She Don’t Know Me – A pounding drum ushers in this, the only song on any Bon Jovi album completely written by an outsider. It has a completely different feel to any other song on the album, and indeed any other Bon Jovi song; built more around the piano, an absolutely massive drum sound, and a simple repeated plucked guitar pattern than massive riffs, although the typical Richie riffing is present in the intro and choruses, restrained a little though. This is easily the most poppy song on the album, although not necessarily in a bad way: yes, it has to do with the downplaying of guitars; but also the fantastically hooky chorus, where Jon repeating what the backing vocals sing sounds like he is voicing his thoughts a few seconds after thinking them. Jon on the whole sounds even younger on this song than any other, or perhaps just more … earnest and wistful? The backing vocals as a whole contribute nicely too, especially in the building, multi tracked instrumental break. Overall then, an odd one, but a song I have a sneaking fondness for … perhaps it’s the uniqueness of it, or perhaps it’s the hopelessly romantic tones of it.

3/5