Track Rankings 2012 - Keep the Faith

In my opinion, this sentiment is what separates the good albums from the great.

Well, this time I feel I need to put a longer comment than usual when I rank the album songs. Without a doubt, this is my absolutely fav album, not only by BJ but by any artist. This album is perfect for me. There isn’t a single song I don’t like on it, including the bonus tracks. I also don’t think second part of the album is weaker than the first one. Each one of them is unique and represent the music that fills my heart and soul. And there are many factors that make it so special for me.
First of all, my whole passion for BJ started with this album. I was 12 years old back then and I saw the brand new KTF video on MTV and have fallen in love with it right away. I bought the KTF cassette soon and played it nonstop. This is an album that literally formed the backbone of my music taste. Moreover, in general in my country MTV and satellite TV was something completely new back then. It was our first taste of the Western world, that was so well kept hidden from us for dozens of years in the socialism times. I know I was a kid back then and I can’t remember much from those times, but for us early 90’ was a new beginning too, just like that album was for the band. And for me personally it was a first step into the world of adults and making my own decisions. And I am glad this was the album that found me on the way in that particular time of my life.
One of the biggest virtues of this album is that lyrically it carries the same theme, same message. You listen to it as a whole. For me it’s the best cure whenever I feel sad, angry or broken inside. It always lifts me up, reminds me that I should not worry about anything, believe in myself, concentrate on positive things and show the middle finger to this wicked world whenever it tries to put me down. And it also works when I am happy, to remind why and how I have such a wonderful life. It also helped me a lot to learn English language, because I wanted to know what the songs are about. I felt the energy of the music but also needed to understand the lyrics to fully understand the power of this album.
And that is why KTF is my ultimate #1 song, not only on this album, but also of all time. It became the motto of my life. And the music of the song fits the lyrics perfectly. It is so energetic, powerful – simply perfect. Brilliant solos by Richie, absolutely overwhelming vocals by Jon, and such a strong chorus. And I think unlike any other song (maybe except Prayer) this song always works perfectly live.
My sec favourite is Dry County, which is also not only my sec fav on the album but also of all time. It is just slightly lower in the ranking than KTF, because of the positive message my #1 brings. But actually in my heart they both share the same important spot. Maybe some of you remember my Dublin story and how much this song means to me. It took me almost 20 years to hear it live, which only made my love to it stronger than ever. That main solo by Richie, with that whole intro to it, the wind blowing, Tico’s beat accelerating etc. is THE moment of the song. Masterpiece is not even a proper word for this song for me, as well as for KTF. In my dictionary there is no word or scale to describe the greatness of those two songs.
Apart from those 2 giants, this album also includes my fav BJ ballad - Bed of Roses – which was also our wedding song. I really like IWY too, very underrated love song. ITA for me is a great example of an up-tempo love song while WIL is also a great song about relationships and recipe for mature love.
Fear is a hidden treasure for sure and a very underrated song, with awesome lyrics. Its powerful guitars and that anger in Jon’s voice only add so much energy to that. Same goes for I Believe, a fantastic uplifting song.
And I absolutely love the roughness and hard rock sound of IIWYM and actually I would pay any money to hear it live someday.
SWID, Blame and LBOS – I put them all in the same category of the positive and joyful songs. Actually I wish Jon would switch them during live shows. I so would love to hear Blame or LBOS live someday.
As for bonus tracks, also they are in the same league of greatness as any of the album tracks. SAP is a such a strong anthem, also very spiritual, just like KTF. And SAOA is also a great rock song, that fits the album lyrically and musically.

In general, it’s almost impossible for me to rate it. Even the song that gets 1pt from me here, actually would beat most of the songs from other albums easily. I just have to rate them somehow now for the sake of this poll. I am only sure of TOP3, the rest is just a shot to choose between very good and great.
This album is just pure hard rock in its best form. It’s all about faith, love, joy of life and positive thinking. Everything that we all need to be happy. Perfect songwriting, perfect production, perfect vocals, perfect melodies. I don’t think they will ever reach that level of greatness again, and to tell you the truth even if they won’t, it’s ok for me. I am grateful to have this jewel with me, for the most part of my life, which is more than I could ever ask for.

14 - Keep The Faith (if I could I would give it 1000pts)
13 - Dry County (same as KTF)
12 - Bed Of Roses
11 - I Believe
10 - Fear
09 - If I Was Your Mother
08 - In These Arms
07 - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
06 - Blame It On The Love Of Rock 'n' Roll
05 - Little Bit Of Soul
04 - Save A Prayer
03 - Starting All Over Again
02 - I Want You
01 - Woman In Love (still it doesn’t mean I don’t like it, I absolutely love it)


EDIT: I’ve just realized it was my 500th post over here. What a pleasure it was to write it about a thing I have so much passion for

Brilliant analysis Kuba, I enjoyed reading it. And congratulations for the first 500 posts!

Kuba80BJ - you really put the feelings I also have for that album (though it's more spread along with These Days etc for me) in words! Well done!
And yes, I can remember your great DC story from Dublin just like yesterday - the anticipation, the magix and the "Yes, yes, yes, thank you!" screams in the video when they kicked into the song!

Need a bit of enlightment on this. Would someone care to elaborate? Thanks

Great album.

14. Dry County
13. Keep The Faith
12. If I Was Your Mother
11. Fear
10. Save A Prayer
9. Starting All Over Again
8. I Believe
7. Bed Of Roses
6. Blame It On The Love...
5. I Want You
4. Little Bit Of Soul
3. Woman In Love
2. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead.
1. In These Arms. I'll probably cop a bit of flack for that, but it was the only song at that point by Jovi that just didn't do it for me. Still not a fave, but in comparison to the majority of the post 2000 ballads it rules.

Great read once again from you, Kuba. So kudos for that! I really enjoy your storytelling - you always seem to find the right words

Keep the Faith is one of my favourite albums, not just of Bon Jovi, but of any artist. In fact, I love it so much that I'm finding it pretty difficult to rate these songs in an order.

14 - Dry County
13 - Keep the Faith
12 - If I Was Your Mother
11 - Fear
10 - I Want You
9 - Save a Prayer
8 - Blame It on the Love of Rock and Roll
7 - In These Arms
6 - Starting All Over Again
5 - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
4 - Woman in Love
3 - Bed of Roses
2 - I Believe
1 - Little Bit of Soul

I just love every single song on this album, with the possible exception of Little Bit of Soul. I've tried to like the song, but ultimately it has to go at the bottom of my list.

Dry County is an absolute masterpiece. There is no denying the incredible power this song gives off. Keep the Faith is ingenious: a song in minor that constantly sounds as if it's in major? Brilliant work! If I Was Your Mother has some incredible vocals going on, I wish they'd played it live more when Jon could still sing those notes. Fear has a great bassline. I Want You is beautiful, I wish they'd make more songs like this nowadays. I absolutely adore Save a Prayer, especially the section with only the off-beat guitar and vocals. Blame It on the Love of Rock and Roll is pretty good, but the chorus seems a little short. In These Arms has a great vocal note at the end, which makes me laugh as some people still expect Jon to sing that note in today's concerts. Starting All Over Again shouldn't have been left out of the ordinary track listing, and as for the box set version... I prefer the original. The rest of the songs I also love, but there just isn't enough room for all those points!

It's hard letting go of those songs - oh wait, wrong album

Keep The Faith was the album I picked as my driving album two weeks ago when I was back home. It was amazing rediscovering my love for each and every song on that album. Ranking the songs is tough for me, except for the top 3, which mean the world to me and stand out a little. Dry County is my absolute favorite of all time... I was driving into the sunset listening to it and it was just such a beautiful moment, I slowed down to enjoy it a little bit longer.
Anyway, here goes:

14 - Dry County
13 - Keep The Faith
12 - I Believe
11 - If I Was Your Mother
10 - Fear
9 - Bed of Roses
8 - In These Arms
7 - Starting All Over Again
6 - Save A Prayer
5 - Little Bit of Soul
4 - Blame it on the Love
3 - I Want You
2 - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
1 - Woman in Love

For me it's ok album. Part of it is masterpiece, part is boring, awfull and should be replaced by demos from that era.
I love on this album really endings of songs when Jon's sometimes screams or singing something special (IBelieve, KTF, ITA ecc)
With Crush, NJ and TD this is their best produced album.
I love Jons voice in NJersey and on this album his voice changed little bit but it's also awesome! We also have some good work from rest band.
It has also 2 of their worst songs recorded ever.

Masterpieces:
15 - Keep the Faith - it's hard to choose but let's KTF be my number 1. Why? For memories. I was shocked when I first heard it. Intro was like music from church. Great lyrics, great voice, bass line, percussion.
14 - In These Arms - One of their best love song. I love chorus. Lyrics are also very good. Differend ending performed live is also very good. Jon's voice is powerfull.
13 - If I Was Your Mother - With Undivided their best heavy song. Production, lyrics, riff, voice is really "heavy type" song. But it's also very friendly to ear song. It would be awesome to hear it live.
12 - Dry County - probably one of their biggest masterpiece.
11 - I Believe - lyrics, solo, intro, videoclip. Amazing.
10 - Save a Prayer - Everything is perfect . Even intro is amazing.
09 - Bed of Roses - there are days that i really hate this song. There are days where I love it. Yes it's magic and one of their biggest songs. Great lyrics,

OK:
08 - I Want You - Why so many says bad things about this song?? I thing it works well. I like it and for me it's far better than for excample NSGoodbye
07 - Woman in Love - it's like BIOTLORNR and ISWIDead has very fast RNR style. If Balame and Sleep are Boring and bad WILove work well. Nothing special but I like it.
06 - Starting All Over Again should be on album
05 - LBOSoul - Its ok song. I don't like it but I think that it's ok that they recorded that's kind of song. But it should be demo.
01 Fear - I like intro and some lyrics and nothing more.

Awful:
00 - Blame It on the Love of Rock and Roll - Rweally big s**t. Awful lyrics, awful voice, musically similar to other s**ty song ISWIDead. I don't know why it is on CD when SAP or OOLove are just outtakes.
00 - I'll Sleep When I'm Dead - Ok. It's work live but... normally it's very annoying. I like videoclip but I hate song. I like lyrics but I hate song. I like RNR feeling but I hate this song. It could be good but it's awfull.