I'll Be There For You vocals
 

DISCLAIMER: I know that this has been asked before, multiple times probably. But I thought now would be a good time to ask again.

So after 3 tours of Richie being the one who mainly sang I'll Be There For You, Jon took the mic on all performances this tour (except for ), and it wasn't the sub-par This Left Feels Right version. It got many rave reviews, probably because it was fresh to the ears (and probably because Richie took over Homebound Train, at least for a little while). But who do you prefer singing it: Jon, or Richie?

I prefer Jon. Richie's version was, and is, fantastic, with the soulful vocals and the long outro solo. But I still would prefer Jon here, as I would on any Bon Jovi song. That's the way I got to know the song, and that's the version that is in my top 5 Bon Jovi songs.

depends what mood I'm in to be honest. Sometimes I like Hearing Jon do it then others I prefer to hear richie

Strictly Jon. That's his song and he sings with the right emotion. Richie used to sing it with plenty emotion too, but the way Jon sings it is the way I want to hear that song. And I loved Richie's version too death (it was my highlight on MSG DVD along with Blood On Blood), but it was also because I didn't thought Jon could pull it off as good as he did this tour. The only realistic thing that could be done to make this song even better (realistic means no screaming Jon) is bringing back Richie outro that he used to do when Jon was singing this song in 2001. Overall, to me it was one of the best live songs of the past two years, so I'm happy that it was a staple again. Having that said, I really wouldn't mind that it would only be performed sometimes in the next tour and that 'hit ballad that gets to be played every night' spot would be given to Always if Jon's still able to pull that off in mid 2010s or whenever they're gonna tour.

Yes! I've got a beautiful version from Milton Keynes 01, with an awesome outro solo at the end of the song from Richie. The version runs about 9 minutes.
I don't think Jon could pull it off every night. But I would like IBTFY to be a more rare, and special song live. Maybe once every other night or every few nights. Bed of Roses or TAALS should be the every night ballads.

Richie. Jon just doesn't sound very good on it anymore in my opinion. Richie always seems to go with it and give his all and then that solo at the end on the performances where he sings is amazing. Jon, however, seems to know the exact spots in the song where he should take it up a gear and it seems forced and fake.

Richie.
Love Jon singing it.
But I first heard it sung by Richie and he made me love the song even more.

Jon. That's the way I fell in love with the song so it's always a disappointment to hear Richie sing it. Jon sounds great singing it and that's how it sounds proper to me.

i really like Richie's voice, especially in a song like this...so in that case Richie.

After I saw the performance in Lisbon, I fell in love with this song again, with Jon on vocals ...

Jon and always has been for me. That is the way I first heard the song and fell in love with it. I have been to a show when Richie sang it and I got disappointed. For me, that's Jon's song.