Bon Jovi - The soundtrack of our lives

[LoisLane]

Hey everyone,

I was listening to an interview with the band the other day (as I do when I'm bored, which is quite a lot lately due to this horrible rainy weather and flooding we are having here in Australia ) Anyway, Jon again mentioned the fact that for many fans, Bon Jovi's music is the soundtrack to our lives and different songs often have specific memories for different people.

So, it got me wondering what memories people attach to the songs and I thought perhaps people could share if they feel so inclined? Not sure if this has already been done somewhere here, but I was just curious. I like to hear how the band's music has touched people's lives. I'll start it off with two songs that stand out for me right now.

"It's My Life' was the first Bon Jovi song I ever really took any notice of. I was just a teenager when that song was released back in 2000 and I remember that the first time I heard it on the radio I turned it up really loud and started air guitaring in front of my mirror and singing into my hairbrush! As a young rebellious teenager, the lyrics of the song really stood out for me and I would listen to it whenever my parents tried to stop me from doing something dumb. Also, I remember watching the video clip and totally falling for Jon's gorgeous smile (still falling btw!). To this day, whenever I hear that song, the rebellious side of me still does a little Jovi fist pump


The second song would have to be 'Welcome to Wherever You Are". I have always really loved the lyrics of the song but it became special for me when I played that song to a young girl that I was counselling. I work with a lot of hurting and vulnerable youth, and this young girl came to me with no self esteem whatsoever and was feeling really shitty about life.
I was having a hard time getting her to see the positives in life, so during one of our sessions I decided to play some positive songs to her to help her have a different perspective on things. When she heard "Welcome", she broke down crying and said she felt that the song had been written just for her. It was a real turning point for this girl and she has gone on to make some really positive changes in her life. So, whenever I hear that song now I am reminded of the powerful impact it had on her life and it makes me smile. (Also, I brought a new Bon Jovi convert into the fold!)

So that is just two examples of the memories have I attached to Bon Jovi songs. Anyone else want to share?

[Laney]

"Born To Be My Baby" and "Living In Sin" felt like the soundtracks of my life when I first started dating my boyfriend three years ago. Both of them seemed to describe my crazy hormones that I was not at all used to and I used to listen to the New Jersey album on repeat during those first few months.

"If I Can't Have Your Love" was a song that I listened to over and over when I was in the worst stages of my depression and was still waiting for a stable counsellor. I wasn't hurting from a breakup, I was hurting over the loss of my best friend. We somehow grew apart, and it turned very bad. She and her friends bullied me, threatened me and my family, and still harass me to this day. I've gotten out of that hole, but that song just felt like the epitome of my broken world and I cried myself to sleep listening to Richie's voice comfort me and let me know what I wasn't alone in feeling that pain.

The entire Lost Highway album makes me smile now and it's my go-to album when I'm feeling blue. It relaxes and calms me.

I'm really curious to see everyone else's replies. Your story about the young girl is beautiful and moving. This is why Bon Jovi is such an amazing band.

[Summer]

I used to sing Seat Next To You to my former husband when he was sick, and when he passed, we played Thank You For Loving Me at his funeral. All of their songs helped me get through it. Some would make me cry, but others always make me dance!

LoisLane I'm glad you were able to help that girl.
@laney I'm happy you made it through to the other side.

[LoisLane]

Thanks for sharing Laney and Summer - sounds like Bon Jovi have gotten you both through some pretty hard times. That's one of the things I really like about their music - the optimism in their lyrics really can be inspirational.

I really like the whole Lost Highway record - it's my driving soundtrack. Sometimes I like to go for a relaxing drive through the mountains near where I live and I will blast that record and it can be quite therapeutic, especially when I've had a hard week at work with some of my clients. There is a song for each emotion on the record

[T]

The first time I heard a Bon Jovi song, I was 19. I had moved back home to mom's house....that's a long story....lol. Anyway, my younger brother was 16 and had the room next to mine. I could hear music through the wall, but at first I couldn't make out what it was, and went on reading the book of the day. Then when the second track on the record came on, Kenneth turned it up some. I could hear Bad Name loud and clear. I really wanted to know what and who he was listening to, but it just wasn't cool to go knock on your younger brother's door to ask something....and most certainly not to ask what music he was listening to.

But, then Prayer came on.

And I just couldn't stay still any longer. I didn't care how "uncool" it looked...I went and asked. The conversation was probably one of the funniest I've ever had with him.

I knocked, and he called out, "What?"

I stuck my head in the door and asked, "What song is that?"

Suspiciously, he responded, "Living on a Prayer."

"What's the band?"

Even more suspicious, "Bon Jovi. Why?"

"Oh, no reason," I answered, as I closed the door.


As a pregnant unwed teenager, I was spending every spare dime I had on stuff to get ready for the baby, buying a crib and so forth. Kenneth was a great little brother. He never said a word, never acted like he had done it....there was just a cassette tape laying on the dresser in my bedroom with a handwritten label on it that said "Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet". Kenneth had copied his LP for me and left it in my room because he knew I couldn't afford to go buy the album myself.

I got the same gift when my brother bought "New Jersey". Just the handwriting on the labels gave him away.

To this day, he blames himself for my Bon Jovi addiction, and only shakes his head when the subject comes up. ;D

[Summer]

What a sweet little brother!

[LoisLane]

Gotta love brothers! My brother is about 6 years older than me and growing up I used to try to be 'cool' like him and listen to the same bands as he did. I got introduced to some really fantastic music that way. Though my brother never did like Bon Jovi - I found that one on my own! But he doesn't mind listening to them when we catch up and he does admire Richie's guitar playing, being that my brother is a musician.

Another Bon Jovi song that mean's a lot to me is 'Wanted'. I have always loved the guitar riff and solo in that song - it really was a good day in the basement for the guys But I came to love the song more after I finally got to see the band perform live here in Australia in Dec 2010. I had been a fan for a while, but since they don't come down here to Aus all that much, I had yet to see them live. But when I got to stand in a stadium full of people and sing along to 'Wanted' and also 'Prayer', it really was a moving experience. It took my love for the band and their music to a new level. Now, whenever 'Wanted' comes on I still get little tingles down my spine as I remember hearing it live for the first time.

I so hope that when the band goes back out on the road next time that they include Australia, as I will fly all over this great country of ours to hear them play becasue they truly are an amazing live band!

[brunettechick]

Bon Jovi has been a part of life since forever. My uncle loves them and influenced my taste in music. I remember that at 6 or 7 years old he used to play his rock LPs when he babysat me, lol.

I remember that the first Bon Jovi song that caught my attention was "Born to be my baby", that I listened on the radio. I didn't speak English and only knew how to sing "2, 3, 4! Nanananana", LOL. Then I started paying attention to MTV, grew a little older and started buying magazines and posters, with a major crush on Jon and Richie, lol.

I even remember showing my parents a poster of Jon, I think I was 9 or 10 at that time, I'm really not sure, telling them I was gonna marry Jon. My father laughed and went "That's OK, sweetheart, but isn't he a bit old for you?", while mom just chuckled and was all "Congratulations, dear. he's beautiful!"

I love the memories their songs bring me even as write this, like my late grandma calling me every time she'd see their videos on TV. She never remembered their names, so they were "Those boys you like, dear!". She loved Jon, just said that he needed a haircut, lol.

And They are indeed the soundtrack of my life. I could go on and on here talking about moments with their music as a soundtrack. Great moments of my childhood, teenage and my adult life as well sad moments where their music helped me go through and their lyrics gave me strength enough to move on face the difficult days like this past year. 2011 was very hard year on me and my family, and it would have been unbearable without these amazing men and their incredible gift of making great music that touch people's lives.