I will be the first to admit that I am not the least bit objective when it comes to Bon Jovi. I have been a HUGE fan since I was a teen. And while no one believes me, I actually fell in love with the music first- keep in mind in the mid 80s there was no internet! That being said, I will also admit that also since a very young age I have firmly believed that Jon Bon Jovi is the most attractive man I have ever laid eyes on. I have lost track of how many Bon Jovi concerts I’ve been to- somewhere in the mid teens I believe- starting in 1993.
As I mentioned in last week’s post, on Sunday April 3th I went to a Bon Jovi concert in St Paul. I had an amazing time. I was enthralled the entire 2.5 hour show. I really enjoyed some of the deeper album cuts they played as well as the classics like Livin on a Prayer and Bad Medicine. Jon is a showman who clearly loves his job and is damn good at it. I am confident that almost everyone else in the arena would agree with me.
I say “almost” because the next day I read an article that ran in the StarTribune newspaper stating that Jon can’t sing anymore and someone should tell him to hang it up. Similar articles have come up from critics in other cities- lots of hand wringing because 60 year old Jon doesn’t sound like 30 year old Jon did.
This is one of the stupidest things I have read in a LONG time. Of COURSE Jon doesn’t sound the same as he did in 1992. Jon himself as has admitted as much. But why would anyone- let along someone who is supposedly an expert in music- think that he would? Madonna doesn’t sound anything like she did in 1987. The New Kids on the Block don’t either. Has anyone heard Motley Crue lately? I’m told you probably don’t want to.
I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by the negative press. Perhaps in part due to their huge commercial success, Bon Jovi has never been a critic’s darling. Shitting on Bon Jovi has been the way of the “serious music critic” since the early days of the band. Google Jon’s acceptance speech when Bon Jovi was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018 and you’ll see him address that himself.
If Jon doesn’t care neither should I. And most of the time I don’t. So, screw the naysayers. I daresay none of them have sold over 130 million albums I am pretty sure none of them have been international sex symbols for almost 40 years. And I’m 100% sure none of them have entertained hundreds of millions of screaming fans for decades.
So, along with Jon, I extend a hearty “fuck you” to folks who like to hate Bon Jovi. Me and 15,000 of my closest friends in St Paul don’t need you. Never have. Never will.