Originally Posted by symbeline (Post 1222792)

Well, I didn't have the patience for what they had become since HAND so I hit the pause button for some years, but I certainly didn't tell anyone how they should feel or tried to convince them not to support such abysmal albums. I practice what I preach but I don't lecture. We spent the money somewhere else and I didn't regret it one bit...
But my point was that I respect that they want to stay relevant and have something to say and even the people who don't care about them give them props for having had a long and very successful career after hitting their peak. But I also think that they should stand by their work if they want me to treat all that big integrity speeches seriously. Even if I don't like them, ignoring whole albums feels as if they are saying "nah that was shit, we didn't put too much effort, wanna forget about it... next" or at the least just needing an excuse to tour again (I only accept the "it was shit" excuse for Fahrenheit because they really didn't have control over their output at that point).

I've said the same a hundred times here and discussing the band with the couple friends who are still fans: if they had kept the songs that were working every tour and gave a few more chances to the ones that didn't go as well as predicted but they believed in them, now they'd have many many familiar songs to choose from and keep everyone happy. Even if an album/single tanked they still did promo, it was on the radio for a time and it has an official video. Chances are, people who like BJ have heard of those songs, even if they don't buy the albums or don't keep up to date.

It's really simple. You have 2-3 singles for album post-Crossroad, you add them to your non-hits singles list and rotate them but make that section a staple. And then add the album cuts that work live, and you rotate them too (they have plenty to choose from). So now you have almost 20 songs to choose in addition to the hits, the 4-5 new songs and Jon's faves (which to be fair are just a couple). That makes a basic setlist for the usually safe NA leg that casuals will like because it has both hits and familiar songs, and diehards won't probably complain too much because there'll be variety with so many y songs to choose from. And the new songs from that tour will become familiar and hopefully one of the album cuts will work and you can add it to the always growing setlist. Easy peasy!

I know Jon's voice dictates most of what he can sing now so it's a moot point, but in the recent past every tour meant ditching almost everything older than the current album, and then pretending the songs should be forgotten because they didn't work... of course they didn't if you don't give them a chance again! People will forget about them, same as they would forget WGIGO if they stopped playing it altogether. It's not a fun song the audience luuuurves because Jon shake his ass, it's a (horrible) song that it's been played to death, no wonder everybody knows it! And that works for any overplayed post-2000 non hit song.


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Originally Posted by Becky (Post 1222824)

MSG is postponed due to bronchitis. See Billboard. So, everyone can be happy now, right? He's taking care of his health. Maybe there is enough time for people to get refunds on flights and hotels. One thing is certain-- if you do travel for shows, you should be wise enough to pay the flight and booking insurance to cancel if needed.

Damned if you do...damned if you don't.

Originally Posted by symbeline (Post 1222792)

Well, I didn't have the patience for what they had become since HAND so I hit the pause button for some years, but I certainly didn't tell anyone how they should feel or tried to convince them not to support such abysmal albums. I practice what I preach but I don't lecture. We spent the money somewhere else and I didn't regret it one bit...
But my point was that I respect that they want to stay relevant and have something to say and even the people who don't care about them give them props for having had a long and very successful career after hitting their peak. But I also think that they should stand by their work if they want me to treat all that big integrity speeches seriously. Even if I don't like them, ignoring whole albums feels as if they are saying "nah that was shit, we didn't put too much effort, wanna forget about it... next" or at the least just needing an excuse to tour again (I only accept the "it was shit" excuse for Fahrenheit because they really didn't have control over their output at that point).

I've said the same a hundred times here and discussing the band with the couple friends who are still fans: if they had kept the songs that were working every tour and gave a few more chances to the ones that didn't go as well as predicted but they believed in them, now they'd have many many familiar songs to choose from and keep everyone happy. Even if an album/single tanked they still did promo, it was on the radio for a time and it has an official video. Chances are, people who like BJ have heard of those songs, even if they don't buy the albums or don't keep up to date.

It's really simple. You have 2-3 singles for album post-Crossroad, you add them to your non-hits singles list and rotate them but make that section a staple. And then add the album cuts that work live, and you rotate them too (they have plenty to choose from). So now you have almost 20 songs to choose in addition to the hits, the 4-5 new songs and Jon's faves (which to be fair are just a couple). That makes a basic setlist for the usually safe NA leg that casuals will like because it has both hits and familiar songs, and diehards won't probably complain too much because there'll be variety with so many y songs to choose from. And the new songs from that tour will become familiar and hopefully one of the album cuts will work and you can add it to the always growing setlist. Easy peasy!

I know Jon's voice dictates most of what he can sing now so it's a moot point, but in the recent past every tour meant ditching almost everything older than the current album, and then pretending the songs should be forgotten because they didn't work... of course they didn't if you don't give them a chance again! People will forget about them, same as they would forget WGIGO if they stopped playing it altogether. It's not a fun song the audience luuuurves because Jon shake his ass, it's a (horrible) song that it's been played to death, no wonder everybody knows it! And that works for any overplayed post-2000 non hit song.


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Originally Posted by Gabriel Shoes (Post 1222868)

Very good arguments.

Just want to add on top of the set list part, well, it's their fault. They could have done exactly what you said and rotate Bed Of Roses, Always and This Ain't A Love Song but they ignored completely TAALS for many, many years. It had a good chart performance in the US market and was huge in Europe, Asia and SA. I'm using TAaLS as an example, but there are many singles that they just ignored and they could have done a better job with it.

Originally Posted by Gabriel Shoes (Post 1222868)

Very good arguments.

Just want to add on top of the set list part, well, it's their fault. They could have done exactly what you said and rotate Bed Of Roses, Always and This Ain't A Love Song but they ignored completely TAALS for many, many years. It had a good chart performance in the US market and was huge in Europe, Asia and SA. I'm using TAaLS as an example, but there are many singles that they just ignored and they could have done a better job with it.

Originally Posted by jovifan93 (Post 1222874)

I get your point, but personally I am glad TAALS is not played so much. Just a mediocre song in my book... But you're right about Bed Of Roses and the point itself. Throw in Thank You For Loving Me, hell even Bells Of Freedom or something like that. Oh, and I'll Be There For You of course!

Originally Posted by bonjovi90 (Post 1222878)

If we're talking about a mediocre ballad - Thank You For Loving Me shouldn't be near the setlists in my humble opinion! :D

Originally Posted by Becky (Post 1222784)

If you have to travel to any show you attend, pay for a hotel room, and only get 2 personal days to take off a year at work, you appreciate the effort of doing a shorter show over no show. It's not like you can easily and inexpensively book another flight and get a sick note from the artist to keep your boss from docking your pay if you miss another two days for a rescheduled show. So saying that fans are stupid to appreciate the effort is what is bullshit.

Originally Posted by Falco (Post 1222897)

Geez, why would anyone willingly work for a company that only gives 2 personal days? Lol. I get 7 personal days, 15 vacation days, and 10 holidays to use. That's crazy! Sorry, just in shock hearing people get 2 personal days! Should be a crime!