The Song Bird Music

A Review of Bon Jovi’s Greatest Hits

Whether someone was introduced to Bon Jovi during its “hair band” days, its more sophisticated adult contemporary era, or through the opening credits of Discovery Channel shows, it’s easy to understand the appeal of the band’s catchy hooks and heavy beat. With a career spanning more than 25 years, the members of Bon Jovi have done well for themselves, and their new greatest hits collection is a reflection of that.

Bon Jovi found their niche early on in rock anthem tributes and power ballads. From “Livin’ On A Prayer” to “It’s My Life,” their songs are on the edge of inspirational, holding short of saccharin.

Even though the songs on Bon Jovi’s Greatest Hits span 1983 to the present, it’s hard to hear the difference in the song’s years from a production standpoint. It retains a timeless quality, perhaps because 80s cliché’s, strange synths and over-the-top guitar solos, barely creep into just two of the tracks, “Bad Medicine” and “Born To Be My Baby.” The only song truly “hair-band”, cringe-worthy track is the band’s first hit, “Runaway.” Even so, it’s forgivable because the band’s true voice still comes through, and it’s still a good tune… and historically speaking, it was significant to their future success.

The only departure from their heavy sound in the one-disc version of “Greatest Hits” is the country-inspired “Who Says You Can’t Go Home,” a duet with Jennifer Nettles of Sugarland. It sounds a bit out of place next to the rest of the hard rock collection, but this charted better than its rock version, hence its inclusion.

For total fans, the Ultimate Version of “Bon Jovi’s Greatest Hits” includes a second disc with songs that, while not chart toppers, include some of the band’s best work. These include more country sounds such as “Lost Highway,” the mellow “(You Want To) Make A Memory,” and more hard-driving rock in “Keep The Faith.”

The only place this album lets down the listener is the new, never-before released numbers.

The lone standout amongst the new tracks is “This Is Love This Is Life” on the second disc of Bon Jovi’s “Ultimate Collection.” This track is as hard-hitting an anthem as any of Bon Jovi’s best, worthy of becoming a single with the band’s signature lyrics and beat married perfectly.

Disc two’s other new song is “The More Things Change,” which is schizophrenic in nature. The opening notes set the listener up for more hard rock, but then deliver a bit of a country or southern rock tune about how things in the music business today are the same as they were when the band started, by listing things that have changed in the past few years. The message there seems muddled.

The new songs on disc one are “What Do You Got?” and “No Apologies.” Both are decent tunes, but “No Apologies” sounds like it would be more at home on a Meat Loaf record than here.

Overall, though, fans new and old cannot deny the staying power of a band that survived the backlash of 80s metal and has kept going through the years with very few changes to its sound. Good music always has staying power, and “Bon Jovi’s Greatest Hits” is good music, no matter the decade. It’s worth a good close look.

About the Author

Keep up with the latest music news and check out the top 40 charts at BigPond Music.

Jim Croce — The Greatest Hits: Authentic Guitar TAB $199.99

Sublime 20 Greatest Hits Easy guitar anthology $180.00

Simon And Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits – For Guitar $94.83

Guitar Hero Greatest Hits = NEW XB3 Game $66.11

Jim Croce — The Greatest Hits: Authentic Guitar TAB $62.00

Kenny Loggins: Easy Guitar Anthology: 20 Greatest Hits (2006, Paperback) $56.56

Guitar – Greatest Hits by John Williams (CD) NEW! OOP! $54.99

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Greatest Hits GUITAR TAB/Note Sheet Music Songbook $54.00

Green Day-20 Greatest Hits (Easy Guitar Tab Edition) $53.10

CHARLIE DANIELS BAND GREATEST HITS GUITAR TAB SONGBOOK TABLATURE $49.99

JAPAN CD Golden Black Greatest Hits Guitar Wolf IMPORT $49.99

ROY ORBISON.GREATEST HITS.IN DREAMS. PIANO.VOCAL.GUITAR $49.95

Activision Guitar Hero Greatest Hits Software – Xbox 360 (95783) (xb3act95783) $44.41

Guitar Hero Greatest Hits for PS2 PAL (100% Brand New) $38.43

The Cure Greatest Hits Music Book TAB Guitar $39.35

Guitar Hero: Greatest Hits Sony PlayStation 2 PS2 Brand New $38.25

TOM AND JERRY LP GUITAR’S GREATEST HITS MERCURY BOOTS++ $37.49

DUANE EDDY LP 16 GREATEST HITS TWANGY GUITAR NM- JAMIE $37.49

LEARN TO PLAY JOHN MAYER GUITAR TUITION DVD. BEST OF GREATEST HITS. LICK LIBRARY $35.53

ZZ TOP GREATEST HITS GUITAR TAB SONGBOOK TABLATURE MUSIC BOOK $35.00

ABBA Songbook Greatest Hits Voice Piano Guitar $34.99

Journey Greatest Hits Songbook Guitar Sheet Music Book $34.97

LOGGINS AND MESSINA.EASY GUITAR.GREATEST HITS.MUSICBOOK $34.95

TAKE THAT.GREATEST HITS. MUSIC BOOK. PIANO.VOCAL.GUITAR $34.95

LICK LIBRARY LEARN TO PLAY GUITAR SLIPKNOT GREATEST HITS TUITION DVD – REGION 0 $34.37

50 Years Of The Greatest Hits Piano, Vocal & Guitar Sheet Music $31.53

Lynyrd Skynyrd All Time Greatest Hits Guitar TAB $31.53

BILLY JOEL – ROCK N ROLL. PIANO VOCAL GUITAR PVG SHEET MUSIC BOOK. GREATEST HITS $31.51

LEARN TO PLAY CHICKENFOOT GUITAR TUITION DVD JOE SATRIANI. GREATEST HITS $31.76

Billy Joel Greatest Hits Vol 1,2,3 Piano, Vocal, Guitar $30.00

Guitar’s Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Tom And Jerry NM MG-20626 $30.00

Queen Greatest Hits (Guitar Recorded Versions) TAB $29.95

DEF LEPPARD GREATEST HITS.VAULT.1980-1995.GUITAR TAB $29.95

Tom & Jerry Guitars Greatest Hits Mono NM Debut $29.95

Tom & Jerry Guitars Greatest Hits Mono NM Debut $29.95

BOB DYLAN’S.GREATEST HITS.PIANO.VOCAL.GUITAR.MUSIC BOOK $29.95

Queen: Greatest Hits (Guitar Recorded Versions) Guitar TAB NEW $29.95

Chuck Berry’s Greatest Hits For Guitar Tab Guitar TAB NEW $29.95

JOE DIFFIE — “Greatest Hits On Tour” guitar pick $29.70

Queen. Greatest Hits: Guitar Tab Songbook: v. 1 – Queen $28.78

Elton John: Greatest Hits 1970-2002 (Easy Guitar TAB) Sheet Music $28.37

MICHAEL JACKSON GREATEST HITS PIANO VOCAL GUITAR BOOK $28.43

SUPERTRAMP – BEST OF. GUITAR TAB SHEET MUSIC BOOK. LEARN TO PLAY GREATEST HITS $28.35

JAMES BROWN 20 ALL TIME GREATEST HITS PIANO VOCAL & GUITAR SHEET MUSIC BOOK NEW $28.37

ELTON JOHN GREATEST HITS vol. 2 (II) PIANO ~ VOCAL ~ GUITAR ~ TRANSCRIPTIONS vgc $28.43

ZZ Top Greatest Hits: Guitar Tab (TP) ZZ Top 1st $28.50

Aerosmith Greatest Hits Guitar TAB Music $28.37

Elton John: Greatest Hits 1970-2002 (Easy Guitar TAB) Sheet Music NEW $28.37

Whitney Houston: Greatest Hits PVG 32 SONGS Songbook Piano Voice Guitar $28.33

Red Hot Chili Peppers-Greatest Hits-Guitar Recorded Versions-Hal Leonard Publish $27.30

Paul Weller: Modern Classics The Greatest Hits Guitar Tab Sheet Music $26.79

Rock And Pop All Time Greatest Hits For Easy Guitar Sheet Music, CD $26.79

Korn: Greatest Hits Volume 1 (Guitar Recorded Versions) Guitar Tab Sheet Music $26.79

Cat Stevens: Greatest Hits (Song Tab Edition) Guitar Tab Sheet Music $26.79

JAMES TAYLOR GREATEST HITS Tab Guitar Music Book $26.79

The Offspring Greatest Hits Guitar Signature Licks $26.79

CAT STEVENS GREATEST HITS Guitar Tab $26.79

EDDIE MONEY GREATEST HITS GUITAR TAB SONGBOOK TABLATURE $26.99

Mötley Crüe: Greatest Hits 2009 Book Guitar $26.99

Joe Satriani – Greatest Hits Guitar Personality Book $26.95

Guns N’ Roses Greatest Hits Guitar Personality Book $26.95

The Cure – Greatest Hits Guitar Book $26.95

Queen – Greatest Hits Guitar Recorded Version Book $26.95

Bruce Springsteen: Greatest Hits Book Guitar $26.95

Mötley Crüe: Greatest Hits Book Guitar $26.95

Eagles: Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 Book Guitar $26.95

James Taylor: Greatest Hits, Volume 2 Book Piano/Vocal/Guitar $26.95

Santana – Greatest Hits Guitar Bass Tab Drum Music Book $26.95

THE JOE SATRIANI COLLECTION. GUITAR TAB SHEET MUSIC BOOK. LEARN GREATEST HITS $26.41

2011 Greatest Country Hits: Piano/Vocal/Guitar, Alfred Publishing Staff, Good Bo $26.81

Jim Croce 20 Greatest Hits Easy Guitar Anthology TAB $26.79

Aerosmith: Greatest Hits Guitar TAB NEW $26.79

Red Hot Chili Peppers: Greatest Hits – Signature Licks For Bass Guitar $26.79

Bob Dylan: Greatest Hits (Song Tab Edition) Guitar TAB NEW $26.79

2010 Greatest Pop & Rock Hits : Piano/Vocal/Guitar $25.74

ZZ Top Greatest Hits Guitar Tab Tablature Song Book $26.08

00-22637 Basix Guitar TAB Classics- Greatest Hits-Music Book $26.06

SANTANA GREATEST HITS GUITAR TAB SHEET MUSIC SONG BOOK $25.95

RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS GREATEST HITS SIGNATURE LICKS GUITAR TAB SHEET MUSIC BOOK $25.19

BOB DYLAN ‘S GREATEST HITS Tab Guitar Music Book $25.21

Paul Simon: Greatest Hits (Song Tab Edition) Guitar TAB NEW $25.21

PS2 Game Lot – Guitar Hero & Guitar Hero II (New) Greatest Hits Versions $25.00

JOHN DENVER’S GREATEST HITS EASY GUITAR ISBN0895240106 $25.00

KENNY ROGER’S GREATEST HITS EASY GUITAR ISBN0895240769 $25.00

PS2 Game Lot – GUITAR HERO Greatest Hits & GUITAR HERO II Original (New) $25.00

Tom Linson, Jerry Kennedy, Guitars Greatest Hits. Mercury Records. $25.00

Cat Stevens – Greatest Hits Guitar Tab Sheet Music Book $24.99

THE CURE GREATEST HITS GUITAR TAB SHEET MUSIC SONG BOOK NEW $24.99

Bon Jovi – Greatest Hits Guitar Recorded Version Book $24.99

Foo Fighters – Greatest Hits Guitar Recorded Version Book $24.99

Tom And Jerry “Guitar’s Greatest Hits” $24.99

ELTON JOHN GREATEST HITS, SONG BOOK FOR PIANO & GUITAR (1975, PAPERBACK) $24.99

Eddie Money His Greatest Hits Guitar Tab Music Book NEW $24.95

BARRY MANILOW. EASY GUITAR.GREATEST HITS. $24.95

Aerosmith’s Greatest Hits Guitar Recorded Version Book $24.95

Korn – Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Guitar Recorded Version Book $24.95

Guns N Roses – Greatest Hits Guitar Bass Tab Drum Book $24.95

Gary Moore Greatest Hits Guitar Bass Tab Drum Book NEW $24.95

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Greatest Hits Guitar Bass Drum $24.95

Eagles Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975 Guitar Tab Book $24.95

Record Bowl – Bob Dylan/ Greatest Hits Volume 11 $40.00 Each bowl is created from a single record, which has been molded in to a vessel form. The bowls retain the look and feel of an LP, while the original record label is laminated and the spindle hole is sealed with a clear film. The bowls are great for dry items and snacks, and should be wiped clean by hand. Not dishwash…

O $12.30 Good album and good songs….

The Best of Bonnie Raitt $7.43 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

The Most Relaxing Classical Music in the Universe $6.99 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed….

Pat Metheny Group $10.38 Having crisscrossed America to the tune of 250 to 300 one-nighters a year while getting their sound and repertoire together, the Pat Metheny Group struck gold with this self-titled jazz-fusion classic in 1978. All the familiar components that have defined their evolution over the last 20 years are in place on Pat Metheny Group: the leader’s dark, reverberant electric guitar sound and graceful ac…

Bob Marley Guitar Table Lamp $29.99 Great Novelty Lamp of Bob Marley’s Guitar with a Picture of the Great Singer on the lamp shade. Everyone loves Marley and this Lamp is the perfect gift….

(20×28) La Cocotte Peace & Music Wall Stickers $40.00 (20×28) La Cocotte Peace & Music Wall Stickers…