Does the band need outside writers?
 

Alright, so first of all spare me from the whole "Jon is the greatest songwriter ever, just listen at the epic DA album, you know what I'm talking about" shit. The fact is, Bon Jovi didn't hit paydirt until they drafted the legendary Desmond Child. Check out the first 12 songs that Desmond had a hand in:

1. Bad Name
2. Prayer
3. Without Love
4. Bad Medicine
5. Born To Be My Baby
6. Blood On Blood
7. Wild Is The Wind
8. Keep The Faith
9. Sleep When I'm Dead
10. Something For The Pain
11. This Ain't A Love Song
12. Hearts Breaking Even

Not a single clunker. After that of course there were turds like Diamond Ring, The Distance and You Want To Make A Memory. However, most of the songs that Desmond co-wrote were great.

In addition, some of the other classic Bon Jovi songs like It's My Life, Just Older, Undivided, Bounce, Have A Nice Day, Any Other Day, I Love This Town were written with someone from outside the band.

Do you think the band should keep involving outside writers?

I'm not saying that the band themselves can't write classics. Songs like the all-holy In These Arms, These Days, Wanted Dead Or Alive, Social Disease, I'd Die For You, Wild In The Streets, Love For Sale, 99 In The Shade, I'll Be There For You, Dry County, and Who Says You Can't Go Home prove that the band is capable. However, they seem to work very well with outside writers as well.

I say they should.

I think it's relative. They've written great songs by themselves and great songs with outside writers. They've also written shit songs by themselves, and shit songs with other writers.

I second this, aslong as the song is a good song....

I don't think they're a necessity, but they've got a fairly good track record of picking writers who work well with them and that shows.

As long as we're talking about writing, I do think David should write more. I always like David songs.

They definately do, they never would have achieved the success they have without Desmond and others.

You hurt my feelings.:(

Anyway, I think it's healthy to have a bit of outside help sometimes, and Desmond has been important to them, but I basically agree with what Crushgen said.

And Dave is an excellent musician, why is he being shunted?

As Brian mentioned, they've had hits without outside writers, Always is one example and more recently, Who Says You Can't Go Home (in the US, at least) so, I don't think they "need" them but I'm not one who is put off if they use them.

deb

Sorry baby.

I don't know. Dave is 1/3 of the mega-awesomeness that is In These Arms, I think he needs to collaborate more with Richie and Jon.

But he's also 1/3 of the not so awesomeness that is Unbreakable. :(

I think Unbreakable is a good song. Yes, it's not as awesome as In These Arms, and yes it's poppy but after 2000, Bon Jovi is more pop anyway, so I don't see the big deal. The song rocks more than some of the snoozers in HAND (Bells of Freedom, Welcome To Wherever You Are).