Bon Jovi - This Left Feels Right DVD

Island Records


5 out of 5 stars

I’m going to be totally honest here, this isn’t the Jovi we all know and love. It’s TOTALLY different than anything they’ve ever released before. You can’t Jovi-cise to this on the treadmill, and even though it’s all the hits, you would barely recognize some of them if you didn’t already know the words backwards and forwards.

The thing is, it’s not meant to be the Jovi we all know and love, it’s actually MEANT to be totally different. And I am really impressed. It would be so easy to just release another greatest hits (ahem, see Aerosmith and Kiss, how many greatest hits to those 2 have out?) but they went the extra mile to try and mix things up. A lot of people are complaining it’s TOO different. Those are probably the same people that complain that every BJ CD sounds the same. People bitch when it’s the same, and then they bitch when it’s different. I say, just enjoy it for what it is......something meant to be a little funky, a little of this and a little of that. The band has already said that they are not touring for this CD (with the exception of the Atlantic City shows where they will tape their DVD) so this is it, it’s a one shot deal. I can see why people wouldn’t like it, but for those haven’t given it a chance, it’s definitely well worth giving it a listen. I always had a problem with the idea that I had to let music “grow on me” before I could say whether I liked it or not. Some music can bowl you over on the first listen, and for some weird reason, other songs you don’t care for one minute, you can really get into later on. Keep this in mind when listening to the CD. We’re all used to the originals, and we’re protective of them, we don’t want them permanently messed with!!! From what I know of most popular music today, this kind of tweaking from an artist has never really been done (feel free to correct me if I’m wrong), so I think letting the music “grow on you” definitely fits here.

Hits:
Wanted Dead or Alive is AWESOME! This is the best song on the CD!!! I don’t know if it’s because I find the original version kinda boring now, the new version ROCKS!!!!!! The only song on the CD that I prefer over the original

You Give Love a Bad Name: This sounds NOTHING like the original. It’s borderline country, and I thought it was GAWD awful at first. But it has taken on a totally different vibe for me now. I picture what the video could be: all the guys decked out as cowboys, trying to win the love of a beautiful woman (maybe Heather Locklear, who’s dressed like a can-can girl) and they go thru various cowboyish things like wacky duels/shootouts to win the woman. In the end, Clint Eastwood (the ultimate cowboy) swoops up in a stagecoach, which unknown to him, is being driven by Richie Sambora, who pulls down his fake beard, winking. Wayne Isham, call me.......we’ll do lunch. *note: I pictured this on my way home from work, sitting in traffic while I was listening to the cd. At least it made me appreciate the song more....

Lay Your Hands On Me: The original rocks more.......but this one I can do the old soft shoe to. I like it a lot. Good stuff.

Always, Bed of Roses: Sound pretty much the same. Which is okay by me!

Misses:
Livin on a Prayer: This is a little different than Prayer ‘94 from Crossroads. I would LOVE it if it didn’t have Karen, the older sister from the Wonder Years, singing along with Jon. Personally, I would’ve preferred a JBJ/Winnie Cooper duet over Karen, but unfortunately, tis Karen that is married to the dude that produced the CD. I HATED this song at first, but it’s definitely grown on me. At least they didn’t chose Wayne from the Wonder Years.....

Score: 80, good stuff, but I wished there would’ve been more heavier stuff like Wanted, and not so many of the ballads. I know it was originally suppose to be an all acoustic CD, but I need my Jovi-cise!!!! I’m sure I’d be willing to bump up the score after the AC show.......stay tuned for the Borgata review!!!!!! 

Reviewed by: Missy | June 2005