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I only clicked on this video to give it a thumbs down. God I hate Bon Jovi. Well... I don't actually hate them. I'm just 100% sick of their music. I also hate how they are the ones representing the hair metal scene in the Rock N Roll hall of fame.
Professor of Rock just gets it! He understands the music on so many levels, but most importantly on the personal level. He nails it when he says that Slippery When Wet was the soundtrack of that era. I bought it the day my 7th grade girlfriend dumped me. I can't listen to Never Say Goodbye without being transported to my bedroom in 1986, sitting on my bed feeling sorry for myself. Thank you, Professor!
Hey professor! Aldo Nova is friends with Tony Bon Jovi, and was the one who played keyboards on “Runway” as a favor to Tony. Speaking of Aldo Nova you should do something on him. He was possibly the pioneer of arena rock, and his debut album peaked at number 10, I think. He is an underrated rock musician, who plays everything but drums. In fact, he played everything on his first album, but the drums. His second album “Subject” didn’t have the success, everyone was hoping for, but none the less, it’s a pretty good album. Aldo Nova plays some killer guitar riffs, and is a descent singer.
Funny thing is Living on a prayer is a song about a relationship on the rocks.. but people have gave it a new meaning that is about hope! To each his own I guess.
"Shot through the Heart"(not to be confused with the other one) is my all time favourite Bon Jovi track, not a huge single but what a song, "hardest part is the night" is up there too
Shot through the Heart is great and yeah whenever you mention it people think they are correcting you and say, 'Its called You Give Love A Bad Name' LOL I still maintain that Roulette off that same debut album is the heaviest song Bon Jovi ever recorded.
Those earlier albums have some really great pieces of work on them. Get Ready is also a personal favourite. Lately he's had a lot of misses, in my opinion, but Bon Jovi are the backbone of my life. My brother gave me his LP of SWW in 86 because he didn't like it. I still have it and it's been all over the world with me.
I knew that they had something going ever since I saw them on MTV with their classic, Runaway. They perfected hard rock with a pop touch which set them apart from groups that wanted to be as hard hitting as possible. They took more care with lyrics than a lot of the hard rock groups of the 1980s
Thank you soooo much. Maybe for many people this album is sooooo underrated, because it has such a sad depressive note. But since also for "You give love a bad name" footage of the 1996 Yokohama-Concert was used - maybe unnoticed, but for me, this was the peak for the band. Live they brought everything, they had done so far in perfection. "It´s my life" was great, but the shows weren´t quite the same, and then Johns problem with his voice and the problems with Richie set in. I´ll love Bon Jovi forever - and it´s hard too find Top 5 with so many great songs. But Top 3 for me will be: 1. These Days, 2. Something to believe in, 3. Always.
Saw Bon Jovi in Australia for the 'Slippery When wet' tour, great concert, seen them a couple more times since. Always a great show, took my son to the last one.
Bon Jovi's most underrated album is These Days. From a critical standpoint it might be the best record they ever did. Q magazine gave it 5 stars for whatever it is worth. I had moved on from the band when it came out and didn't hear it until many years later. When I finally did hear it I was floored.
The album New Jersey was in regular rotation on in the walkman circa 89'. 5."Never Say Goodbye" 4."Runaway" 3."Living In Sin" 2."Living On A Prayer" 1. "I'll Be There For You"
Man, Living in sin is a song that every band would dream to make and it is forgotten, never played im their concerts, just as Never say goodbye and many other great songs.
I remember having a Slippery When Wet Album and with my friends we play it a over and over! That was the best days of my life! My 5er: Never Say Goodbye Livin on a Prayer You give love a bad name This Ain’t a Love song Wanted Dead or Alive
Agree. Living in sin is a song that every band would dream to make and it is forgotten, never played im their concerts, just as Never say goodbye and many other great songs.
Slippery When Wet Changed my 14 year old life back in '86. However, my favorite Bon Jovi song by miles is "As My Guitar Lies Bleeding in My Arms." That's one of my all time favorite songs and definitely my favorite Bon Jovi song.
In an interview Jon explained that signing a contract adds the pressure of producing more albums in a relatively short time. And they asked how he got past that. He said he came prepared with so much material he had been writing all his life. He was serious about being a rock star for life. And he said what trips up a lot of bands is that "that band had a whole lifetime to write that first album but not thinking of the 2nd and 3rd."
That moment was so iconic that my 3rd grade teacher recorded it on VHS and brought it in to play for us during class. I'll never forget that. That was when I realized that my teachers were cool people too. MTV has so many moments like that back then. I'd call them historic.
Man, Living in sin is a song that every band would dream to make and it is forgotten, never played in their concerts, just as Never say goodbye and many other great songs.
Jon Bon Jovi AND Richie Sambora were BOTH inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame as a songwriting duo. Nice too see this band get attention on your channel! Bon Jovi is a band I was into about a year before they got huge - suddenly around fall/winter 1986 all my classmates wanted me to tape their previous record for them as I was the only one they knew who had that one on a cassette. Ah, the days of home taping killing music, hahah... Anyway, Bon Jovi are an indelible part of my golden '80s youth!
From sweeping floors to filling major stadiums show what you can do with dedication and hard work been a fan since the 80s and had the privilege to see them live never disappoint no much wonder the have lasted 3 decades and counting long live bon jovi
Emilio Estevez wanted "Wanted Dead or Alive for Young Guns 2. Jon didn't think it was right. According to Kiefer Sutherlund they were all in a diner eating burgers and Jon wrote Blaze of Glory on a napkin in less than 10 minutes. Sutherlund is not a bad musician himself. Jon did a duet with Chris LeDoux in 1998 for Bang a Drum. Two guys from a somewhat different end of the spectrum and yet with the same kind of on stage presence teaming up in mutual respect. Would love to hear an album with Jon Bonjovi, Jon Fogerty, Darryl Hall and Joe Walsh.
Oh... Bon Jovi. The first time I met them I was 4 or 5 around 1987, I listened to Livin' on a Prayer on the radio and the song hooked me, I didn't understand a single word but the chorus was so easy to follow, I liked their music, but it wasn't until 1995 when These Days released, marvelous album, the first one I ever bought, I was 13 at the time and I started to take a look back at their catalog, it was just what I needed. I always had somewhat crappy english teachers, but back in the day I would spend all my allowance going to the internet cafe and downloading the lyrics to the songs. Jon Bon Jovi and Riche Sambora taught me how to listen, speak , read and write in english, and for that, I will forever be thankful. You wouldn't be reading me without them. They also taught me how to love rock n roll, without them I wouldn't have discovered Led Zeppelin, The Who, Queen, The Beatles, The Cars... go ahead, name a band, I met them because Jon, Alec, Tico, Richie and David. I really appreciate their music and have most of their catalog, but after What About Now I just moved on, I just couldn't stomach the album, I liked Crush, Bounce, 100.000.000 BJFCBW, TLFR, have a Nice Day, The Circle (great album and an underappreciated classic), but a lot of the time the new music didn't make me feel anything. Still, I celebrate every victory those guys have had, the induction to the RNRHOF filled me with hope and made me proud of those guys, they're like that old friend that's always good to see every once in a while. Now the've aged, last week JBJ became 59, his voice isn't anything like it used to be due to alcohol and cigarrette abuse, as well as professional abuse, Richie is pretty much retired, Tico was a huge man yet in the RNRHOF induction he looked really small and kinda tired, I just want them to retire and enjoy life with their families. They've done a lot already.
I remember my big sister got Slippery When Wet and listened to it over and over and over. I still remember all the words to "I'll be there for you. These 5 words I swear to you. When you breathe..."
The Bon Jovi Skid Row concert was the first concert I went to after my LDS mission in 1989. I was also in their Lay your hands on me video, for about 1/3 of a second
Mate this episode was fantastic!! 1987, 14yo, first live concert of my life at the Sydney entertainment centre. My close friend loved Bon Jovi and she asked if I’d come with her, so with both of us wearing double stone washed denim off we went and OMG!! That performance changed my life!! The most profound and magical thing about that night, it created a bond between the two of us that has lasted to this very day 36 years later and anytime I hear a song off that album (Sww) it takes me straight back there, arm in arm singing at the top of our voices while JBJ flew over the top of us!
Christmas of ‘87, I got my first two cassette tapes ever. Europe’s “The Final Countdown” and Bon Jovi’s “Slippery When Wet.” My parents were even into Bon Jovi. “Slippery When Wet” is still one of my all time favorite albums. My top 5... 1) Wanted Dead Or Alive 2) Never Say Goodbye 3) Let It Rock 4) Livin’ On A Prayer 5) Blaze Of Glory (I know it’s Jon solo, but it’s so damn awesome)
Top 5 Bon Jovi songs. 1. Living on a Prayer 2. You give love a bad name 3. Wanted dead or alive 4.I'll be there for you. 5. Keep the Faith That was hard to choose. I still listen to their music so I have some new favorites too. Thanks for the post.
I love that Without Love is on your list. That song doesn't get enough ...er... Love. I love that song and it seems to be the one song on SWW that people forget about.
Bon Jovi made the best music business move of all time and no one takes about it. In the 90’s when The US turned it’s back to focus on grunge and rap, Bon Jovi decided to expand to the world and had massive success with Keep The Faith and These Days (their best album IMO). That’s what kept them relevant and that’s the reason why they keep touring the world. In the 2000’s whe it’s my life put them back on the American Charts it’s when they wanted to go back home, but by then they were already too big and that’s why every time they put a record out, the MUST get on a global tour!
I remember hearing 'You Give Love a Bad Name' and running to the record store to get the album. The song has the lyrics "shot through the heart,' which is a song from their first album, which I bought "by mistake". Best mistake I ever made : )
I love Bon Jovi, I had a horrible car wreck and for months I was in the hospital and every day I would listen to Someday I'll be Saturday Night and that would give me hope
I was in either the 5th or 6th grade and I remember very distinctly the classroom next to us breaking out the chorus to living on a prayer. I’ve never heard that since, that moment captured perfectly the zeitgeist of the time, it was the impact of the song. It was an absolute monster in every way.
Bon Jovi contributed a large portion of the soundtrack to my teens. I bought every album. Such great songs, with a sound that is all their own. They are so good in concert too! I love all of their songs but, for some reason, Silent Night (7800 Fahrenheit) just caught me back then. It was definitely my top fav, when their first 2 LPs were released. Professor, I am loving your posts. Thanks so much for giving such great insights and background info to some of my favorite bands and songs!
Man, you have no idea how many times I sang Silent Night to tears. Incredible. Also, Living in sin is a song that every band would dream to make and it is forgotten, it amazes me they never played them, just as Never say goodbye and many other great songs.
@@libremauricio I agree. Silent Night just struck a chord with me, from the very first time I played that LP. Definitely many incredible underrated, under-played songs in their catalog! .. Living in Sin... *sigh*
86 was the beginning of the hair metal era in the 80's. New wave and the early 80's sound was dying out and being replaced. It was still good music, just different. I definitely remember the rise of Bon Jovi, Poison, Guns and Roses, Def Leppard, and many more at that time. Some had hits earlier, but they all exploded in the late 80's. Good times...I wonder if we'll ever see those kinds of concerts again.
Ummm no also in 1984 there were hair bands like-Motley Crue, Def Leppard were as well as thye wre having hit album and singles before 1986 And you said some had hits earlier so that was also an explosion lol Also 1986 was mid 80's not late 80's Early-1980-83 Mid-84-86 Late-87-89
Starless is right about '86 being a changeover year, and the year 'Hair Metal' went mainstream. Everyone else is also right that there were breakthrough's previous to that - people like Ratt, Quiet Riot, and Def Leppard, but from the end of '85 it seemed like New Wave Euro pop of the first half of the decade began to fade. Hair Metal and Rap became the sounds of the second half of the decade; Bon Jovi, Poison, Guns 'n' Roses, Leppard's Hysteria, Warrant, Cinderella - even the Aerosmith comeback - they were the mainstream sounds of the second half of the 80's. It's one of the amazing things about the Run DMC / Aerosmith team-up in '86 - it pretty much showed the rest of the decade of youth culture in a single song. Beastie Boys 'Fight for Your Right' did a similar thing.
I truly hate when people says they are overrated cuz it is totally the opposite, they are actually underrated as a (rock) band. Their music is so inspiring and undoubtedly uplifting. As a fan, I can say I look up to them and Jon's story always inspires me to work hard. Sadly, most of their best songs are not popular. For me, the holy quaternity of their albums are Slippery When Wet, New Jersey, Keep The Faith and These Days, being the latter ones the two best of Bon Jovi's discography.
Glam rock at its finest. I got into what this mans talking about. Researched most of bon Jovi albums. Still a fan now. Always covering his stuff even the new album.
It's amazing that there was only three singles released from ]Slippery'. I saw a doc on Bon Jovi and they said that they could have easily putout five singles, but they had been on tour for so long and were so exhausted that the idea of extending the record's success with more singles made them want to die.
My memory of Lay Your Hands on Me is them using it as the opening song during their tour in 89, the way it swelled and filled the building, built the excitement, it was very much a religious experience. I don't know if I could ever do a 5er for them. Loved them so much for so many years, trying to pick a top 5 would feel like betrayal for all the other songs that meant, and still mean, a lot to me.
The greatest hard rock band of the 80's by a mile. Too many great songs to do a top 5 but i will compile 6 songs from their first 6 studio albums (in no particular order): 1. Runaway 2. The hardest part is the night. 3. Wanted Dead or Alive 4. Homebound Train 5. Dry County 6. Hey God thanks for the class professor!
Desmond Child’s real name is John like Bon Jovi, only spelled differently. He wanted to use the name Johnny and Gina(since the story is loosely based on him) for the lyrics to “Living on a Prayer” but Bon Jovi thought that was to personal. He didn’t want music fans to think the song was about him, so he changed the name to “Tommy.”
Slippery When wet maybe the greatest album of the '80s. I know that appetite for destruction gets a lot of credit but bon Jovi was still bigger during the '80s. Such a monumental album
Your video on Dephece Mode caught my attention, but your attention to detail grabbed a sub. Plus, being a fellow Southeastern Idahoan helps. Either way, keep up the great work!
Loved this...I followed his career from the first single and saw them live initially when they were a warming up for Ratt...crazy right? Knew they were going to make it because they were so great live! Have seen them several times since then and have never been disappointed. Thanks for the memories!
Oh, here's my fiver... 1. These Days 2. Born To Be My Baby 3. Dry County 4. Livin' On A Prayer 5. Stick To Your Guns Have to post this before I change my mind...!
@@BillGraperCorby stuff was great. Loved everything they did up to "The Edge" Tony and Wally are still carrying the torch. I'd love to see them reunite, maybe bring in Greg Rolie on the keys. Lol
My Top 5 Bon Jovi are: 1. Livin' On A Prayer 2. Social Disease 3. Bad Medicine 4. Lay Your Hands On Me 5. Wanted Dead Or Alive Honorable mention: King Of The Mountain from 7800 Degrees Fahrenheit.
The music of the 80s, especially Bon Jovi and specifically Livin' On A Prayer, saved my life. But, the shining moment... I was the nerdy, insecure unpopular kid in high school. I fell in love with a neighborhood girl, total sweetheart, but also way beyond my skillset to attain, at the time. We were in drama club together, and one spring night after a performance of our annual play, there was an impromptu cast and crew party. Someone started playing tunes through the speakers on the stage, and one of them was "Prayer". I was up on the stage and in an attempt to be funny, began performing the song, via lip sync. But everyone got into it, and there I was, on stage...and everyone else was at the edge of the stage, just like at a concert....including her. She was rocking out, acting like she was at a Bon Jovi concert. I never got to be more than friends with her, but, for that 4 to 5 minutes, I was a Rockstar, and she was my fan. That's one of my most cherished memories.
Bon Jovi is a love Wizard....ALL of the hits are stuck me head....like everyONE else from the 80s!!....lol....many songs of hope indeed. Rock geniuses/gods.....Killer freakin pipes...Hes a monster...Richie can blast himself....What a performer....He does Good things too, when Hes not Rockin peoples faces off....What a 🌟.....Love Anchovy!!!....Bon Jovi too......Tootaloo
My first cassette tape was SWW. My cousin gave it to me bc he didn't like it. His loss! Best audience sing along at any concert ever was Wanted Dead or Alive at one of their last tours...they pretty much didn't sing the song. The crowd did. It was the first concert my now 22 year old son attended, too. It set the standard.
My Bon Jovi top 6 (I needed another slot for a B-side song): 6. Always 5. Prostitute 4. You Give Love A Bad Name 3. Wanted Dead Or Alive 2. I'll Be There For You 1. Livin' On A Prayer
One that doesn't make any top lists but maybe should make your "how was this not a hit" list is Dry County. From start to finish, that song just soars and tells a great story. One of my all time favorites! Great music, great lyrics. Check it out!
Ah, the angst of bon jovi! Hard to drill down on a top 5 but I don't think enough is said about their come back album, Keep The Faith, after a hiatus. Plenty of worthy singles including fan fav Dry County.
I love keep the faith but for me The comeback Album was Crush, the Album which brought them back to the number 1 charts big time. As big as Living on a Prayer, it’s my life was a modern stadium anthem with huge power. Also that album Crush got them a whole new Generation of new fans, they were able to conquer the millennial girls. The industry is quite Ageist and for them to manage to still be highly relevant at 40years old with teenagers is a huge accomplishment. Bon Jovi along with Madonna and U2 were few of the 80s artists able to connect with most the teen crowds of the early 2000s. Many of their contemporaries sure released records at that time but were considered dads music or soccer mom’s music. But only few Bon Jovi, U2 and Madonna still made it big and that’s thanks to incredible ComeBack albums. So yeah I’d say their biggest Comeback was CRUSH.
Saw Bon Jovi opening up for Scorpions in 1984 at a concert in Puerto Rico. Runaway was awesome and one could see the future potential of him. BTW, in January of '85 (and part of the same tour) I saw Scorpions again at the first Rock in Rio.
In the late 80s to early 90s, I was stationed a Pearl Harbor, HI. We had lots of parties at the barracks (I was shore duty) and one in particular sticks out. It was an average party, lots of beer, some booze, a few girls. Then someone put on Livin' on a Prayer. Someone else turned it up to 11. Then came more beer and more girls. It became a great party. Met a nice girl, had some good times. Thanks John!
The first album I ever bought for myself was Bon Jovi's 'Slippery When Wet', and that was mostly because I heard 'Never Say Goodbye' at the moment I had my first real big crush on a girl when I was in the fifth grade. Even at that age I responded to ballads as my dopey little kid's heart started to flutter around girls.
Professor, once again, can you give us a second five in the comments? Just curious what your take is on tracks like “Only Lonely,” “Runaway” or “Raise Your Hands....” among others
What can I say another great video. I remember the day getting a call from my friend Eric listen to the new band called Bon Jovi I thought it was okay. 1986 the year I graduated high school changed everything. Slippery When Wet was Amazing New Jersey was almost just as good. I had the great opportunity to see Bon Jovi play in Charlotte on the keep the faith tour.Man when they hit the stage you knew why these guys are superstars and Jon Bon Jovi for building houses for the victims of Hurricane Katrina JBJ soul food restaurants for the homeless. He wants to use his Fame to make a difference and that is so admirable. My fiver for Bon Jovi 1 Wanted Dead or Alive 2 Living on a Prayer 3 I'll be there for you 4 You Give Love a Bad Name 5 you can't go home
I love This House is not for Sale and We Don't run But the classics like It's my Life and Bad Medicine are no less great. Some lesser known songs that I love are Thrn in my side from the Circle album and from Have a Nice Day Story of my life and Complicated. I could go on and on Saw them live for the first time in 2015 in Tel Aviv and again in Tel Aviv in 2019 Can't wait to see them again thanks for making the video
Been a fan since day one....Slippery when wet was in my Jr year of HS....and New Jersey was released while i was in basic training....never stopped loving the band...even in todays world where they are made fun of.
You let me down, Professor, with your exclusion of the first two. Someday I'll Be Saturday Night Keep the Faith I'll Be There For You Bad Medicine Wanted (Dead or Alive)
