Could Bon Jovi do it anymore?
 

If the guys decided tomorrow that they wanted to write a song in the style of, say, SHOT THROUGH THE HEART, could they do it? Or have they completely lost their ability to write that kind of rock song? I'd like to think they still have it in them, but see no evidence for it.

I would actually hope they wouldn't write a song that mirrored Shot Through The Heart. I was around during that time and became a fan then but I like to see and artist grow with the times and do what satisfies them as an artist even at the expense of me not liking it. Do I think they are still capable of writing a kick ass "rock" song, YES! But, it's interesting as it seems some think just because they venture in another direction/genre that translates to that they've lost their ability to make songs in their known genre. I think it just comes down to their choice versus ability.

deb

The rock scene is still thriving and is very popular at present - but it isn't mainstream and that is why I think there is so much adversity to the way the band has gone in recent years. They have moved on to the pop scene when they could stick to writing rockier tracks that appeal to a smaller number of people but still stay faithful to their original fans a little more.

How much influence do current record companies have? We'll never know, but it doesn't appear that the band comes across as being overly frustrated by it - quite the opposite in fact.

They can't man. BJ is dead rock-wise.
They're last good attempt was It's my life.. it's all downhill from there.

*mind is blown* IML was the last attempt at a rock song? I don't even consider It's My Life to be a rock song, let alone their last attempt at one.

EDIT: What about the new Last Man Standing, Unidivided, One Wild Night, Just Older, etc. How are they not considered rock songs but IML is? What's the criteria?

ah Jesus, not this again! we had a 'what is metal' thread a while back and it got nowhere.

Not in general. There is no criteria in general, I mean this person IN PARTICULAR's Criteria. I really want to know why they'd think IML was the last attempt at a rock song.

I think they have now ability to write better songs than STTH... Lyrics from their first two album are pretty simple and amateur if you will. They have just got better through te years...
So now they are clever enough to skip using lyrics like in STTH...

I'm just confused that IML could be the last attempt at a rock song and Everyday and HAND are a supposedly ripoffs of IML, so if HAND and Everyday are ripping of IML then, by default, aren't they attempts at a rock songs? And, then, they wrote the songs so they weren't really attempts at songs but actual songs.

Somewhere a little lab rat's brain just exploded.

Genre-ing is evil.

I’d imagine they’ve been getting quite a bit of help with lyrics and song writing after 7800. Trouble is the same corporation that help you out also have the say over what sort of material is commercially viable for release.

Besides, Jon does strike me as having a bit of an ego, can’t see him wanting to backtrack and bring out anything sounding outdated and risk losing credibility, he probably couldn’t/wouldn’t want to sing like that anymore anyway.