The verdict: Joey

Aloha !

So, another rare song Jon choses to play over (It's Hard) Letting You Go, Something To Believe In, Wild Is The Wind and the list goes on and on.

Joey is a song Jon seems to be really fond of. He's proud of the lyrics, and proud of the way that the song tells a story. Back in 2002 Jon kept on going about how he and Richie were capable of writing stories in their songs, and how that was really songwriting to them.

Now read these lyrics:
http://bobdylan.com/songs/joey.html

Well, well well that reads like it's a song about a guy named Joey with a troubled childhood and some attitude problem? You'd almost think that Jon nicked the story from Dylan and tried to rewrite it by making it a wank song about a guy who's incapable of finding a job?

And now listen to this song:

It almost sounds like Jon nicked the melody to make it his own song? Jon has covered this song in the past, but now claims to be a good songwriter who's capable of writing stories, and even dares to say that Joey is his own song.

We've had to hear this shit song lots of times on the Bounce Tour, it even returned a few times on the HAND tour, and has made a few appearances on this tour as well. In my humble opinion, the song is boring, it lacks a proper build up and climax, and it's just not a brilliant story-telling song at all. It doesn't need to be played, doesn't get a crowd going and there's nothing interesting about it at all.

What do you think? Should it be gone forever, should it never have seen the light of day or do you enjoy hearing this blatant rip off?

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

IMO it’s a good album song – I don’t see the point of playing it live as it’s a song that doesn’t really go anywhere in a live sense –as you say there’s no big ending and also there is no guitar solo play out.
It fits perfect on the album but I wouldn’t want to hear it live.
IMO it’s a far better song than Right Side of Wrong which to me is a dreadful song – hate the lyrics, Jon’s voice on it and the guitar as well.
Why they don’t play Wild Is The Wind or Stick To Your Guns live is beyond me – they are my 2 favourite Jovi tracks of all time (along with Born To Be My Baby – can you tell Jersey is my fav album!!!)

It's cool, and it's one of those storytelling songs we here so much about.

It's often on my iPod anyway.

I've always liked the "News gets around this faded neighbourhood" part - I hang out for it every time before skipping.

Other than that...

But I don't mind that they play it live, because I get that Jon likes it a lot. I would rather he do another song that he's fond of though, like Mystery Train or something.

I like hearing what you call a 'blatant rip-off', Joey, in other words. TBH, it's a good song and Jon should be singing it if he likes it IMO, nothing wrong with that. If I go to Twickenham and hear this song I certainly won't be complaining.

There is a bit of similarity between the Bon Jovi song, the Bob Dylan lyrics, and the Elton John song, but not really enough to make it a full blown rip off I don't think

I quite like the song as well, it works well on the Bounce album, and it's kinda nice cos it's a bit different from the typical BJ formula, and one thing I've always praised Bounce for is its experimenting. I wouldn't mind hearing it live, but I'd imagine there's roughly a million songs I'd prefer to hear.

I thought Joey was mentally retarded...

As for the song, the keys are awesome; and I like it on the album but don't need to hear it live. Certainly not at the expense of some of the other songs that have been mentioned.

I really like the song on the album but that's about it. It worked well live at the TLFR Borgata show but like other people have said, not when it's not an intimate setting. Certainly not a stadium song, not really arena either.

Dave

I like it and more so live. Oh and I should add, that I'd pick other songs to hear over this one but really don't mind if it gets played since I know Jon likes it.

deb

As a pianist (and not a particularly good guitarist) I always liked the song. I was aware of the lyric link to Bob Dylan but I never really thought it was a sonic ripoff of Levon. Since Jon covered Levon on an Elton John tribute perhaps he was inspired by it. I enjoy it and I don't skip it when I listen to Bounce but that is practically never.

As a concert song it falls flat though. Not enough tension - not enough building. I'd much rather hear other things during a live show.

I'm gonna vote yes though since I do listen to it sometimes