I was once watching TV with my brother, and You Give Love a Bad Name came on – we sat watching the video, and he said “those videos just look like they were so much fun to make”. I was half listening to what he was saying and half transfixed by Jon Bon Jovi.
Once I’d watched that video, I went away and researched the band, and I managed to find a video online of 5 second clips of every song from every Bon Jovi album. I played that video every day religiously; I learnt the order of those songs and wrote down the name of the ones I liked the most. I listened to those songs all the way through, and thus began my love affair with Bon Jovi, quite literally overnight. I listened to little else for months, and I found out more and more about the band. One day, my dad asked me “what is it about that band in particular? What brought on this sudden overnight obsession?” my response was a blank look and a simple “….have you heard them?”
Fast forward a year or two, and they’re still easily my favourite band (this is before I properly discovered Def Leppard – but more on that later), so when I discovered that they were doing a world tour, I got a little bit excited. However, my hopes were crushed when there was no mention of a London date. For months, nothing. Just as I lost hope of them playing London, Jon Bon Jovi appeared on TV stating that the band was to play the British Summer Time Festival in Hyde Park in the summer. I texted my dad, who was staying in Berlin at the time (ironically, in the same hotel as Jon Bon Jovi – queue insane jealousy) and told him. So, I finally got tickets to Bon Jovi. I managed to swing the afternoon off school to go to London early and get a good place – which I did. The atmosphere of Hyde Park was amazing – warm day, people were happy, an atmosphere of general relaxation. Then, the last opening act finished, and the long wait was over. The band walked on, first the backing band, and then David Bryan and Tico Torres (this concert took place just after the departure of Richie Sambora). Then, finally, finally, on walked Jon Bon Jovi, in a bright red vest and holding an acoustic guitar. T
hey opened with You Give Love a Bad Name. I was actually looking at my hero – he was about an two inches tall, but still. They went on to perform practically every song that they’d ever written post-Slippery, as well as performing tracks from their then – new album, What About Now. Bad Medicine was groovy, Raise Your Hands was energetic and It’s My Life was intense. However, everyone was waiting for the encore. The lights went down, and there was a single spotlight on Jon. Then he started softly singing “We’ve got to hold on, to what we’ve got..doesn’t make a difference if we make it or not….” and the whole of Hyde Park went mad. There is nothing like hearing many thousands of people screaming the chorus to Livin’ On a Prayer. Needless to say, it was quite a good concert.
Despite my love for the band, I can happily admit that there are elements that I don’t like. I prefer Jon’s voice on the mid – late 80’s/early 90’s songs –Livin’ On a Prayer, Lay Your Hands on Me, Bed of Roses. Also, I’m not as much of a fan of their newer material as the older – Have A Nice Day, Who Says You Can’t Go Home – but I primarily love their music from their very first album to the mid – 90’s. Nevertheless, I still have a soft spot for them.
P.s – I can still recite the order of the songs in that video.