Just a thought on all those bickering over the set lists

I feel your pain and frustration as a 'more than casual' fan when it comes to the predictability and redundance of the songs on the setlist but some of the comments flying on this board are just assinine.

First, don't judge a concert that you have not attended. The setlist is just a small part of the event. The atmosphere generated by the band and the audience can make a show with a poor setlist good or ruin a show with a great setlist. Its almost like a true football fan can appreciate a 0-0 tie as opposed to a crappy game with lots of goals.

Second, This is a show to promote the new album. As such, they have been playing 6 to 7 Bounce songs and that only leave room for 13/14 other songs. When you take into account that songs like Bad name, bad Rx, prayer, IML, Wanted HAVE to be played, that doesn't leave the band with much options. And those of you who are frequent concert goers of other bands, you know that compared to the others out there Jovi does spice up the shows by making them different from the previous nights.

Sure, I miss the excitement of hearing something that I haven't heard in a while but you're talking about us being a definite minority in these shows. the Bon Jovi shows mostly consist of people who are seeing them only once on that tour and they come to hear the staple favorites. If you listen to the bootlegs of past tours you can see that the band always does a healthy mix of material from the new albums.

So, if you're bitter about their live performance, don't spend your money on the show. Just don't try to convince the rest of us that we shouldn't be having a good time at the Jovi shows.

i was thinking the same thing mr.sambo
the reason for the tour is because of them promoting bounce and not these days or keep the faith. i love these days and keep the faith but in order to sell bounce you have to play the songs. i have only been to one concert and i am going again in one week and i dont care what they play just being there with friends will be awesome. some people have never been to one of their concerts and if they are a long time fan they are going to want to hear wanted and living on a prayer, and bad name, could you imagine if they wouldnt play bad , last concert i went to they didnt play living on a prayer, that was a surprise, but you know what the concert was still better than any on i have ever been to, no one else compares
thanks, have a good day!

don't try convincing us that all is rosy

why do they HAVE to be played...

would you not rather see a great game full of excitement that ends 5-4 ? why does a game with lots of goals have to be crappy to unpick your metaphor?

I'd say yes minority in terms of the whole spectrum of fans - but most fans only know the recent stuff who attend the shows at the moment so it doesn't make a difference to them if the band plays raise your hands or if they alternate it with homebound train, let it rock... etc...

in terms of on this board: i'd say it's roughly 50/50 - and most people are very disappointed with the US sets compared to the last few Japanese shows...

I've got loads of them, and i attended a few of the shows... they choose the wrong songs to play... songs which weren't singles or successful are played rather than the better more staple-BJ songs...

Enjoy the show bonjovi#1!! bare in mind i will still enjoy the shows - my point is the lack of anything adventurous or new in the shows... they are a band that has spanned 20 years and despite the fact it is now 2003 they were more successful and respected/renowned in the 80s than now... and they should at least proportionally represent the earlier phases of their carreer...

also songs such as bad medicine, bad name, prayer should be called something like bad name '95, or prayer '95, or bad medicine '93 because they took on a different identity in the 90s which often doesn't resemble the 80s anyway...

in terms of playing songs off crossroads... don't forget in and out of love was on that too as well as electric never say goodbye etc...

I agree TOTALLY.
I i went to a bon jovi show and didnt hear prayer, wanted, bad name, born to be my baby, Its My Life. i would be pretty pissed off.

Let's say they play 7 new songs (which is overkill in my opinion, I think 5 is a good number). And let's assume that Bon Jovi plays 22 songs (I think the usual number in this tour is 22). That will leave 15 'old' songs. Let's see songs that they MUST play:
1. Bad Name
2. Prayer
3. Wanted
4. Bad Medicine
5. IML
(I used to think KTF belonged there... but apparently not).
So 15-5 is 10.
Assume they play 2 covers and 2 ballads. That leaves 6 spots.
Let's say these are mainstays as well:
- Older
- Saturday Night
- BTBMB
- Runaway
That still leaves 2 slots for BJ to throw in their oddballs. And I don't mean I Got The Girl.

People may complain about the setlists because BJ tend to stick to the 'basic' setlist. Of course my suggestion is: don't watch the show if you think the setlist doesn't make you happy. However, if you have already paid for a ticket and the setlist doesn't make you happy, you have every right in the world to bitch and moan. You paid the money. If anyone says you don't have the right to complain, they are downright stupid.

Well said Mr. Sambo- I have been saying the same thing in the tour forum. Reading a set list is not the same at being at a show- nothing beats the real thing.

more like "well said, yomamasofat"

Yeah - I agree with much of what Mr Sambo says.

Sure it would be nice for us to hear something different. But u can't really expect BJ to stop playing the greatest hits - the ones that gets the corwd jumping, pumping the air & singing & start playing ones that only get a muted reaction.

Sure it could be better - but I will enjoy whatever is played & have a damn good time.

& u r right about ppl judging not even having been to the gig.

Mike

Just to recap .... I'm not telling people they don't have a right to complain..just telling them to stop and think about it for a second and NOT to rain on the parade for those who are enjoying the shows.

Its always easy to say it could be better and the grass is always greener but sometimes take things for what they are and and everything aside I'd rather attend a Bon Jovi show over any other show any given day.

If the formula songs allows them to tour extensively and sell out stadiums and arenas in the US as opposed to a poor tour [TD tour...I'm talking about the tour, not the album..and I'm talking from a business / crowd stand point..not performance] then that works for me.

Personally, I don't even know if I'll be even fully satisfied if it was a 14 hour show with everything from runaway to Open all night and all demos and bsides performed cause I'd still be thinking maybe Richie, Jon & Dave should've sung their solo songs. But you gotta judge a show based on being there and the atmosphere and crowd reaction.

Hey if people are enjoying the show, why should they listen to those who complain?

I agree that in order to judge a show, you have to be there to experience what the show does TO you. I think it doesn't matter if the crowd goes bonkers - if you're not having a good time for any reason, you're not. And if you are, then you are.