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

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Desmond Child: Top 50 Songs

Desmond Child

Top 50 Songs

Songwriter Desmond Child was born John Carles Barrett on 10/28/1953 in Gainesville, Florida. He got his start with Desmond Child & Rouge in 1975, reaching #51 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “Our Love Is Insane” in 1979. The group disbanded a year later.

Child has subsequently worked with multiple artists as a songwriter and producer, including Aerosmith, Clay Aiken, Jimmy Barnes, Michael Bolton, Bon Jovi, Cher, Chicago, Kelly Clarkson, Alice Cooper, Dream Theater, Hilary Duff, Selena Gomez, Hall & Oates, Hanson, INXS, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Jonas Brothers, Kiss, Cyndi Lauper, Ricky Martin, Jesse McCartney, Meat Loaf, Billie Myers, Allanah Myles, Katy Perry, Ratt, LeAnn Rimes, Roxette, Scorpions, Shakira, Billy Squier, Joss Stone, Barbra Streisand, Bonnie Tyler, Carrie Underwood, Steve Vai, John Waite, Weezer, Robbie Williams, Winger, Trisha Yearwood, and Zedd.

For a complete list of this act’s DMDB honors, check out the DMDB Music Maker Encyclopedia entry.

Click here to see other acts’ best-of lists.

Awards:

Top 50 Songs Written/Co-Written by Desmond Child

Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards.

DMDB Top 1%:

1. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986)
2. Ricky Martin “Livin’ La Vida Loca” (1999)

DMDB Top 2%:

3. Bon Jovi “You Give Love a Bad Name” (1986)

DMDB Top 5%:

4. Aerosmith “Dude Looks Like a Lady” (1987)
5. Kiss “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” (1979)
6. Sisqó “Thong Song” (2000)
7. Bon Jovi “Bad Medicine” (1988)
8. Aerosmith “What It Takes” (1989)
9. Alice Cooper “Poison” (1989)
10. Ava Max “Kings & Queens” (2020)

DMDB Top 10%:

11. Aerosmith “Angel” (1987)
12. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “I Hate Myself for Loving You” (1988)
13. Billie Myers “Kiss the Rain” (1997)
14. Katy Perry “Waking Up in Vegas” (2008)
15. Aerosmith “Crazy” (1993)
16. Kiss “Heaven’s on Fire” (1984)
17. Ricky Martin with Christina Aguilera “Nobody Wants to Be Lonely” (2001)

DMDB Top 20%:

18. Michael Bolton “How Can We Be Lovers” (1989)
19. Bon Jovi “Keep the Faith” (1992)
20. Ricky Martin “She Bangs” (2000)

21. Ricky Martin “The Cup of Life” (1998)
22. Aerosmith “Hole in My Soul” (1997)
23. Kiss “Reason to Live” (1987)
24. Bon Jovi “Born to Be My Baby” (1988)
25. Cher “Just Like Jesse James” (1989)
26. Bon Jovi “This Ain’t a Love Song” (1995)
27. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “Little Liar” (1988)
28. Bon Jovi “You Want to Make a Memory” (2007)
29. Cher “We All Sleep Alone” (1987)
30. Cher “Save Up All Your Tears” (1991)
31. Kiss “Hide Your Heart” (1989)

Beyond the DMDB Top 20%:

32. Bon Jovi “Misunderstood” (2002)
33. Bon Jovi “Something for the Pain” (1995)
34. Alice Cooper “House of Fire” (1989)
35. Bon Jovi “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” (1992)
36. Kiss “Let’s Put the X in Sex” (1988)
37. Clay Aiken “Invisible” (2003)
38. Ricky Martin “Shake Your Bon-Bon” (1999)
39. Bon Jovi “Real Life” (1999)
40. John Waite “These Times Are Hard for Lovers” (1987)

41. Hanson “Weird” (1997)
42. Desmond Child “Love on a Rooftop” (1991)
43. Desmond Child & Rouge “Our Love Is Insane” (1979)
44. Ratt “Lovin’ You’s a Dirty Job” (1990)
45. Desmond Child “Youre the Story of My Life” (1991)
46. Zedd with Jon Bellion “Beautiful Now” (2015)
47. Alice Cooper “Bed of Nails” (1989)
48. Bon Jovi “All About Lovin’ You” (2002)
49. INXS “Afterglow” (2005)
50. Aerosmith “F.I.N.E.” (1989)

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First posted 10/21/2023.

 
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Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Top 100 Songs by Hair Bands

Hair Bands:

Top 100 Songs

Ah, the hair bands. This much-maligned genre was a mix of rock and pop wrapped up in big hair and leather pants. The bands – almost all white men – were known for lifestyles filled with debauchery and depravity. It was no wonder teens in the ‘80s flocked to the bands like moths to a flame.

Regardless of these bands’ lack of critical acclaim, some of these bands (Bon Jovi, Def Leppard) when on to become some of the biggest rock bands in the world – even after they cut their hair and opted for more sensible jeans. Here – love ‘em or hate ‘em – are the top songs from hair bands as determined by aggregating 21 lists and then ranking those songs featured on 3 or more lists in order of their overall DMDB points.

Click here to see other genre-specific song lists.

1. Guns N’ Roses “Sweet Child O’ Mine” (1987)
2. Bon Jovi “Livin’ on a Prayer” (1986)
3. Van Halen “Jump” (1984)
4. Def Leppard “Pour Some Sugar on Me” (1987)
5. Guns N’ Roses “Welcome to the Jungle” (1987)
6. Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” (1991)
7. Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” (1987)
8. Kiss “Rock and Roll All Nite” (1975)
9. Poison “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” (1988)
10. Guns N’ Roses “Paradise City” (1987)

11. Bon Jovi “You Give Love a Bad Name” (1986)
12. Def Leppard “Photograph” (1983)
13. Scorpions “Rock You Like a Hurricane” (1984)
14. Twisted Sister “We’re Not Gonna Take It” (1984)
15. Europe “The Final Countdown” (1986)
16. Ratt “Round and Round” (1984)
17. Quiet Riot “Cum on Feel the Noize” (1983)
18. Van Halen “Runnin’ with the Devil” (1978)
19. Extreme “More Than Words” (1990)
20. Mötley Crüe “Girls, Girls, Girls” (1987)

21. Whitesnake “Is This Love” (1987)
22. Warrant “Cherry Pie” (1990)
23. Def Leppard “Love Bites” (1987)
24. Bon Jovi “Wanted Dead or Alive” (1986)
25. Mr. Big “To Be with You” (1991)
26. Night Ranger “Sister Christian” (1984)
27. Guns N’ Roses “Patience” (1988)
28. The Scorpions “No One Like You” (1982)
29. Kiss “Detroit Rock City” (1976)
30. Def Leppard “Rock of Ages” (1983)

31. Van Halen “Panama” (1984)
32. Mötley Crüe “Home Sweet Home” (1985)
33. Quiet Riot “Metal Health (Bang Your Head)” (1983)
34. Poison “Nothin’ But a Good Time” (1988)
35. Skid Row “I Remember You” (1989)
36. Tesla “Love Song” (1989)
37. Van Halen “Hot for Teacher” (1984)
38. Whitesnake “Still of the Night” (1987)
39. Mötley Crüe “Dr. Feelgood” (1989)
40. The Scorpions “Still Loving You” (1984)

41. Lita Ford “Kiss Me Deadly” (1988)
42. Skid Row “18 and Life” (1989)
43. Warrant “Heaven” (1988)
44. Cinderella…Don’t Know What You Got ‘Til It’s Gone (1988)
45. Bon Jovi “Bad Medicine” (1988)
46. Mötley Crüe “Kickstart My Heart” (1989)
47. Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity” (1990)
48. Def Leppard “Bringin’ on the Heartbreak” (1981)
49. Lita Ford with Ozzy Osbourne “Close My Eyes Forever” (1988)
50. Poison “Talk Dirty to Me” (1986)

51. Alice Cooper “Poison” (1989)
52. Bon Jovi “Runaway” (1983)
53. Great White “Once Bitten Twice Shy” (1989)
54. Autograph…Turn Up the Radio (1984)
55. Def Leppard “Foolin’” (1983)
56. White Lion “When the Children Cry” (1987)
57. Twisted Sister “I Wanna Rock” (1984)
58. Cinderella “Nobody’s Fool” (1986)
59. Mötley Crüe “Shout at the Devil” (1983)
60. Kiss “Lick It Up” (1983)

61. Skid Row “Youth Gone Wild” (1989)
62. Poison “Something to Believe In” (1990)
63. Damn Yankees “High Enough” (1990)
64. White Lion “Wait” (1987)
65. Ozzy Osbourne “Shot in the Dark” (1986)
66. Poison “Fallen Angel” (1988)
67. Dokken “In My Dreams” (1985)
68. Slaughter “Fly to the Angels” (1990)
69. Van Halen “I’ll Wait” (1984)
70. Winger “Seventeen” (1988)

71. Kix “Don’t Close Your Eyes” (1988)
72. David Lee Roth “Yankee Rose” (1986)
73. Kiss “Heaven’s on Fire” (1984)
74. Cinderella “Gypsy Road” (1988)
75. Cinderella “Shake Me” (1986)
76. Dokken “Alone Again” (1984)
77. Firehouse “Love of a Lifetime” (1991)
78. Ugly Kid Joe “Cat’s in the Cradle” (1992)
79. Mötley Crüe “Without You” (1989)
80. Winger “Miles Away” (1990)

81. Winger “Headed for a Heartbreak” (1988)
82. Great White “Rock Me” (1987)
83. Kiss “Tears Are Falling” (1985)
84. Warrant “Down Boys” (1988)
85. Tesla “Signs” (live, 1990)
86. Slaughter “Up All Night” (1990)
87. Ratt “You’re in Love” (1985)
88. Mötley Crüe “Looks That Kill” (1983)
89. Firehouse “Don’t Treat Me Bad” (1991)
90. Vixen “Edge of a Broken Heart” (1988)

91. Guns N’ Roses “Nightrain” (1987)
92. Mötley Crüe “Live Wire” (1981)
93. Cinderella “Coming Home” (1988)
94. Warrant “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” (1990)
95. Mötley Crüe “Too Young to Fall in Love” (1983)
96. Faster Pussycat “House of Pain” (1989)
97. Ratt “Lay It Down” (1985)
98. Mötley Crüe “Wild Side” (1987)
99. Trixter “Give It to Me Good” (1990)
100. L.A. Guns “The Ballad of Jayne” (1989)

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First posted 1/23/2018; last updated 5/11/2021.

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Wednesday, June 3, 2020

Top 100 Power Ballads

First posted 6/3/2020.

Power Ballads:

Top 100 Songs

Classic rock came about in the 1970s, built on the backs of staples from the ‘60s like Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and the Who. Newer acts like Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Rush, and Boston were added to the fold to create a radio format which still maintains presences in major U.S. markets.

As rock became more commercialized, some acts like Foreigner, Journey, REO Speedwagon, and Styx were mocked as “corporate rock” for their more pop-friendly songs. One of the trends was for such bands was to produce “power ballads,” which were slower-tempo songs which fit well into adult contemporary radio and attracted female fans in addition to the more male-oriented fans which dominated classic rock. As the ‘80s wore on, the trend extended to more glammed-up “hair bands” (Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Poison, Mötley Crüe) also crooning about love and finding huge success.

This list of the top power ballads of all time was created by aggregating more than 25 best-of lists. Click here to see other genre and category specific song lists.

1. Poison “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” (1989)
2. Foreigner “I Want to Know What Love Is” (1984)
3. Heart “Alone” (1987)
4. Whitesnake “Is This Love?” (1987)
5. Guns N’ Roses “November Rain” (1991)
6. Skid Row “I Remember You” (1989)
7. Night Ranger “Sister Christian” (1984)
8. Aerosmith “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” (1998)
9. Bonnie Tyler “Total Eclipse of the Heart” (1983)
10. Cinderella “Don’t Know What You Got ‘Til It’s Gone” (1988)

11. Def Leppard “Love Bites” (1987)
12. Meat Loaf “I’d Do Anything for Love But I Won’t Do That” (1993)
13. Warrant “Heaven” (1989)
14. REO Speedwagon “Keep on Loving You” (1980)
15. Bon Jovi “Always” (1994)
16. Journey “Open Arms” (1981)
17. Mötley Crüe “Home Sweet Home” (1985)
18. Journey “Faithfully” (1983)
19. Bad English “When I See You Smile” (1989)
20. Cutting Crew “I Just Died in Your Arms” (1987)

21. Tesla “Love Song” (1989)
22. Cheap Trick “The Flame” (1988)
23. Journey “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981)
24. Prince & the Revolution “Purple Rain” (1984)
25. Aerosmith “Dream On” (1973)
26. The Cars “Drive” (1984)
27. The Scorpions “Wind of Change” (1990)
28. Bon Jovi “I’ll Be There for You” (1988)
29. REO Speedwagon “Can’t Fight This Feeling” (1984)
30. Whitesnake “Here I Go Again” (1987)

31. U2 “With Or Without You” (1987)
32. Queensrÿche “Silent Lucidity” (1990)
33. Mr. Mister “Broken Wings” (1985)
34. Starship “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” (1987)
35. Nazareth “Love Hurts” (1975)
36. The Scorpions “Still Loving You” (1984)
37. Bryan Adams “Heaven” (1984)
38. Boston “Amanda” (1986)
39. John Waite “Missing You” (1984)
40. Boston “More Than a Feeling” (1976)

41. Bon Jovi “Never Say Goodbye” (1986)
42. Guns N’ Roses “Patience” (1988)
43. Bryan Adams “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” (1991)
44. Foreigner “Waiting for a Girl Like You” (1981)
45. Chicago “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” (1982)
46. Kiss “Beth” (1976)
47. Alias “More Than Words Can Say” (1990)
48. Metallica “Nothing Else Matters” (1991)
49. Harry Nisson “Without You” (1971)
50. Phil Collins “Against All Odds” (1984)

51. Eric Carmen “All by Myself” (1975)
52. Lita Ford with Ozzy Osbourne “Close My Eyes Forever” (1988)
53. Aerosmith “Angel” (1988)
54. Goo Goo Dolls “Iris” (1998)
55. Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven” (1971)
56. The Beatles “Something” (1969)
57. John Farnham “You’re The Voice” (1986)
58. Bangles “Eternal Flame” (1988)
59. Alannah Myles “Black Velvet” (1989)
60. Thunder “Love Walked In” (1990)

61. T’Pau “China in Your Hand” (1987)
62. Alice Cooper “Poison” (1989)
63. Nickelback “How You Remind Me” (2001)
64. Slaughter “Fly to the Angels” (1990)
65. Aerosmith “What It Takes” (1989)
66. Styx “Lady” (1973)
67. Europe “Carrie” (1986)
68. Sinéad O’Connor “Nothing Compares 2 U” (1990)
69. Chad Kroeger with Josey Scott “Hero” (2002)
70. Heart “These Dreams” (1986)

71. Mr. Big “To Be with You” (1991)
72. Def Leppard “Hysteria” (1987)
73. Roxette “It Must Have Been Love” (1990)
74. Poison “Something to Believe In” (1990)
75. Loverboy “Heaven in Your Eyes” (1986)
76. Roxette “Listen to Your Heart” (1989)
77. L.A. Guns “The Ballad of Jayne” (1990)
78. Van Halen “When It’s Love” (1988)
79. White Lion “When the Children Cry” (1987)
80. The Beatles “Let It Be” (1970)

81. Red Hot Chili Peppers “Under the Bridge” (1991)
82. Chicago “You’re the Inspiration” (1984)
83. Pink Floyd “Wish You Were Here” (1975)
84. Maria McKee “Show Me Heaven” (1990)
85. Metallica “The Unforgiven” (1991)
86. The Rolling Stones “Angie” (1973)
87. The Beatles “Yesterday” (1965)
88. The Rolling Stones “Wild Horses” (1971)
89. Eric Clapton “Tears in Heaven” (1992)
90. Def Leppard “When Love and Hate Collide” (1995)

91. Damn Yankees “High Enough” (1990)
92. Pearl Jam “Black” (1991)
93. Kansas “Dust in the Wind” (1978)
94. Tina Turner “We Don’t Need Another Hero” (1985)
95. Extreme “More Than Words” (1990)
96. Styx “Babe” (1979)
97. Van Halen “Love Walks In” (1986)
98. Eric Clapton “Wonderful Tonight” (1977)
99. Billy Idol “Eyes Without a Face” (1984)
100. Berlin “Take My Breath Away” (1986)

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Sunday, November 20, 2016

American Music Award of Merit

American Music Award of Merit:

1974-2016

After a four-year layoff, the American Music Award of Merit returned in 2008. The award was initiated in 1974 as one of the original awards for the first annual American Music Awards show, which was televised on February 19, 1974. The Hollywood Reporter says the award is given to artists “who have made truly exceptional contributions to the music industry.”

The award was given each year from 1974 to 2004. Then it was given again until 2008 and then there was an eight-year gap before it was given again, this time to Sting on November 20, 2016. As of June 6, 2026, the award has not been given again.

See other lifetime achievement awards.

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First posted 11/23/2008; last updated 6/6/2026.

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Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Hopefuls

image from neufutur.com

Note: this list was originally presented October 21, 2011. It has been updated to exclude acts which have subsequently been inducted.

Bashing the Rock Hall has become the quite vogue thing to do. Of course, they have inducted hundreds of deserving artists alongside those who raise many music fans eyebrows. However, fans get outraged this time every year when their favorites get snubbed…yet again.

In the true spirit of Dave’s Music Database, the occasion for a list presented itself. Just who are the biggest Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snubs, those acts which fans most think have been overlooked? 49 lists were consolidated to create the DMDB list of 100 deserving acts. Here we go:

1. The Moody Blues
2. Yes
3. Journey
4. Electric Light Orchestra
5. The Cure
6. The Cars
7. T-Rex
8. Iron Maiden
9. Judas Priest
10. Bon Jovi

11. Def Leppard
12. Motorhead
13. Depeche Mode
14. Pat Benatar
15. The Smiths
16. The Doobie Brothers
17. Roxy Music
18. Joy Division
19. Bad Company
20. Warren Zevon

21. New York Dolls
22. Jethro Tull
23. Todd Rundgren
24. The Replacements
25. Chic
26. The Zombies
27. Boston
28. Peter Frampton
29. Kraftwerk
30. Dire Straits

31. Joe Cocker
32. Emerson, Lake & Palmer
33. The Guess Who
34. Thin Lizzy
35. MC5
36. Devo
37. Duran Duran
38. Foreigner
39. The Monkees
40. Motley Crue

41. King Crimson
42. Janet Jackson
43. Styx
44. Big Star
45. Gram Parsons
46. The B-52’s
47. Dick Dale
48. Three Dog Night
49. Steppenwolf
50. The Scorpions

51. Pixies
52. War
53. Ted Nugent
54. Sonic Youth
55. Jimmy Buffett
56. Slayer
57. Nine Inch Nails
58. Love
59. Soundgarden
60. Captain Beefheart

61. Joan Baez
62. Blue Oyster Cult
63. J. Geils Band
64. Spinners
65. Los Lobos
66. Link Wray
67. Tommy James & the Shondells
68. Grand Funk Railroad
69. Kate Bush
70. Barry White

71. Weird Al Yankovic
72. Little Feat
73. New Order
74. Ozzy Osbourne
75. X
76. Carole King (as a performer)
77. Pantera
78. Nick Drake
79. Black Flag
80. Afrika Bambaataa

81. Procol Harum
82. Mott the Hoople
83. Megadeth
84. Eric B. & Rakim
85. Harry Nilsson
86. Johnny Burnette & The Rock N’ Roll Trio
87. The Flying Burrito Brothers
88. Pearl Jam
89. Television
90. Donovan

91. Brian Eno
92. Dead Kennedys
93. Whitney Houston
94. LL Cool J
95. Badfinger
96. Ben E. King
97. Jim Croce
98. The Runaways
99. The Clovers
100. Eurythmics

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Sunday, February 3, 2013

Who Should Play the Super Bowl Halftime Show?

image from horsuprocks.blogspot.com

Beyonce is set to perform the halftime show at the Super Bowl today. Who, however, should perform next year? As with all DMDB lists, I started out compiling best-of lists on who should do a halftime show. I decided I’d still present the top 20 (see bottom of page), but thought it would be more interesting to break down the list into several categories so as to talk about more possibilities. In each category, I also list the DMDB pick. This is not necessarily my favorite in the category, but the one which I believe would have the widest appeal. So here we go.

Let’s Get the Band Back Together. This could also be called the “wishful thinking” category. These are bands no longer working (or at least not in the capacity in which we knew them best), but we’d like to think would step up to the plate for another go. Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Guns N’ Roses would be the biggest candidates here. DMDB Pick: Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin, image from spin.com

Long in the Tooth, But Still Rockin’, Part 1: The Bands. These are classic rock bands which are still working, be it touring, releasing music or both. Most of the halftime faves fall here. AC/DC, Van Halen, Rush, the Eagles, Journey, Fleetwood Mac, and Kiss all made the list. DMDB Pick: Eagles

Eagles, image from glennfreyonline.com

Long in the Tooth, But Still Rockin’, Part 2: The Solo Artists. Because classic rockers dominate the picks so much, I broke it into two categories. David Bowie, Billy Joel, John Mellencamp, Eric Clapton, Bob Seger, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, and Elton John all made the cut. DMDB Pick: Eric Clapton

Eric Clapton, image from skyarts.sky.com

Are They Considered Classic Rock? These are the groups which have been around 20 years or more, but we sometimes can’t bring ourselves to call them “classic rock.” As such, they might have a bit more relevancy. Metallica, Pearl Jam, and Bon Jovi all made the cut. DMDB Pick: Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi, image from fanpop.com

Why Not a Rapper? Rap stars have made guest appearances in past Super Bowls, but none have ever been given the stage to themselves. Jay-Z, Eminem, Kanye West, and Lil Wayne rated highest. DMDB Pick: Eminem

Eminem, image from vibe.com

Keep Up the Pop Stuff Fans of pop divas have been in heaven the last couple years with Madonna and Beyoncé, but there are still others out there who could command a worldwide audience. Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Adele, Katy Perry, Britney Spears, and Ke$ha are the biggest names. DMDB Pick: Rihanna

Rihanna, image from hiphopwired.com

Go Alternative Once you’ve reached the point that you are even mentioned as a possibility for the Super Bowl, I’m not sure if the alternative tag even sticks, but these are acts who have launched huge careers with a large debt to alternative fans. Green Day, Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Black Keys, and the Dave Matthews Band most fit the bill here. DMDB Pick: Foo Fighters

Foo Fighters, image from outofordershow.com

Kickin’ It Country Style Like rap, country music gets a little more specialized but there are still some country artists who’ve gained huge audiences. Taylor Swift, Willie Nelson, Kenny Chesney, Carrie Underwood, and Tim McGraw all made the cut. DMDB Pick: Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift, image from inquisitor.com

And Don’t Forget… There were other genres, like R&B and adult contemporary, which didn’t muster enough acts to justify a category, but there were still individual names worthy of mention. Aretha Franklin, Neil Diamond, and Weird Al Yankovic (?!) all made the list. DMDB Pick: Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin, image from wmur.com

Here were the results after aggretating 18 best-of lists:

1. AC/DC
2. Van Halen
3. Green Day
4. Metallica
5. Rush
6. Pearl Jam
7. Jay-Z
8. Lady Gaga
9. Coldplay
10. Foo Fighters

AC/DC, image from last.fm

11. Taylor Swift
12. Journey
13. Eagles
14. Eminem
15. Bon Jovi
16. Kanye West
17. David Bowie
18. Rihanna
19. Kenny Chesney
20. Lil Wayne
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Wednesday, December 12, 2012

The Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert

December 12, 2012:

Hurricane Sandy Benefit Concert

The nearly six-hour concert to raise relief funds for victims of Hurricane Sandy was held 12/12/12 at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Tickets ranged in price from $150 to $2500. More than $30 million was raised just on ticket sales. HP Millions in the New York and New Jersey areas were left without heat or electricity for weeks and more than 300,000 homes were destroyed by Hurricane Sandy. HP

The show was televised, streamed, and aired on radio all over the world. It was shown on 37 television stations in the U.S. and over 200 worldwide. HP Producers said as many as 2 billion people might tune in. HP Locals dominated the show with performances from Jersey’s Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi and New Yorkers’ Billy Joel and Alicia Keys. Live sets consisted of about 30 minutes with celebrities, including Billy Crystal, Chris Rock, Jimmy Fallon, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Adam Sandler, and Brian Williams, making pleas for pledges and introducing acts.

Springsteen opened with a set including “Land of Hope and Dreams,” “Wrecking Ball,” “My City in Ruins,” and a cover of the Impressions’ “People Get Ready.” Jon Bon Jovi joined him for “Born to Run.” Bon Jovi returned later with his band for a set with another hook-up with Springsteen on “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.”

Roger Waters, whose tour for The Wall is the highest grossing of the year, performed a scaled down version of that show with a set featuring classics like “Another Brick in the Wall Part II,” “Money,” and, with Eddie Vedder as a guest vocalist, “Comfortably Numb.”

Eric Clapton was up next with a three-song set of “Nobody Loves You When You’re Down and Out,” the obscure Derek and the Dominos’ song “Got to Get Better in a Little While,” and “Crossroads.” The Rolling Stones, in the midst of celebrating their 50th anniversary, followed with just two songs – “You Got Me Rocking” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.” Mick Jagger joked about it being “the world’s biggest collection of aged British rock stars,” BB a reference to other legendary performers on the bill such as Clapton, The Who, Paul McCartney, and Roger Waters.

Alicia Keys performed a more intimate two-song set with new song “Brand New Me” and “No One.” She returned at the end of the show with a performance of “Empire State of Mind,” originally a #1 song she recorded with Jay-Z.

The Who, currently touring behind their classic Quadrophenia album, did a limited version of that tour and included favorites like “Who Are You,” “Pinball Wizard,” “Baba O’Riley,” and “Love Reign O’er Me.” It was one of the weaker performances of the night as Roger Daltrey’s voice was not in stellar form. By the way, Mr. Daltrey, you are in great shape for a 68-year-old man, but please button up your shirt.

Kanye West seemed out of place, being “stuck representing youth and the hip-hop community on the bill.” BB His shortened versions of his songs didn’t allow his “music to develop a dynamic quality on par with the rock acts.” BB

Billy Joel performed a set of several favorites, including the appropriately-themed “Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway),” and “New York State of Mind” before Coldplay’s Chris Martin took the stage. He performed a couple songs solo and brought out R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe as a surprise guest on a duet of “Losing My Religion.”

In the most anticipated performance of the night, Paul McCartney performed a set heavier on Wings-era material than Beatles before being joined by former Nirvana members Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear for a new song, “Cut Me Some Slack.”

The full set for all the night’s performers is available at Billboard.com.

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First posted 12/13/2012; updated 12/7/2023.

 
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Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Rock of Ages might make you throw up…in your pants.

image from norwalkcitizenonline.com

I was a big fan of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, an improv show which originally aired on British television from 1988-98 and then got an American face list and ran from 1998-2006. One of the games was built around the actors being given a movie scene to act out. The gimmick, and much of the humor, grew out of the “director” constantly interrupting the scene to tell the actors to perform in a different style.

Alan Shankman, the director of Rock of Ages, thought it would be fun to direct an entire movie that way. Each actor was given different instructions about how to perform in the film. The two leads, Julianne Hough and Diego Boneta, were asked to play their roles like they were in a made-for-tweens Disney television show. While it made them into eye-rolling caricatures, at least their performances matched the script’s completely clichéd story. Small-town girl heads to Hollywood with a solitary suitcase and dreams of stardom. She barely steps off the bus when she’s mugged, rescued by a cute boy, and is offered a job as a waitress at a bar. The wide-eyed pair immediately become a couple, only to be torn apart by a misunderstanding worthy of every lame sitcom plot twist ever written. I won’t tell you the ending – not because I’m worried about spoilers, but because you know how this wraps up already.

Rock of Ages trailer

Telling such a story could be funny if done with a campy, wink-wink, nod-nod approach. This apparently was how Alec Baldwin and Russell Brand were told to play it. I don’t need to hear them singing again any time soon, but they get the only laugh-out-loud moment in the movie when they duet on an REO Speedwagon song.

Speaking of singing, there are major problems, which really isn’t a good omen for a musical. Julianne and Diego are at least consistent in that they sing the same way they act. They seem unaware that the songs they’re belting out are rock songs, not Broadway show tunes as interpreted by the cast of Glee (which Shankman has directed, by the way).

This brings us to Tom Cruise. Some are touting his performance as rock star Stacee Jaxx as Oscar-worthy. His is definitely the most interesting role in the movie, even when he distracts with the over-the-top intensity he brings to everything he does. He gets a scene with a Rolling Stone reporter where you glimpse the pain and loneliness of a celebrity with the status of, oh, I don’t know – Tom Cruise? It’s the kind of moment you wish a whole movie were built around. Then he breaks into Bon Jovi’s “Wanted Dead or Alive” and the magic is over.

Cruise’s performance is actually the most maddening. Don’t believe the hype about him having a backup career as a rocker if the acting thing doesn’t work out. It was very considerate of Poison’s Bret Michaels to let Cruise raid his 1980s wardrobe. Cruise also has the whip-an-audience-into-a-frenzy stage moves down. That doesn’t means Cruise can approximate the vocal growl of the era’s hair bands and arena rockers. Considering how widely panned many of those singers were, it doesn’t bode well for soundtrack sales to have an album loaded with second-rate versions of those songs. I mean, has anyone ever said, “Oh, sure, Guns N’ Roses’ ‘Paradise City’ was good, but wouldn’t it be better if we let the star from Top Gun sing it?”

I’m not being completely fair. We do get Mary J. Blige’s pipes in the movie. Unfortunately, her trademark “no one can sing like Aretha, except maybe me” style simply embarrasses everyone else. If only she sang every line of her performance as the streetwise nightclub owner with a heart of gold. She definitely doesn’t need to become a singer with a “hyphenated” career.

Speaking of hyphens, Catherine Zeta-Jones is one of those lucky people who gets terms like “Oscar-winning” and “Tony-award winner” tacked on to her name. She won’t be adding any new trophies to her collection this time around. She plays a politician’s wife bent on cleaning up the Hollywood Strip. It’s the least interesting character in the show – and she’s got plenty of competition.

The movie was summed up for me with a medley of her leading her religious flock in singing “We’re Not Gonna Take It” while Brand rallies the troops for “We Built This City.” Blender magazine called the latter the worst song of all time. When cameos from Sebastian Bach (of the long-disappeared Skid Row), a white-haired Kevin Cronin (who still helms REO Speedwagon), and Debbie Gibson rate as one of a movie’s highlights, the movie has serious problems.

One of Baldwin’s lines in the movie roughly sums it up: “I just threw up…In my pants…Through my ass.”

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Tuesday, December 31, 1996

Cashbox – Songs of the Year, 1950-1996

This list was created by taking Cash Box magazine’s top 100 song list (see here) and putting the songs in order by year and then by putting songs which hit #1 on Cash Box in order by number of weeks. In the event of ties, the song with more points in Dave’s Music Database was ranked higher.

  • 1950: The Third Man Theme…Anton Karas
  • 1951: It’s All in the Game…Tommy Edwards
  • 1952: Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart…Vera Lynn with the Ronald Shaw Orchestra
  • 1953: Where Is Your Heart (Song from “Moulin Rouge”)…Percy Faith with Felicia Sanders
  • 1954: Wanted…Perry Como with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra
  • 1955: The Ballad of Davy Crockett…Bill Hayes
  • 1956: Singing the Blues…Guy Mitchell
  • 1957: All Shook Up…Elvis Presley
  • 1958: Smoke Gets in Your Eyes…The Platters
  • 1959: Mack the Knife…Bobby Darin

  • 1960: The Twist…Chubby Checker
  • 1961: Stand by Me…Ben E. King
  • 1962: Monster Mash…Bobby “Boris” Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers
  • 1963: I Want to Hold Your Hand…The Beatles
  • 1964: Hello, Dolly!...Louis Armstrong & the All-Stars
  • 1965: (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction…The Rolling Stones
  • 1966: I’m a Believer…The Monkees
  • 1967: Love Is Blue…Paul Mauriat
  • 1968: Hey Jude…The Beatles
  • 1969: Sugar, Sugar…The Archies

  • 1970: I’ll Be There…The Jackson 5
  • 1971: Joy to the World…Three Dog Night
  • 1972: Alone Again (Naturally)…Gilbert O’Sullivan
  • 1973: Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree…Tony Orlando & Dawn
  • 1974: I Honestly Love You…Olivia Newton-John
  • 1975: Bohemian Rhapsody…Queen
  • 1976: Mary MacGregor…Torn Between Two Lovers
  • 1977: You Light Up My Life…Debby Boone
  • 1978: Le Freak…Chic
  • 1979: My Sharona…The Knack

  • 1980: Another One Bites the Dust…Queen
  • 1981: Endless Love…Lionel Richie & Diana Ross
  • 1982: Abracadabra…Steve Miller Band
  • 1983: Flashdance…What a Feeling…Irene Cara
  • 1984: Like a Virgin…Madonna
  • 1985: Say You, Say Me…Lionel Richie
  • 1986: Livin’ on a Prayer…Bon Jovi
  • 1987: Faith…George Michael
  • 1988: Sweet Child O’ Mine…Guns N’ Roses
  • 1989: Another Day in Paradise…Phil Collins

  • 1990: Because I Love You (The Postman Song)…Stevie B
  • 1991: Everything I Do (I Do It for You)…Bryan Adams
  • 1992: End of the Road…Boyz II Men
  • 1993: Whoomp! There It Is…Tag Team
  • 1994: I’ll Make Love to You…Boyz II Men
  • 1995: Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)…Los Del Rio
  • 1996: I Love You Always Forever…Donna Lewis
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Monday, October 10, 1994

Bon Jovi: A Retrospective, 1984-1994

Bon Jovi

A Retrospective: 1984-1994

Overview:

Rock group formed in Sayreville, New Jersey in 1983. Considered one of the premiere “hair bands” of the 1980s, but have remained a top-selling rock group since.

The Players:

  • Jon Bon Jovi (vocals, various instruments: 1983-present)
  • Everett Bradley (session and touring musician: 2003-04, 2016-24; percussion, backing vocals: 2024-present)
  • David Bryan (keyboards: 1983-present)
  • Hugh McDonald (session and touring musician: 1983-1994; bass: 1994-present)
  • Phil X (guitar: 2013-present)
  • Dave Sabo (guitar: 1983)
  • Richie Sambora (guitar: 1983-2013)
  • John Shanks (guitar, backing vocals: 2024-present)
  • Alec John Such (bass: 1983-1994). Died in 2022.
  • Tico Torres (drums: 1983-present)

Links:

Awards:

Studio Albums:


Compilations:

Under each album snapshot, songs featured on the anthologies are noted. If the song charted, the date of the song’s release or first chart appearance and its chart peaks are noted in parentheses. Click for codes to charts.

Bon Jovi

Bon Jovi

Released: January 21, 1984

Peak: 43 US, 71 UK, -- CN, 39 AU

Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.06 UK, 4.0 world (includes US + UK)

Genre: rock

Rating:

2.849 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Tracks:

  1. Runaway (2/11/84, 39 BB, 37 CB, 34 GR, 34 RR, 5 AR, 5 DF) CR
  2. Roulette
  3. She Don’t Know Me (5/5/84, 48 BB, 46 CB, 44 AR, 15 DF)
  4. Shot Through the Heart
  5. Love Lies
  6. Breakout
  7. Burning for Love (10/17/84, --)
  8. Come Back
  9. Get Ready

7800° Fahrenheit

Bon Jovi

Released: March 27, 1985

Peak: 37 US, 28 UK, -- CN, 30 AU

Sales (in millions): 1.0 US, 0.06 UK, 1.06 world (includes US + UK)

Genre: rock

Rating:

2.383 out of 5.00 (average of 5 ratings)

Tracks:

  1. In and Out of Love (7/6/85, 69 BB, 71 CB, 37 AR, 27 DF) CR
  2. The Price of Love
  3. Only Lonely (4/20/85, 54 BB, 57 CB, 28 AR, 29 DF)
  4. King of the Mountain
  5. Silent Night (10/22/85, 24 AR)
  6. Tokyo Road
  7. The Hardest Part Is the Night (8/21/85, 68 UK)
  8. Always Run to You
  9. To the Fire
  10. Secret Dreams

Slippery When Wet

Bon Jovi

Released: August 18, 1986

Peak: 18 US, 6 UK, 18 CN, 16 AU

Sales (in millions): 12.0 US, 1.2 UK, 28.0 world (includes US + UK)

Genre: rock

Rating:

4.270 out of 5.00 (average of 32 ratings)

Tracks:

  1. Let It Rock
  2. You Give Love a Bad Name (7/23/86, 1 BB, 1 CB, 7 GR, 7 RR, 9 AR, 14 UK, 2 CN, 32 AU, 6 DF) CR
  3. Livin’ on a Prayer (10/25/86, 1 BB, 1 BA, 1 CB, 1 GR, 1 RR, 1 AR, 4 UK, 1 CN, 3 AU, 2 DF) CR
  4. Social Disease
  5. Wanted Dead or Alive (11/1/86, 7 BB, 7 CB, 8 GR, 7 RR, 13 AR, 13 UK, 17 CN, 13 AU, 3 DF) CR
  6. Raise Your Hands
  7. Without Love
  8. I’d Die for You
  9. Never Say Goodbye (3/14/87, 28 BA, 35 RR, 11 AR, 21 UK, 26 AU, 29 DF) CR
  10. Wild in the Streets

About the Album:

Read more on the DMDB page for this album.

New Jersey

Bon Jovi

Released: September 19, 1988

Peak: 14 US, 12 UK, 1 CN, 12 AU

Sales (in millions): 7.0 US, 1.2 UK, 15.0 world (includes US + UK)

Genre: rock

Rating:

3.957 out of 5.00 (average of 23 ratings)

Tracks:

  1. Lay Your Hands on Me (5/27/89, 7 BB, 5 CB, 6 GR, 9 RR, 20 AR, 18 UK, 17 CN, 23 AU, 19 DF) CR
  2. Bad Medicine (9/3/88, 1 BB, 1 CB, 1 GR, 2 RR, 3 AR, 17 UK, 5 CN, 4 AU, 23 DF) CR
  3. Born to Be My Baby (10/8/88, 3 BB, 2 CB, 3 GR, 2 RR, 7 AR, 22 UK, 7 CN, 30 AU, 31 DF)
  4. Living in Sin (10/7/89, 9 BB, 9, CB, 8 GR, 10 RR, 37 AR, 35 UK, 19 CN, 64 AU, 24 DF)
  5. Blood on Blood
  6. Homebound Train
  7. Wild Is the Wind
  8. Ride Cowboy Ride
  9. Stick to Your Guns
  10. I’ll Be There for You (1/28/89, 1 BB, 1 BA, 1 CB, 2 GR, 1 RR, 5 AR, 18 UK, 2 CN, 23 AU, 30 DF) CR
  11. 99 in the Shade
  12. Love for Sale

About the Album:

Read more on the DMDB page for this album.

Blaze of Glory: Young Guns II (soundtrack)

Jon Bon Jovi

Released: July 26, 1990

Peak: 3 US, 2 UK, 1 CN, 2 AU

Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.1 UK, 2.1 world (includes US + UK)

Genre: rock

Rating:

3.465 out of 5.00 (average of 11 ratings)

Tracks:

  1. Billy Get Your Guns
  2. Miracle (10/6/90, 12 BB, 12 CB, 11 GR, 13 RR, 20 AR, 29 UK, 36 DF)
  3. Blaze of Glory (7/20/90, 1 BB, 1 CB, 2 GR, 3 RR, 1 AR, 13 UK, 1 CN, 1 AU, 8 DF) CR
  4. Blood Money
  5. Santa Fe
  6. Justice in the Barrel Intro
  7. Never Say Die
  8. You Really Got Me Now
  9. Bang a Drum
  10. Dyin’ Ain’t Much of a Livin’
  11. Guanno City [Alan Silverstri]

Keep the Faith

Bon Jovi

Released: November 3, 1992

Peak: 5 US, 11 UK, 8 CN, 11 AU

Sales (in millions): 2.0 US, 0.6 UK, 9.5 world (includes US + UK)

Genre: rock

Rating:

3.131 out of 5.00 (average of 12 ratings)

Tracks:

  1. I Believe (9/25/93, 11 UK, 40 AU)
  2. Keep the Faith (10/13/92, 29 BB, 21 CB, 7 GR, 11 RR, 1 AR, 5 UK, 5 CN, 10 AU, 24 DF) CR
  3. I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead (7/10/93, 97 BB, 31 GR, 29 AR, 17 UK, 47 CN, 24 AU)
  4. In These Arms (4/17/93, 27 BB, 24 CB, 3 GR, 9 RR, 32 AR, 9 UK, 6 CN, 10 AU) CR
  5. Bed of Roses (1/15/93, 10 BB, 4 CB, 3 GR, 4 RR, 39 AC, 25 AR, 13 UK, 2 CN, 10 AU, 31 DF) CR
  6. If I Was Your Mother
  7. Dry Country (3/26/94, 9 UK, 31 AU)
  8. Woman in Love
  9. Fear
  10. I Want You
  11. Blame It on the Love of Rock & Roll
  12. Little Bit of Soul

Cross Road

Bon Jovi

Recorded: 1984-1994

Released: October 10, 1994

Peak: 8 US, 15 UK, 1 CN, 12 AU, 8 DF

Sales (in millions): 5.0 US, 1.87 UK, 21.0 world (includes US and UK)

Genre: rock > hair band

Rating:

4.427 out of 5.00 (average of 16 ratings)

Awards: (Click on award to learn more).

Tracks: (1) Livin’ on a Prayer (2) Keep the Faith (3) Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night (4) Always (5) Wanted Dead or Alive (6) Lay Your Hands on Me (7) You Give Love a Bad Name (8) Bed of Roses (9) Blaze of Glory (10) In These Arms (11) Bad Medicine (12) I’ll Be There for You (13) In and Out of Love (14) Runaway

Tracks Not on Previously Noted Albums:

  • Always (9/20/94, 4 BB, 3 BA, 3 CB, 1 GR, 2 RR, 4 AC, 2 UK, 1 CN, 2 AU) CR
  • Someday I’ll Be Saturday Night (2/4/95, 7 UK, 18 CN, 10 AU) CR

About the Album:

The international version of the album included “Never Say Goodbye” and U.S. version included “Prayer ’94,” a rerecorded version of “Livin’ on a Prayer.”

Resources and Related Links:

First posted 3/9/2011; last updated 5/9/2024.

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