Bon jovi and ballads
 

First of all, typing this down was kinda inspired by a fellow jovitalker. So, I know for sure that I'm not the only one seeing things this way. Feel free to disagree (oh I know u will)

here it goes...

Bon Jovi and ballads. I've been wondering how on earth BJ manages to turn every slow song into cheesy crap. Ok, few exeptions there, but let's say 9 outta 10 are pure cheesy crap. It's quite obvious that with ballads Jovi ain't aiming at making a musical difference, not musically or lyrically. Most if not all of their ballads are calculated to please them romantic minds of them girlies and bored housewives. Also, I guess there's a better chance in getting major airplay with cheesy shite than with a real rocker. Oh yeah, it's been a while since Jovi did come up with real rocker anyway.

here's few examples from my point of view:
Always. Ok it does sound promising from the start. But then comes Jon squeaking Aaaaaal---waaaays. uh. real downer. Plus played live it sucks even more. Good example on song that just don't work.

All about loving you. Absolutely worst song Jovi has ever released. Pure cheesy crap, with no musical or lyrical effort in it. It's like hey let's make a romantic song that sweeps everyone off their feet. yeah right. Would suit some damn 2-cent-boygroup a lot better than Jovi. cliche after cliche.

Bed of roses. most of all, annoying. Not their worst effort, but it doesn't pull through. cheesy all around, for me, it just doesn't hold it together all the way. As with most of their ballads, then try to make them sound "big" and that's the approach that just doesn't work for them. Another one filled with cliches.

Ok so soundwise. Those ballads all attempt to have this "big" sound in them. Swelling and swelling through the song. Well that just doesn't work for me. I find it annoying as hell. A good example on how I'd prefer their slower efforts to be is Right side of wrong. It's a lot more down to earth than these ridiculous larger than life ones they've cooked up with. Anyway, I guess u do get the point. Can't really say this any better, so sorry.

Lyrically then. Ballad needs to tell a story. But it for sure doesn't have to be about romantic cliche after another. I don't find any of them jovi ballads romantic, or even to slightest amount touching. Calculated. that's how I see them. Not a slightest bit of real emotion in them, I just smell "this makes cash" attitude.

Albums. From stadium rock to stadium pop. It's kinda same thing with every album, they start as straight-forward upbeat kick-a** albums. But they water it all down with lousy ballads. Just as they manage to create an image of rock band, they tear it apart with overdone crappy ballads. I would enjoy hearing them attempting a ballad with rougher, not so polished sound, and for gods sake lyrically something not so bed-of-always-about-you.

Gotta end this rant with saying that no I am not against slow songs in general. Only disliking that cheesy crap that's all around these days. I just hate it when so-called rock bands turn into backstreet boys. To make it clear, so what is a good ballad in my books? Go check out Freebird, that'll give you a clue.

Re: Bon jovi and ballads
 

I agree with your whole 'rant' - in fact, I have nothing more to add, but I can't agree with you more on the quoted part. Romantic cliches - ugh. 'Bed Of Roses' really makes me want to puke.

I agree to an extent. I think the ballads on Crush and Bounce (excluding RSOW) are absolutely awful and do neither album any good. And the reason I think they are so bad is because they are "I love you, you love me, the world's great" kind of ballads. I remember Bono once said that he hated love songs that didnt have an edge to them and I absolutely agree. "Bed of Roses", "Always" and "I'll be There for You" all had an edge to them that ensured they weren't just mushy crap, personally I think BOR is a magnificent and honest song and some of the best lyrics Jons ever written.

Also if you dont think Always is good live take a look at the Live from London DVD, its one of the best live performances I've seen of any song. If you've seen it and still think its not any good then I give up.......

yeah seen it. and it isn't the worst performance of the song gotta admit that. but pay attention to bootlegged versions. With Live in London, band did put more to it than usually, knowing it was to be recorded / released. In general, it's boring and crappy live song.

I agree totally about live renditions of 'Always.' The Live from London version is undoubtedly one of the best performances of any song I have seen taking into account that it remains powerful despite not seeing it live, which must have been amazing! However, saying that, I have also seen the Yokohama '96 bootleg and the song is awful! Maybe they had an 'off day' - I don't know, but I haven't heard a single version that captures the power of the Wembley '95 gig and therefore am not overly fussed at never having seen it performed at any shows I've been to.

BOR on the other hand I think is in a different league, along with IBTFY, when it comes to live shows, although this is also brought about by the fact that these two songs (barring the key change at the end of IBTFY which BJ have NEVER played live anyway) are a lot easier to sing whereas 'Always' really stretches the vocal chords to their limits even when transposed a half-step down for live gigs.

On the whole, I think the general trend is clear. All ballads after 'These Days' was released weren't scrutinised as thoroughly lyrically or musically before being given the all-clear. Laziness? Perhaps, but since 'These Days' IMO featured some of the best ballads (e.g. 'My Guitar Lies Bleeding' and 'Letting You Go'), I think they're still capable of reaching into their not too distant past and pulling out something as memorable for their newer stuff. Fingers crossed!

IMO. T.D featured nothing to be considered as "some of the best", so I can't really agree with your point of view. From my point of view disliking T.D. comes from mediocre midtempo and slower tunes. Moods and lyrics that weren't what BJ is about. Then again, it might deserve closer look now when years has passed. In fact I might find it being lyrically better than a lot that they have put out. But that wouldn't change the fact that I just don't like it musically.