Never Say Goodbye

I go "meh" to it. The only version I go crazy for is the VH1 Storytellers version. That's good stuff. Other ones (especially the studio version) are passable.

I'll Be There For You blows this (and any other Jovi ballad) out of the water.

I didn't know they played NSG in vh1 storytellers?
What was the full setlist?

From the uncut audience version of Storytellers:

Disc 1
01- Taping Of Audience Claping & Cheering
02- Love For Sale
03- Just Older
04- Jersey Girl (Tom Waits Cover)
05- You Give Love A Bad Name
06- It's My Life
07- Stranger In A Strange Town
08- Question
09- Question
10- Mic Check
11- Question
12- Bed Of Roses
13- Break
14- Livin' On A Prayer
15- Question
16- Wanted Dead Or Alive

Disc 2
01- Wanted Dead Or Alive
02- Just Older
03- Jam
04- Bad Medicine
05- Never Say Goodbye
06- Never Say Goodbye Story
07- Bed Of Roses
08- Bed Of Roses
09- Someday I'll Be Saturday Night

Hmmm, I always thought NSG sounds more dated than the other ballads (I was 3 when it came out). It's a good song and I like the lyrics (especially the backseat-line ), but I always preferred the acoustic live version that was a b-side to SWID and on the KTF bonus disc. THAT one just shows how great a song it is.

I do like the song, but afterwards their ballads would only get better (just like NSG is much better than "Silent Night")...

For me the BIG 3 ballads are IBTFY - BOR - Always. I love TAALS, but those three are the 'defining' BJ ballads in my book.

If compared to the sound popular nowadays, basically almost all the 80's stuff sounds a bit dated to me, not just NSG.
But I still love that song! I don't listen to it regularly, but when it catches me in the right moment it's one of my favorites straight again!

About the discussion acoustic vs electric version - I think the acoustic version brings the song more to today's standards and leaves the 80's touch in the past. I would have loved to hear it in the original version at some point (not just on the SWW with Jon's shitty scratchy vocals), but my all-time number one performance was one with just Jon and Richie:

Love the ending "...remember when you used to tell me...we were gonna be the king and the queen of the prom...I guess those days are gone..."
That just emphasizes the melancholic feeling I always get when listening to that song.

To be honest all the 80's songs sound dated, even some of KTF, but I still love those songs. I can't agree with you, NSG is the very first power ballad Bon Jovi made (Silent Night is not really a power ballad), maybe if the line "you lost more than that in my backseat" wasn't there it 'd be perfect. and like someone before said, the acoustic live version released in ISWID takes out the 80's style leaving just the core of the song which is actually pretty awesome.

This package is a bootleg release right??

I love it. One of the best BJ ballads.
I was 3 when it came out

Am I the only one who loves the "you lost more than that in my backseat baby" line? It's a bit f youthful swagger.

No you aren't. I'm with you there!