Ways to make Bon Jovi better

Aloha !

I know. But it's just that if one of the reasons you're going to see Bon Jovi because you've got the chance, instead of going to see Bon Jovi because you know they'll give you another killer show, they're not really that relevant anymore, and are a nostalgia act.

But compare it to what they were in 1996. Compare the first 10 shows from the 1995/1996 tours to the first 10 shows from the HAND tour. They're not bothered about giving it all, because they're not playing in the big cities. Yet in 1996 the show in Paris at which they played for 16.000 people was just as good as the show in Milton Keynes, where they played for over 50.000 people.

Brother In Arms, Thriller, Reckless, Slippery are masterpieces. These Days is just a very good album.

Also, the line "the neigbours dog don't bark like he used to" is just as good as the line "there's a for sale sign on the front door of the city hall". Saying that they've never delivered anything as good as on These Days is just not true. The writing on These Days is terribly overrated. Just because it's deeper than the average Bon Jovi song doesn't mean that it's better. And what exactly is so excellent about the writing of This Ain't A Love Song?

It makes me wonder though, have you ever read lyrics from other bands? What Axl Rose wrote when it came to the lyrics on Estranged is a lot more clever than anything Bon Jovi came up with on These Days. I don't get this "These Days is a masterpiece" stuff at all.

Please no. Joey was bad enough.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

When LYHOM and Homebound train stood out on NJ, Faith & Dry County on KTF, Something to Believe in on TD. There's not one song from Crush and onward that stands out when it comes to the drums.
It's come to a point where I wonder how much time Tico spends in the studio, or even if he actually shows up, as he is clearly overqualified for the job that was done post 2000.


Ponrauil

Maybe you misread me - the only reason I'm still a Bon Jovi fan is because they're still the only band that's totally blown me away live, and every time I see them I forget how good they were the last time.

I've read lyrics from loads of other bands - and I'm a writer myself - I think These Days is a masterpiece because the writing on it appeals to me on a personal level, and is a lot darker than the usual Jovi songs about girls and love etc. which suits my tastes. Good lyrics don't always necessarily have to be clever lyrics - they can just set a certain mood and paint a vivid picture - and that These Days excels at. I'm sorry, but it's definitely the best thing they've ever written, but I didn't say it's the best thing that's ever been written. Actually the writing on KTF is almost as good, but only on a couple of songs (and Postcards From The Wasteland). Btw, in another post I actually mention Estranged, which is my favourite G'n'R song. And from It's Hard Letting You Go you've been kind of selective in the lines you pick, don't you think?

Bottom line: As I was saying right from the start, I don't know what Jovi can do to improve on how they are now. I don't necessarily think there's anything. I know they'll still blow me away live, and if they don't, I'll come back here and tell you all what they need to do to improve. To me, they're not doing anything wrong, but it seems to a lot of people here they are (but a lot of those seem to be comparing them to ten or twenty years ago, and frankly, that's not fair on them.)

Speaking on the drumming comment, and I'm not a drummer but love the drums. The drumming on both Summertime and One Last Cigarette always caught my attention for completely different reasons. The Summertime drums are loud and bombastic (especially live) and Last Cigarette there is that rolling, lumbering quality to the drumming that I like.

And in an interview with CHUM radio yesterday Jon said Tico is an "impeccable musician". Okay, that's my comment, carry on, lol!

deb

Hey, I'm done....lol.

To be honest, like I say I'm not a music techie, I just know what feels right to me - so I've never noticed the big difference in the drums, but you know what, now I'll listen out for it and I will notice.

So I'll keep you posted then on what I think....lol.

EDIT:

Alright, just one other thing Ponrauil, you said no drums have stood out from Crush onwards? What about Next 100 Years. I think on that track, especially during the instrumental bit in the middle, certainly do.

Anyway, NOW I'm done.

Yea, me either. I just know what sounds good to my ears and the songs that resonate with me.

deb

I think they still playing with heart. You can't compered 80' and now. They are older of course and they aren't machine. So you don't like them anymore, or? You understand they can't be like they used be. Nobody can.

I'm not saying any of it won't ever sound good to anyone. All I'm saying is there's nothing special that obviously stands out to everyone's ears, like for example how well his work flows with Richie's in the KTF & Dry County solos. You can almost hear the result/consequence of their recent (at the time) close collaboration on Richie's Stranger album and side tracks like Mr Sambo. There's nothing on the last 4 or 5 albums, drum wise, that requires Tico Torres and no one else.


And he is right. That's not the issue here.


Ponrauil

Bon Jovi will be Bon Jovi and just cause people here say they should change this or that its not going to happen.(with the exception of a few points)
One way you could make them seem better is fire who ever is in charge of P.R .
And employ someone who actually knows how to get tracks Airtime and releases promoed properly

How can you compare shows /tours you were not there in person? Just by listening to those bootlegs again! Yeah right!