I just finished the Bon Jovi documentary last night, it was really well made. I was a huge fan from Slippery all the way to Crush, kept tabs on them up to The Circle, after that didn't really follow them much. I really liked the structure of the documentary where they talk about the current situation along with the history. I think it's a great series and doesn't really hold back on much of the stuff that went on, all the problems, all the conflicts, etc.. I'm going to go on a deep dive of the discography soon, even having not heard the classics in ages, it's so funny how I remember all the lyrics to them. The anthems they made are truly iconic.
I really liked the Bon Jovi documentary, though it was a bit long. The structure was definitely cool, bouncing between his struggles in 2022 and the historical periods of the band. It made me really appreciate the songs and albums that I love, but rarely listen to anymore, as well as respect Jon in a different light.
I agree with these sentiments.
It's been a roller coaster with Bon Jovi for me. As I previously said, he was my proper introduction to foreign and heavy rock music in 1994 when I was a teen (I'm born late November so I was still 14 when Always came out). Bon Jovi and Guns n' Roses kept me company for a year (but I always loved Bon Jovi more than GNR), and then in 1995 I was introduced to Iron Maiden (and shortly after Metallica) and my destiny as a metalhead was sealed.
So with Bon Jovi I went through the adoration phase, to the "I don't need this commercial stuff anymore 'cause now I got heavy metal" edgy phase, to then come back to him with a bit more of musical maturity.... and with the added bonus of understanding better the lyrics
it was thanks to the attempt to understand and translate Maiden and Metallica lyrics that my english knowledge skyrocketed, can you imagine how hard it is for a teen who still is not good with the english language to try and understand Bon Jovi's americanisms and pronunciation? it was only years later that with a better knowledge of english I finally understood some lyrics
"aaaah, so THAT's what it meant!!"....
I dropped off the wagon after Crush / Bounce and at a certain point I didn't even bother with new albums anymore, accepting that he was all about tame rock dad. But the love for those songs that were the necessary foundation to become a metalhead will always remain, and also the respect for the guy as Grappler said. Like Alice Cooper, he's one of those who are trying to give back something and it's cool as hell that someone who is accustomed to screaming fans (often female) all around big stages is willing to show up and serve poor and homeless people a meal.
I respect also how he was candid about his vocal struggles, and that Ritchie not only agreed to take part in the documentary, but that he was a class act about it and even apologized for the way he left the band.
And I got a good chuckle when, listening over the tapes of the ending of Livin' on a Prayer, Jon remarked "you know, I have few regrets, but that key change is one of them. How the hell are you supposed to sing like that in your sixties? nobody can!!!!"