BJCT Post: Rio de Janeiro

Bon Jovi was in Brazil last night!

Check out the BJCT for setlist, photos, and videos/audio (as we find it).

Have anything you want to share? Drop a line to the BJCT Blog Team

~ Hath

Greatest Hits DVD

BIG thanks to Rike for posting all this information, including the links, on another board.  Now, to find a local Berlitz course...

Happy Friday –

Greatest Hits DVD Album!!

The DVD will contain all 16 single videos from the Greatest Hits Album and 17 other live tracks (including We Weren't Born To Follow from the O2 roof-top performance).

Pre-order here (German site).

Promo for the DVD can be found here (Amazon Germany).

OK, so I have to ask -- where's the notification from bonjovi.com?  When is (is there) a release schedule?  C'mon!  Inquiring minds HAVE to know!

~ Hath

Updates:

Link for NZ ordering is here.

Link for US ordering is here. Note it's a Region 4 DVD.

Mid-Day Motivators: Dumb Ass

tee-hee, my Fridays are usually like this...



Thanks, JoviRealtor, for your submission!

~ Hath

Press Conference Goodies

Thanks to MarnieNichole for these great finds!






And some snaps for you too



~ Hath

Richie and Stuart Smith in Santiago

Thanks Catte!

You may be saying, "uh, WHO?" You can read all about Stuart here, but the connection is to his 1999 album, Stuart Smith’s Heaven & Earth. Richie recorded a cover of the Deep Purple song "When a Blind Man Cries".  See below.

~ Hath

Oh, and apologies up front if I got your hopes up with the YouTube video -- this is NOT a live recording; it's a slide show of great Richie pictures set to the song.

Nobody Does It Better...

...makes me feel sad for the rest....

Thanks to J for dropping this in my inbox a few minutes ago.

I know how everyone loves to vote on things :) so here's a new one:

Glee vs. YouTube: Who Did ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ Best?

This week's Glee found religion, then lost it, then figured out what really matters with some help from Mercedes's church choir and their powerful rendition of Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water." The song is a gospel classic (see: Aretha), but a quick scan of YouTube uncovered versions as jazz standard, American Idol watershed, and of course, a cappella. We've assembled them all after the jump for you to decide: Who did it best?

You can choose from

• The Keystones (a capella) 
• Radojka Sverko (described as a Croatian Dame Edna, except a real woman)
• Bobby Darin
• Clay Aiken
• JBJ and Rich
• Mercedes

You can view the videos by following the link above, but I think the JonBon/Richie one is among the best cover versions I've heard.

And if you don't want to vote, you can just watch the video here.



~ Hath

Bon Jovi Hits 5 MILLION FB Fans

And to celebrate, we got tweeted.

BonJovi: We hit 5 million Facebook fans today! Jon made a video to thank them all- are you one of them? Watch here: http://ow.ly/2Q4uc

Hmmm, "got tweeted" sounds way dirter than it is.

Pity.

~ Hath

Bon Jovi signs up for Rock Band 3

If you ever needed a reason to stay home with your Wii (or XBox 360, PS3, DS or whatever), this may be it.

Bon Jovi has signed a deal to promote MTV’s Rock Band 3 post-release.

The band’s entire Greatest Hits collection, which hits shelves on November 9th, will be available as DLC for Rock Band. And the publisher has partnered with the group for promotional activity.

You can read the whole article here.

DLC is something like downloaded content -- additional tracks that don't come with the original game.   According to MTV's, SVP of electronic games and music, Bon Jovi is one of the most requested artists, and while they've done songs here and there, they've never done a full out campaign like this.  I personally can't wait.

Rock Band 3 features a new 83-song set list including Ozzy Osbourne’s ‘Crazy Train’, Them Crooked Vultures’ ‘Dead End Friends’ and The Vines ‘Get Free’.  It also introduces a wireless keyboard controller and a Fender Mustang guitar controller (you can read more about it here).

The article goes on to say that the entire Rock Band DLC back catalogue is compatible with RB3, but doesn't say if the new catalog (including the Bon Jovi GH DLC) would be backwards compatible.  We have Rock Band, Rock Band 2, Lego Rock Band, and various track packs for the RB series, so having these songs compatible with the software/instruments we already have will be KEY.

We shall see.

~ Hath

Mid-Day Motivators: Family

Thanks, BlushnScarlett, for your motivator!!

Remember to visit this website create your "poster" and send me your efforts!

~ Hath

Sao Paulo Press Stuff

Yeah, so sue me, I couldn't come up with a better post title.

There are a number of articles that are cropping up on various Portuguese sites, and thanks to Google Translator, you can read them in all their word-for-word translated glory.  They're actually pretty funny when they're literally translated, instead of having them translated by a native speaker, which I am most certainly NOT :)

Take a look at this article.  In it, the author says Jon Bon Jovi was

...Indifferent, surly, distant and unemotional; he seemed more sympathetic when a beautiful journalist from Rede Record (Hoje em Dia program) asked him a question.

It goes on to say how Jon gave vague, terse answers to some questions, but was reportedly in a better mood closer to show time when another pretty interviewer asked him questions about the set list. Someone's Portuguese has got to better than mine -- help would be appreciated!

This article has some delicious pictures attached to it. This reporter must have been one of the pretty ones referenced earlier, because she got this:

With an audience of 60,000 girls like you it's easy to get excited and do anything. Twice.

Thanks Catte for the articles!

~ Hath

Life-Sized Jonny

Passed along from D.  Thanks!!

Big Jon #1            Big Jon #2

Um, hold onto your hats (should you be habadashered).

~ Hath

Early Motivator

I had to share this one from Catte; the photo is from last night, and the Title/Truism is (IMO) hysterical.

Carry on.

Or, as Jon [apparently] likes to say, "Keep calm, and carry on"

~ Hath

Update: For Stas and anyone else, you can go here to purchase one of these shirts yourself.

BJCT Post: Sao Paulo

Bon Jovi was in Brazil last night!

Check out the BJCT for setlist, photos, and videos/audio (as we find it).

Have anything you want to share? Drop a line to the BJCT Blog Team

~ Hath

Mid-Day Motivators: Sweat

Carry on.

~ Hath

Remember to visit this website create your "poster" and send me your efforts!

Fan Fiction Directory

While I'm working out the "pages" on the blog that appear not to be working, I've re-added the link to the Fan Fiction Directory to the top navigation bar.

M, J, T, T2, P -- sorry for the confusion!  Thanks for reading!

~ Hath

Shopping Trip

BrunoPress has some photos up of Jon and Richie hitting an art gallery in Buenos Aires.  Wonder if they bought anything?

~ Hath

Bem vindo ao Brasil

Yes, the boys have arrived safely at their next destination. And thanks to folks who share on Twitter (thanks!) there are a couple of shots for you to enjoy.

I love the way Richie's biting his lip, and Jon's legs look super skinny in those jeans!  Maybe he should forego the black jeans he wears on stage in favor of [dark] blue ones.  Lookin' good!  Have a great show tonight!

~ Hath

Wanted Wednesday ~ Tokyo January 14, 2008

Please rise, for the playing of our National Anthem...

In this one, we learn one of the possible reasons that Richie chews gum on stage.

Have you noticed that this tour? He's always got a wad of gum in his maw. I don't think it's nicotine gum, I think it's for something else.

Listen through to the end on this one. Right around the 5 minute mark, you hear a squeak. Like a going-through-puberty voice hitch.  "I still dri-yi-yi-i-ive" sounds like "I still dri-yi-SQUEAK-i-ive"

I suspect the gum keeps our dear Richie's throat moist so he doesn't squeak.



You can download this track here.

And, thanks to "ndt56" on YouTube, you can watch Jon's reaction to Richie's squeaker.

I love at the end, how Richie's laughing like "Man, whaddaya gonna do?" and Jon's just slapping his shoulder like he's saying, "way to f up there, man". Makes me smile.

Anyway, enjoy!

~ Hath

Happy Birthday JBJ Soul Foundation!

What a great milestone! Happy Birthday Soul Foundation!

On October 5, 2006 the Jon Bon Jovi SOUL Foundation officially opened it's doors. In these past four years so much has been accomplished to better the lives of men, women and children all over this nation. Our focus has always been on the creation of programs and partnerships targeted at breaking the cycle of poverty and homelessness. Since opening our doors four years ago today we have focused our funding on projects that have offered affordable housing, job training and social services to those in need. We exist to combat issues that force families and individuals into economic despair.

~ Hath

source

Bon Jovi & Netherlands Fan Initiative

From BONJOVI.COM

On Friday the 5th of November music icon Bon Jovi will release a greatest hits compilation album. Bon Jovi GREATEST HITS takes the listener back in time with all the worldwide megahits and then to the future with four brand new songs. This album will contain very special bonus material in the Netherlands: a unique booklet titled “BON JOVI & THE NETHERLANDS”! This free booklet will be available exclusively in the Netherlands, added to the deluxe version of the album, and tells the history of the band in the Netherlands based on testimonials, photos and memorable moments.

Do you, as a Bon Jovi fan, want to be a part of this special Bon Jovi booklet? Then go upload your photo and/or your story at the special Bon Jovi & the Netherlands website. Out of all the entries only a selection will be placed in the booklet. You can send in content until the 6th of October 2010.

What a cool idea!  Similar to what Slash is doing with his release, but not the same.  Hmmm, how 'bout a photo mosaic?

~ Hath

Mid-Day Motivators: Friendship

So, I have so many of these now (some clean, some not so much) that I can probably post one each work day, you know, to get you over the mid-day slump :)



Remember to visit this website, create your "poster" and send me your efforts! We'll see how long we can keep this going!

~ Hath

1989 Soundcheck and Richie Interview

I love the "old stuff".

After a brief sound check clip, there's a giveaway with Richie. Looks like one lucky winner from this contest won one of his guitars. He's got such a great sense of humor.

"That is MY guitar" (You can tell this was early days -- he only had 70 guitars.)

I love when it when she's reading the letter, Richie's first question is How old is she? and does that cute/sexy little panting thing.  Wonder if he actually called her?

Priceless.

~ Hath

Bon Jovi: An Interplanetary Success!

Thanks Catte :)

Yes, yes, apparently even aliens (not sure if they're Martians or Venetians; Mercurians or Saturnites) dropped by venue in Lima to hear "In These Arms".  Can you blame them?  It's a fantastic tune!

Anyway, Generaccion.com reports this (this time it's MY translation):

At a Bon Jovi concert in our country, a supposed UFO was observed, and was captured on amateur video.

The person who recorded the moment was Silvia Hinojosa who informed Peru.com that the alleged ship appeared at the time that Bon Jovi sang the song "In These Arms".

"Hi this is a UFO that I caught right in the Bon Jovi concert," Hinojosa said in an email.

In the video you can see a luminous object that appears and disappears from the sky. Some other accounts indicate that it was planes circling during the concert.

Planes?

NAYSAYERS!

You be the judge.




~ Hath

PS: Before some of you (and you know who you are, lol) go off on me, let me set the record straight. Yes, I believe we are not alone in the universe, but no, I don't believe an alien ship went to Lima to watch Bon Jovi.  The "NAYSAYERS" was pure sarcasm.

Monday Mid-Day Motivators: Arrogance

OK, you've all seen them -- the "motivational posters" spouting truisms about friendship, collaboration, teamwork, etc.  Each one with a bold eye-catching word or phrase, followed by the truism underneath.  Over the weekend, the email silliness ensued (as it usually does) and this website (thanks Kiwi) has now made it onto our favorites list.

Here, you can make your OWN motivational "truism" poster; as silly or raunchy or true as you want.

In fact, make some up yourselves, and send them to me -- I'll feature them on the blog on Mondays.

I've gotten several from the girls over the weekend, and thought I'd post them for you mid-day (my time) in case you need a little smack of Jovi Truism.

I thought about posting two at a time, and having you all vote on the ones which ones you like best; working some sort of contest into it, but I don't really have any prizes to speak of for the winner.

SO, in the same vein as "Wanted Wednesday", you now have your "Monday Mid-Day Motivator", or your Jovi Truism.

~ Hath

Maybe a Hiatus?

In this video interview, Jon talks about being in service to the song -- how their music transcends generations and is greater than the sum of all its parts.

There's an article along with the video as well; here's an excerpt:

In "The Circle" and new issues of the "Greatest Hits" seems to Sambora leaves aside the guitar hero to be in the service of the song. Was it something intentional?

We all serve the song. And I think it's the best compliment you can say to Richie. But none of us are here to do vocal gymnastics and pyrotechnics on the guitar.

They get into "the break" a little bit, and Jon hints that maybe after this tour is done, it may be time for another one.

After this greatest hits -- I don't know the future, but it might be a time again. You know, we worked really hard for a decade. Ten more years. Five studio records. It may be the time to go *whew*. We're wise now. We're wise men.

Some have been saying they're overdue for a break. Let them go away for a year to two, make us miss you, then come back and we'll be all over it again without all the criticism.

Absence does make the heart grow fonder.

But do we (the fandom) really want that?  On some level, sure.  We all want new music from Richie, another musical from David, more art from Tico, and for Jon to get a chance to maybe (I don't know) try on NFL ownership?  But on another level, no, don't take away our security blanket.  Leave our binkies alone!

Time will tell of course.  Until then, we'll enjoy them as much as we can!

~ Hath

Buenos Aires Interview

From DiarioShow.com.  Look how thrilled Jon is -- he seems like he'd rather be anywhere else at that particular moment.  He and Richie having their sidebar conversations -- they really love the media posturing, no?  Have they every done the "diva thing" and said "You know what?  We're done.  No more questions.  Thanks; bye."

In the interview, Jon does admit that he's tailored the set list a little more toward Greatest Hits during the Latin America tour.  He talks about how the crowd is young, probably seeing them for the first time and they want to see the hits.  So does this mean we've officially switching to The Greatest Hits tour?

This was the article that accompanied the video (translated by Google):

The group arrived from Chile, where he was hailed by his fans. On this tour, which will continue in Japan and Australia, have their last recorded material: "The Circle".

Bon Jovi said that "it is true, new bands have a hard time making mega tour like this. Are we, the Rolling Stones, U2, AC / DC, but the rest is complicated, how they are armed all. " He added, smiling: "However, Lady Gaga is going well. " considered that "perhaps, social networks help groups to open their pripio new way."

Tools showing the band is excited to be in Buenos Aires. "It is a public, passionate, like all the Latino audience, and that is contagious." Asked what should be the ideal album paar start listening, said, "I do not know there are many, perhaps the last, then go to the first. is that there are many issues and good times nutrso MUCHS jobs. "

Finally, they were honored for their recent nomination for the Hall of Fame. "There are many important people in the history of music there. Being nominated is enough reward."

~ Hath

About Bad Medicine...

From The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits, 5th Edition, published 2003.

Bad Medicine

Writers: Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child
Producer: Bruce Fairbairn
November 19, 1988
Weeks at Number 1: 2

The Top Five - Week of November 19, 1988
1. Bad Medicine - Bon Jovi
2. Wild, Wild West - The Escape Club
3. The Loco-Motion - Kylie Minogue
4. Desire - U2
5. Kokomo - Beach Boys

"I have this vision of taking Bon Jovi from the Beatles innocence of 'Yeah, yeah, yeah' to, like, Sgt. Pepper," Jon Bon Jovi told Lonn M. Friend in RIP. "That's where I am. When we did 'Bad Name' and 'Prayer' and 'Wanted,' it was great. It was wonderful. It's time now to move on, to create again. That's where I'm going. I want to think that's where the band's going, too."

After selling 13.5 million copies of Slippery When Wet, Bon Jovi returned to Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, to record their fourth album, New Jersey. Bruce Fairbairn was sitting in the producer's chair again, and Jon and Richie Sambora collaborated once more with Desmond Child, the songwriter who worked with them on their first two number one hits, "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer".

"There was quite a bit of pressure on the band in terms of...trying to get the best songs possible," says Fairbairn. "When we made Slippery, it was a band struggling to make it from New Jersey, and there was that uneasiness about whether they're going to make it or not. Coming into New Jersey, they had a lot of confidence behind them, they were playing really well, and they were comfortable up at the studio in Vancouver. Everybody was still high from Slippery, and we had a lot of fun going into it."

Desmond Child was happy to be working with the band again. "We had common influences and references, so it was easy to agree on what we liked," he says. "And each person brought their own unique skill and sensibility to it. It was like a magic combination - a lot of elements, not just me and Jon and Richie, but working with Bruce Fairbairn, and Bob Rock as the engineer."

Child found working on New Jersey a different experience than his first collaboration with Bon Jovi. "The first record was wonderful, because there was nowhere to go but up. Everyone was so fresh, they were innocent and so young. When I got together with them again for New Jersey, I was dealing with a whole other set of men. They really had matured, and also felt very pressured to beat the success they had last time. So it made the creative process much more difficult."

It was unusual for a group like Bon Jovi to be using an outside writer, according to Child. "It hadn't been common practice for rock bands to use outside writers, and they had gotten a lot of heat for doing so. But when I write with them, I think of myself as being in the band, and they think that way also. For New Jersey, they wrote for months without me; I think they felt like they had to prove they could do it on their own. They did have a number one song out of it without my influence - I'll Be There For You, so it's not like they can't. But it's just much easier when we write together, and I do think I bring something to the party."

Desmond came in at the last minute to work on New Jersey, and the band had already written a first draft of "Bad Medicine". "It was that one thing over and over again, and I came in and wrote that 'B' section that kind of lifted it. It was like a deceptive modulation. It sort of modulated down, then it modulated back up to the regular key, and it sounded like you went somewhere when you actually didn't. But it was one of those things where my fresh take on it helped the song move to another level."

Fairbairn remembers hearing the song for the first time when he was visiting Sambora's new home in New Jersey. "We were sitting around after dinner with a glass of wine and he played me 'Bad Medicine' on the acoustic and he said, 'Bruce, this is going to be a big song - I know it.' The chorus sounded great, and the verses were a little sketchy at that point. Sure enough, it came along when we started working the song up. When we recorded it, we had a really good feeling it was going to be a great song."


Next time - I'll Be There For You.

BJCT Post: Buenos Aires

Bon Jovi was in Argentina last night!

Check out the BJCT for setlist, photos, and videos/audio (as we find it).

Have anything you want to share? Drop a line to the BJCT Blog Team

~ Hath