August 28, 2010

What Do You Got? If it ain't something nice to say...

...for God's sake, don't say it.

You learned that adage when you were a child, but it's advice worth remembering until the day you die. Unfortunately, I've met precious few people in my life who know how and when to hold their tongues.

What am I rambling about here? Well, I could go off on several tangents, but the primary reason was Bon Jovi's new single, 'What Do You Got?'

The song premiered hardly 48 hours ago and already I have seen World War III begin - mostly on Twitter. Opinions range far and wide about the song, which is not only normal and expected, but GOOD. If every single person loved it in exactly the same way, it wouldn't be a very good piece of music. (And if every single person hated it in exactly the same way, it would be a downright crappy piece of music, lol.)

What bothers me, however, is the mud-slinging and face-slapping and cat-and-dog bickering...not about the song itself, but about someone's OPINION OF the song!

So someone thinks it's not very creative. Ok...was that an insult? If you think it IS creative, was the other person's opinion a direct slap in your face?

No. So why be so defensive? Are you the band's bodyguard or spokesperson? Must you rise to their defense as if they were helpless, vulnerable children? Do you see THEM getting hotheaded and spitting fire back at the naysayers?

No.

Just take a chill pill. Everyone is going to feel differently about the song - be it negatively or positively - based on their musical preferences and their expectations beforehand.

Someone thinks it's a brilliant piece of work. You don't. Must you REALLY put them down because they enjoy listening to it? Who cares? Let it be!

And the counterargument - "If you don't like what I have to say, then fuck off!" Yeah, that doesn't do an ounce of good and you know it. It just stirs the pot further.

So please, everyone, summon a little bit of r-e-s-p-e-c-t and take a breath. Differing in opinion is fine - and even encouraged - but when there are people being attacked and put down because of the way they feel, something is seriously wrong.

As for me? I like the song. It's not a masterpiece, but I don't think it was intended to be. It wasn't written for a studio album, it was written to supplement a greatest hits compilation. Just like other B-sides written for other albums - what about "Lonely" (LH), "These Open Arms" (HAND), "Standing" (Bounce), "We Can Dance" (Crush)? They're all rather simple orchestrations lyrically and musically - and mostly ballad-ish - but they're fun additions to the Bon Jovi catalog.

That's what this is. It's catchy, it's inspiring lyrically, it's a unique little gem that will be included on the 2010 Greatest Hits. Twenty years from now, you'll regard it as the "B-side on the Greatest Hits II compilation."

You don't have to like listening to it, but your neighbor might. Just let her.

August 27, 2010

"What Do You Got?" - New Jovi track download

I. LOVE. IT.

It's not yet 9am on the west coast and I've already devoured the new song three times, printed out the lyrics, and downloaded the MP3. The lyrics are touching and true (as always), the melody is beautiful, and it sounds like a cut directly from The Circle. I adore it!!

So for my lovely readers - you can listen to it at www.bonjovi.com, or download the MP3 here

I'm not going to upload it to my Media Fire library just yet, because it's new and highly protected copyright-wise...just being careful.

But enjoy!

Oh, and thanks to Hath (and Lisa and LeAnn) for the lyrics:

Everybody wants something, just a little more
We're makin' a living and what we're living for
Rich man or a poor man, a pawn or a king
You can live on the street, you can rule the whole world
But it don't mean one damn thing

What do you got if you ain't got love?
Whatever you got, it just ain't enough
You're walkin' a road but you're goin' nowhere
Tryin' to find your way home but there's no one there
Who do you hold in the dark of night?
You wanna give up but it's worth the fight
You can have all the things that you've been dreaming of

If you ain't got someone you're afraid to lose
Everybody needs just one someone to tell them the truth
Maybe I'm a dreamer but I still believe
I believe in hope, I believe that change can get us up off our knees

What do you got if you ain't got love?
Whatever you got just ain't enough
You're walkin' a road but you're goin' nowhere
Tryin' to find your way home but there's no one there
Who do you hold in the dark of night?
You wanna give up but it's worth the fight
You can have all the things that you've been dreaming of
If you ain't got love, it's all just keepin' score
If you ain't got love, what the hell we doin' it for?

I don't wanna have to talk about it
How many songs I gotta sing about it?
How long you gonna live without it?
Why does someone somewhere have to doubt it?
Someday you'll figure it out

What do you got if you ain't got love?
Whatever you got, it just ain't enough
You walk on that road but you're goin' nowhere
Tryin' to find your way home but there's no one there
Who do you hold in the dark of night?
You wanna give up but it's worth the fight
You can have all the things that you've been dreaming of
If you ain't got love, it's all just keepin' score
If you ain't got love, what the hell we doin' it for?

(Whoa oh oh oh) Ohh, what do you got if you ain't got love?
(Whoa oh oh oh) Ohh, what do you got if you ain't got love?
(Whoa oh oh oh) Ohh, what do you got if you ain't got love?
(Whoa oh oh oh)

August 25, 2010

Greatest Hits to be released Nov. 9, 2010!

WOO HOO! Big news on Backstage today - finally something useful for my money ;)

Greatest Hits album to be released Nov. 9th! PLUS, a total of four new tracks to be included on either of two discs in the package. (Now we know what they meant by "in LA working on something" for us!)

As this is news for the entire Bon Jovi community, I don't hesitate to share it with non-fan club members. I don't think it's top-secret, and the news would get out soon anyway.

SO. Here's the scoop:

COMPILATION INCLUDES FOUR NEW SONGS INCLUDING 1st SINGLE & VIDEO: “WHAT DO YOU GOT?”

(Aug. 26, 2010 – New York, NY) World-renowned music icons Bon Jovi are releasing a career-spanning greatest hits compilation November 9th on Island Records. Bon Jovi GREATEST HITS will transport listeners back in time through Bon Jovi’s worldwide monster hits of the past and offer a bridge to the future with the debut of four brand new tracks.

“Music marks milestones in all our lives,” notes frontman Jon Bon Jovi. “These songs have stood the test of time and they remind us all where we came from, even as we keep our eyes towards the future.”

Bon Jovi GREATEST HITS will be a 16-song single disc chock full of the band’s biggest chart-toppers including “Livin’ On A Prayer,” “Always,” “It’s My Life,” “Wanted Dead or Alive,” and “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.” Two new songs, including lead single “What Do You Got,” round out the tracklisting. “What Do You Got?” will hit radio airwaves globally at the end of August.

Bon Jovi GREATEST HITS - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION will be a 28-song two disc edition made up of the GREATEST HITS CD from the standard edition and a second disc featuring beloved fan favorites including “Bed of Roses,” “Blood on Blood,” “These Days,” and “Keep The Faith” plus the third and fourth new tracks created for this project.

The four new songs (“The More Things Change,” “No Apologies,” “This Is Love, This Is Life” and the first single, “What Do You Got?”) were written specifically for inclusion in this compilation.

The complete tracklistings for Bon Jovi GREATEST HITS and Bon Jovi GREATEST HITS - THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION will be unveiled exclusively at www.bonjovi.com.

For more information on all things Bon Jovi, please visit www.bonjovi.com.

August 9, 2010

Free shirts, anyone?

SORRY, THESE HAVE BEEN CLAIMED! THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR INTEREST!
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

I've just got tons of goodies for you all lately -- a perfect Jovi hiatus filler, eh?

So Zazzle screwed up my return request, and instead sent me a double order.

I wish that happened more often! LOL.

So I'm giving these two extra shirts away to anyone who wants them:


SIZE: SMALL (style runs slightly small)
LTOR_3 shirt



SIZE: MEDIUM (fitted baby doll)
Jovi Sisters shirt


Please note the sizes!

If you want either of these, email me with your name and mailing address.

First come, first serve!

August 7, 2010

NEW CONTEST & Giveaway!

I have another contest for you, my lovely readers!

I have some Jovi merchandise from my shop to give away - including a "Jovi Sisters" totebag.

Bag Template bag

To win it, all you gotta do is spread the word about Jovi Bits. That's it! There are two ways you can do so:

1) Copy and paste the code for the image below - then paste it on your website or social networking profile for readers to link to my blog.
2) Copy and paste the basic URL on Facebook, Twitter, websites, or email.

Once you've linked to my blog, make sure to tell your readers to comment on this post (the URL and codes will link to this post directly). They must include your name in the comment (to tell me who referred them), and become a follower of Jovi Bits.

Whoever gets the most referrals (who follow those steps!) will win the prize! It's that simple!

The contest will end Friday, August 20th, so round up as many of your Jovi friends and potential readers as you can! :)


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Or just the URL: http://www.jovibits.blogspot.com/

Good luck!

August 5, 2010

Zazzle sale!

Still suffering the Jovi-hiatus blues?

Right now, Zazzle's back-to-school sale has t-shirts for 15% off! Check out my online store and pick out a Jovi tee for yourself, your best friend, your sister, your neighbor...or that fan you met through the band years ago and became friends with and are now missing while the tour is on break. You know who I mean. ;)

So, celebrate back-to-school (even if you aren't in school anymore) -- grab a cool custom-made Jovi shirt today for 15% off! :)

August 3, 2010

Media Fire hosting

Just a quick tidbit - I have now signed up with MediaFire to host files (mostly MP3s) that I share with you all so that you can download them for yourselves. I had a Windows Live account before, but they closed me down for copyright infringement. Hopefully, MediaFire won't be so picky. ;)

A copy of "This Is Our House" is uploaded to my account right now, and whenever I add a file I will post here with the link.

Access my account here.

Enjoy!

Bon Jovi presents: Themed Weeks & Wednesday Movie Nights

Huh?

Yeah, haven't you heard? Bonjovi.com sent out this email yesterday:

Hey Bon Jovi Fan!

Bon Jovi’s 2010 tour has been a record breaking success for all involved, and we want to thank YOU, the fans, for making this year so successful - and fun! - for us so far. As Jon says on stage each and every night, we couldn’t have done this for 25 years, and continue to do it, without you and your support, so thank you!

To show our gratitude to the best fans in the world, for the next six weeks we'll be taking you with us on a journey to explore how Bon Jovi grew to be such legendary rockers, focusing on two albums per week and including rare photos, discounts on era-specific merchandise, new live videos every Monday and audio from Obie every Tuesday. We are also proud to announce an exciting new feature coming to BonJovi.com just for YOU this August and September - Bon Jovi Wednesday Movie Nights!

We'll be starting today, August 2nd, with Bon Jovi's first two albums: Bon Jovi and 7800 Degrees Fahrenheit. During the week we'll post an exclusive music video, unveil rare photographs, give you discounts on era-specific merch, and to top it all off, we'll be streaming the "Bon Jovi Live From London DVD" on Wednesday, August 4th at 7:00 p.m. EDT.

Visit BonJovi.com to learn more and get started - and to get your hands on discounted merch while it lasts! You can also grab our Bon Jovi widget and add it to your personal blog, fan site, or favorite social network now!


Here's a schedule of the upcoming themes and movies:

Week: Aug. 2-8
Theme: Bon Jovi and 7,800 Degrees Fahrenheit
Movie: "Bon Jovi Live From London" DVD

Week: Aug. 9-15
Theme: Slippery When Wet and New Jersey
Movie: "The Crush Tour" DVD

Week: Aug. 16-22
Theme: Keep The Faith and These Days
Movie: "This Left Feels Right" DVD

Week: Aug. 23-29
Theme: Crush and Bounce
Movie: "Lost Highway: The Concert" DVD

Week: Aug. 30 - Sept. 5
Theme: Have A Nice Day and Lost Highway
Movie: "Live at Madison Square Garden" DVD

Week: Sept. 6 - 12
Theme: The Circle
Movie: "When We Were Beautiful" DVD

I think it's pretty cool. A little random, maybe, but a fun idea to engage the Bon Jovi community and keep us occupied during the band's vacation break. Although I feel a little like I'm in the middle of Spirit Week at my university...LOL.

So the video of "Raise Your Hands" (live at the 02 Dome) is posted on the videos page over at bonjovi.com right now: http://www.bonjovi.com/videos. Not sure why it's not a video from the actual era, but okay.

Enjoy, fans!

August 2, 2010

There's a whole lot of leaving going on...

So the U.S. leg of The Circle Tour has officially come to a close. While many an American are heaving a heavy sigh, wiping a tear from their eye, and perhaps icing their swollen concert feet, fans all over the globe are now revving up and bouncing up and down in anticipation of the arrival of the world #1 touring outfit, Bon Jovi. (That's right, they were officially named the #1 tour of the year!)

I for one had a WONDERFUL six shows on the first leg of this epic world tour, and maaaany memories will go with me all my life. I'm sad that it's over for now, though I will get to see them next year in EUROPE (with any financial luck, *fingers crossed*). I've never been to a stadium show overseas before, and I've heard they can get gnarly! But we'll cross that crazy bridge when we get to it.

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For now, I hope the boys enjoy their MUCH deserved break with their families and friends - Jon, put DOWN the PDA and hug your wife! - and that they rejuvenate enough to launch the rest of their world tour with as much spirit and fire as they did this one.

Meanwhile, what's an American Jovi fan to do? Kick back and listen to the special edition albums? Watch the MSG DVD over and over again? Make up for your lack of presence the last 7 months with your families? LOL. I for one will be working my butt off trying to revive my bank account - who's with me?

And real life starts up again. It's always a huge reality check when they close the curtain on the tour (even temporarily) and we're left blinking in the harsh light of a world filled with work, bills, chores, school/homework (for some), kids, husbands and wives...yeah, that's life folks. LOL. The lazy days of summer are drawing to a close, the magical warm evenings spent with your ears and heart filled with loud music and rockin' musicians are over, the parties and dinners and Happy Hours and reunions are all memories now. Soon, an Autumn wind will creep in, the summer sun will pack up and be long gone...there's a whole lot of leaving going on.

So farewell for now, boys. Enjoy your vacations and we'll join you - in spirit or in person! - come September!

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Final American leg set lists

Um, so I'm more behind than I thought! I could have sworn I updated the setlists on here, but I see I haven't done so since Kentucky. 0.o Sorry about that! Once I get my laptop back, I'll be far more frequent with posts (although now that the tour's on break, maybe not! LOL)

Here are the last few setlists from the end of the American leg:

Foxboro, MA - Gillette Stadium
Blood On Blood
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born to Be My Baby
Lost Highway
In These Arms
It's My Life
Sleep When I'm Dead
Bad Medicine/Old Time Rock n Roll/Shout
Lay Your Hands on Me (Richie VOX)
Bed of Roses
I'll Be There For You
Someday I'll be Saturday Night
When We Were Beautiful
Work for the Working Man
Have a Nice Day
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep The Faith
Always
Wanted Dead or Alive
I Love This Town
Livin' on a Prayer


Regina, SK
Blood on Blood
We Weren't Born to Follow
You Give Love A Bad Name
Whole Lot Of Leavin
Born To Be My Baby
Lost Highway
It's My Life
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
We've Got It Goin On
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman
Love's The Only Rule
Lay Your Hands On Me
You Want To Make A Memory
I'll Be There For You
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
In These Arms
Work For The Workin Man
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep The Faith
This Is Our House
Wanted Dead of Alive
Livin On A Prayer


Chicago - Soldier Field Night 1
Blood on Blood
We Weren't Born To Follow
You Give Love A Bad Name
Born To Be My Baby
Lost Highway
When We Were Beautiful
It's My Life
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead
We Got It Going On
Bad Medicine/Old Time Rock and Roll/Shout
Lay Your Hands On Me [Richie vox]
Bed of Roses
Diamond Ring
I'll Be There For You
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Runaway
Work For The Working Man
Have A Nice Day
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Keep The Faith w/ Sympathy for The Devil
Always
Wanted Dead or Alive
Livin' On A Prayer


Chicago - Soldier Field Night 2
Happy Now
We Weren't Born To Follow
You Give Love a Bad Name
Born To Be My Baby
Lost Highway
Blaze of Glory
It's My Life
Damned (w/ If Loving You Is Wrong)
We Got it Going On
Bad Medicine/Pretty Woman
Lay Your Hands on Me (Richie Vox)
Turn the Page (w/Kid Rock)
I'll Be There For You
Something For The Pain
Runaway
Work for the Working Man
Have A Nice Day
Who Says You Can't Go Home
Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Dry County
Wanted Dead or Alive
I Love This Town
Livin' on a Prayer