Reunion: The Graduation Song

No they didn't. Phil X posted on Insta he just played a one song acoustic set at MetLife at
10:30AM

Then open your eyes - those kids look bored and the Jon sang it quite emotionless. He's done far better on that song. It was a mediocre performance and didn't seem to go over well. Nothing to do with being a downer, just an observation.

Yeah... I'm one of Jon's biggest defenders and that was just awful... First of all, he brings the entire band and has Tico banging on a box... If you close your eyes, it sounded no different than the version he did by himself two years ago... why bring the band??

Second, the song itself isn't great... it's good lyrically but musically there is nothing to it...

I think there comes a point in a bands career where it's time to stop trying to be current and go back to the beginning... AC/DC did it, Metallica did it, Def Leppard did it and now it's Bon Jovi's turn... it's time to go retro... There are no new fans coming in... Take care of your old school fans and cut the shit...

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I agree...or just do something in the middle. songs like this are embarrassing..

I disagree to an extent. I'm a new fan. Burning Bridges was actually the album that got me hooked. They need to accept that they're not going to be the next big thing anymore, but that doesn't mean they can't bring in new fans.

A good example I think is Bruce... he's not pushing for new fans but he's getting them by sticking to his guns and putting on one hell of a live show.

But yeah. This sucked.

I don't know if it's just because we're not used to it here in Sweden, but if one of the biggest bands in the worlds showed up at my graduation I would be pretty psyched no matter what they played.

I for one would HATE to see them do that and you know I'm fan from 7800 forward. I lived that time I certainly don't need or want to go back simply for nostalgia sake. They are already accused of being cash grabbers and compromising their integrity by constantly touring. Doing this "retro" thing would only give more fuel to that fire. They'll retire completely before ever trying to recreate something that has already been done.

If they go retro I'm out. We're looking at that period with rose coloured glasses but with some of the cheesier lyrics WITHOUT the power behind them? No thanks. "I'd die for you, I'd cry for you, I'd do anything, I'd lie for you" if those lyrics were released in this era people would be lynching Jon.

But "Till i walks on a moonbeam" is OK?

Obviously it's subjective but you're completely missing the point. Some of the lyrics now are dumb, a lot of the lyrics from the 80s are even dumber. What that era and this era have in common is sometimes they go for the lowest common denominator with no depth. Cliche after cliche. The biggest difference is that era had power and passion behind it. You felt like they meant it.

FWIW, since Shanks joined there have been quite a few heavy synth, big drum sounding songs that evoke their old sound but it's not something people have cared about.