Does a song have to rock for you to like it?

I was just thinking to myself the other day about Bon Jovi songs that don't rock too much. Turns out, I didn't really mind that some of them didn't really rock. For example, Misunderstood isn't much of a rock song, but I happen to like it. Still I prefer the more rock songs such as Keep the Faith and You Give Love a Bad Name. But some of the less rock songs aren't so bad. At least, not to me.

So how about all of you? Does a Bon Jovi song have to rock in order for you to like it?

Not necessarilly, with a band like Bon Jovi, not matter how "pop" they get, there's always going to be some rock edge to it. Take a song like "Missunderstood", that's about as pop as this band gets but it's still a very cool song. It's got very good lyrics that just about everybody can relate to in one way or another and it's got some very nice guitar work. For what it is, it's a terrific song.

Then you can take another style of song like "Saturday Night", that isn't all out rock like say "Keep The Faith" but it's heartfelt, meaningful and is a true rock song.

I would never want an album made up of 12 hard rock songs, the great thing about this band is how diverse they can be, you get a nice blend of songs. So, yes I can like a song that's not all-out-rock but given the choice I would always choose a rock song over a pop song, there are however many different types of rock songs.


Phil

Nope. They don't need to 'rock' - I listen to alot of not rocking music. However, they need to be well written, fresh and clearly come from the heart - opposed to rehashed, boring, and phony - regardless of genre. Unfortunately, BJ haven't been very 'from the stomach' lately

Oh good, you did my post for me.

No they don't all have to rock , but I am so sick of the sappy sweet ballads that they have been putting out the last few years. I wouldn't mind the ballads so much if there was a little angst in them, a little blues. By the way, I really like Misunderstood; that song along with Hook Me Up are a couple of the better songs from Bounce.

I love good music, period. I don't have to have a specific sound, tone, beat, or speed; just good music.

For me to like a song; They either have to have a good melody and all that.. Or good lyrics. I have a wide taste in music; I love anything from System of a Down to the Passion of the Christ Soundtrack! Of course, Bon Jovi is my favourite band. My favourite SONGS are Always and My Guitar Lies Bleeding in my Arms; The less rockish songs. I love these songs the most because of their lyrics. Their power, too. Power and Lyrics, to me, always make a magnificent song. Of course, all of Bon Jovi's rock songs are awesome too! But they don't mean as much to me, because the lyrics don't relate to me as much.

So in conclusion, I don't think a Bon Jovi song needs to rock or be loud to be good; Because for me lyrics mean as much to me as the sound does.

Not necessarily, I prefer rock songs, but I reaaalllyyy love calm and mid-tempo songs (In fact, half of BJ songs are ballads, power ballads). Even I, a hard rocker fan, wouldn’t like a 100% rock album, especially in a BJ album. I NEED calm songs, songs that only BJ can do.

I like good music , period. If a song is well crafted, has good lyrics and is played well I'm probably going to like it. One of the things I love most about Bj is that they don't feel the need to make everything "ROCK". Don't get me wrong I love the harder edge stuff, but it's nice to kick back a bit once in awhile with something less hard. I don't even mind some of the poppier stuff as long as it's well done.

i don't really care, i like complete rock records without any slow songs (AC/DC's Back in black, an instance favorite of mine) but on most of the times, all i care about is the song writing and the lyrics, i want the lyrics to have depth and meaning. and i really prefer songs played along with orchestra.