So, to add to this real life dream, the boys launched another personal favourite and one of the best rock ballads of all time, IN THESE ARMS. All I remember when hearing the piano introduction was screaming out ‘Oh yeahhhh’. The piano introduction was spine tingling. As it commenced, I was literally taken to another world. I remembered the endless live clips I watched of this song, especially from the Keep the Faith tour and always dreamed of being in the crowd. The most striking and heartfelt moment I’ve experienced with this song was when listening to the 1993 Buenos Aires performance, whereby as the song concluded and the piano and harmony remained playing, Jon emotionally sung “If I had you in my arms, as the band begins to play, you whispered those words baby, forever and a day. You said that we’d be lovers until the end of time. You said you’ll be my darling, you’d be forever mine. Oh yeah, it’s ok. It’s alright. Rest your head on my shoulder. Hold me tight. Tell me now my baby, we’ll get on through the night…..We’ve got to, we’ve got to, hoooldd on (and the accapela introduction to Living on a prayer commenced)” (). Words can’t describe the goosebumps I felt when listening to it and is one of the many reminders of why I’m still a diehard hard fan now. When hearing it first hand, I felt the same goosebumps. I was so greatful for getting the chance to hear it for the second time (as the first time in Melbourne felt like a blur) with Jon at his very peak. It was sung with true passion and energy and Jon went for all the high notes and in my opinion, nailed them. Whilst he didn’t sound exactly like he did on the Keep The Faith tour, he still sounded awesome. I guess its proof that Jon was in a tip top mood that night. I felt Jon was more energetic here, and reminded me of how he sung it on the Keep the Faith tour. The band seemed to enjoy playing it live, which is a good sign. The most emotionally felt moment came when he sung the verse “We stared at the sun and we made a promise, a promise this world would never blind us. These are my words. Our words were our songs. Our songs are our prayers, these prayers keep me strong and it's what I believe if you were in these arms”. That lyric defines a true long song, sung and performed so movingly by Jon. Also, the line “Your clothes are still scattered all over our room. This old place still smells like your cheap perfume. Everything here reminds me of you and there's nothing that I wouldn't do” and “These are our words making me strong, Babbbyyyy” was pure raw passion at its best. Superb!! Jon’s voice sounded great when trying to reach the high notes. Magic!!!

Then, the first of the special rarities emerged when Jon started singing the opening verse to Bob Dylan’s hit KNOCKING ON HEAVENS DOOR with just an acoustic guitar. That was an unbelievable surprise. That really hit me somewhere deep and signalled that Sydney was witnessing a special performance. He sung it so smoothly and sweetly. It sounded awesome. Then, as Jon concluded the final line “Knock knock knocking on heavens door”, he raised his acoustic guitar vertically and the introduction for BLAZE OF GLORY surfaced. I screamed out in delight ‘Yeahhhh’ and the crowd went absolutely crazy, loud to the point which destroyed one of my ear drums. The noise made was phenomenal. I guess it was evidence of the song’s popularity and how it is a favourite for many. To be able to incorporate such a famous cover so sweetly with one of their classic songs is just art at its best. I loved this song, mainly because it was one of those songs that is sung with pure emotion and vocal strength and lyrically, it is art, especially with the verse “Each night I go to bed, I pray the Lord my soul to keep, No I ain't looking for forgiveness, But before I'm six foot deep, Lord I gotta ask a favour and I hope you'll understand, Cause I've lived life to the fullest, Let this boy's die like a man, Staring down a bullet, Let me make my final stand.”. To my surprise yet delight, Jon sung it extremely well and was reaching for the high notes during the chorus and especially towards the end of the song when singing the part “Call me young gun, I'm a young gun, yeah, Young gun, yeah...Young gun”. He nailed it. It was a memorable performance.

By then, I was just like ‘WOW’. A hatrick of favourites, what more could I have asked for? I was baffled as to how else I could possibly be surprised (other than Dry County and Always being played). It wasn’t long before my question was answered.

WHOLE LOT OF LEAVING was another song off the new album that was played. It was one of the few songs that I initially liked instantly when the new album was released. It is a great song and was sung beautifully with Jon charismatically throwing the question of the night to the crowd with the verse “You used to live to say you love me. Now you got one foot out the door. It's then you turn around and ask me Do we got it anymore?? (and pauses)” Jon received the answer he was looking for from the screaming response from the crowd.

It proved to be a night of favourites when Jon shouted “2, 3, 4” to kick start BORN TO BE MY MABY. This was one of my all time favourites. It is a special song that represents a key part of my history, as I not only adored and lived in this song, but also, performed it at my Year 12 talent quest in 2001 in front of my school peers from which I still have the audio tape of the performance. It brought back a lot of memories of when my band and I regularly rehearsed it after school. I felt every lyric Jon sung. It’s a song that reflects on the real life struggles faced by the everyday couple (similar to the Tommy and Gina story in Living on a Prayer) and despite the adversities that are faced, true love can never be compromised or defeated. Simply brilliant!! There is no stand out line from this song, as every lyric is gold. The one performance that really inspired and moved me was during the band’s New Jersey tour. Similar to when Blood on Blood was played (as mentioned above), the song was performed in Holland. As the chorus was sung for the final time at the end of the song, Jon added some additional lyrics (with an additional instrument that was extremely touching) and passionately sung “I was made…just to be your man, just to be a friend, just to be a shoulder to cry on, baby take my hand to forever hold on to…my turn (and the extra instrument is played)……to be your man, forever, til the day I die….forever always, baby, you were to be my baby ( the closest version)”

At this point, Jon took a breather and used it to talk to the crowd. He said “It’s been way too long since we’ve been to Sydney Australia. And I can tell you what. Looking around now, I think it was well worth the trip this time, that’s for sure”. The crowd went fanatic when they heard that, as it was quite clear that the boys were overwhelmed by the crowd. Jon pushed the party mode button by playing WE GOT IT GOIN ON. The crowd really enjoyed this song and got heavily involved, especially when Jon wanted to hear the whole of Sydney scream. That sound will forever be cemented in my head.


Then, Jon walked over to the microphone whilst the entire crowd was screaming and declared “This is more like the Sydney I remember…..I’m just getting warmed up people, I’m just getting warmed up. You ain’t seeing nothing like this in a long time baby. Daddy’s home”. Here, the song that all Aussie fans had been waiting for, ITS MY LIFE was delivered in style. The introduction was just crazily electric and the song really brought the house down. It was unreal to witness it in such an arena, truly a highlight any place, anywhere. Since it was one of their biggest ever singles, people of all ages went wild. I always felt that the song was a declaration of a person’s attitude towards life. I feel it’s one of those songs that you don’t just listen to it when you’re going through a phase/period, but rather, a song that applies every single day. I’m always moved when he sings the line “It's my life and it's now or never, Cause I ain't gonna live forever. I just want to live while I'm alive”. It’s such a reality in my life.

With just a blink of an eye after Its My Life ceased, Jon cried out “Is there a doctor in the house” and the piano introduction to BAD MEDICINE surfaced, with the crowd’s reaction signalling a major health risk to all the fans that literally went into hysterical mode. It was at this point in the show which revealed Jon’s ability as a performer/entertainer, and not only as a singer. It was truly entertaining and exciting to watch. His acting skills were incorporated in the performance but the amazing thing was that whilst it appeared to be acting, in actual fact, it wasn’t. Jon was performing what he was feeling, therefore, making his performance real and breathtaking, especially when asking the crowd to “save me”. He was unstoppable and when incorporating SHOUT in the performance, it took the show to a whole new level. It’s quite amazing how at his age, he appears fitter and stronger than someone in their 20s.