Critics
 

A point Id be interested to hear opinions on.

Do you think the critics are biased against Bon Jovi or do you think that some of the criticism is merited. Personally I fall somewhere in between.

Some of Bon Jovi's lyrics have always been heavy handed bordering on juvenile eg

"I'd die for you, Id cry for you....."(and most of that song)
"....when I lost the keys/You lost more than that in my back seat",
"I wasnt there to blow the candles out" (and most of I'll be There for You),
"When I couldnt fly, you gave me wings",
"I'm gonna touch the sky, spread these wings and fly" etc etc.

I'm sure you have your own examples. However, quite a lot of good bands write lousy lyrics(U2's Discoteque, REM Shiny Happy People, Oasis Little by Little), and to be fair I think Bon Jovi have written some excellent songs. For example if Bono(or another critic's darling) wrote Keep the Faith, Wanted, Bed of Roses, Prayer etc they would have gotten more critical acclaim than the songs did from Bon Jovi. Personally I think Bon Jovi suffer because of the whole "hair band" association. I dont think the critics have ever seen past that and have always held it against the band although some of the criticism has been deserved.

Just my opinion though, but what do others make of the critics disdain for Bon Jovi, justified at all or completely unmerited?

on the whole over 20 yrs I have found teh critics to be very disrespectful on bith sides of the pond, there is no need for some of the comments that are made, ie attacking where they are from, there hair clothes etc and never really concentrating on whats important THE MUSIC. It does irritate me.

Dawn

I don't really care what the critics think of BJ's music. I like it and that's the important thingas far as Im concerned.

Sure some of the lyrics are cheesy but I think at times they are meant to be (in certain songs). To me though, the music is the important thing and thats where BJ truly deliver. If lyrics are that matters then you may as well just read them straight out of the booklet.

I think SOME of BJ's critizism is merited (Bounce was mediocre by their standards and some critics saw it that way and if they want to complain about some of the lyrics then they can.

The thing that bugs me is that critics always judge BJ as a hairband. I bet all the reviews for KTF were simply about Jon cutting his hair. Also, most of the New Jersey reviews I read were about Jon wanting to be Bruce Springsteen and thats why he named the album that way. So basically, I think critics generally give BJ a hard time.

i dont care what critics say. i love their music.
yes i dont love all songs but Bon Jovi has/have so many great songs / albums.

there are 2 kinds of music critics.
Those that are gettin through their internships to become bigger journalists, and bitter musicians wannabe's who never had their shot at making it in the music industry.
Just my thought but I don't care for or listen to neither.

Thats exactly what i was going to say :D

All lyrics were cheesy in the 80s - well at least the lyrics of glam metalers. I do think they could drop the cheese by now, but that is besides the point.

As far as critics - who cares? You'll always find some for and against anything and some targets are easier to pick than others.

Couldn't have said it better.

Personally I never listen to critics. I like to make up my own mind and never let some journalist tell me what I should be listening to. Age old saying - "Those who can do, those who can't criticize". I like Bon Jovi music and I doubt that there is anyone in the world that would make me change my mind about it.

We got a little off topic here, Ron asked for our opinion on the critics, not if we listen to them.

Ron I think you said it pretty well. Of course some criticizing is going to be merited, they're not perfect, but I really don't think they've gotten past the hair band image. And since most of those have faded over the years, I guess the critics think Jovi should have too. The great thing is, the fans that buy the albums and go to the concerts are the critics that matter.