Now, I would just like to add a few comments regarding the above analysis.

It is quite clear the majority of songs being played during their concerts are their LH songs and the main concert songs like prayer, bad name, its my life. In total, 60 different songs were played during 2007, which is quite a alot, but i think this figure was bumped up a little by the decision to play the whole LH album on several occassions.

My analysis and comments come from the point of view of a diehard, and some of these comments are made directly towards the band themselves, and hopefully, may appreciate them and hopefully make any designated changes for 2008. I'm extra interested becuase I will be seeing them in Australia and I hope they dont reproduce exactly the same as what they did in 2007.

Ok here are my points regarding the analysis and hopes for 2008

- Whilst I acknowlege that the tour is the LH tour, I dont believe that 90% of the album's songs should be played. I mean a max of 4-5 would be enough because most of the fans wanting to see BJ have been fans for a very long time and would like to hear the songs that made BJ the geniuses they are (songs from TD, KTF, CR etc). Also, for Australian fans, and for me personally, I would be extremely disappointed if a lot of LH songs were played at the expense of hearing the old stuff, mainly because Aussie fans were excluding from the Crush 2000, OWN 2001, Bounce 2003 tour, and HAND 2005-2006 scheduling (Rumba doesnt count). During these tours, the band played some of their greatest hits including rarities like Always, Something to believe in, In these arms etc. Furthermore, to support my argument as to why BJ dont have to play a whole heap of their new stuff, I would like to use U2 as an example (Yes i know each band for themselves but this is a good example). For the record, Im also a diehard U2 fan as well as a diehard BJ fan. When U2 finally toured Australia in 2006 on their Vertigo tour (after 9 years away), they really produced an unbelievable performance and they only ever played about a max of 4-5 NEW songs (out of about a total of 26 songs played each concert) from their How to dismantle an atomic bomb album, which was pretty much the tour's theme (similarly to BJ's LH theme). The majority of these songs were pretty much their greatest hits over the times. It was really a great variety and not just focussed on the one time era. In using this example, there is a great deal of similarity between U2's Australian story and BJ's Australian story. I really do hope that BJ dont focus heavily on their LH songs and play a variety (especially for the Aussie fans who have missed 4 consecutive tours).

- It was good to see Richie singing 'These Days', a song which should be a regular just like prayer and bad name. I love how Jon sings it but Richie also did a great job. I guess what would be nice to see Richie do in 2008 is sing one of his classic songs like 'Father time' or 'One light burning'. That would really be a huge surprise, as stranger in this town and these days are becoming predicable in the setlists. I know Richie is more than capable of singing these songs.

- Whilst there is a great deal of variety in song selections in 2007 (60 different songs chosen in total), I have some suggestions for 2008 which would definately be surprise inclusions to the setlist and mostly welcomed. In choosing these, I was limited in my selection because I didnt want to be picky as there was so many i could have chosen. These are the main main ones:
* From 7800 Fahrenheit- Hardest part is the night
* New Jersey- Stick to your guns (definately a rarity and can be still sung)
* KTF- Dry County (A MUST- A DREAM WISH FOR SYDNEY 200, Bed of roses (Orginal), If I was your mother (trying not to be too hopeful but thats such an awesome song if Jon can still sing it), I believe.
* From Crossroads- Always (original)
* These days- Something to believe in (another favourite), Lie to me, This aint a love song, Its hard letting you go.
* JBJ Solo- Destination anywhere, Santa fe (this is a fantasy- i definetly wouldnt put my money on it- never been sung live and i dont think it ever will be, unless Jon is game enough to try after 18 years lol).
* Richie Solo- Father time (best song by Richie), One light burning
* Crush- 2007 song selections reasonable (without being picky)- Perhaps Thank you for lovin me would be a surprise too.
* Bounce- 2007 song selections reasonable (without being picky)
- HAND- 2007 song selections reasonable (without being picky)
* LH- Every song was played in 2007. I think there should be a reduction in 2008.
* Cover- Rockin in the free world.

Therefore, with all honestly and realism, I really do think if some of the above suggested are comtemplated and carried out, then i think BJ would really create a whole new dimension and anticipation to their live shows. I really do think 95% of my above suggestions are achievable, and the band are still good enough, but it amazes and confuses me sometimes as to why they dont do it and dont look deep into what their long lovin fans really want to hear at their live shows. I mean, even if a small percentage of the songs I suggested were chosen, then that would still be an achievement.

Also, another point to the band, please and I say please, dont sing TLFR versions of Bed of roses and Always. I dont think these 2 songs especially deserve to be resung in a different arrangement to their orginal format. They are classics because of their original format, and not because of the TLFR format.


In conclusion, I really do hope the band read this and take something away for the 2008 tour (esp for Australia). I pray for this as this essentially would be my Christmas wish come true. This is just coming from a diehard fan (23 years old) who never had the opportunity to see a full blooded Bon Jovi concert in Australia (since they hadnt been on a proper tour since 1995) and has observed, year in year out, the setlists sung over the past 4 tours (since 2000) and has just wished he was amongst the fans experiencing the BJ magic. I guess I've always dreamt of hearing their trademark songs live like dry county, always (classic), STBI because I pretty much lived in these songs for a good chunk of my life.

I hope my BJ wish comes true in 2008.

Merry Christmas!!

Keep the faith!!

Regards,
Daniel