery train ha ha). It may be the most "positive" and "young" Bon Jovi album. And those suits! Very, very cool. I would have toned down the hair spray a little but anyway, I like the overall look.

It's my life

I like the fact of this song being a Livin' on a prayer revisited, because it shows that even though they didn't forget their roots, they're moving on. Just great song. It was the one that impressed me the most when I saw them live, it gave me goosebumps to listen to thousands of people screaming "It's my life!", so awesome.

Say it isn't so
OK, I was young, I was excited and at this point I really took all the Bon Jovi that was being thrown at me and I thought the video was cool (though I loath the Carey-frame sunglasses). Maybe it's not the greatest BJ song, but I knwo where they were trying to get, trying to capture younger audiences, I get it. Somehow it's dear to me because of that, it reminds me of when I was young and was full of hope (I was in my 2nd year of college). I can't see past that...

Thank you for loving me

The first time I heard this song, it was also the first time I cringed when listening to Bon Jovi. Yikes, too sweet too sweet! Too cute, too mellow. Definitely one on the bottom of my playlists, I still skip it sometimes. Not only did I not like it, they also made a video in ROME (my least favourite city in the world), so go figure, I can barely stand this. You can do soooo much better.

Two story town

I like the funkiness of this song and coming from a little city, I totally get the idea...

Next 100 years

The lyrics and the message are very, very simple but put it such a beautiful way I just love it. To me, though, it's so much more about what they did with the music I mean, the solo at the end?! The best in the whole record. It's starts very mellow and soft but then it just pumps up and blows the top of your skull right off of your head it's amazing and the violins are a nice touch.

Just older

A classic, another very simple song but at the same time such a rock n' roll attitude. We can all relate to it in our own lives and their own experience as well, acknowledging that they are not in their 20's anymore, playing rebel just doesn't fit. It's young and mature at the same time. The perfect coming of age song. Wow, I'm having trouble finding the words to express myself, this song is just so great. The lyrics are so beautiful, so introspective, so honest and balanced perfectly by the music and the powerful vocals to portray that ambiguity of admitting that things are not the same, but it's not the end of the world, things are different, but who said different was bad? The image of Jon looking at himself in the mirror saying "I don't hate what I see, there's a few more lines staring back at me" (yeah, I wouldn't hate it either, but that's not the point here), it's almost effortless, just putting into words what comes to his mind. The fact of cutting your hair as a symbol of losing your youth and your rebelliousness. So many wonderful images. It reminds me of Blood on Blood in a way.

Mystery train

Flawless production and the acoustic guitar is what saves this song from oblivion. We get it, when you're in luuuuvvv she seems so perfect bla bla bla, we already know that, tell me something I don't know.

Save the world

This was supposed to be the ballad in the Armageddon Soundtrack but was later replaced by I don't wanna miss a thing. Yeah, it contains all the ingredients for the recipe, but it feels too "crafted" (as Jon's says he's capable of "crafting" a song if asked to).

Captain Crash & The Beauty Queen from Mars

This song made it for me in this record. By far my favourite of the bunch. It's so different and so detailed and the story is wonderful and funny and sweet and the music is fun and fresh and different. It's got it all! Besides, that became the name for me and my car :D so it's like our anthem when we go on the road. Nothing more to ad, it is what it is and I just love it.

She's a mystery

Mystery train redone. I tried to differentiate one from the other by asuming one was for his daughter and the other for his wife but it doesn't work, I just have trouble separating them. Snoozefest.

I got the girl

Now THIS is much better. Being daddy's little girl myself (I have 3 younger brothers) and my dad being also a Pisces and me being his little princess (well, not so little anymore, but I guess he still sees me that way) I could soooooo relate to this song. Not from the writer's P.O.V., but judging by the similarities to my own experience, I could understand many dad's P.O.V. in a different and new way. With me going to college and all I was always struggling to make my dad look at me as a young woman and not a 5 year old girl. With this song I understood it was never going to happen, and 30 years and counting...he still brings me teddy bears when he goes abroad...'naf said...

One wild night

I just love the cartoon music at the beginning and how it explodes in sound. I also congratulate the fact that they end the record in a high note, and they squeezed the mellowy ones more or less in the middle. Great rocker song. The video is also great and here begins the crusade against the digital music downloads that would emerge later in Last man standing up to the present battle with Steve Jobs, and also a wink to bootleggers. Jon looks impossibly young in this video, easily 10 years younger, and that certainly helps the fact that they're trying to get to a younger audience with a more "edgy" video I guess (if one could say it's "edgy" of Bon Jovi to have almost naked, sweaty women dancing in a video, he he).

Bonus track - I could make a living out of lovin' you

Beginning with Richie's hilarious James Brown impersonation, this song is just 100% fun. I don't care much about the lyrics (they're just shamless), but the music is AWESOME. Not a headbanger but definitely a rocker and classic Bon Jovi. I definitely get a rush from this song, it recharges my batteries for sure.

Outtakes, demos, b-sides
Do it to ya
Neurotica
Welcome to the good times
Ain't no cure for love - B-side Say it isn't so. I would trade She's a mystery for this one without even thinking of it. Great song.
Hush - B-side It's my life. Another great song.
Stay - B-side Say it isn't so. This is so much better than TYFLM.
You can't lose at love - B-side It's my life.
Maybe Someday
Temptation
Ordinary People

BOUNCE - 2002

If New Jersey was THE album of the 80's and These Days was THE album of the 90's, then Bounce is definitely THE album of the past decade. Heartfelt, strong, fresh, deep and risky with a pinch of sugar. It's got all good things Bon Jovi in it, let's see: awesome first track-check, amazing guitar solos-check, sweet love songs-check, epic tracks-check, experimental tracks-check, neighborhood/hometown/childhood friends tracks-check, positive you'll-get-through-this tracks-check, fun track-check. I waited for this album for 8 years, this is what I had been expecting from Bon Jovi. I couldn't believe it when I first listened to it, even though I didn't care for the lyrics of Everyday (too common-place for my taste), I thought the song itself was so powerful and exciting I could hardly wait until the album came out.

IMO, this record is all about the music, the instruments, the melody, the guitar riffs, that's what first caught my attention when I first listened to it, I felt estimulated, excited, like a rush of adrenaline. During the first listen I just let them walk me through it through the beat, the frequency, the melodies. Only in the second listen did I pay more attention to the lyrics and I wasn't disappointed either, even though the topics are mostly the usual, I was glad to find more intimate, profound and honest stories. Overall it's strong but there's a hint of vulnerability, like a tiger licking its wounds, that made it so approachable.

All in all, my third favourite album of 'em all and I really wish they would return to that vein later in the future (it's a long shot, but you can't blame a girl for wishful thinkin'!). Musically they really went places that seemed exciting and unexpected of them. Both Richie and Jon took hold of the production process, and recorded it in NJ. I think this gave them back the feeling of "the rock band in the garage/basement" that allowed them to experiment a little bit more. It doesn't feel "rushed" either, all the songs are there for a reason and have a different and attractive personality, telling a story one by one but also as a whole.

Regarding the vocals, more on the lower side of the scale. The more "conservative" aspect of the album, me thinks.

Of course the looks deserve a brief comment here. At first I couldn't look at Jon straight to the face because those teeth were SO.WHITE. I thought "what was he thinking?!". This era was a bitter pill to swallow in that sense, I just couldn't get past them...that's until all my attention turned to a certain tight see-through sweater...Anyway, I enjoyed Richie giving Jon a run for his money (that was until I saw said sweater again...) dayum didn't he look good, God bless him he was there when I couldn't look at Jon, and made me forget about those blinding white teeth.

Undivided

This track has "anthem" written all over it. What an intro, what a piece of lyrics, what a chorus, what an outro. Being from a country far, far away, the only perspective of the 9-11 events I had was through the news, but this song put me in direct contact with how the American people was dealing with these events, and gave me a whole other perspective. It's so moving and what they did with the end was just amazing. After all that head banging and feet stomping, how it winds down to the voices and the acoustic guitar is brilliant. Genius.

Everyday

As I said, I don't care much about the lyrics but do appreciate the whole vibe of the song. Love the talkbox at the beginning and the texture of the vocals. Pure adrenaline, I don't know if it's because of the video, but this songs makes me wanna stand in the middle of a field during a thunderstorm.

Love the colors, the out of focus effect, the thunderstorm and the persian carpet. So, let's put our sunglasses on people. I give you the brightest smile you'll ever see.

The Distance

I literally fell in love with this song and I have NO IDEA why they didn't make it a single. The combination and balance of the electric and acoustic guitars, how they outplay each other is just delicious. The violins are wonderful, a bold (who would have thought they would fit!) and successful move. The lyics are so touching, the image of the "blue skies breaking through these dark clouds" seems cliché at first but with this music and the rest of the lyrics becomes so much more powerful. An old Bon Jovi topic (homesickness) but they took it to a whole different level. Perfect balance between strong and soft. Fantastic bridge with Richie's and Jon's voices overlapping each other. I was desperate for a video of this song but it never came...

Joey

I know it's stupid but I can never stop thinking of the Joey in the series Friends, he was also like a little kids so I always think of him as this Joey. It's such a cute story, with a tint of nostalgia, naivety, cockiness, you can't help but love these characters, they really come through and you want them to be able to succeed and you end up rooting for them, and feeling for them. So many details it's impossible to think it's not based on a true story. It feels almost effortless.

Misunderstood

I can't get enough of this song for so many reasons. Love the acoustic guitar at the beginning, love the attitude and the sassiness (I can soooo picture Jon in those situations), it always puts a smile on my face (even without looking at the video). Cool tempo, very simple and I like the crescendo from the verse to the bridge to the chorus that runs really smoothly. It's just so funny and silly and sweet...and manipulative! How could you be mad at him if he said that?!

Aaaaaand...if he's wearing that sweater he wouldn't even have to sing anything, I could forgive pretty much everything! He's also got a nice haircut in this one, doesn't he? I think I can see something blonde going on in my peripheral vision.

All about lovin' you

The perfect St. Valentine's Day song. Hands down. I'm a heartbreak-song kinda gal, but this one just makes a hypocrite outta me. My Lord. Mature, sweet, committed, honest, beautiful melody, wonderful voice, heartfelt. Everyone whose partner feels this about them should feel completely and utterly loved. If you are one of those lucky ones: don't let him/her go! This is luuuuuv people! (I think my pupils are heartshaped right now)

Hook me up

Mmmmm judging by the fact that they start composing by the title...I wonder where they were going with this one he he. Anyway. This song just blew my mind. If I was already mad about this record by the time I got to this song, this just threw me over the edge. I love the songs in which they put themselves in strange situations. The atmosphere is extraordinary, and the music complements the lyrics to perfection: the desperation, claustrophobia, the anxiety. When I heard Satellite from the Box Set I felt it was more of the same thing, but with a completely different mood, more nostalgic and melancholic I think. But this one is just "please someone get me outta here". Thinking of the 9-11 attacks anyway, it kinda gives me the creeps thinking about the people trapped under the collapsed buildings and calling for help. I keep getting that image so sometimes it hurts a little to listen to this song.

Right side of wrong

Though a great epic mellodic song, definitely the downer of the record. I find myself skipping it sometimes because if it surprises me in a bad mood it can take me to a place it's not easy to come out of. Some kind of Dry County revisited (I can't help the comparison), proving they can do it again, but unfourtunately they didn't go much further, I wish they had taken it a couple more miles up the road to see what would happen. They have an incredible power of getting us involved with the characters and with this song they take the time to tell us their backgrounds, their plans, their dreams, what they are leaving behind, and then how the story unfolds, not very fortunate for the characters. It's a very visual song for me, I can't help "seeing" what they are telling like in a movie. Honorable mention goes of course to the King of Swing himself who delivers a tear inducing guitar solo.

Love me back to life

It used to be my second best to The Distance (it does hold some rythm/melodies/violin arrangements similarities), but kept scratching its way up my charts and ended up as one of my favourite Bon Jovi songs. By now you should know where to look for my review of the song.

You had me from hello

Ok, by this song I started to think the ship was starting to go down. Couldn't care less about it and the fact that it was based on the Jerry Maguire movie just made me cringe. Nice acoustic and intimate track but that's about it. Give me the rockers.

Bounce

Yes! Here they are! The talkbox again! The riffs! The screams! What's not to like about this song? Call me silly but my favourite part (though I don't appreciate the self-censorship) is "call it karma, call it luck, me, I just don't give a f-f-f-f" Ha ha just love it. Perfect song to shout right on the face of whoever or whatever is bugging you. I like the fact that it's not a revenge song, it's not malicious, it just says "throw whatever you want at me, I'll survive". With this song I feel I can face whatever there is to face out there, it gives me all the strength I need.

Open All Night

Another song that knowing where it comes from puts me a little off. Having seen the Ally McBeal episodes in which Jon plays Victor, he shouldn't be crying in the corners for her. You can do so much better Vic!. If we are talking about Open All night, stick to the one in the Box Set, it's soooooo much better, I love it.

So to sum up with this record I get the feeling you can play "pair the songs". Undivided-Everyday, Joey-Right Side of Wrong, Open All Night - You had me from hello, All about lovin' you - Misunderstood, Love me back to life - The Distance, Hook me up-Bounce.

Outtakes, demos, bonus tracks, b-sides

No regrets - Japan Bonus track

Postcards from the Wasteland - Japan bonus track ("Tonight I'll meet you in my dreams. See you soon. Love, me - probably one of the best lines in a song. EVER)

Alive - B-side All about lovin' you. Awesome song to start a day along with a good cuppa coffee.

Another Reason to believe - Amazing song. The story of the angels in NY creates fantastic images in my mind.

These open arms - classic BJ ballad

We can dance - aaaaaawwwwww one of my favourite songs. I wish one day I could sing that to someone I really love. They should've put this instead of the lame You hade me from hello.

Breathe - Luv it

Standing - Pretty standard, half-beat song but not bad on the ears either

HAVE A NICE DAY - 2005

This album to me, unfourtunately, meant the beginning of a sort of "dark ages" regarding Bon Jovi. That year I was on a trip around the world with fellow college students (we spent 7 months going to 28 countries) so my connection to the BJ news was minimum. I either had no time or was way too tired or jetlagged to search the internet for BJ news updates so I completely missed this album and the release date. I only heard of it once I got home by december, and since I couldn't find it in my hometown, my brother who lived in England by that time offered to bring it to me once he got home, which meant I got it by March 2006. I was still a little disconnected and in Cloud 9 and adjusting to staying put again, moving into a new apartment and setting up a new home once again so I admit it wasn't the best time. So I remember putting the record on while I was unpacking in my new house and I cringed at the over-produced, over-commercial, all too loud/rocker vibe of the album. Maybe I was in need of something more soothing and stable, I don't know. The only song that caught my immediate attention was of course Who says you can't go home, how appropriate was that?! I couldn't believe they were there singing that to me! What were they, psychics?! So since I couldn't tell the other songs one from the other, I kinda focused on and obsessed over that one until I had sucked up to the last drop of melody out of it, and when I returned to take a look at the rest of the album I gotta tell ya, it wasn't what I was looking for. I couldn't relate to anything at all. That background distortion was killing me!. It wasn't what I needed at that time so I didn't listen to it again for a long LONG time.

But that was not it. I couldn't, and I mean COULDN'T even listen to the other BJ albums. Something had gone really bad, I had lost my connection with them. I was so overexcited by all that had happened the previous year, all those new and exciting experiences that I also needed something new and exciting from them, and this being such a classic BJ rock album, it obviously didn't live up to that. I had changed, and they hadn't. I was truly disappointed. I guess it happens in every relationship from time to time. After the first rush passes by and you get used to the other person, and then something happens that makes you see that relationship in perspective and doubt settles in, and you want to try something different, and see if you can live without them for a while, just to see what it is like (because you had forgotten how your life was before them) and meet other people to see if you can do better before settling for what you are used to. And that's exactly what happened.

Then I started to reconnect again through Facebook and Twitter and the Fanclub page and again I felt the need to listen to them again. I knew I wanted to be part of that world once again. So I threw the HAND CD into the CD player and I can't express how it spoke to me in such a different and amazing way. I couldn't get enough of it. The background distortion and the apparent similarity to each song was still there, but I could see past that and understand each song in its own way and though I didn't care for a couple of them (as usual in most albums) the ones that did hook me did it in such a way that for some time I couldn't listen to any other CD but this one. Funny how things change, huh?

To sum up. A mega-watt power rocker head banging album. Maybe monotonous in the sound arrangements and vocals in general (with exceptions of course). Only one clear cut ballad but not precisely a love song, and the love song is too powerful to be considered a ballad IMO, so I kinda missed that one. Positive but rebelious and sarcastic, maybe the most "humorous" BJ album. It feels like a "full" and "complete" album, and though it has some ups and downs, it's more on the up side of the spectrum. According to Sambora, he wanted the album to be more "rock n' roll" and aggressive" and I believe they achieved just that.

Simple and honest stories that are easy to relate to. At first they may seem a little too literal and shallow, but if you give the songs a try you cand go deeper and deeper to find how some of them expresses very human and mostly unspoken worries and sorrows.

The overall promotion and album image is also rock n' roll conservative (if one could use both terms in one sentence). Nothing too much out there but nice. The tour on the other hand...copper pants? Oh Lord, those copper pants...Richie's tattoo-like sweater and purple pants?...They all look like 15 year-olds, unbelievable. No complaints from my part!

Have a nice day

I'm always a little apprehensive with the first singles because I feel they are trying to "sell" me something, so I give them a hard time with it (remember yours truly has a really twisted brain) and often go straight to what I believe is absolutely not single material. Anyway, with time it's grown on me, specially after listening to the demo and seeing that it was a very powerful song from its inception (I even prefer the demo). Now I kinda dig the attitude and the hard beat and gives me a lot of energy when I'm down. The video is not Oh wow, but it gets the point accross with little effort and I love the show part (what's with the blonde chick though? too cliché for my taste).

I want to be lovedAt first I found it a little monotonous and self-pitiful, something I couldn't relate to, until one day I was talking with my brother about the CD and he said he loved this song (and he's a very private "macho" guy) so it made me think and after listening to it again I put myself in my brother's place and I understood so much about him by this song I always feel he is the one singing it, it explains so many of his habits and aspects of his personality it's like HIS song. I was amazed again at the power of music and how great composers these guys are.

Regarding the music, I like the verses with just the electric guitar and the voice and how the other instruments start to play their role to build up to the chorus, like a scream in order to be heard, being the chorus the most positive and reassuring, honest part of the song, with the verses being more introspective and analytic.

Welcome to wherever you are

A typical BJ feel-good song. Full of cliches but put in a way only BJ can, and deliver a message that speaks to the basic human being in us. Having anguish about our present, our future, who we are, what is life, what are we supposed to do is what define us as human and sentient beings. Not my favourite but I appreciate the fact that both the lyrics and the video refer to the buddhist concept of equanimity and I was happy to see them approach that subject.

Who says you can't go home

Whoever hates this song and is tired of it and hates that it was the reason BJ turned to the country sound etc etc is missing out on all the fun. I just can't have enough of it. The classic I-love-my-hometown theme but written with such joy, love and proud it touches my heart everytime. After travelling around so much, being so far away from my country and feeling a stranger everywhere else around the world, I come back home to this song that sums up what I felt so accurately it was too good to be true.

Then four years later, when I was considering the possibility of leaving the country's capital to go back to my hometown, guess which song was there again? Unbelievable. It makes me wanna cry every time I hear it, even now, so many years later, I still get a rush from it, and seeing the guys so happy and proud and full of love for their hometown when they do it is more than I can handle. I just love it. I don't even care about the It's alrights.

It's gonna be tough to listen to it when I move to China, I know...

And the video was made during the construction of the Soul Foundation houses...awwwwww...tugs at my heart strings...

Last man standing

Hands down the best song of the record and one of the best songs ever written by BJ. Amazing rythm, impecable lyrics, solid vocals. I know it's about the music business, but I can never stop thinking that it's about Richie actually, like an ode to him. The perfect show-opener (though they don't do it very often). The album version is much much better than the version they did in the 2004 Live Show at the Borgata. Much more energy, drive and adrenaline. Just awesome.

Bells of freedom

I wouldn't have put it after LMS, it feels like a punch in the stomach after that one, so it makes it more difficult for me to digest. It would have been better after Wildflower or I am maybe. I'm not so much into politics so I don't care much about the political message. I like the addition of the acoustic guitar on the background (and some kind of mandolin?), what gives the eardrums a rest from the rest of the songs.

Wildflower

I would have bet the farm it was a Steph song but apparently no, it's about Jon's wife. I don't know, maybe because my name means flower and I'm daddy's little girl and I have all male brothers and am a free spirit and I like wildflowers, but it still makes more sense to me if I think it's about his daughter, it reminds me so much about I got the girl.

It's a sweet and fun song, with cool violin arrangements and again, less electric guitar and a nice voice+piano ending.

Last cigarette

So much fun! Great vibe and the metaphor is so awesome. I don't smoke but I did end a relationship while I was still in love and felt pretty much like that...it's so bad but it feels so good and when it's time for it to be over you ..."take it in and hold your breath, hope it never ends and when it's gone it's gone".

I am

This song belongs to what I call my "Survival kit", which is a playlist for when I really need music TLC from the guys. I just NEED this song. The lyrics, the soothing but reassuring rythm. Whether from a friend, a lover or our family, an excellent, no-bullsh*t piece of love profession. Also on display: Jon's vocal range.

Complicated

Though the title describes me in a single word, I actually don't care too much about this song musically, to me it's more about the lyrics, lots of T shirt lines!

I'm complicated

You wouldn't want me any other way

I ain't changin'

Is there anybody out there?

*calling the T shirt guy*

Novocaine

Irony, sarcasm, spite...must-have ingredients for any good breakup song and this one's got 'em all. I love the ambiguity of the lyrics, the sarcasm as an ofense but at the same time admiting to the pain and trying to cover it up. Once more I'm amazed at their ability to tell these stories and express these emotions. Maybe it's the simplicity with which they write that allow us to "fill in the blanks" with our own experiences and make each song our own.

Story of my life

I luv luv luv this song. Luv the lyrics, luv the vibe, luv the melody, luv the uneven beat, luv the balance between the sound and the silence, luv the background vocals. This song is full of luuuuuv! That bridge is so sweet. It gets me in a good mood every time. Fun, love, positiveness, optimism.

Outtakes, bonus tracks, demos, b-sides

Dirty little secret - Bonus track for Australia, Asia and UK. Thank you Lord my brother got this CD in the UK! I got both DLS and Unbreakable. What to add to the rivers of ink that have been written about this song? Naughty naughty. No regrets. Addictive.

Unbreakable - Bonus track for Australia, Asia and UK. Um...I really like the sound of this, I don't care much about the lyrics. I read once that Jon didn't want it to be in the record because he was a little ashamed of the lyrics but...here it is I guess. Maybe yes, it's too cocky but hey! that's Jon and we love him just for that, we already know he's Superman, so no surprise here.

Nothing - Amazing song, was left out because it sounded too much like I am. I love them both I love the lyrics to I am better, but the sound of Nothing so I couldn't have decided. It's so different it's really exciting.

All that I want - Awesome! Awesome! I understand why it doesn't fit in with the rest of the songs in the album but this one's a rocker!! The TD spark was burning brighter when they wrote this one. The most exciting BJ song in years and for the years to come.

LOST HIGHWAY - 2007

My oh my. This album will be always there to remind me of my falling from grace. I feel ashamed everytime I look at those sunglasses on the dashboard, and pray for mercy....

I actually BOYCOTTED this album (shame on me! shame on me!). I prejudged, didn't have patience, lost my faith...well, pretty much all those Jovisins...but on my defence I'll say it really came in the wrong time for me. 2007 was the year I was readjusting to staying put, finding a job, working 8 hours and commuting for 3 AND preparing my final project for my grade, and on top of that, I broke up with my boyfriend of more than 3 years, the person I thought I was gonna marry. Yeah, it's no excuse, but I hadn't quite recovered from the HAND setback and I didn't have time and I was tired and sad, and the Lost Highway video really took me by surprise. I hadn't read any Jovi news and didn't know they were coming up with a "Nashville inspired" record, so the first time I heard that music, I really didn't feel it was my own, I felt absolutely no connection AT ALL (*gasp*). How long had I been travelling? They seemed so different, so polished, so perfect, so soft, ugh (that was my initial reaction, don't worry, it has changed). These weren't my messy rockers with loud, raspy voices, torn jeans, powerful guitar riffs and drumbeats. WTF? I felt "left out" (when it was I who had excluded myself), betrayed (when it was I who wasn't well informed), you name it, all kinds of rejection (pangs of regret here as I write). What's worse is that it was all based on that one song.

Then after a couple months, after I had graduated and moved on from my ex bf and some local band I had turned to, I decided to give it a try on Grooveshark. I played it as I was on the computer drawing, without paying much attention to it, just playing it on the background, without expections, in shuffle mode and not very high volume. The songs caught my attention at some point, first one, then another one, then another and something clicked, and I began to play those songs more often than the others, with higher volume and paying attention to the lyrics. Then as if it were a kind of illusion, through those 4 songs (Whole lotta leavin', 'Til we ain't strangers anymore, Summertime and The last night) a whole new world opened up for my ears to experience. These songs touched me in such a particular way they (of course!) perfect for the moment and more than the music, what really touched my heart were the lyrics (well, except Summertime which caught my attention because of the melody and the music).

At that point I finally came to realize the extent of my mistake (How could I!) and crept my way to the record store to get me a copy of the CD. I listened to it for I don't know how many weeks (I really lost track). I did some research on the creation process of the album and it made total sense to me. Being from a country far, far away, we are not used to the "modern country" sound so we really can't tell much difference between that and plain pop music (thus my first bad impression), but after a little research on the genre I became aquainted with its characteristics in order to be able to see how it had influenced this record and how this record was not actually "that much" country (I could see this clearly by listening to Sheryl Crow's, Jewel's and Keith Urban's latest work).

The other thing I dug into was the stories and the band's experience prior to the release of this record. I had been so out of touch with the news that I had barely heard of Richie's dad's death, his divorce, DUI and rehab. I kinda had to know where this record was coming from.

Then the album came alive, it spoke to me, it resonated in my heart. It's possibly the most "sentimental" BJ album. Also the most personal, honest, mature (to the date). I'm all about the experience and through the crisp and clean sounds, the soft and sweet yet endearing (that seems to be the perfect term, since one seems to "get attached" and "emotionally invested") melodies. They really poured their heart out in this record (with minor downfalls as usual, we'll get to that later), and the Nashville sound seems perfect for that, they wouldn't make sense with screeching guitars or distorted noises or keyboard effects overload or heavy drum-beating. It's perfect as it represents exactly where the band was at that moment in time, going through tough times (Richie, David), seeing their brothers suffering (Jon), trying to figure out a new direction. I even ended up appreciating the "leap of faith" they took with it.

I also appreciate the inclusion of the female voices and the fact that they didn't go crazy with them, just the right amount. And the violins, well...they HAD used them before only this time with a different effect. Jon's voice may not go all the way concerning the range, but it's definitely on the front plane and the instruments are in a kind of second plane except during some riffs and guitar solos. Yup, it may be an overall half-beat record but that's what the songs and the stories and the feelings demanded. Didn't I want something new? Well, I forgot to be careful what I wished for...

I couldn't care less about the comments implying that they were "milking the country cow" with this record. I'll stick to my own personal opinion of this sound being the perfect one to express these emotions, and that's what counts.

Lost Highway
Well, I'm still not very fond of it. It's cute that Jon's sooo in luv with the bridge, and I get the idea and it's catchy, and the dashboard Jesus is sweet but...nah. Considering the insightful qualities of the other songs, this one comes up as too generic.

Summertime
Ah...now THIS is a highway song: radio on, sun shining, top down, wind blowing through my hair. Just perfect. Great atmosphere, love the beat and the chorus, the little yeahs and ohs along the way. This song just gets me in a good mood. "It's like the first slow dance and the first long kiss, there ain't nothing baby better than this", that's the line that got me, it doesn't get any more innocent, simple and perfect than this.

(You want to) Make a Memory
This was my second mistake. I saw the video and thought "Oh no, not another Thank you for loving me"...When will I EVER learn NOT to trust my first impressions? I actually saw it in a hurry on TV at my parents' house, so not the right atmosphere for first contact with this song. When I really paid attention I felt goosebumps. Epic, epic song. The scene is so intimate and it can be "universally adjustable" sorta speak, I understand why young people may have trouble "getting" these songs, cause really, if you are 25+ I'm sure you've had a moment like this, reuniting with a very important person from your past (whomever it may be), that awkwardness, that expectation, that tension, that anxiety, that warmth. This songs makes me feel so many things that I can't really put into words (that's what music is about I guess). I can't get myself to think these two people are other than Jon and Richie having a conversation (even if it has some romantic feel to it with the smile and baby thing, which I don't care), but again, they were also speaking to me "How's your life?, it's been a while"... as if they knew I had derailed and my life had been crazy *sigh*.

The crescendo towards the final chorus is unbelievable (it kinda reminds me of Lie to me), the right amount of electric guitar sparkled here and there and the icing on the cake: Richie's background voices. Dayum, they're good at this.

Whole lotta leavin'
Though I don't appreciate the polka thing during the verses, I like how it builds up to the chorus (which I think is oh so perfect). The fact that this song was written for Richie makes it an instant Jovi jewel, their friendship is so special it brings tears to my eyes and maybe a tinge of envy, how great it is that having two male brothers he managed to find himself a third one? As I listened to this song and Who says you can't go home and I love this town I decided to move back to my hometown. It's amazing how music affects our lives, and how it takes someone really in touch with their feelings and humanity to be able to get the message accross to someone miles and mountains and oceans away such as this humble servant.

We got it goin' on
Um...yup, the only redeeming quality in this song is the guitar and talkbox that relates remotely to what Bon Jovi has us used to, but apart from that...I could've easily done without it, no matter how much they love their "country cousins" (feel free to luv 'em in any other way, no need to do it in a song). Oh, that and the fact that we all get to shout "shake your moneymaker" to Jon and he actually does it at request, but that's about it. Shameless, shameless song.

Any other day
Who hasn't felt like that at least once? There's a healthy balance between the rather "down" verses and the "up" chorus. It's realistic but on the positive side. Here we see a little more of the old Bon Jovi, with Jon's voice shining a little bit more bright and an unforgettable guitar riff courtesy of Mr. Sambo. I LOVE that riff and guitar solo. Probably the best in the whole album. The catch line: "I like waking up with you on my mind".

Seat next to you
At first I really didn't care much about it, I thought it was too dull and slow and soft. That's until I payed attention to the lyrics and then my grandfather died and this became my song to him, it will always remind me of him (he died one month after his 100th birthday, such an inspiring life!). Besides the fact that Richie wrote it thinking about his father's death, and Jon thinking about his family back home, another deep, intimate and soulful song. The female voice has the exact presence as to not be overpowering or to substract attention from Jon's voice, it's the perfect complement. "I wanna hear your voice whispering my name".

Everybody's broken
This is the song I usually play for my friends when they are sad, and even anti-Bon Jovi's like it! It is what it is, it's life, no one can deny it. It breaks down barriers, when we feel the weight of the world is on our shoulders and we have to carry the weight all on our own and no one can know we are suffering. "You're trying to hold in but you're trying to scream out". It's full of inspiring lines, and though some may seem cliché, the way they are put together is brilliant. It may be another half-beat song, but I repeat: it's what the feelings demand, it couldn't be any other way. The ending is perfect, it begins during the bridge after the solo as a soft whisper and ends up with a more demanding voice, like a wake up call.

'Til we ain't strangers anymore
Slap me on the back of my head and throw me to the floor silly. Check out my list of BJ fave songs and you'll understand.

(I can't complain about LeAnn being too young for Jon, she's just one year younger than myself and I wouldn't mind!)

The last night
Somehow I keep thinking this song belongs a lot more to HAND than to LH, I know, it doesn't make sense but maybe the chorus has a little HAND vibe to it. This song is part of what I like to call my "Survival kit", which I pull out when I'm really down and need some pampering. Sometimes I NEED to listen to someone saying this words. Oh just the bridge is worth listening to this album: "I'm standing on your front porch and kicking down your door, this is the last night you'll have to be alone". I've always been a kind of hermit and this song speaks to that part of me. I mean, I function OK socially speaking, but internally it's a whole different story and this song helps me deal with it quite gracefully. For anybody who doesn't pay attention to the lyrics of each song I understand some may blend together, sound, melody and pacewise so not much more to add regarding those aspects.

One step closer
This could have been one of those two or three songs that blend together but somehow it doesn't. The guitar arrangements are delicious (I'm an acoustic guitar fan so I appreciate their more noticeable presence in this record) and is what sets this song apart. Even though the lyrics don't seem as polished to me as the other ones, the message I get is one of opportunity, of pushing a little further even when we think there's no way things can get better. I reminds me of the phrase "We always have a choice, but sometimes it's better to think we don't". Fortunately and n'sync with BJ tradition, this song is about realizing the fact that we do have a choice and life is there to be lived, something is always going to come, even when we don't know exactly what . "I'm sick of giving up". I'm having a T-shirt done with that line, that's for sure.

I love this town
I envy Nashville for being the inspiration for this song. It's so optimistic, a little more upbeat, such a "happy" song that keeps with the Bon Jovi tradition of hometown songs (even if it's not, it has the same vibe and can easily be applied to any town actually). Considering the fact that musically it's very similar to Lost Highway, it stands out from the rest anyway, it has a more spirit and soul than LH (IMO of course).

Outtakes
Lonely - This song shows the flawless production this record was subject to. Not one of my fave but man, that almost a capella feeling shows how Jon can carry a song merely on his voice, which for a singer must be IMHO, a valuable virtue.
Walk like a man - Only second to TWASA, Cat Stevens who? This song is THE MOST PERFECT father-son song. It's written by a MAN, honest, sincere, humble but with the right amount of cockiness, absolutely mature and heartfelt, aknowledging where you come from and the legacy you leave to your children, what you think you were and what you actually are...I could go on and on. Perfect lyrics, perfect melody, perfect voice, perfect guitar. Wonderful, just wonderful. I'm in love with this song.
Put the boy back in cowboy - Yee-haw! This is wayyyyy too much country for this cowgirl (that's true, I was raised in the countryside among the cows and the chickens AND I use pigtails quite often and ride horses, the whole nine yards!). It's fun and cute anyway and has a little edge to it, it doesn't hurt to listen to. As much as they look gorgeous in the cowboy hats, it'd hurt to see them sing this live, though I prefer it to WGIGO. I'll stick to WDOA anyway, I prefer the steel horses and beat up cowboys LOL.

BTW: this was my breaking point with Bon Jovi, I haven't fallen from grace since and don't plan on making the same mistake again. I'm not planning on leaving the party until someone turns out the lights and closes the door. And when the song is over, we'll still be going ooooonnnnn...

THE CIRCLE - 2009

To put it plainly, I was "cautious" when I heard about this album. After my previous albums' meltdowns, I did my best to be open and receptive, but I swear to God I hated the first single. Bad, bad choice. I know that they think that's what "people like" and "expect" of Bon Jovi, and that's usually far away from what we die hards fans expect, so I just waited for them to show me what they had. WWBTF was constantly played on the radio here but I didn't run to the record store to buy the album...I waited...open-minded and aware. And then...enter Superman Tonight. That one didn't get ANY airplay but it blew the top of my skull right off. I fell in love with it the minute I heard it, they had me from the first two notes. It was intriguing at first and the it got better and better and I thought "now THIS is what I expected!", so I run to the cd store and got my copy of the album.

I was gladly surprised. In agreement with Richie's comment, it IS a back to basics rock album but fresh, and one in which they experimented with different sounds, and me likes.

I don't know if it was the end of my 20's or maybe having followed the band for so long but I was so in sync' with the lyrics, I understood the message right away, it fit perfectly with where I was in life, my beliefs and my own hopes and fears. IMO it talks about that point in your life when you are not just pushing forward, but you stop, take a look around, look at the past, look at the future, figure out where you're standing. This is to me what The Circle is about, how life goes, how you come back to a point where you can see all your life from a completely different perspective, the closing of a period and the beginning of another one. Isn't life just like that? It's linear in some ways (birth-death) but circular in others (goals, identity). All in all: growing up I guess. I had finished my studies, was warking steadily but still trying to find my niche, I didn't feel like a little girl anymore, my huge dream in life (becoming an architect) had been fulfilled and now I had to come up with a different plan for the future. The lyrics are universal, human, they turn the introspective aspect in LH up a notch and this girl is a happy camper, as a person interested in the human psyche and living philosophies in general, this record and the song selection couldn't be any better.

Vocally it offers a wide range but mainly not screeching high notes and maybe not as many Richie's vocals as I would like to but some nice screaming goin' on that this girl likes a lot (specially in Love's the only rule, the song is totally worth scream-singing it).

Rythmically there's a somewhat uneven balance between the mid to high-paced songs and dragging, low-beat ones. The guitar licks and riffs are very particular to each song, you feel that none of them are "default" guitar arrangements, so the guitar is very much present and well-defined and that's appreciated. I gotta point out thought that I feel a kinda 90's U2 sound to some of the arrangements that makes my ear not completely at ease.

To sum up: clean, new, refreshing, good ol' Bon Jovi, flawless production as usual, deep, introspective but attentive to others' stories. It has the right balance of really good (leaning towards awesome) lyrical content and really good melodies, sounds and rythm. It feels a little rushed in just a couple of songs, not in production but in lyrical content maybe they could have been more polished. It's like a brownie taken out of the oven like 2 minutes before it's ready: it still tastes really good, but you wonder how much better it would taste if you had left it just those more 2 minutes.

We weren't born to follow
After listening to the rest of the album it kinda makes sense and since we couldn't do without the traditional stand-up-and-fight song and this is what they could manage then it's OK, it's not baaaaad and the album track is much better than the single and after a while you find yourself shouting "yeah, yeah, yeah" all the time. Also, everyone can find oneself in those lyrics, who are you? the one who mines for miracles? the one who curses and spits? are you one in need? are you a sinner and a synical?

When we were beautiful
I don't like the painfully slow pace, but dig the slick guitar sound and the melody is quite nice, with those little drumbeats and licks to give it some punch. Who in their early thirties and on doesn't miss being young? Oh the innocense, the naivity. "Some dreams live, some will die", that's growin' up 101, but when you're young you feel like every dream is gonna come true, you feel full of possibility, but with time you realize that life is about ups and downs. "Am I blessed or am I cursed? Cause the way we are ain't the way we were", that's soooo true! You miss being young, but now that you are older and wiser and (at least in my case) feel happy and accomplished, then you are comfortable in your shoes, who you are and what you've become. Everything you've gone through, hits and misses, has lead you to where you are now, so there's no regrets, no shame, you're free to embrace who you are.

Work for the working man
(BTW. what's with the wwws in this album? LOL)
No BJ album would be such without the usual blue-collar hard times track so here it is. I appreciate their concern and not forgetting their roots and the working class but it feels weird that the lyrics are in first person singular, it wouldn't feel fake if they had worked the lyrics in another way. There's no mystery to this song, a little darkness (reminds me of Hey God in a way), simple lyrics, half-beat tempo.

Superman Tonight
*melting in my chair*. One of my Top ten favourite songs. Just brilliant.

I would have liked the video to be more about romance but anyway...

The acoustic live version is just delicious.

Bullet
Reminds me of August 7, 4:15 a lot. Absolutely looooooove the guitar work on this one and the bridge and chorus are quite catchy. As far as rocker songs are concerned, this is it in this album.

Thorn in my side
This one immediately caught my attention. The chorus is just perfect. The guitar riffs are slick and interesting. It's about resilience. It makes me wanna jump and scream out loud

I've been pushed around, been knocked down,
lost a round or three,
life took a couple of things I loved when I was too blind to see
but I'll survive, I gave up on luck but I'm still getting by,
yeah I'm gonna be alright, you can take my faith but you can't take my pride

Just perfect. No matter how hard times get, we always go through them. Like Winston Churchill said: "When you're going throught hell, keep going". When you're young you feel like every defeat is a tragedy, but when you grow up you understand that behind every defeat lies a victory, and that's what makes you cope better when times are tough, you know you're gonna pull through. You know it's not up to luck, it's up to you, it's not about faith in something outside, it's about faith in yourself. Self-confidence that's only brought by experience and being knocked down once and again.

I could write about this song for ages...so much more to say, to me it's so deep and rich in meaning I never get tired of it, it's like the anthem song for me in this stage of my life.

MMM and that raspy voice? Yummy.

Live before you die
I think this song is so sweet, so nostalgic and with so many beautiful mind-pictures. The melody is adorable and the meaning is so deep. It may start slowly but then picks up the pace and it becomes a great ballad. The chorus speaks for itself and I like how it changes throughout the song. Another one I can perfectly relate to, they are working their magic again, putting into music and lyrics what's going on in my head and my life.

Brokenpromiseland
Only with time you learn that the less expectations you have about your life, the less you will suffer. If only we learned to have high aspirations, but low expectations we would be so much more happy. Unfortunately these lessons we often learn too late, but it's part of growing up. We should aim high, but not expect things to happen exactly as we planned, and only after many heartbreaks and defeats and lots of looking back and evaluating you realize that " there's only now", both the future and the past are an illusion.

Great melody, good rockin' song and amazing chorus.

Love's the only rule
Despite the cheesy title, this one's become my second favourite of the album. I just love it, the chorus makes me wanna run in the rain laughing out loud and singing this song. The guitar is perfect once again. The lyrics are so good. Such an amazing song, this is and ST are Bon Jovi at their modern best, I couldn't ask for more. With this they are showing me how good they still are, how much power of communication they still have, how many emotions they are still able to convey in a song, how good Richie still is as a guitar player, so many things.

Fast cars
The mandatory "downer". It makes me so depressed. When I read the title I wasn't really expecting what I found, I really thought it was going to be much more exciting. I mean, again, it's not baaaad, but the metaphor has been stretched a little too far. I don't skip it because there's a rocker quality to it that I kinda dig, but don't pay attention to the lyrics.

Happy now
This is sooooo human. As I have already posted somewhere, it's about never being satisfied. It also relates to our expectations, we fight to obtain something, to change the world around us and when it does, we realize it doesn't make us completely happy, there's always some itch to scratch, maybe that's what keeps us going. If we just realized that all we need is not out there but within ourselves, that it's not about what happens or how the world is, but how we deal with it, how we perceive things, how much awarenes of how things work we have. My third favourite song of the album. Great rocker, nice screaming to get the point accross, and it SO does. A very smart song IMHO.

You better live now 'cause no one's gonna get out alive

Easier said than done, huh?

Learn to love
I don't like them closing albums with such slow songs, but as an overall farewell message it does the trick. In the album context and with the "halle halles" it becomes epic.

We're one breathe away from our judgement day,
lay it all on the table
if you lose or you win
you've gotta learn to love the world you're livin' in

Look around, it may look bad, but if you really look at it there's beautiful things in it, see the glass half full, don't try to change it, accept it and try to see the positive aspect of things as much as you can. You can't change what's outside, but you can change how you perceive it.

(BTW: Anybody feeling a little "Blackhole sun" thingy going on at the beginning?)

Páginas

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