I was never much of a fan but as a DJ back in the late 80's - early 90's I had to play A LOT of "Slippery When Wet."
Sure, it was generic hair rock of the time (love those smiles, boys!) but the tunes did their jobs and did indeed fill the dance floor (it's so much fun to watch awkward White people dance).
But when people started attempting to attribute "deeper meanings" to Bon Jovi's lyrics, I had to draw the line.
Sorry, no matter how much John fan-boys Springsteen, "Living On a Prayer" will never be "Thunder Road" or "Born In the USA." And, "Wanted Dead or Alive" will never be Bob Seger ("Turn The Page") or CCR ("Travelin' Band"), both of whom cornered the market on 'band on the road" songs.
And, riddle me this:
When "Wanted Dead or Alive" came out, I misheard the lyric as "...I been a million places, and I rocked them all." Now, a band can definitely "rock" place by "rocking the house." In other words, they "rocked the Casbah" or rocked the club, etc. Banal, but it makes sense.
But when I learned the actual lyric was "...I seen a million FACES, and I rocked them all" Yeah, I don't get it. How does one "rock a face" (other than smashing a hunk of granite into it? Banal is one thing - just plain dumb is another.
Oh well. He still seems like a nice enough guy but musically he get on his "steel horse" and ride off into the sunset.
Sure, it was generic hair rock of the time (love those smiles, boys!) but the tunes did their jobs and did indeed fill the dance floor (it's so much fun to watch awkward White people dance).
But when people started attempting to attribute "deeper meanings" to Bon Jovi's lyrics, I had to draw the line.
Sorry, no matter how much John fan-boys Springsteen, "Living On a Prayer" will never be "Thunder Road" or "Born In the USA." And, "Wanted Dead or Alive" will never be Bob Seger ("Turn The Page") or CCR ("Travelin' Band"), both of whom cornered the market on 'band on the road" songs.
And, riddle me this:
When "Wanted Dead or Alive" came out, I misheard the lyric as "...I been a million places, and I rocked them all." Now, a band can definitely "rock" place by "rocking the house." In other words, they "rocked the Casbah" or rocked the club, etc. Banal, but it makes sense.
But when I learned the actual lyric was "...I seen a million FACES, and I rocked them all" Yeah, I don't get it. How does one "rock a face" (other than smashing a hunk of granite into it? Banal is one thing - just plain dumb is another.
Oh well. He still seems like a nice enough guy but musically he get on his "steel horse" and ride off into the sunset.