Why Is The Music Slowing Down?
 

Example: The same song 4 times

- 1996- Listen to how fast the music is and Jon singing


- 2005 - Slower but still a nice pace


- 2007 - Slow

- 2013 - Put Me To Sleep (this one isn't with the band but I have an audio with them and it's just as slow)

So WTF?

This is one of the main reasons, no, probably THE main reason, why the band isn't cutting it for me live anymore. I much prefer listening to the studio albums nowadays than hearing great songs done in such slow, boring ways.

Couldn't agree more!

But why? Are they easier to sing? Are they just getting old and can't keep up. Or is Jon done with real Rock n Roll?

Out of context hearing "Or is Jon done with real Rock n Roll?" in regards to a cover of Run Run Rudolph is some seriously funny stuff.

Honestly I think you're over thinking it. You can't really make this example with Livin' on a Prayer or Bad Name. It's been played at the same speed for years and years and years. This is just a Christmas cover and is more the exception than the rule.

They most likely even use a click track for those "Surprise" covers nowadays. Why is the decision made to lower the tempo of the originals in the first place is beyond me but hopefully somebody can give some insight into it because it's something that's bothered me about the band for a while....

Yeah, slowing down Run Run Rudolph isn't the issue. That's just an example of a much bigger problem. Namely, that most songs played live by the band nowadays are slow and boring.

I would guess it's all about Jon's vocals. Billy Joel, whose also had a lot of vocal issues, does the same thing.

Jon is old.

/thread

There are some tracks that they play faster though. They've always played tracks like 'Raise Your Hands' much faster than the recorded versions.

It could have to do with the song that was played just before to keep the pace going. I mean, this is one of those songs that are played by many artists in al kind of speeds. Suppose this is played after raise your hands it will probably get played a lot faster than when it is played after someday i ll be saturday night.
Also, this is the band starting the song, so jon needs to sing it in the tempo the band plays it. Once it starts you can't suddenly start singing it much faster or people would go like... : huh? Whats wrong?