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Showing posts with label Bon Jovi. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bon Jovi. Show all posts

Thursday, November 7, 2024

12 Great Bands Plus 3 More

This is a list of 12 great bands. None of the 12 bands listed below are new to this blog - there was an existing label for each and every one of them so I have included an appropriate link in the list. I think it's interesting that Motley Crue and Guns-n-Roses have so many pages.

  1. Quiet Riot (15)
  2. Bon Jovi (9)
  3. Motley Crue (62)
  4. Cinderella (8)
  5. Twisted Sister (11)
  6. Poison (19)
  7. Europe (4)
  8. Guns-n-Roses (35)
  9. Dokken (34)
  10. Winger (4)
  11. Ratt (18)
  12. Warrant (9)

In contrast, when asked, I often will say that Metallica, Bayside, and Count the Stars are my 3 favorite bands. Here's how many labels for each of those bands exist on my blog:

 

Monday, December 16, 2019

JBJ Comes Across as an A-hole

Regarding Jon Bon Jovi on Richie Sambora: 'His Choices Have Led Him Astray', I don't like the way this quote echoes in my head:

"This isn’t a band that is dependent on the guitar player like Van Halen or U2 or something,” Bon Jovi told Pollstar. “[I]t was about the songs and it was about me."

One of the few distinguishing traits of Bon Jovi that separated Bon Jovi, the band, from their peers was that Richie Sambora portrayed himself as being a talented guitarist and a talented musician. The guitar riffs on tunes like "Born to be My Baby" and "Living on a Prayer" are memorable and, to me, two examples where Jon Bon Jovi's lyrics and vocals were not upon which the tune was dependent. I also think it's disrespectful to claim any member of the band did not contribute to the creative process. I've wrote about that before when band members are asked about a former band member and, like Jon Bon Jovi did in this interview, he talked in a way that minimizes the role Richie Sambora played in the creative process of the band. Did Jon Bon Jovi write all the guitar riffs? Nope. Without the guitar riff, there would be no song.

My hope is always the same when it comes to bands where all the band members are alive but are feuding with each other for some reason: life is short. There will be a day when the original members of the band cannot play together because someone is dead. Perhaps that is why Motley Crue decided to reunite and tour in summer 2020. There are so many other examples of bands who don't make the phone call and that never share the stage with each other again. Someday, for example, only 1 member of Bon Jovi might be alive and it will be a sadness on that band member's heart to know that while they were all alive and while they could have played music together, they squandered the opportunity to feud with each other. An example that comes to mind is that when Slayer went out on their final tour, there were two original members - Tom Araya & Kerry King. There could have been a third original member - Dave Lombardo - but he had a falling out with Araya & King and was replaced. Someday, either Araya, King, or Lombardo will be left on earth and they will know that they will never play music with each other again. To me, that is sad.

That is why I am truly hoping that there will be a day when Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora play music together. I don't think it even needs to happen on a stage at a concert - it can happen as an informal opportunity that comes up. To do so, though, means Jon and Richie will need to forget all the words they have said about each other in the press and in private. Saying "you didn't matter in the band, but I did" is merely a brick in the wall that will surround taking advantage of life.

Thursday, October 4, 2018

The Forgetting Curve

Until I saw the link below, I had zero idea there was something called the "forgetting curve" so, when I read the first sentence below, my answer was "No, I didn't know." I find it fascinating to think about things like this, where research is done about the human brain. The science behind why I, as a human being, act and think how I do, is endlessly fascinating to me. If only I hadn't barely made it through my science classes in junior high and high school. In fact, when I think about my education in science, I remember a few things but one MAJOR thing, which, I have never independently verified if my memory of what I'm going to describe is scientifically accurate. Maybe I should do that, someday, but, for now, this is what my memory tells me.

It was in Mr. Falt's class.

Mr. Falt is likely deceased because I had him for a teacher in fall 1986.

I remember the year because Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet" had just been released.

I have it in my head that Cindy Hoffman went to their concert at the Five Seasons Center in October 1986. In my search for when Bon Jovi played in Cedar Rapids, I found this: https://newspaperarchive.com/cedar-rapids-gazette-oct-10-1986-p-42/:


I have it in my head that Cindy Hoffman purchased a t-shirt at the concert on 10/10/1986.

I don't have it in my head if she was wearing that t-shirt on the day Mr. Falt told us that if we could see all the microscopic beings in the air, you would not be able to see your hand in front of your face.


Why did my brain associate Mr. Falt to Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet to Cindy Hoffman to Cindy Hoffman wearing a t-shirt  to Mr. Falt saying what he said about the microscopic beings?!?

THAT is fascinating, to me and THAT is why I wish I would have been a better student in my science classes in junior high & high school because I really would have loved to study THAT part of my existence on this planet.

I'm NOT complaining about what I have followed in my career and in my life - I am happy. Yet, thinking about something called the "forgetting curve" makes me ponder "what would I be doing if I existed in a different dimension?" Here's the trigger for this post, which is available here: http://listserv.onlineinc.com/ViewMessage.aspx?ID=dea91c32-9e91-4c9a-b8f3-9b04074cb508&ClientID=7210301:

Did you know about the "forgetting curve"? A scientifically proven concept by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus, it is a phenomenon where humans retain only 25% of information a mere two days after learning something. And this number drops to 2-3% a month later, per research from the University of Waterloo!
How do you expect your contact center agents to remember everything they learn from training sessions, and moreover, solve customer problems or provide them advice, depending on specific situations? To compound the problem, millennials and Gen Z, the majority of today's agent workforce, have a very low attention span at 12 and 8 seconds respectively! And 65% of Gen Z would rather not sit in training, preferring instead to "learn on the job". No wonder consumers complain that agent knowledgeability is the biggest issue in getting customer service, according to a survey of 5,000 consumers by Forrester Consulting! On the other side, agents report that finding the right answers to customer questions is their biggest challenge.

The Solution? Read this best-practice article to find out and contact us to defeat the forgetting curve!
Sincerely,
eGain Corporation

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Wednesday, January 17, 2018

The Grunge Gold Rush Followed the Hair Metal Gold Rush Part I

I had to smirk when I read this article about how once Nirvana exploded with tons of sales, the record labels went scouring for similar bands. At the time, many people seemed to treat that action like it had never been done before, but it had. I lived through the record companies doing it the previous time - I call it "the Los Angeles hair metal explosion" that followed the success of Quiet Riot's "Cum On Feel the Noize" in 1983ish. Soon after that, Dokken, Ratt, Poison, LA Guns, BulletBoys, and other CA bands emerged. Not to be outdone, Bon Jovi, Cinderella, and Britny Fox emerged from the East coast.

Nowadays, there is an authentic disdain for many of those bands. What irks me is when people grumble about how those bands were not talented. I never agree with those statements. Granted, Poison's "Talk Dirty to Me" is not Chopin, but neither is AC/DC's "Back in Black" or Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love." The point is that those aforementioned bands that grew to popularity in the 80s metal movement were musicians. White Lion's Vito Bratta constructed awesome guitar riffs; Ratt's Warren DeMartini did as well.

Usually what happens is that fans who make generalized statements about an entire genre of music didn't grow up listening to it. That's why I think I have more patience with those bands than with the 90s Alternative / Grunge movement. In 1991, I was a senior in college and by spring 1992, Nirvana was a 'thing' that was followed by Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam. I can wholeheartedly deny ever spending as many hours with Soundgarden's "Louder than Love" as I spent with Ratt's "Out of the Cellar" and that's really okay. Alternative / Grunge bands were just too trippy for me - too out there. I wanted Pearl Jam to make tunes like "Even Flow" and "Alive" instead of "Jeremy" (which I still consider to be an awful tune) because that was what I was used to hearing from bands. Smashing Pumpkins didn't do anything for me until they released the tune with the "Today is the greatest day" lyrics; I'd deny I ever purchased "Siamese Dream" but it came with the CDs I purchased in Indy from the fireman - can't say his name.

Continued in Part II

Monday, December 17, 2012

FAIL! FAIL! FAIL!

What was that crap about writing a blog post every day?

I have stockpiled some interesting things and while Karen sleeps, I will release the stockpile as separate posts, since that is what they were supposed to be. Not going to number them b/c I'm not sure what the point of that would be.

I do know there are a mere nine days until Christmas! I wish I could reveal what Karen and I are getting the kids this year. I don't think the kids read this blog but I'm sure not going to be responsible for them accidentally finding out about our plans for them prior to 12/25.

Before I get to the purge of stuff I wanted to post, I will summarize some of what has been going on in my life since I last wrote - which is, after all, the purpose of a blog.

Karen, Mark, Susie, and I went to the Isle casino in Waterloo on Saturday night. Mark and I sat at the same blackjack table. I started with $20 and walked away with $42.50. I don't want to believe I know what I am doing because then, I think, I will want to return. I liked hanging out with Mark. It was the longest I've played blackjack at a casino on $20. Mark thinks he's a good luck charm or some bullshit like that.

There are some upcoming live events and concerts that I am trying to work my way into.
  • We received confirmation yesterday that the entire family is going to go see the Harlem Globetrotters in Moline, IL, on Saturday 1/5. It will be Dave, Chris, Emily (?), Rachel (?), Adam (?), Mark, Susie, Jonathan, Tyler, Karen, Megan, Alex, and I. Alex and I are very excited. Karen and I saw them sometime between 1998 and 2010. Alex was a baby but the exact year is fuzzy. We didn't think, at the time, Megan would like it.
  • Next is ShineDown, Three Days Grace, and POD in Moline, IL, on Friday, 2/1. I don't have confirmation that I will get a press pass (aka free ticket), but I'm pretty sure I will get a photo pass. 
  • A couple of weeks later Doro is playing with Sister Sin opening in Waterloo on 2/15. Kevin wants me to go to that show. I am not the biggest fan of either band - can't name a single song from each band - but it may still be worth going to go see them.
  • The next night, Mark's band plays at the Hub in Cedar Falls for what may be their second-to-last gig. Their singer is moving to St. Louis after school is out. My vote is to advertise it as their last gig and then, if a final gig materializes in the spring, advertise it as "Back by Popular Demand, for One Night Only!" I don't know what their marketing budget is. I know our friends Jeff and Karen are planning to go see them as well.
  • The following weekend, 2/23, Sevendust plays in Waterloo with Lacuna Coil opening. I need to spend some time with Lacuna Coil to get more familiar with their music. As for Sevendust, I had a beer with Lajon, the lead singer back in 1998 when they were opening for Megadeth. There was also the night they headlined the Five Seasons Center for a charity concert. Admission was $5 and I drank waaayyyy too much. I saw one of their songs before passing out. I have been sober for nearly two years so I don't see that repeating again. Then, just over a year ago, they were on the bill with Five Finger Death Punch in Waterloo and played an excellent set. I'm anxious to see them again, though, to be honest, I have no clue what their songs are about. I've always thought Lajon needs to sing more clearly - he kind of mumbles.
  • Bon Jovi plays in Des Moines on Sunday, April 14, 2013, but that is only lightly written in pencil on my calendar. I have never, ever, seen them in concert. I have also enjoyed their music since their debut, always considering "She Don't Know Me" to be one of many personal anthems for how I view high school.

Friday, August 14, 2009

Hard Livin' on a Justice Prayer

I had the best blog post I've ever written done and ready to publish... and then IE froze and you get this.