Let's rate: This Is House Is Not For Sale, the song

We are really talking around in circles. Discussing how good or bad the single is? makes sense
Discussing in 2016 if they should choose a different type of singles? Doesn't make any sense at all

It's as simple as this: in the 90s anything they did worked on the radio. Both because they were BJ and they were huge (at least in Europe) and because music was way more diverse. A good song would work regardless of artist or genre. Now music is terribly limitated and has been for too long, I don't see a change in the near future. It's a package deal, a song must have a marketable "artist" (ie young and hot) whose live is on display 24/7 (must have a minimum of Instagram followers, Twitter mentions and TMZ articles) and whose personal/artistic style is generic enough to became disposable when the next big thing replaces said "artist". Only a few chosen ones have a strong fanbase AND critical blessing to survive this bleak scenario and BJ is not one of them. They lost their chance in the 90s and now without the critics' stamp of approval they have to work harder and prove themselves constantly. It's extremely rare that an artist outside the mold becomes more than a one hit wonder these days and even when it happens 99% of the time it's still someone that doesn't really depart from the norm. Exotic enough to be different but not too different, people thrive on familiarity/vulgarity nowadays.

No matter what Jon says, to be the underdog forever has to hurt their egos and eventually wear them out. They can't tour every 2 years to sold-out stadiums all over the world for months without a new album as a reminder that they still exists. How do you want the regular Joe to remember they didn't break up 20 years ago if their singles don't hit mainstream radio ? There are surely enough fans for a nostalgia tour every few years but not every 2-3 years and surely not enough to make it the no.1 tour worldwide.

What album cuts from the last 20 years could have worked both as singles for the casual fans (radio friendly, safe enough to keep up with their image) while keeping the diehards happy (not a rehash of old hits, not too pop, meaningful lyrics...). Judging from the favorites here, I'd say none. Or does anybody here really think Novocaine, I Am, Any Other Day, Thorn In My Side, Brokenpromiseland, That's What the Water Made Me, I'm With You would have fared better in mainstream radio? Not even his beloved Capt Crash would have. Not even some of the 3rd-4th singles if they had been chosen as firsts (The Distance comes to mind). I can only see OWN working and satisfying both types of fans.

They hit the jackpot twice in an era where such thing for an older act is a fvcking miracle. Why would they sacrifice what it cost them so much to achieve to avoid disappointing people like the ones in this board, myself included?

Some people here just see their laziness and conformism but what would have you done? I don't like any of those singles, hell I hate IML so I'm not happy at all they are rehashing that damn song. But it was their miracle , why the hell would they throw it all away in the name of artistry and integrity? The same band that was tailored for the radio and TV since their first album? Let's be realistic here...

He probably knows he disappoints his most loyal fanbase. I don't buy for a second Jon hates the 90s and would rather pretend they didn't happen except for the hits. He's obviously proud of the songs we love, just check any bootleg, recent or old. He enjoys playing those songs but can't afford losing the majority of his fans who only want to listen to the hits and the recent singles on the radio. They won't mind 3-4 obscure album cuts per show when they can hear 20 hits and sing along and feel it was money well spent.

Would it make sense at this point to say fvck it and release a BB type of album for all the fans? Not a rethorical question, it just wouldn't. If the new album has a decent run and the next tour is financially strong enough, then I'd say it's time to finally let go because they really made it and no one can knock them down until they decide to call it quits. If they can come back again in 2016 after all that has happened it's really the time to do whatever they want to do for the rest of their lives and then we can discuss what the hell are they doing releasing IML part 25.

It's ok at best. Wasn't expecting anything more than that. Better than "Because We Can" and "WWB2F" as lead singles but I'm gonna hold back until on the album until I've heard some albums tracks. Even What About Now had one song that I liked so maybe the new album will too.

Solid 8 for me!

I gave it a 7 - mostly because I wanted something DIFFERENT and didn't get it. On the other hand, it's a solid song, for what it is and I expect to be singing "I'm Coming Hoome" with a lot of other people in a stadium.

The funniest thing I've seen was someone asking if Jon was singing about an actual house of if it was a metaphor for something. Really? You have to ask?

I love the lyrics, the vibe, the atmosphere, attitude... everything. This song is everything I expect from Jon without straying from what I expect from Bon Jovi. And, yes, there's a difference. If you get it, you get it.

I'm really hoping for live performances of the song that do it justice and pull us in. The song was meant for full on audience sing along. Just imagine hearing that crowd roaring back "This house is not for sale." BWC did not do that at all for me when they did it live, though I do get sucked into the studio track.

On another topic, is anyone else waking up in the morning with that chorus in their head and anxious to play it that day? I can't honestly remember the last time a song from them hooked me like that.

Same here. The best first single since "Have a Nice Day". 9/10

Well it's better than BWC and WWBTF, so I guess that's a start. The harmonies in the verses are lame, the lyrics are the usual formula, and I'm sure the production has been bitched about ad nauseum so I doubt I can add anything new to that. Jon's voice holds everything back- It's sad that even a song with vocals this safe I can't imagine him pulling off live. The song sounds like a tempered HAND. The only other thing I'll note is that Richie's absence has zero impact here; I can't imagine the song would sound any different with his input. Good job to Shanks or whoever on the solo (but his sense of sound still sucks so screw him).

5/10

A big YES from me lol!!

It's a 2 from me I'm afraid.
I've listened to it twice, once on it's own, the second time with the video.
I just don't like it and I can't really explain why.
Some classic bands stick to a formula and it works, some go for a change and it works. Some go for a change and it falls flat on it's face.
This represents something somewhere in the middle.
It's like Jon said he wanted to go back to basics, but then wanted to make something a little different and, rather than go all in one way or the other, he got stuck.
A bit like a winger cutting inside and hitting and not knowing whether to pick out the striker with a cross, or go for glory himself, instead managing to pick out row Z on the other side of the pitch.

Thing is, all in all, it doesn't really matter, because Jon isn't after chart hits.
This is out there just to push an album in a couple of months time, followed by a tour.
I can't picture this being a non-static stage performance of a song either.
Right now, I've no intention of going, which is a first considering I haven't missed a tour in 20 years.