
VON KEEP BIS BOUNCE: BON JOVI SUCHTEN EINEN NEUEN KURS
Jens-Uwe BerndtTeilen
Nach den Glam-Metal-Jahren kam die radikale Abkehr von den durchgeknallten Achtzigern. KEEP THE FAITH war 1992 praktisch die Musik einer neuen Band, die es jetzt ernsthafter angehen wollte - und sich stilistisch einem breiteren Publikum anbot. Besserer Studenten-Rock hier, ein bisschen Alternative dort, triefende Balladen. Allerdings hatte auch KEEP THE FAITH seine Momente: “If I Was Your Mother“ gab Zunder und das zehnminütige Stück “Dry Country“ stellte die überwältigenden Fähigkeiten von Gitarrist Richie Sambora in den Vordergrund. THESE DAYS (1995) wurde Bon Jovis Kniefall vor König Grunge, der damals uneingeschränkt regierte. Das Album klingt niedergeschlagen und düster. CRUSH (2000) gab mit seinem Opener “It‘s My Life“ vor, die alten Stärken der Band wiederentdeckt zu haben, dem war aber nur in Teilen so. Auch hier wieder Alternative, Balladen, Pop-Anflüge. Und schließlich BOUNCE (2002). Damit wollte man eigentlich wieder zurück in die Spur. Und mit “Undivided“ gab es sogar einen der härtesten Bon-Jovi-Songs überhaupt zu hören. Allerdings hatte Jon Bon Jovi nach 9/11 einfach zu viele Botschaften zu übermitteln, worunter manchmal die Qualität der Songs litt. So schlecht wie BOUNCE hatte sich nach dem Hit SLIPPERY WHEN WET, von dem seit 1986 allein in den USA um die 12 Millionen Einheiten abgesetzt worden waren, keine Bon-Jovi-Platte mehr verkauft.
After the Glam Metal years came the radical shift away from the crazy eighties. KEEP THE FAITH in 1992 was practically the music of a new band that now wanted more seriously. Better Student Rock here, a bit of Alternative there, dripping ballads. However, KEEP THE FAITH also had its moments: "If I Was Your Mother" gave fire and the ten-minute piece "Dry Country" put the overwhelming skills of guitarist Richie Sambora in the centre. THESE DAYS (1995) became Bon Jovi's genuflection to King Grunge, who reigned unrestricted at the time. The album sounds downcast and somber. CRUSH (2000) pretended with the opener "It's My Life" to have rediscovered the old strengths of the band, but this was only in parts. Again Alternative, Ballads, Pop. And finally BOUNCE (2002). With this album they wanted to get back on track. And with "Undivided" there was even one of the hardest Bon Jovi songs ever to hear. However, after 9/11 Jon Bon Jovi simply had too many messages to convey, from which the quality of the songs sometimes suffered. After the hit SLIPPERY WHEN WET, which had sold around 12 million units in the USA alone since 1986, no record of Bon Jovi sold as poorly as BOUNCE.
After the Glam Metal years came the radical shift away from the crazy eighties. KEEP THE FAITH in 1992 was practically the music of a new band that now wanted more seriously. Better Student Rock here, a bit of Alternative there, dripping ballads. However, KEEP THE FAITH also had its moments: "If I Was Your Mother" gave fire and the ten-minute piece "Dry Country" put the overwhelming skills of guitarist Richie Sambora in the centre. THESE DAYS (1995) became Bon Jovi's genuflection to King Grunge, who reigned unrestricted at the time. The album sounds downcast and somber. CRUSH (2000) pretended with the opener "It's My Life" to have rediscovered the old strengths of the band, but this was only in parts. Again Alternative, Ballads, Pop. And finally BOUNCE (2002). With this album they wanted to get back on track. And with "Undivided" there was even one of the hardest Bon Jovi songs ever to hear. However, after 9/11 Jon Bon Jovi simply had too many messages to convey, from which the quality of the songs sometimes suffered. After the hit SLIPPERY WHEN WET, which had sold around 12 million units in the USA alone since 1986, no record of Bon Jovi sold as poorly as BOUNCE.