Bon Jovi
One Wild Night: Live 1985-2001

THE REVIEW

Following the wave of success from "Crush," this live collection seems to aim to celebrate the New Jersey rocker's life on the road, also wanting to remind the skeptics that, despite numerous commercial forays, Bon Jovi are still a rock band. Indeed, there is a lack of a true live album in their official discography, and this may be the opportunity for Jon and the band to say "It's my life"(!) once more.

It is precisely with this track, performed exactly like the studio version, that the album opens, and a question spontaneously arises: live, is it better to vary something, interpreting the tracks differently each time, or to try to perform a version as close to the original as possible? It's hard to choose because in the latter case, it would demonstrate the musicians' skill, and any doubt about the use of effects and various tweaks in the studio version would be dispelled. However, performing a song differently each time, even slightly, means the musicians really want to have fun and entertain, even at the risk of making mistakes. The fact is people go to concerts not just to listen to the record, they want the band too. And this is where Bon Jovi stand out here, showing they are just the right amount of eclectic. The inclusion of Neil Young's cover "Rockin' in the Free World" is apt, as is the sped-up version of "Keep the Faith". The truly cowboy-like atmospheres in "Dead or Alive" are moving, where Jon performs a solo guitar intro; in the same track, Richie Sambora showcases all his vocal talents, as already heard in some of his solo albums, almost overshadowing the frontman. In general, even in the choirs, the guitarist displays excellent qualities as a vocalist, without neglecting his true craft: "Livin' on a Prayer" and "In & Out of Love" are always his calling cards. The beautiful ending of the timeless "You Give Love a Bad Name" where the audience can be heard in unison, without the band needing to touch an instrument. Guest Bob Geldof sings "I Don’t Like Mondays", but the rest of the CD is nothing special. The title track closes well, but in "Bad Medicine", which precedes it, Jon falters a bit in the vocals.

There are strong doubts about the choice of the tracklist; some pieces are missing that would have been more welcomed than others that are not mentioned here, but overall, an enjoyable album.