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Old 06-29-2003, 03:20 PM
jamesd jamesd is offline
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Join Date: 09 Jan 2003
Location: uk
Posts: 343
Default Final Thoughts on UK Setlists

Ok, the dust has settled, the votes are in and the reflection can start.

Worst UK tour yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!

These are the reasons why i think that;

1. 3 out of the four shows had the same set list - that was lazy

2. 3 out of the 4 shows didn't last as long as most of the mainland european shows

3. The only show that was anything like the BJ we know and love was Hyde Park. That was wrong, just putting on a big show in London was cheating all the other people who travelled around the country and paid £40.

4. Surely when you pay £40 for a ticket you expect a show concurrant with most of the others on the tour in style and length - 3 out of the 4 shows didn't have that.

5. Bon Jovi are coasting at the moment and appear to be lost in the showbiz world of corporate entertainment. I saw them on the Slippery tour - sheer youthful exuberance. Saw them on the Jersey tour - pure late 80's rock and roll. Faith was a tour where the band felt they hads something to prove to the world, and they did it. It was an honest, gritty tour where they weren't afraid to play their best songs instead of just the hits or the party, fist in the air songs. These Days was an immense tour - clearly a set of musicians challening and extending themselves.
The signs were there if you saw the Crush tour - songs like Wild is the Wind, Dry County, I Believe, I'd Die for you and any of the These Days songs were ditched in favour of field, fist in the air anthems. It has got worse on this tour.

6. They only play good sets when celebs are in the audience (Dublin) or when they play capitals (london)

7. I think the band have stopped challenging themselves - they recognise a cash cow when they see it.

8. You can largely guess the order of the songs BUT WORSE - you can largely guess what Jon will say to the crowd. Again, lazy.

9. They are teetering on the edge of joining the ranks of other corporate entertainers like Shania Twain, The Rolling Stones etc. When you go to see them you don't expect musical integrity - you expect a show. Thats where BJ are going.

10. According to Jon on the intro to 'Mystery Train' from the acoustic show in Japan back in January he thinks there are certain songs that you can only play in smaller venues. THIS IS UTTERLY WRONG. You can play anything, anywhere - if you do it with soul and passion it will come across to the crowd, no matter where you are. One of the most haunting BJ memories I have is from Milton Keynes 1996 - they played 'Its Hard Letting You Go' - probably one of the most mellow and atmospheric songs they have written - the crowd were mesmorised, it was possibly my favourite 6 mins of Bon Jovi in 17 years!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !

The only thing that can resuce them now would be an acoustic album and an INDOOR tour to support it.

They have to stop playing fields - we want the arenas back - we want the soul and the passion and the integrity. Will they do it? It would mean playing more shows to reach the same amount of money, sorry, I mean people. I seriously doubt it.

Before you all start swearing, consider the points, if you disagree, fine - i am not trying to start an argument, just a debate.
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Birmingham NEC 5/12/88
Milton Keynes 16/08/89
Birmingham NEC 28/12/89
Sheffield 18/05/93
Milton Keynes 18/09/93
Wembley 24/06/95
Milton Keynes 06/07/96
Wembley 19/08/00
Milton Keynes 16/06/01
Top of the Pops II Special 00 or 01
Wolverhampton 24/06/03
Milton Keynes 10/06/06
O2 Arena London 24/06/07
Coventry 24/06/08
O2 Arena London 07/06/2010
O2 Arena London 20/06/2010
O2 Arena London. 25/06/2010
Richie @ Sheps Bush London 16/10/2012

Villa Park, Bham 09/06/2013
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