Favourite Jovi Riffs
 

- "A riff is a short, repeated, memorable musical phrase which focuses much of the energy and excitement of a song."

(thanks Wikipedia :lol:)

So what are your favourite riffs amongst the many which Bon Jovi have? And I dont just mean guitar riffs either. Was having a think of this the other day when I had the urge to bust out the air guitar while listening to Lay Your Hands On Me. I think an awesome opening riff always garuntees a great song. My favourite riffs from the band would include:

1. Lay Your Hands On Me - This is one Jovi song I where the volume has to be full blown when its played. The guitar riff after the choir bit is amazing.

2. I Believe - Just so happens a lot of my favourite riffs are all album openers. I LOVE the opening of I Believe where its just that awesome guitar riff playing and nothing else, then the drums build it up and it bursts into the song.

3. Good Guys Don't Always Wear White - Similar to I Believe, I love how the mian guitar riff bursts open in the intro. I love it in the chorus as well. Such an awesome song.

4. Undivided - Another album opener. The deep heavyness of this riff carries this song. I love how it carries through the first verse, and then abruptly comes back in the 2nd verse after the chorus.

5. Livin' on a Prayer - I know its old and nothing spectacular, but when I hear that talkbox riff so famously known, I just cant help but smile and be happy lol.

6. Whole Lot of Leavin' - Not as "rock" as my other favourites, but the opening acoustic guitar riff of this song is just beautiful. It really sets the mood of the song and I love it (especially after the intro when the instruments jump in).

7. Raise Your Hands - What a rocker. I love this one. Amazing live as well. Now that I think about it, the guitar riff is one of the few reasons why I love this song.

8. Last Man Standing - There'll always be the debate about which version of this song is better (the box set version or HAND version), but the HAND version kicks ass IMO just because of that opening guitar. Phwoar! Love it!

9. I'll Be There For You - It only appears three times throughout the whole song but it definately leaves its mark. This use to be my 2nd favourite Jovi song simply because of that oh so memorable rift in the intro and outro.

10. Borderline - That synth keyboard riff during the chorus is bloody amazing. This song NEEDED to be on Slippery!

Its hard to just pick 10 but that's all ive got time for for now. Some honourable mentions though to:

- Wanted Dead Or Alive (forever legendary)
- Stay (love the piano!)
- Love Me Back To Life/The Distance (pretty much identical IMO, just one has talkbox)
- Starting All Over Again
- We Rule The Night
- We Got It Goin On (IDC what other people say, I LOVE that deep riff in the intro :p)
- Unbreakable
- Blood On Blood
- Dry County (who doesnt get chills with that soft opening piano?)
- You Give Love A Bad Name
- Edge of a Broken Heart
- One Wild Night
- Happy Now

My favorite jovi riffs aren't even in the lists you listed.

Homebound train.... Wooooo wooooo!

Have you actually left any others for people to choose? :p

7800 may be underappreciated here, but it's got some great riffs on it: In And Out Of Love, Price Of Love, and Hardest Part Is The Night just rock.

And then of course there's Hey God. And Let It Rock. And If I Was Your Mother ...

Hey God for me.

damned is kick ass

Nice use of quotes, dandaman. Epic fail.

the bass riffs to prayer and keep the faith are about as close to perfect a riff as you'll find imo.

the intro riff on dead or alive too.

i think i'll just pick one from every album to keep it simple:

new jersey: keys riff on blood on blood

ktf: aside from the title track the riffs on in these arms

these days: the verse guitar riff on these days and the break riff on something to believe in

crush: captn crash intro

bounce: guitar riff on intro of love me back to life but my favourite thing on the whole album is the vocal hook on the chorus of misunderstood.

HAND: intro to HAND

lost highway: riff on any other day intro

circle: intro riff on wwbtf

Nice offtopic post, Rune. Epic fail.


For me, Lay your hands on me is one of the best riff-wise. Hey god is great and Homebound train is amazing.

Damned, 99 in the Shade, Homebound Train, In n out of love.

One Wild Night's riff is pure win.