new story on YouTube:
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#28 Never Say Goodbye
| life lessons in Bon Jovi songs

Welcome back, Jovi friends!
Life lessons in Bon Jovi songs continues with Never Say Goodbye.

It is the 9th song of the album Slippery When Wet (1986), and the second to last track.
It is also the very first real Bon Jovi ballad.

If you’re not familiar with the song – or simply long to be taken back to 1986 in this TIME CAPSULE OF A SONG! – you can listen here, to the official video.

In this video:

1. Welcome to another episode 00:00
Of Life lessons in Bon Jovi songs.
And why this song is such a watershed moment, in the Bon Jovi repertoire.
And a bit of an 80s time capsule 🤗

2. The 1987 Prom Song 01:34
And why it was such a darn On Point one! 😅
NB In the video I date it as “1986’s Prom song” but even with my non-existent experience with proms, I’m almost a 100% sure I should have said 1987.

3. Never released as a single?! 03:20
Or was it?
Why there is so much confusion about so many of the songs on this album, whether they were or were not released as singles.
And why they deliberately capped this mega successful album after only the third single, Wanted Dead or Alive.
Their heartfelt Swan Song.

4. Famous for these reasons 07:36
With this song never having been a single, why did it became a fan favorite?
Well!
Because this baby was the living, breathing, exhausted HEART of the show from 1986 to 1988!
It was what Jon Bon Jovi sang AFTER he FLEW over the audience, all the way to back of the venue.
All alone, an exhausted rock star, isolated, on a plateau.
For some of us, and by some of us I mean me, this pinnacle of rock star symbolism would become impossible to top.

5. the 3 different live VERSIONS 09:40

Over the course of 9 years Never Say Goodbye would be sung in three different ways.

The 1987 version: In the back of the room
https://youtu.be/p9FrdyS_RJs?si=jvxTMKCmkVuUsCfX
Vancouver

1990: the double guitar acoustic version, together with Richie Sambora
https://youtu.be/WKW6rPT6aNg?si=2s9tqFjhyrPHQqsi
Rock in Rio

1995: The Even-The-Critics-Loved-Bon Jovi Era, of musical perfection:
https://youtu.be/GTc7UR7P0bQ?si=-nbkpMovwl7uGHJJ
Jakarta

6. The 3 Groups in fanbase 12:04
Every version of Never Say Goodbye has its own fanbase!
With a special story about how Bon Jovi won over even the hardest critic. Forever.

7. How the song was created 17:17
Jon has gone on record saying Never Say Goodbye was inspired by Bruce Springsteen/ Southside Johnny’s song Hearts of Stone.
But with a demo sung by Richie Sambora, and the claim he actually wrote it about Jon and Dorothea, it is hard to get to the truth about who did what.
What we do know is that this song would never have been on the album. had it not been for the Pizza Parlor Jury!

8. The Life Lessons here 19:24
Don’t knock the power of the Pizza Parlor Jury!
And sometimes it takes 9 years before something has reached its full potential.
And even then?
Someone, somewhere, will prefer the raw 1987 Jon-is-exhausted version 😅

Next stop:
Wild In The Streets!

~Suzanne Beenackers
🇳🇱 Tikkie
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new story on YouTube:
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#27 I’d Die For You
| life lessons in Bon Jovi songs

Welcome back, Jovi friends!
Life lessons in Bon Jovi songs continues in 2025 with the most beloved fan favorite of Slippery When Wet.

To mark this special occasion, I made us an I’d Die For You playlist!
From the earliest demos to its 1996 mastery when it was turned into a ballad
I’d Die For You – Bon Jovi | Playlist – >
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiGoDE3C06SeysU97wXZfucyBQSgVh0V4

I’d Die For You is the 8th song of the album Slippery When Wet (1986), but its core identity is actually being second!

For years this song was absolutely GLUED, to the spot of being played second at Bon Jovi concerts. And for good reason; With the magic of Jon Bon Jovi also playing electric guitar on this one, joining Ritchie Sambora, the song doubled down on being a rock song for the ages.

In this video:

1. Welcome to another episode 00:00
Of Life lessons in Bon Jovi songs.
The first video of 2025 and I’m happy to report I’ve made video-making the heart of my planning.
Because over the past years, it just didn’t get done!
So it promises to become a productive year.

2. Slippery When Wet Album 01:36
We’re still at the album that was their absolute biggie.
The book behind me, Let it Rock, is also about the creation of this record.

3. I’d Die For You 02:30
A fan favorite to die for that had its own designated place on every setlist for absolute years! It came second, every night from 1987 to 1989

Link to this channel’s I’d Die For You playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiGoDE3C06SeysU97wXZfucyBQSgVh0V4

4. “Hey operator” 04:07
The first two on the playlist are demos which have entirely different lyrics.
Recognizable by the verses starting with “Hey operator”.
This is the version before Desmond Child came in.
And I was ON THE VERGE- of telling you this version had won me over.
Until I heard the official one (song 3 and up on the playlist)

Unbeatable!
To die for! 😉

5. Always in second place 06:32
For the longest time, I’d Die For You was glued to the second spot in their setlists!
Giving us the first life lesson:
There’s no shame in being second!

6. Less is more 08:26
The second life lesson this song brings us, is less is more.
The new lyrics are more intimate because they have less characters (the operator was no longer in the story).
In particular because the music is already so rich, it pays off to have less “exposition” or complexity, in the lyrics.

🐈‍⬛🐈‍⬛
The little cat peeking into the frame every now and then is Zaza.
The pluche toys on the couch are little bear Puux, Fleurtje the Monchhichi and Master Grogu. And it’s winter so they’re all snuggled up in their blanket.
(Zaza and Flip’s baby blanket, but they’re okay with them using it)

7. Saved the best for last!! 11.22
This song live has Jon Bon Jovi on electric guitar!!
Double electric guitar really makes this song kick in.
But in recent years, something happened that broke this ancient custom.

8. The future of Bon Jovi live 14:02
Will we ever hear I’d Die For You, in its former glory?

Next stop:
Never Say Goodbye!

~Suzanne Beenackers
🇳🇱 Tikkie
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new story on YouTube:
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https://youtu.be/XH5TcMJAGgE

#26 Without Love
| life lessons in Bon Jovi songs

Welcome back, Jovi friends!
Life lessons in Bon Jovi songs continues with the least recognized song of the album, Without Love.
It has the questionable honor of being the only song on this album that was never performed live.

Without Love is the 7th song of the album Slippery When Wet (1986).

In this video:

1. Welcome to another episode 00:00
Of Life lessons in Bon Jovi songs.
This sure feels like ages ago!
(in reality it was one packed December month ago)

But this song has the perfect line for it:
🎵🎶 “I’ve been through some changes
But some things always stay the same” 🎵🎶
There’s nothing “without love”, and I do love making these videos!
So of course, I am back.

2. One of 4 Siblings 01:20
Desmond Child co-wrote several songs for Bon Jovi’s album Slippery When Wet.
Without Love is one of the two lesser known songs.

The fourth Desmond Child song is I’d Die For You, which is up next;
And about which I already have a lot of emotions! 🥶😬

As opposed to the usual suspects on this album, competing for Best Song, it appears to be the upcoming I’d Die For You that seems to be presenting the biggest challenge so far in this series!

3. A designated Cover Song 04:57
The unusual thing Jon Bon Jovi said about Without Love
(source: https://twostorytown.com/without-love)

4. What would Tony Kuzminski say about this song?! 06:14
Always a great question to ask oneself.
(read his answer for any Bon Jovi song here: https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bon-jovi-songs-ranked/)

5. The Life Lesson! 07:37

Okay!
So we’ve definitely had lessons that were more tightly knit to the song itself.
But my friend, rarely will you get a “deeper cut” of insiders-only yoga knowledge!
Colored in, by yours truly.
So this theory was passed down to me, in an era long gone. But I expanded on it, and developed it into my own thing.

I’m not even going to say what it’s about.
Because YouTube has probably got me shadow banned enough based on verbal analysis alone.
But it’s good 😉

Next stop:
I’d Die For You!
🥶😬

~Suzanne Beenackers
🇳🇱 Tikkie
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new story on YouTube:
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https://youtu.be/PUMeSXJK6zA

#25 Raise Your Hands
| life lessons in Bon Jovi songs

The unlikely candidate to become a classic;
But hear me out!

Raise Your Hands is the sixth song of the album Slippery When Wet (1986) and the opener of side B, for vinyl and cassette.

This episode was recorded on 24th November 2024, and posted on the 28th.

In this video:

1. Welcome to another episode 00:00
Of Life lessons in Bon Jovi songs.
This sure feels like ages ago! (in reality it was 3 weeks )
With Raise Your hands we have flipped the Slippery When Wet cassette or vinyl to the second side, where this songs opens.

2. The Tale of Two Opening Songs 00:55
A story about Raise Your Hands (opener of side B), Let it Rock (album opener), as well as an initially unnamed instrumental sibling, which would successfully be teamed up to either one.

Plus a fast forward to the classic opener for their next album (the New Jersey album, 1988) and tour.
They were definitely overdelivering on their openers!

“Raise Your Hands is my way of saying good morning class.”
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986

3. Going all in on being a live band 06:30
Raise Your Hands was the signature song for the Slippery When Wet Tour specifically.
The song would disappear from the setlist afterwards.

But Raise Your Hands was also symbolic of them coming of age as a live band. And understanding Bon Jovi could handle stadiums.

4. We, The band 09:15
And my 2 cents on when we noticed there is an I, in Bon Jovi.

5. A Star Is Born 10:31
Director Wayne Isham literally set the stage for the new Bon Jovi era.
He set up a faux stage at a boxing arena, brought in a live audience, and shot the videos for the album’s first two videos;
You Give Love A Bad Name and Livin’ On A Prayer.
Turning them into superstars.

6. Director Wayne Isham 14:40
Would stay on for years, creating many more Live-inspired videos.
At first it seems there’s little story telling here, but Richie Sambora pointed out that those videos were actually a form of documentary.
A style that had never before been used for music videos.

Having a live video would become the default for the band.

7. Play your strengths 15:51
The live videos, as well as Jon’s realization around 1986, that they could handle big stadiums, are both examples of having a keen sense of what you’re good at.
And rolling with that.

8. Raise Your Hands equals movie Spaceballs 17:05
For many people, these two always go hand in hand!
As the comment section of Raise Your Hands on the official Bon Jovi YouTube, proves.
Spaceballs was an 80s Star Wars spoof, and it has cemented Raise Your Hands into 80s pop culture.

You can watch the movie here: Spaceballs (1987)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAGuYr3hpR4

Next stop:
Without Love!

~Suzanne Beenackers
🇳🇱 Tikkie
☕️ Buy me a coffee
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new story on YouTube:
click here to see it->
https://youtu.be/wus1Ur9CJEM

#24 Wanted Dead or Alive
| life lessons in Bon Jovi songs

Known to Bon Jovi fans as THE ANTHEM!
But we’ll just go with;
Everybody’s Favorite Song 🙂

With the exception of the few rebels who choose differently out of principle.
But even they (including me) would agree Wanted Dead or Alive is Bon Jovi’s most cinematic composition.

Wanted Dead or Alive is the fifth song of the album Slippery When Wet (1986) and the closer to side A, for vinyl and cassette.

video recorded on 4 November 2024

In this video:

1. Welcome to another episode 00:00
Of Life lessons in Bon Jovi songs.
A series we do in chronological order and we’re at their third album.
And Everybody’s Favorite Song.

2. The Brilliant Website 00:51
That is making creating this series so much easier for me!
The website is called Two Story Town.
This is today’s page:
https://twostorytown.com/wanted-dead-or-alive
With “Everything Anyone In Bon Jovi Has Ever Said About Wanted Dead or Alive”.

3. How this Cowboy-inspired song came into being 01:45
Tapping straight into the lonely depths of their ’84 and ’85 tours, this song did not just have a personal meaning for them;
It also had a specific musical inspiration.
They knew what they wanted! So to speak.

4. David Bryan the Keyboard Prayer 😉 05:08
Bon Jovi’s low-key instrumentalist, brings it once again.

5. Richie’s Basement 07:52
The bare bones of this song were created at a magical place: The basement at Richie Sambora’s.
It was his parent’s basement and he had dreamed and envisioned his life as a rock star before he could even play.

I forgot to outline a real lesson to this song, in the video.
But I’d say the lesson is to have a place where you can dream.
Just like Richie Sambora did.

6. The Afternoon It ALL Happened 10:10
And they even had time to write a second song.

7. Recording this song at the Studio 11:09
And Bruce Fairbairn giving the missing link to bring this song to life!

8. Bring. Back. Acoustic. 12:04
And double neck and even triple neck guitar.

9. Going against the grain 14:10
Although I agree Wanted Dead or Alive is hands down the strongest song in Bon Jovi history;
I’m gonna go with an entirely different song, as being my favorite!
And I just realized I managed to pick the one that is its diametrical opposite!
😉
Can you guess?
It was a song created for a single purpose, and with no intrinsic meaning to pretty much anyone. Yet played at pretty much every Bon Jovi concert.

Wanted Dead or Alive, the strongest song Bon Jovi ever made, was a testament.
It was the loneliness they had been unable to articulate at the time;
Coming out, guns blazing.

Next stop:
Raise Your Hands!

~Suzanne Beenackers
🇳🇱 Tikkie
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new story on YouTube:
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https://youtu.be/UCjDUqo8Sk0

#23 Social Disease
| life lessons in Bon Jovi songs

The untold story!
Social Disease is the least appreciated track of breakthrough album Slippery When Wet (1986).

But if you know its legendary roots?
This might just change your mind!

In this video:

1. Welcome to another episode 00:00
Of Life lessons in Bon Jovi songs.
A series we do in chronological order. We’re at their third album.
Which at the time, for many people was their Only Album!

2. 4th song of side A! 01:17
Cassette (and vinyl!) listeners have a completely different context, where the closer from side A and the first song from side B, hold a special place.

3. About this not very well regarded song 02:58
Quote from:
https://ultimateclassicrock.com/bon-jovi-songs-ranked/
Where the song has even dropped 15 points, since I printed this article.

4. Praise for Tony Kuzminski 06:03
Who has earned his right to say certain things.

5. Social Disease Live 1990 06:40
And why it was paired up with the Bob Dylan cover 7 Days!

6. It’s THE horn section song of the album 08:15
The signature trademark of producer Bruce Fairbairn! He would become legendary for always adding one horn-song to all rock records he produced.

7. The Early Death of Bruce Fairbairn 10:18
Of unknown causes in 1999. And with countless accolades to his name, all in the field of rock and heavy metal.

8. How Bruce Fairbairn was a key success factor for this record 10:40
Credited for really amalgamating the band.

9. Bruce Fairbairn played the trumpet himself 14:50
And played together with one other musician, for these horn recordings.

10. How this story will leave its mark 15:34
We will never listen to it again, without appreciating this story behind it.

11. the meaning of the song 15:55
And the confusion around of the lyrics.

link to a page with interview clippings:
https://twostorytown.com/social-disease

Ultimately it really is “just” a song for fun, and meant to be lighthearted.

12. How the early death of Bruce Fairbairn gives it its meaning 17:55
Seize the day.
Carpe Diem.

Next stop:
Wanted Dead or Alive!

~Suzanne

🇳🇱 Tikkie
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new story on YouTube:
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https://youtu.be/-p9mkXIMZ50

#22 Livin’ on a Prayer
| life lessons in Bon Jovi songs

Livin’ on a Prayer, was the second single of their breakthrough album Slippery When Wet (1986).
And part of an effective two puncher!
Before the year was over, You Give Love a Bad Name and Livin’ on a Prayer had not just put Bon Jovi on the map;
It had given them superstar status.

In this video:

1. Welcome to the Song of Songs! 00:00
Setting myself up for failure, obviously.

2. about Slippery When Wet album 01:11
And the core role for Livin’ on a Prayer

3. The secret behind the success of Slippery 01:31
Enter: songwriter Desmond Child

4. The Rock Star Maker 02:15
What Desmond Child did really really well, at that time.

5. Bon Jovi’s lukewarm approach 03:20
The boys did not plan on just letting Desmond write them a few world hits!

6. “Look what I am carrying in my Backpocket!” 04:25
Unknowing of their standoffish involvement, Desmond Child won them over in 5 minutes.

7. The Assignment: Write a working class song! 06:15
And who Tommy and Gina really are.
And that there are multiple songs which feature them.

8. The body of work from Desmond Child 09:30
4000 songs written; 1200 songs recorded; 80 Top 40 hits; 10 Top 10 hits.
Source: This 13 minute interview Desmond Child
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHtf69yUM-4&t=127s

9. The moral of this story 10:15
“You have to write 4000 songs to get 10 really good ones!”

Next stop:
Social Disease!

~Suzanne

🇳🇱 Tikkie
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