I was psychologically scarred by being forced to hear Bon Jovi's "Living On A Prayer" in a store while making a purchase

Yes I know there is a thread about this song. But it doesn't name the band in the thread title and as far as I'm concerned, that doesn't do enough to warn people about the evils of this song.

I know hair metal was in its heyday, I know there are plenty of people here who appreciate that kind of music but fog god's sake I'd rather hear Poison, Ratt, Motley Crue, Def Leppard or certainly Black Sabbath/Ozzy than this piece of unbelievably bad shit from the late 80's. Why is he screaming the vocals?? Is he trying to be punk? For god's sake, man. Give it up. I urge parents to shield their children's ears from this and if you own the CD, lock it up or throw it away. Never again. People with good music taste can stamp out this shit. We can do this, together.

not understanding what's wrong with apostrophes in nu-ILX...ouch.

I really like this song.

Key change!

What were you purchasing?

I think people who hate this record are dead punk rock and really cool.

Wait, so you're supposed to *hate* things ironically as well as like them ironically now? I can't keep up.

(I do not like this song. That may be because I'm dead inside.)

this is a great song

this song is fine.

better than bad medicine

this song was not designed for british people

#4 in the singles charts and 36 other Top 40 hits suggest otherwise

Most fellow british people I have discussed the matter with agree it's simply spiffing.

charts don't suggest anything

This song (see also "Died In Yr Arms Tonight" by Cutting Crew and "Here I Go Again On My Own" by ... err... who? Whitesnake?) are just SOOO associated with specific times and places and ugh horrible people that I will never be able to listen to them with anything approaching objectivity.

HATE HATE HATE KILL WITH GUNS

They suggest that Bon Jovi is not exactly an obscure band loved and appreciated only by Americans (xp)

1 of the all-time top 5 choruses, easily

"Died In Yr Arms Tonight" is truly horrible, but "Here I Go Again On My Own" isn't

They suggest that Bon Jovi is not exactly an obscure band loved and appreciated only by Americans (xp)

― Tom D says "...get them fuckin' up here, ya fuckin' walloper!" (Tom D.), Thursday, October 2, 2008 8:49 AM (12 seconds ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

and that is not what i said

I'm british btw

Can't be

the song was unexpectedly a hit in the UK, even though its upbeat sentiments and uncouth vocal mannerisms mark it out as clearly not having been aimed at the UK in the slightest

Similarly, Leona Lewis did pretty well in the US despite her song containing no references to high school massacres or obesity

it has 'prayer' in the title. that's why it's popular like religion.

OK, the Bon Jovi track is mildly LESS utterly shite than the Whitesnake one for not having that awful awful woman in the bikini doing backbends over sportscars. (who on earth came up with that video treatment?)

they're ALL vomitrocious, though. And not what you wanna hear when you are shopping.

who on earth came up with that video treatment?

I'm guessing it might have been a man

It's the kind of imagery that would have been shallow and obvious in a BEER advert, let alone a hair metal video.

Wait, same thing, really, eh?

You expect depth and subtlety from a Whitesnake video? I fear you may be barking up the wrong tree.

this is an amazing and inspiring song

KEY CHANGE

No, I just hated THAT particular video so much that I used to throw things at my roommate's telly when it came on.

Why am I even THINKING about this song?

Oh yeah, wait, I was up at my friend's house in Northampton, and she had, just randomly, a limited edition white vinyl 7" of it on the floor by the sofa and we were all WTF do you have this out for?

I think it was one of her children, who'd been listening to it ironically LOL80s and all.

this is my inspirational music playlist so far what else should i add

Lose yourself Eminem
Eye of the Tiger Survivor
The Greatest Love of All Whitney Houston
The World's Greatest R. Kelly
I Can Nas God's Son
Livin' On A Prayer Bon Jovi
Here I Go Again Whitesnake

Dude it's a good song, get over it. xpost

This, however... Eye of the Tiger - Survivor is one of the greatest songs ever written.

Well yes, that is undeniable

I'd rather listen to 80s hair metal Bon Jovi than the ballad shite they've been doing the past 15 years

this song is amazing

Poll : Best Bon Jovi Album ?

HOW THE FUCK CAN SLIPPERY WHEN WET COME IN THIRD?????????

shouldn't you be asking in that thread?

I don't like Bon Jovi either and never have. I can think of 59 hair bands that I far, far prefer. But maybe I'm getting more tolerant (or just senile) in my old age, 'cause I currently don't hate "Livin..." as much as I used to. In fact I kinda like it, now that i can get off on the inevitability of it all. (Still hate that twice-mentioned truck-driver's key change, tho.)

one time i was a having a couple drinks w/a friend in the early afternoon in a bar w/just us and a bunch of alcoholic regulars - when we left we put livin on a prayer on the jukebox 10 times in a row

Whitesnake sucks. This song rules.

what on earth is a "truck-driver's key change"?

i'm guessing it's like a chinese fire drill

there are many many other songs that would be far worse to hear in a store

like if this song comes on in a store, it's a good thing rather than a bad thing

there are many many other songs that would be far worse to hear in a store

Like Whitesnake.

Whitesnake is way better than Bon Jovi. Some Whitesnake is embarrassing, but some of the earlier stuff is pretty good. I can't stand Bon Jovi

greatest of all hair metal anthems--give or take a few GNR titles.

I'm surprised this song has made it into the canon, but it's still everywhere. Karaoke nights, malls, radio, and folks go nuts for it.

Bon Jovi managed to make a Springsteen song that doesn't feel like it's ripping off Springsteen.

"Wanted: Dead or Alive" is much more my speed.

a couple weeks ago i was at work and i thought of this song. then i started to feel bad for bon jovi, because dude is a great songwriter when it comes to shit like this, but where does that leave him in 2008?

what on earth is a "truck-driver's key change"?

The Truck Driver's Gear Change Hall of Shame

i think he's still selling tons of albums and playing to thousands of people

"Is This Love?" is a great Whitesnake song.

"Living On A Prayer" and "Wanted Dead Or Alive" are bothe great, too.

dammit you are making me want to buy Bon Jovi albums

yeah, i'm not reading anything titled "The truck driver's gear change: a muso's introduction"

. . . which has this to say about the song in question:

If I were flipping through a pub jukebox and stumbled across an album called "Hair Metal Classics", I'd expect this to be the first track ("Crazy Crazy Nights" being the second). And what a solid rock-based gear change it has. When the chorus comes thundering back in the new key, for added measure, the song skips a beat. As does your heart – who can honestly say that they don't find themselves involuntarily punching the air with their clenched fist, bellowing out "whoa-oh, we're livin' on a prayer" at the top of their lungs?

i think he's still selling tons of albums and playing to thousands of people

but is he happy?

I'm guessing "yes". Dude's band was the 11th-highest grossing tour of 2007.

I just realized I have no idea what the verses of this song are, other than some guy working on the docks.

I think Bon Jovi has new songs on the Hot New Country charts. But I know what you're saying, Jordan.

"Have A Nice Day" is 21st-century Bon Jovi going for Slippery When Wet II.

WE GOTTA HOOOOOLD ON TO WHAT WE GOT
IT DOESNT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF WE MAKE IT OR NOT

I for one agree, the song is atrocious. On the other hand it's the kind of bad song I've heard butchered by far worse cover bands over and over to the point where I might actually feel somewhat content upon hearing the original when shopping. Tough one

this is EXACTLY the kind of song i like to hear when i'm grocery shopping!!

I love it when this song is followed up by something like, say, "Everybody Everybody".

yes. the more mundane the checkout process the better. xp

seriously--don't own it, would never put it on at home, but when i'm cruising the aisles of the supermarket, this is the type of song i am always happy to nod my head along too

anything with that vaguely triumphant vibe

i know the lyrics aren't anywhere near triumphant but you know what i mean. you want to shake your fist and sing along.

Livin on a Prayer while shopping > > > > > > > Kokomo while shopping

oh fuck, KOKOMO

That song should appear in the dictionary under "some bullshit".

s1ocki i too like to feel triumphant when buying food

i wouldn't mind hearing Kokomo in a shop just because it's like 20 years since i last heard even a second of that song

i received 2 copies of the slippery when wet cassette for my 11th birthday

You men and your hunter gatherer instincts. It's just WRONG, I tell you!

i like kokomo

"Is This Love?" is a great Whitesnake song.

"Living On A Prayer" and "Wanted Dead Or Alive" are bothe great, too.

― i am the small cat (HI DERE), Thursday, October 2, 2008 11:22 AM (20 minutes ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

i would like to point out that this is otm

i once helped an old lady across the road while 'St Elmo's Fire' blared out from the Volvo that had stopped for her

insperational music

It's okay hearing LOAP in the supermarket, but if you're in a pub, 'You Give Love a Bad Name' is 10,000x better.

i was in M&S buying lunch the other day and Mr Big's 'To Be With You' was playing in store. interesting times.

File under "If They Make The Women At The Bar Happy..."

This is a REALLY hard song to sing at karaoke. However I have witnessed Chris Geddes do exactly this to great effect - he didn't even have to look at the words

This is a REALLY hard song to sing at karaoke.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 2 October 2008 17:17 (34 seconds ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

It also really shouldn't be done until the end of the evening because it leaves everyone exhausted afterwards. I think the perfect karaoke final three is:

"Sweet Child O'Mine"
"Living On A Prayer"
"Hurt" (J.Cash, obv)

This song makes me hate those damn unions.

"Is This Love?" is a great Whitesnake song.

fuck that Michael Bolton bullshit

"Slow 'n' Easy", on the other hand...

All this supermarket and music talk reminds me that a couple weeks ago I was in a pharmacy (from my experiences some of the most quiet stores other than the random music they seem to play). As I was checking out, an early to mid-40s construction worker fellow came in with his sleeveless t-shirt and boots and jeans covered in concrete dust. Just as he entered, out of the universe of silence comes: "Heard it from a friend who, heard it from a friend who, heard it from a friend you been messin' around." The guy stopped in his tracks looked at the really cute checkout girl and said, "man, this is one of my favorite songs of all time," and looked like he was going to tear up as he continued walking with a smile on his face and that kind of looking off into nowhere nostalgia thing. It made me happy and reminded me of the great power of music (no sarcasm). I'll bet that guy likes Bon Jovi too.

i know bon jovi is cheesy but this song is such a guilty pleasure!

A truck-driver's gear change is any change of key occurring in popular song between January 1976 and December 1989.

is that a wikipedia "fact"