Bon Jovi

Thanks to radio-friendly offerings such as "Livin' On A Prayer," "You Give Love a Bad Name," and "Wanted Dead Or Alive," Bon Jovi's third release, Slippery When Wet, propelled this New Jersey band to the big league. And the fact that Jon Bon Jovi was the definitive pin-up boy for the mid-'80s MTV generation didn't hurt, either.

How many clichés can you squeeze into a pop song? Probably not as many as Jon Bon Jovi
can. Listen to "Raise Your Hands," from his new album Slippery When Wet. (I know, that's
two already, but titles don't count.) Bon Jovi lets loose with nasty reputation, sticky
situation, ain't nobody better, show me what you can do, under the gun, out on the run,
set the night on fire, playin' to win. Pretty impressive, and that's only the first ve... More >

Sure seven million teenagers can be wrong, but their assent is not without a certain documentary satisfaction. Yes, it proves that youth rebellion is toothless enough to simulate and market. But who the hell thought youth was dangerous in the current vacuum? Would you have preferred the band market patriotism? And are you really immune to "Livin' on a Prayer"? (Grade - B-)