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Bon Jovi
Have a Nice Day
(Island/Universal)
We could say a lot of things about Bon Jovi's Have a Nice Day. We could say it has a perfect title -- a phrase every bit as shallow and uninspired as the songs that go with it.
We could suggest that these aging hair farmers' 11th album is just another batch of soundalike, cliche-laden arena-rock anthems aimed at suburbanites, secretaries and soccer moms.
We could argue that if most of these tunes sound familiar, it's no wonder: When they aren't rewriting their own hits, Bon Jovi are borrowing from U2, John Mellencamp, Bob Dylan, Bob Seger and even Sam Cooke.
We could say that lyrically, things are even more dire. We could note that it seems Jon believes using the word "life" as often as possible -- as in "Why you wanna tell me how to live my life?" or "I'm gonna live, I'm gonna survive" or "This is your life" or "You watch your whole life pass you by" or "If all we got is us then life's worth living" or "This is the story of my life" -- qualifies as deeply personal and meaningful songcraft.
Or we could argue that perhaps he's just not trying anymore -- a conclusion that seems likely given the superficiality of the title cut and other bumper-sticker slogan-songs like Welcome to Wherever You Are.
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We could even recommend some titles for their next albums: You Don't Have to Be Crazy to Work Here (But it Helps), My Other Car is a BMW, and If You Lived Here You'd Be Home Now.
But we won't bother saying any of those things -- because there's really no point. No matter what we say, the secretaries and soccer moms will continue to gaze at Jon's picture, sigh and pretend he's singing to them. And the men in their lives will continue to roll their eyes and find something to do in the garage until the CD is over. And as long as that arrangement works, everybody can have a nice day.
Or, as Jon would say, a nice life.
Track Listing:
1. Have a Nice Day
2. I Want to Be Loved - Jennifer Nettles
3. Welcome to Where You Are
4. Who Says You Can't Go Home
5. Last Man Standing
6. Bells of Freedom
7. Wildflower
8. Last Cigarette
9. I Am
10. Complicated
11. Novocaine
12. Story of My Life
13. Who Says You Can't Go Home [Duet]