Tutorial: How to write a proper setlist.

Originally Posted by Suojelusperkele

I wouldn't say that it's their best closer but it's better than Wanted. It's definitely not because of the song length because when Wanted is played the only way it's supposed to be played, with Richie's guitar solo intro, the song lasts about 10 minutes, thus being longer than These Days. But they used These Days to end encore sets in 1996 and when I listen to those shows I think that they could have ended the whole show right there. It just works. These Days is a beautiful and epic song that would leave the audience in a kind of dreamy state. Jon can speak to the audience and say farewell to them during the intro like he did in '95 and '96, and they can extend the ending, unlike with Wanted, giving the show a proper sense of finale. There's this certain feeling of closure about These Days, and just as I think that These Days could have rather well been the last ever Bon Jovi single, it could have also been a good closer of concerts.

In general the best songs for ending sets are those that have kind of a loose structure in them, so that you can extend the songs, talk to the audience and whatnot. Songs like this are for example I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, Bad Medicine, Someday I'll Be Saturday Night, Keep The Faith, etc. It's My Life doesn't work for either ending a main set or a whole concert because the song is played live exactly like the studio version; the song lasts 3 minutes 45 seconds and at no point can you improvise and make contact to the audience. It's My Life also doesn't work as an opener of concerts, just like it doesn't work as a first track of an album, but it does work as a second song if there's some other big rock song preceding it. Many of these things are just about the feeling of flow and continuity that concerts should have, and I suppose people don't agree with me but I still think that most setlists in this site are always somehow ****ed up.

Originally Posted by KeepTheFaith2211

I agree with you here. Songs that can be extended and have a good atmosphere about them are excellent closers.

However, if I went to a show and 'Sleep When I'm Dead' was the closing song, I think I'd feel physically sick to be honest.

Originally Posted by KeepTheFaith2211

However, if I went to a show and 'Sleep When I'm Dead' was the closing song, I think I'd feel physically sick to be honest.