Bounce | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Studio album by | ||||
Released | October 8, 2002 | |||
Recorded | March–June 2002 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 49:10 | |||
Label | ||||
Producer | ||||
Bon Jovi chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Bounce | ||||
|
Bounce is the eighth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on October 8, 2002 through Island Records. Produced by Luke Ebbin, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, the album was recorded at Sanctuary II Studio in New Jersey.
Bounce was heavily influenced by the September 11 attacks, owing in part to Jon Bon Jovi's proximity to New York City. The title "Bounce" was a reference to New York City's and the United States' ability to bounce back from the World Trade Center attacks as a nation. Its cover art, a stylized image of a radio telescope dish at the Very Large Array, was photographed by Kevin Westenberg and produced by Kevin Reagan.
The album debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, [7] making it Bon Jovi's highest debut in the band's history at that time, although it became their first album not to reach Platinum status in the US.
In end of July 2001, during the final tour One Wild Night Tour, Jon Bon Jovi confirmed for the Billboard that he started to write new songs for the Crush (2000) follow-up and that the entire band is planning to start recording from January 2002. Also, he confirmed that band were planning to release the boxset in 2003, in conjunction with the band's 20th anniversary. [8] Between June and October 2001, band members wrote 25 songs and demoed totally 12 of them. Many of those songs were written in September, and they were influenced by the September 11 attacks. Those songs were "Standing" and "Another Reason to Believe". [9] [10]
At the end of July 2001, Bon Jovi finished their Crush world tour with two sold-out shows at Giants Stadium in New Jersey. The band then took a three-week break after which Jon and Richie Sambora started writing songs, first in Los Angeles and later in New Jersey. They have demoed some of those new songs in New Jersey in November 2001. After that, Jon had to fulfill an acting commitment to the TV series Ally McBeal (1997-2002), so he stayed at Sambora's house in Los Angeles and during that time they continued with the songwriting process and demoing process at Luke Ebbin's house. Songwriting and demoing process went on until March 2002, and between March and June 2002, the album was recorded. By early July 2002. all the songs that ended up on the album were mixed and by the late July of the same year they were mastered. In a period of less than a year, the band wrote approximately 40 songs, 12 songs ended up on the album and several more songs in their demo versions ended up on singles as B-sides. During the songwriting process, the band also wrote some songs that were written as a cathartic exercise. Those songs were written right after the September 11 attacks and they were mainly of woe from lyrical standpoint because they were influenced by that tragedy. Jon said that those songs were only written and will never be recorded. [11]
After a one-album absence, perennial Bon Jovi collaborator Desmond Child returned to co-write four of the album's 12 songs. The lyrics in the song "Undivided" were influenced by the September 11 attacks. It simply states that "no man is an island" and that all people are part of the greater world that is humanity, and that all people are stronger together than being apart. [12] "Everyday" was also inspired by the September 11 attacks. It reinforces the need to live each day to its fullest and the lyrics acknowledge the harshness of life, but encourage listeners to "brush themselves off", get back up on their feet and get on with life. [11] [13] "The Distance" is written in a cinematic style. The music serves as a score to the lyrics, which begins as an establishing shot and the "camera" draws closer into the story as the song progresses. The lyrics talk about the passion that a person feels when there is a goal in sight and displays the determination shown when that person is striving to reach that goal. [14] "Joey" is influenced and inspired by Elton John's song Levon (1971) and talks about a character who befriends a simple-minded young man. [15] "Misunderstood" is a song about anyone who has said the wrong thing and has had to face the consequences. The song was written after Jon Bon Jovi came home after long period of time and he realised there were portions of his personal life he had neglected and wrote this song to admit his guilt. [16] "All About Lovin' You" is a love song that talks about appreciating the love of another. It was also influenced by the events of September 11 and how many people rediscovered that love is the most important thing in life. [17]
"Hook Me Up" is a song that was inspired by a newspaper article about a young Palestinian man in occupied territory who was trying desperately to make contact with people via an old, beat-up ham radio. It was written from the young man's perspective who was trapped in a small corner of the world, amidst horrible events when all he wanted was communication and a connection with the outside world and other people. [18] "Right Side of Wrong" is a modern-day Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid song that talks about good people involved with the wrong people but have their hearts in the right place. [19] "Love Me Back to Life" is about world-weariness and the need for someone or something that will breathe the life back into one and allow them to appreciate the world again. [20] "You Had Me from Hello" is about a committed relationship and the ability for someone to constantly see something new and beautiful in the one they love. The title was taken from a phrase spoken by Cameron Crowe in his film Jerry Maguire (1996). [21] The title track "Bounce" was originally written near the end of the One Wild Night Tour and had more sports-oriented lyrics. However, after the events of September 11, the song became a declaration of strength and defiance. It refers to the city of New York, and the United States as a whole, but also to the band's perseverance over a twenty-year career. [11] [22] "Open All Night" is written as a dialog between two characters in TV series Ally McBeal (1997-2002): Ally McBeal and Victor Morrison, a plumber and a babysitter portrayed by Jon Bon Jovi. Jon appeared in nine episodes as the character and the storyline involving Ally and Victor was romantic. Jon admitted that if that happened in real life, he would either never allow it to take so long or he would have moved on. . [23]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 61/100 [24] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | C [26] |
Los Angeles Times | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Rolling Stone | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sputnikmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
The Guardian | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Bounce received generally mixed to unfavorable reviews from critics. At Metacritic , which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 61 out of 100, which indicates "favorable reviews" based on 8 reviews. [24] Though, Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic gave the album 2 stars out of 5 stating that album "After all, this is a record where Bon Jovi seems to have consciously decided to avoid everything that gives their music character, melody, and muscle, a move that would have been odd at any point during their career, but is particularly puzzling after they delivered an album that found them growing old gracefully. It's as if they want to undo everything Crush did for them". [25] David Browne from Entertainment Weekly rated the album with C stating that "Bon Jovi have every right to write and sing topical songs. But the results are sonically grating (the music feels shrill and compressed) and strained, reducing the emotions and situations connected to Sept. 11 to stadium chants". [26] Natalie Nichols from Los Angeles Times gave the album 2 stars out of 4 stating that "This time the music's trademark epic quality comes less from Richie Sambora's sprawling guitar work than from an overdose of strings and piano that reflects singer-actor Jon Bon Jovi's movie and TV interests". [27] Gavin Edwards from Rolling Stone gave the album 3 stars out of 5 by saying that "The title Bounce is meant to be an exhortation to America after 9/11, and if it doesn't exactly offer poetic catharsis, the existence of the eighth Bon Jovi record is reassurance of a different kind: Life goes on". [28] Sputnikmusic gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5 saying that "Fueled by an emotional theme, Bon Jovi end up making their best album of the millennium era". [29] Steven Poole from The Guardian gave the album 2 stars out of 5 saying that "for most of the record Jon Bon Jovi sounds puzzlingly like Elvis Costello or Elton John, and sugary ballads predominate, with Bruce Hornby-like piano intros and tasteful acoustic-guitar lines leading to swollen, meaningless choruses". [30]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Undivided" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Billy Falcon | 3:53 |
2. | "Everyday" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Andreas Carlsson | 3:00 |
3. | "The Distance" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child | 4:48 |
4. | "Joey" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora | 4:54 |
5. | "Misunderstood" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child, Andreas Carlsson | 3:30 |
6. | "All About Lovin' You" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child, Andreas Carlsson | 3:46 |
7. | "Hook Me Up" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child, Andreas Carlsson | 3:54 |
8. | "Right Side of Wrong" | Jon Bon Jovi | 5:50 |
9. | "Love Me Back to Life" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora | 4:09 |
10. | "You Had Me from Hello" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Andreas Carlsson | 3:49 |
11. | "Bounce" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Billy Falcon | 3:11 |
12. | "Open All Night" | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora | 4:22 |
Total length: | 49:10 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
13. | "No Regrets" | Jon Bon Jovi | 4:02 |
14. | "Postcards from the Wasteland" | Jon Bon Jovi | 4:25 |
Total length: | 57:37 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
13. | "The Distance" (live) | 5:46 |
14. | "Joey" (live) | 5:26 |
15. | "Hook Me Up" (live) | 4:46 |
16. | "Bounce" (live) | 3:15 |
Total length: | 68:23 |
Bon Jovi
Additional musicians
Recording personnel
Artwork
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Argentina (CAPIF) [66] | Gold | 20,000^ |
Australia (ARIA) [67] | Gold | 35,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria) [68] | Gold | 15,000* |
Belgium (BEA) [69] | Gold | 25,000* |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil) [70] | Gold | 50,000* |
Canada (Music Canada) [71] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Germany (BVMI) [72] | Platinum | 300,000^ |
Japan (RIAJ) [73] | Platinum | 319,000 [74] |
Netherlands (NVPI) [75] | Gold | 40,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE) [76] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) [77] | Platinum | 40,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [78] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA) [79] | Gold | 500,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI) [80] | Platinum | 1,000,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
Bon Jovi is an American rock band formed in Sayreville, New Jersey in 1983. The band consists of singer Jon Bon Jovi, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, guitarists John Shanks and Phil X, percussionist Everett Bradley, and bassist Hugh McDonald. Original bassist Alec John Such left the band in 1994, and longtime guitarist and co-songwriter Richie Sambora left in 2013. The band has been credited with "bridging the gap between heavy metal music, rock and pop with style and ease".
Richard Stephen Sambora is an American musician, singer, and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Bon Jovi from 1983 to 2013. He and lead singer Jon Bon Jovi formed the main songwriting unit for the band. He has also released three solo albums: Stranger in This Town in 1991, Undiscovered Soul in 1998, and Aftermath of the Lowdown released in September 2012.
Slippery When Wet is the third studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on August 18, 1986, by Mercury Records in North America and Vertigo Records internationally. It was produced by Bruce Fairbairn, with recording sessions taking place between January and July 1986 at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver. The album features many of Bon Jovi's best-known songs, including "You Give Love a Bad Name", "Livin' on a Prayer", and "Wanted Dead or Alive".
New Jersey is the fourth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on September 19, 1988, by Mercury Records. The album was produced by Bruce Fairbairn and recorded at Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The album was the follow-up to the band's third album, Slippery When Wet, and reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart in its second week of release after debuting at number eight. It remained at the top for four consecutive weeks and was Bon Jovi's last album to do so until Lost Highway (2007). The album was named after the birth state of Jon Bon Jovi, New Jersey.
Keep the Faith is the fifth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on November 3, 1992, by Mercury Records. It is Bon Jovi's last studio album to feature all five original band members as bass guitarist Alec John Such was dismissed from the band in 1994, though it was not his last release with the band. It is Bon Jovi's first album to not be produced by either Lance Quinn or Bruce Fairbairn. The album was produced by Bob Rock and was recorded at the Little Mountain Sound Studios in Vancouver, British Columbia. Keep the Faith marked a change to a "more serious interpretation of the band's pop-metal groove". It is also Bon Jovi's longest album to date, clocking in at 66 minutes.
These Days (stylized as (these Days)) is the sixth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on June 27, 1995, by Mercury Records. This was the first album Bon Jovi released after the dismissal of original bass guitarist Alec John Such, and their first album to be recorded officially as four-piece band (without an official bassist, but featured Hugh McDonald as a session/touring member on bass guitar). The album, produced by Peter Collins, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, is praised by many critics and fans as their best album. These Days is overall a darker album in contrast to the band's usual brand of feel-good, inspiring rock songs and love ballads.
Crush is the seventh studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on May 29, 2000, by Mercury Records in the UK and on June 13, 2000, by Island Records in the US. It was produced by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Luke Ebbin. The album marks the longest timespan between studio albums for the band, with five years between the release of These Days (1995) and this album. After the initial plan to team up with producer Bruce Fairbairn fell through because of his death a year earlier, Bon Jovi and Sambora hired Luke Ebbin to update their sound.
One Wild Night Live 1985–2001 is the first live album by the American rock band Bon Jovi, released on May 22, 2001. The album includes live covers of Neil Young's "Rockin' in the Free World" and performance of the Boomtown Rats' "I Don't Like Mondays", with a guest appearance by their lead singer Bob Geldof. The album charted at number 20 on the US Billboard 200 chart.
This Left Feels Right is a compilation album by Bon Jovi, released in 2003. An album featuring new versions of the band's songs from previous albums, it charted at No. 14 on Billboard 200. It's a "trip down memory lane" as Jon Bon Jovi described the album. It features revamped versions of many of Bon Jovi's biggest hits, often in a more somber style. Many of the 80's hard hitting chart-rockers are presented in a different light as soulful ballads.
Have a Nice Day is the ninth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on September 20, 2005. Produced by John Shanks, the album was recorded at Sanctuary Sound II in New Jersey, and Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood, California.
This Left Feels Right Live is the third of Bon Jovi's live concert videos. Filmed at Atlantic City, New Jersey, this features the band's performance at the Borgata on November 14 and 15, 2004. The DVD was directed by Tony Bongiovi - Jon's younger brother, not his cousin of the same name.
Stranger in This Town is the first solo studio album by Richie Sambora, the guitarist from the New Jersey band Bon Jovi. The album was released in 1991, while Bon Jovi was on a 17-month hiatus. Jon Bon Jovi also released a solo album, Blaze of Glory (1990), during this period.
"Everyday" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on August 19, 2002, as the lead single from the band's eighth studio album, Bounce (2002). The song was written and produced by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Andreas Carlsson. "Everyday" was nominated at the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal.
Lost Highway is the tenth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi, released on June 19, 2007, in the US through Island Records. Produced by John Shanks and Dann Huff, the album was recorded at Black Bird Studios, Nashville and NGR Recording, Hollywood.
The Circle is the eleventh studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. Released on November 10, 2009, the album was produced by John Shanks. The album debuted at number 1 in several countries, including the U.S., where it sold 163,000 copies in its first week.
"What Do You Got?" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. It is one of four songs written for the band's Greatest Hits album, released in November 2010. The song is the first single from the compilation album. The song was released on the band's official website on August 27. It was also released to radio airplay on August 27. It was officially released on September 21, 2010 as a digital download, but the physical single was released in Germany on October 22, 2010.
What About Now is the twelfth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. Produced by John Shanks, the album was released on March 8, 2013 in Australia and March 12, 2013 in the United States. The album was promoted throughout the band's 2013 Because We Can: The Tour. It is the last album to feature lead guitarist Richie Sambora before his departure from the band the following month.
Burning Bridges is the thirteenth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi consisting of new songs, as well as formerly unreleased and unfinished songs. Released on August 21, 2015 by Mercury Records. Produced by John Shanks, it was the first release since the departure of former guitarist Richie Sambora in 2013, with Shanks handling the lead guitar parts. Burning Bridges is their last album to be released through Mercury, marking the end of their 32-year relationship with the label. According to Jon Bon Jovi, the album serves as a "fan record" to tie in with an accompanying international tour: "It's songs that weren't finished, that were finished, a couple of new ones like the one we released as a single 'We Don't Run'." Burning Bridges was followed by This House Is Not for Sale, the band's fourteenth studio album released in 2016 which featured all new songs.
This House Is Not for Sale is the fourteenth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on November 4, 2016, by Island Records. It is the band's first studio album with Phil X on lead guitar after he replaced founding member Richie Sambora in 2013, as well as the first album to feature bassist Hugh McDonald as an official member after having played with the band in a touring/session capacity since 1994.
2020 is the fifteenth studio album by American rock band Bon Jovi. The album was initially set for release on May 15, 2020, through Island, but was later pushed back to October 2, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.