Because We Can can be downloaded from the iTunes Store now.
What are your first thoughts on the song? And are you now feeling optimistic, pessimistic or neutral about the new album?
These are the lyrics I heard... Please feel free to correct them:
I don't wanna be another wave in the ocean
I am a rock, not just another grain of sand (that's what I am)
I wanna be the one you run to when you need a shoulder
I ain't a soldier but I'm here to take a stand because we can
She's in the kitchen starin' out the window
So tired of livin' life in black and white
Right now she's missin' those technicolour kisses
When he turns down the lights
But lately he's feelin' like a broken promise
In the mirror starin' down his doubt
There's only one thing in this world that he knows
He said forever and he'll never let her down
I don't wanna be another wave in the ocean
I am a rock, not just another grain of sand (that's right)
I wanna be the one you run to when you need a shoulder
I ain't a soldier but I'm here to take a stand because we can
TV and takeout on a coffee table
Paper dishes, pour a glass of wine
Turn down the sound and move a little closer
And for the moment everything is alright
I don't wanna be another wave in the ocean
I am a rock, not just another grain of sand (that's what I am)
I wanna be the one you run to when you need a shoulder
I ain't a soldier but I'm here to take a stand
Because we can, our love can move a mountain
We can, if you believe in we
We can, just wrap your arms around me
We can, we can
I don't wanna be another wave in the ocean (I don't wanna be)
I am a rock, not just another grain of sand (that's what I am)
I wanna be the one you run to when you need a shoulder
I ain't a soldier but I'm here to take a stand
(I am a, I am a, I am a...)
Because we can
I don't wanna be another wave in the ocean
I am a rock, not just another grain of sand (that's what I am)
I wanna be the one you run to when you need a shoulder
I ain't a soldier but I'm here to take a stand
Because we can (because we can)
Our love can move a mountain
We can, if you believe in we
We can, just wrap your arms around me
We can, we can
Because we can
Retired Irish boxer John Duddy is set to star in the music video for Because We Can.
@paul_mccloskey all good. Busy over Christmas Paul. I got to be the lead in Bon Jovi music video.out on Jan 15. Give our love to the family.
— John F Duddy (@jfdudds) December 26, 2012
What About Now comes out on March 26 and will apparently include Jon's Golden Globe-nominated song Not Running Anymore from the Stand Up Guys soundtrack.
This new song sucks. Sounds like a boy´s band song. Very disappointed since i had high expectations about the new band´s work. Mali from Brazil.
ReplyDeleteI like it at first listen and think it will play well live in an arena.
ReplyDeleteThe song is very badly mixed. That's one thing. The sound is very sharp, way too much high, too little mid and way too little bass.
ReplyDeleteAs for the song? Well, it's another poppy song in the line of the latest album but even worse imho. Where are the epic songs they used to made? Is These Days really the last album which contained songs which had great lyrics and great music? Yes, some songs of the later albums are nice, but nothing more than that. I really wish they had taken more time off to make an actual record like they used to. I just hope the rest of the album is better than this.
I like the song. Very new school bon jovi. Eveeyone needs to stop living in the past. They obviously are trying for a different sound with this song. Its not hard rock but thats okay. Cant wait to hear the whole album.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to be missing the point - it isn't that the song is not hard rock that is the problem - it is that the song isn't even BON JOVI. It sounds nothing like the band at all, with the exception of perhaps the opening minute. Even the 'newer' Jovi albums all contained elements that all Jovi fans could identify with and link with the band. This song doesn't have that. I am all for bands trying new things and I am not one of these people that think that Bon Jovi have done nothing good since These Days. I like all the albums they have done since. However this song is unacceptable. It is incredibly poor. Not just in terms of identifying the band, but in production values as well. As someone else pointed out - it is poorly mixed.
DeleteI guess this line:
ReplyDelete"I am a rock, not just another grain of sand (that's right)"
Is:
"I am a rock, not just another grain of sand (that's what i am)"
It does sound more like "that's what I am" now that I listen again. Thanks!
DeleteI have also edited "Eating takeout" to "TV and takeout" as per this lyric video.
Oh dear. Very boy-band pop-song in style. Not at all what I expected (or wanted). Won't be busting a gut to get the album.
ReplyDeleteneeded to take a longer break. for the first time in years im not sure i will see them this time around. the album as a whole could change that but more than anything i am beyond sick of the same set lists.
ReplyDeleteThe actual song is good, but it doesn't sound like a song from a "bar band"....Too poppy, not enough Rock'n Roll
ReplyDeleteIt's quite catchy song, but I think that they are trying too hard with this "modern sound". They like to talk how there are younger generations among their fans but sadly they don't realize that it's because of their old songs and not the new stuff...
ReplyDeleteI have got enough of this social crap and only positive words are sometimes not enough, it's time that they put some emotion into the songs again... something more personal and simple with no unnecessary sound effects, that's what I wish for.
Hmmm have to agree it's catchy but to pop for my liking, not surprised though, Jon doesn't seem to allow to much more these days. Guess we'll get that from the solo work of everyone.. Jon's stand up songs are more gritty and real than this but will probably sound god live, like, we got it going on, which otherwise erks me. Hope the album proves me wrong Love the blog thanks for all your great work :)
ReplyDeleteAs the biggest BJ fan, sorry but this isn't there best one. There lyrical content is who BJ is, but the sound isn't. Hopefully they will "rock it up" a bit when they play live.
ReplyDeleteThere are versions of the song on You Tube that have Jons Voice dubbed to sound like a chip munk, go to itunes for the real version
ReplyDeleteThe artwork is another 'killer'. If their band name wasn't on the artwork, you'd expect a rock song. What you get is a horrible mixed poppy boy band sound-a-like song. Brrrr
ReplyDeleteThey should have taken a longer break and Richie should have toured his album over Europe and maybe other continents.
Actually if you look at the format of this new song it is in the same style of You Give Love A Bad Name from Slippery. Starting with the loud in your face chorus etc. It does feel like only half the story and part of it is missing. To much "Because we can" is poorly mixed in when there should have been more content.
ReplyDeleteI think there should have been a few more lines written after "And for the moment everything's all right." Add a few lines with the girls doubt or courage to be strong for her man. Then follow up with the same lines but from her view, "There's only one thing in this world that she'd know. She said forever and she'll never let her down.
Overall the song is very similar to me to Bad Name and catchy enough but doesn't scream this is Bon Jovi. And a major buzz kill for me, is why is Jon doing all the back vocals instead of hearing Richie? Am I not hearing him? Loved how they did this back in the day ... and yes I'm that old.
oops, should have been "she'll never let him down."
DeleteI like those suggestions... The "story" does seem quite abrupt.
DeleteI agree the song doesn't scream this is Bon Jovi, but unsure how you can even attempt to compare it to Bad Name and oldschool Jovi. Even if you were to argue that the basic formula in terms of choruses and verses was a similar structure, you have to look at the actual mixing, editing, pacing, volume, bass, etc. and then the only conclusion that you can possibly come to is that it is nothing like Bad Name or anything else from the original Bon Jovi era. The reason why I dislike this song so much is precisely because it is weak and lacking in any punch or power - the very qualities that made Bad Name such a fantastic footstomper!
DeleteI've listened to it twice now and I liked it better the 2nd time, but still am undecided. I think it's a mediocre song at best and i hate to say that since I've loved Jovi for nearly 30 years now. I try never to compare any of the albums or say, "I wish they'd make another 'Slippery When Wet'" which is something I have seen come up thousands of times on the internet, but I am disappointed. I am a big fan of the HAND record - and some day will really write that blog post I promised you over a year ago about that record! I really will! - and I like most all the songs on all the other records, but this is just not up to what I think of as Bon Jovi songs. Maybe they are just evolving, but still...not sure I will ever really like this one. Not in the same way that I like other recent stuff like "When We Were Beautiful" and "We Weren't Born to Follow". Plus I think it's super lame to be starting a tour in early February and not releasing the album until late March. Makes me wonder if they were afraid that the new record couldn't push ticket sales so they are resting on their laurels with a cadre of hit songs to play...again. The only reason I'm going to see them this tour is that a friend's hubby won tickets on the radio and she asked if I wanted go to. Otherwise the price is way too high for the same old show.
ReplyDeleteI liked it - it is very catchy and I love the lyrics!
ReplyDeleteI like it! No, it's not old school hard rock Bon Jovi, but that's their choice & I do like the style that it *is*.
ReplyDeleteLoved your comment about it sounding like it's about an older Tommy & Gina as that was my first thought when I heard it.
Lyrically, the song isn't bad. What is wrong with this song is all the small things that the Jovi have always got right up until now. Richie doing all secondary vocals, Richie getting a decent riff to play in every song, a big hook to draw people in, a footstomper chorus, a powerful message... I used to feel that they knew exactly what their fans wanted - as everything they did was exactly right.
ReplyDeleteThis new song makes me thing that they have decided not to bother appealing to their hardcore fanbase and instead want to try to capture a new audience, assuming that most of their original fans will tag along for the ride. The trouble is, most of us will. What this song needs is a boycott, to remind the band of who keeps them rich and famous. They'd soon change back to their good style of music if this happened. Unfortunately, there are too many fanboys and fangirls who simply lap up anything and everything the band does with no critical judgement - and you will have them find any old arguement to try to justify a bad song, purely out of the bias of fandom. I am a guilty party too - I bought the song - but that was before I heard it. I simply trusted that the band would continue to make quality output. Imagine how disappointed I was to discover this mess of a song.
Plain and simple, this is not the Bon Jovi I have loved for over 25 years. How sad!
ReplyDeleteSo very disappointed in this song! Long time fan also! I feel they sold themselves short on this one for sure. Dont like the video either. Hope its a one time let down and not a new direction for their music. To me it sounds almost amateurish. Come on Jon, you can do sooooo much better than this! As a fan I cant help but feel that maybe Jon has too many irons on the fire and its not so much about the music anymore, but more about the brand. I dunno.....just hate the fact that this song is such a letdown and I feel kind of embarrassed for them because it is that bad.
ReplyDelete