Why Bon Jovi doesn't rock anymore.

Well said Seb. I do agree on most of it.

TD tour. I dont really think it was by any means great. Lots of crap in the set, plus it was just boring. 2,5 hours seemed to be too much of that. *If* they had rocked like hell it would have been damn good, but they watered everything down with sh1tty ballads. Like they always did and most likely will always do.

Aloha !

Me neither, that's why I think they're still a good band live. However, when it comes to witnessing something great, I've had that feeling only 2 times from the 5 times I've seen Bon Jovi by now. And from a band being this big you'd expect something different. The comments from band members and Jon himself like "I try to make each night something special", or "Jon gives it all to te audience" don't make sense anymore. A lot of times there's no feeling in the shows. Not that spark that was there in the nineties and before.

Yes it was. Ask any fan who has been to a concert in the nineties and who still go see Bon Jovi live nowadays. Most songs have been slowed down a lot or have lost their touch. Prayer - Slow. Bad Name - Slow. Bad Rx. - Slow. Compare them to the studio versions and you'll realize that it's not only Jon who can't sing them in a decent way anymore, but that it's the entire band who sounds, well, dull at times. I'm sure there are many other bands to compare them to, but I'm judging it from the bands I've seen live myself. And almost every rock band at Arrow would blow Bon Jovi away when it comes to doing rock songs.

Er, no they're not. Since Crush or actually since These Days about 90% of all the songs they've released ever since are not straighforward rock & roll songs anymore.

Once again Jimbo talks out his arse and is missing the point completely.

Now what have Jon's hobby's to do with anything in this topic? I don't care for what his hobby's are. I might give my opinion about it, but that's all. If Tico wants to play golf, so be it. If Alice Cooper wants to, so be it. The difference between Jon Bon Jovi and Alice Cooper is that the things Alice Cooper does in his free time do not affect the music. Jon Bon Jovi buys a football team and involves the band in it and suddenly we get this Soul propaganda in our mailboxes. I don't think Alice Cooper fans will get advertising for golf clubs in their mailboxes, do you? And Scorpions have contributed just as much to music as Bon Jovi have the past 15 years. In fact, Scorpions have released a lot more stuff than Bon Jovi has the past 15 years, and their last album was a lot better than Bounce was.

I actually thought it would be clear for everyone that this topic was not meant as a Bon Jovi sucks topic, but appearantly it isn't. This has got to do with Bon Jovi being rock. And yes I care, and many others do. The best stuff was from the times they made rock music and were on that mission Jon screamed during Prayer. Being the biggest band in the world. The best stuff came at the times Bon Jovi was rock. Ever since they tried to be in fashion and create many pop elements and lost interest in being on stage they've lost the plot.

Salaam Aleikum,
Sebastiaan

I have seen the band in the 80's, 90's and 00's. Their pace is up and down, always has been.

I wonder if they're as bored with playing the songs as fans are of hearing them. And, yeah, the whole band gets on autopilot. Richie hasn't done much with guitar solos, especially in the 00's. He doesn't have to make each song have a 2 minute solo to change things around and alter it a bit each night. I love his playing and his sound, otherwise I wouldn't be a Bon Jovi fan. But he's on autopilot too. I hope the next CD has some creative guitar work whether it's solos or just the melodies. I'm not hung up on "rock" songs. If the CD is good and creative and it injects some new life into the live show, I'll be happier. I've never thought of Bon Jovi has a hard rocking band. They've always played melodic rock and roll. That hasn't changed. What has changed is the delivery.

Becky

you feel pressured not to like BJ anymore because of someones negative opinions on a message board?

Sad.

and if you say 'the rest of us' - please only speak for yourself... I much rather read a well written, critical opinion, then the usual garbage that come out of the 'BJ is sooooo great' corner. I don't tell you to shut it either, do I?

I will agree about the live show part, it has become a well oiled, very professional machine. I think what it lacks is spontenaiety. I, like Becky have never left a BJ show unhappy, put them on a stage and the songs come through, they touch me and I remember everytime why I love this bands music. I've thought and said for a long time that Jon inparticular has a love/hate thing going on with touring, he loves to play the music for people he just hates everything else about touring. I do think it's time to get past the "let the music speak for itself" stage and put some 'show" back into the show. I've watched the live 8 videos, the guys seemed more into it than I've seen in awhile, I like the sound of the new song, and think it bodes well as a sign of a really good new record.
As for the "rock band " part..... To me these labels, rock, hard rock, heavy metal etc... are as subjective as music itself. i know some people who are die hard metallica fans that can't stand St Anger, say it's a cop out and that the band getting sober and straight is going to be the death of their great music. Aerosmith fans who say the foray into the blues sucks and it's the ruination of the bands legacy and yes, Bj fans who say the foray into pop is the death knell for this band.
Bj to me is now and always has been a goodtime fun loving lets have fun rock band, with the exception of TD which I like very much but it is dark and broody. I like good guitar solos but they aren't essential for me to love a song.
I go to a good number of concerts and BJ bar none still gives me the best time, but that's me, I like other shows have seen some amazing performances but at the end of the day no other act has me walking out the door as satisfied as BJ every time. Do they rock??? Yes for me they do but as I said earlier, "getiing Rocked" is as subjective and personal as likeing or disliking the music itself.

I think u r trying to put BJ into a hard rock category when they never fitted into it in the first place.... The bands you mentioned have always played more hard rock songs and lived hard rock lives unlike Jovi. Why are you trying to make them into what you think they were or should be ?

In general they have always be classed by the media as a soft rock band which could be called pop rock.... You either like the music or you dont, they are who they are...

I still feel moved or touched as you put it when I hear old songs and new ones.... On every album I can always find at least 2 songs that cause that feeling.

As for Jon being on auto pilot when performing... most performers are, when you think they are having a blast they really are thinking I wonder if its sausages for tea.... as you have said hes not a good actor so perhaps its more noticable when he is on auto pilot...

Your comments about Jon using the band for making money.... well Im sure all the band members know each other well enough by now to make judgements on what Jon is doing, if they were not happy THEY would walk away afterall they have done it before....

Dawn

I know I'm new to the board so my opinion really doesn't matter much, but I'll share it anyway.

First off I'm not someone who always finds the negative in everything the band does. At the same time I'm not gonna be a blind follower to everything they do. With that statement I am in no way saying anyone here does either. I just wanted everyone here to know that I look at them for what they are. Like any band they write songs that I don't like. It's been said several times in this thread already, It's a matter of personal taste.

As far as the new album. I am very excited for it. As I am when I'm waiting for every new album by them. My personal "opinion" is that they set the bar higher than any band could ever reach when they released These Days. Being a guitar player and songwriter I've said for 10 years that if I ever write a song that's anywhere near any song on that album I'm done. I would never be able to do any better. When the new album comes out I'll own it on or before the release date. I'll listen to it 100 time in that first few weeks. Then who knows. I would love to see Richie solo more on the new album. That's one of the things that made this band my fav. The solo to Dry County or My Guitar are some of the best ever recorded IMO. I think that was really lacking on the past few albums. Not to mention non existant on TLFR.

When it comes to live shows. I have always thought that they were great. I kinda like the fact that I know the little things Jon says between songs. Even though he has said the same things for 20 years. I've seen them on every tour since These Days. I go to several shows on each tour. Lately they have become somewhat predictable. I used to love when you had to go to 2 or 3 Jovi shows each tour because they changed the songs up each night or couple of nights. I thought that was great. But after the seeing them in Chicago, Columbus (twice), Cleveland and Jersey on the Bounce tour I was a little bummed. Not because the band sounded bad or the show sucked. I was bummed because I knew the set list of each show before I got there. Becuase it was the same set I had already heard, For the most part. They changed it some but not like they used to.

I too think the band has become to comfortable with the autopilot idea. It does seem like they are going through the motions. If that is the case then how much longer are they gonna be around? I look at that as a bigger reason to go to the shows. It may be the last tour they'll do.

IMO they never were a hard rock band. I also don't consider them a pop rock band. To me, they always have and always will be a Rock N Roll band. Like Aerosmith or the Stones. That's one of the things I admire about them. Musically they are free to explore the ballads (always, I'll be there for you) and the heavier songs(If I was your mother, hey god) and everything in between.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. It seems to me that with the new album coming out people just want to express their concerns. (will it be like my fav album of theirs or my least fav. Is Jon gonna do this, Is Richie gonna sing on this tour, Etc, Etc) If you think about it, we're all here for the same reason. To talk about the band that has worked itslf into a very important part of our lives. I mean let's face it. The majority of the people here are not just casual fans. The bottom line for me is when the album comes out, I'll get it. When the band tours, I'll see them. Now since I'm a member of this board, when I have an opinion I'll share it. Maybe....

your opinion matters as much as anybody elses - 3 posts or 3000 - why would you make such a remark?

It seems like on most fan boards these days Newbies get hazed for a while. Whether it be verbally or thier posts/comments ignored. At least until the "regulars" get to know them. Looking back on that comment I guess it does seem kinda negative. Which wasn't my intention. I guess that was an unfair generalization I was making. So if you took it that way I apologize.