bon jovi vs guns n roses, my arguments why bon jovi are better!!!

[kj_jive]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tj]

And please, don't resort to criticising people's grammar in a message board when I didn't even spell anything wrong.  That is just grasping for straws mon frere.

fr?re* 

[Mattman]

I love Bon Jovi, although I don't listen to them as much these days, since I own most of their original studio albums and I've listened to them a million times.  GN'R, on the other hand - I've heard each of their albums a million times and I still listen to them all the time.  Maybe that means something?

Perhaps I've grown out of Bon Jovi.  I got into them before I got into GN'R, when I was about 14.  At that point I was in love really for the first time, which was perfect for Bon Jovi power ballads, which really meant a lot to me at the time.  I would hear something like "Bed Of Roses" and it would seem like the most heartbreaking song in the world.  And I was also, I think, more innocent, less cynical, than I am now, so I liked the rootsy homegrown rock feel of a lot of Bon Jovi's later stuff.  It appealed to me in the same way that Bruce Springsteen did and still does.  Funnily enough, when I finally realized that the girl I was in love with wasn't interested in me, what song did I use to get over it?  "November Rain".  That was my first Gn'R album, and I never looked back.

Both Bon Jovi and Guns N' Roses' music means a lot to me.  I've always seen Bon Jovi as just a good rock 'n' roll band, since the first album I bought off them was Crush and that old-fashioned rock attitude has characterized much of their later work.  I know that their early albums were more like hard rock, but then I didn't get into them until I was starting to like hair metal.  Guns are more like hard rock, and they're liked by metal fans too.  They have more attitude than I've ever seen in a rock band.  Axl has the most unique, greatest voice in music, as far as I'm concerned.  Jon Bon Jovi's vocals are alright, but Axl can scream like a banshee.  I don't know how anybody could do that without shredding their vocal cords.

Guns are the better band, I think.  I still listen to their music a lot these days, whereas I listen to Bon Jovi's albums less now than I used to.  Also, whatever you think of Axl's changing his sound, at least he's doing something different.  One of the reasons These Days is my favourite Bon Jovi album is because they took their sound in a different direction, away from the typical anthems about living your life and power ballads about these five words, and towards more personal and downtrodden songs.  Unfortunately, with their last two albums they returned to the kind of stuff they've done a lot of times before, with the occasional exception, like the Korn-like riff on "Undivided" (which Bon Jovi does a million times better than that lame band anyway).

At least Bon Jovi are still making music, though.  And a lot of it is really good - I mean, songs like "Just Older" and "Misunderstood" are awesome.  I just think they should take a break from crescendoing power ballads; these are getting more formulaic all the time.  And they treat their fans with respect.  I can't imagine Jon Bon Jovi missing a huge arena concert to watch the New York Knicks on TV.

[Dr. Blutarsky]

Bon Jovi were an `80`s pop-metal band that became mainstream adult rock somewhere in the `90`s.  NO WAY can they compare to GNR artistically.

[ClintroN]

I heard about the 'Its My Life' film clip, they told there fans to rock up for the video but only got like, under a thousand instead of the expected 5000 or whatever.

[Mattman]

I heard about the 'Its My Life' film clip, they told there fans to rock up for the video but only got like, under a thousand instead of the expected 5000 or whatever.

So what are you saying?  Axl's band went on an arena tour in 2002 and most venues were filled nowhere near to full capacity.

[ClintroN]

I heard about the 'Its My Life' film clip, they told there fans to rock up for the video but only got like, under a thousand instead of the expected 5000 or whatever.

So what are you saying?? Axl's band went on an arena tour in 2002 and most venues were filled nowhere near to full capacity.

PUTTIN' WORDS IN MY MOUTH A LITTLE ARNT YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you bloody idiot!!!
i was just tellin' ya's somethin' i heard about, didnt mention anything you just drilled me for!!!!

[Mattman]

I heard about the 'Its My Life' film clip, they told there fans to rock up for the video but only got like, under a thousand instead of the expected 5000 or whatever.

So what are you saying?? Axl's band went on an arena tour in 2002 and most venues were filled nowhere near to full capacity.

PUTTIN' WORDS IN MY MOUTH A LITTLE ARNT YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

you bloody idiot!!!
i was just tellin' ya's somethin' i heard about, didnt mention anything you just drilled me for!!!!

Yeah, it's a Bon Jovi vs. Guns N' Roses thread, Einstein.  I was connecting what you said to the topic.  You can't handle it?  Then don't bother posting.  I don't see why you need to get all uptight over nothing.   Try taking fewer drugs.

[D]

bon jovi havent sold out!!!!! theyve been doin the same thing since the start of the band, now had they made a grunge record or something that wouldve been sellin out, in your definition Axl doing Oh My God and Silkworms is selling out cause that was the popular music at the time and he tried it.

bon jovi survived being themselves, i mean think about it, how many bands from the 80's are thriving today?  bon jovi,U2,Metallica and Red hot chili peppers who really didnt hit big till the 90's so they dont even really count.

i know bon jovi probably arent better than GNR but i hate how underrated bon jovi are, i want them to be surefire hall of famers, i want them thought of in the same light as the all time classic bands cause i view them that way.

bon jovi do have songs that are deep, they release some commercial radio friendly songs but the album tracks are deep and meaningful.  Richie sambora will always be one of the most underrated guitarists and not too many can touch David Bryan on the keyboards.

i just want some more respect for bon jovi.

[ClintroN]

Yeah, it's a Bon Jovi vs. Guns N' Roses thread, Einstein.? I was connecting what you said to the topic.? You can't handle it?? Then don't bother posting.? I don't see why you need to get all uptight over nothing.? ?Try taking fewer drugs.

ah for fucks sake dude, it was just a fucking question wasnt it, next time i'll be more accurate  smart arse!!!!

[Mattman]

Okay, D, let's divide this debate systematically into smaller parts.

First, the players.

The Frontmen
Axl Rose vs. Jon Bon Jovi. ?Well, I think Axl wins this issue, because he has greater range and a more unique voice. ?Also, it's gotta be hell making your voice squawk like that. ?But Jon is a great singer-songwriter, and I like the Springsteen-esque vibe he brings to recent Bon Jovi records. ?Both of them are equally charismatic on stage, though. ?Axl does his running and jumping thing and visual panache, while Jon is the ultimate stadium rock god. ?It's a tough choice, but I'll have to give this one to Axl, if just barely.
ADVANTAGE: Guns N' Roses

The Lead Guitarists
In terms of lead guitar, Slash and Richie Sambora are roughly equal in technical terms. ?Richie tends to have a habit more and more of underplaying, though. ?On the older Bon Jovi records, he can shred with the best of them, but I guess they figure that kind of thing is out of style now. ?I'm gonna have to with Slash, though. ?He has supplied some of the greatest riffs and solos in hard rock history, while Bon Jovi has always been more about songwriting than meat-and-potatoes hard rock riffing.
ADVANTAGE: Guns N' Roses

The Rhythm Guitarists
Richie again, this time pitted against Izzy Stradlin. ?Richie wins this one, as far as I'm concerned. ?I mean, I absolutely love Izzy, both in Guns and on his solo records ("Ride On" is awesome). ?But Richie's rhythm playing has always been more nuanced and interesting to me, while Izzy has always been more in the background, serving as a foil to Slash. ?This is where Bon Jovi's "strum songs" like "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" and "Misunderstood" help them beat the competition.
ADVANTAGE: Bon Jovi

The Keyboardists
David Bryan goes against Dizzy Reed. ?Dizzy's contributions to Guns add a melodic flavour to tracks like "Breakdown", and the industrial stuff on newer Guns tracks is interesting enough. ?But David Bryan is a far more indispensable member of Bon Jovi. ?His piano playing is what drives some of their best ballads, like "Bed Of Roses", and it supplies them with great 50s-flavoured rock 'n' roll overtones on rockers like "I'll Sleep When I'm Dead". ?Also you have the 80s-synth pop effect on Slippery When Wet, that great organ solo that begins "Let It Rock", and the mature, subtle playing on These Days. ?One of the best keyboard players in rock, David wins this one hands down.
ADVANTAGE: Bon Jovi

The Drummers
Ooh...tough one here. ?Tico's drumming has always put the power in the band's stadium shouters, like "Lay Your Hands On Me" and "Born To Be My Baby". ?But Steven Adler's drumming on Appetite is super-raw and just slams of hard rock might. ?Matt Sorum I don't care too much about; I've always preferred Steven. ?Tico's drumming is more akin to Matt's, but I've always liked Steven's drumming more for its raw effect; just listen to "Nightrain". ?Man...tough choice. ?I guess I'll go with Steven. ?He's more raw and has the crazy drummer effect going for him.
ADVANTAGE: Guns N' Roses

Now for the music...

The Rockers
Well, I think that in terms of no-holds barred rock 'n' roll ability, you have to go with Guns N' Roses. ?That's why everybody loves Appetite - because it's full of the most amazing rockers anybody had heard in a long time. ?The original GN'R were scuzzy dirtbags who lived the hard life while doing lots of drugs and banging lots of groupies, and this living of the hard rock lifestyle all help inform their straight-ahead rockers with a kind of primal fury. ?Bon Jovi's rockers are great, but tend to be slightly more slick and pedestrian. ?Also, they have a tendency of repeating themselves (is there really any difference between "It's My Life" and "Everyday"?)
ADVANTAGE: Guns N' Roses

The Ballads
Gotta go with Guns again. ?Bon Jovi ballads used to be my bread and butter, but by the last couple of albums, they had worn the formula on me one too many times. ?Crescendoing Bon Jovi power ballads now reek to me of being way too formulaic. ?GN'R, on the other hand, have always been a dab hand at ballads, and they each have their own unique spin. ?SCOM is totally different from "Patience", "November Rain" uses an orchestra to superb effect, and "Estranged" is epic angst at its finest. ?And if you include more recent Axl Rose songs, they're still mining new territory: "Madagscar" uses atmospheric keyboards and even samples of Martin Luther King.
ADVANTAGE: Guns N' Roses

The Anthemic Stadium Rock Quotient
Obviously Bon Jovi comes out as the winners in this category. ?They are the definition of stadium rock; it seems like almost every Bon Jovi song makes me want to pump my fist in the air at some point. ?Guns could make great anthemic choruses ("Welcome to the Jungle", "Nightrain", etc.). ?But Bon Jovi effortlessly made every song feel like an anthem: "Blood On Blood", "Livin' On A Prayer", "Undivided"...the list goes on.
ADVANTAGE: Bon Jovi

The Lyrics
Whoa, man, this is tough. ?I guess it's purely a matter of personal preference. ?I love the lyrics of both bands; they're two of my favourite bands lyrically. ?I suppose I'll go with Guns, just because Jon has a tendency of repeating himself in his lyrics and mining cliches (it seems like he's sung the phrase "these five words" in at least half a dozen songs).
ADVANTAGE: Guns N' Roses

The Look
Gotta go with Guns N' Roses. ?Axl made anything look cool, Slash had the top hats, they liked to wear leather pants and scarves and I personally loved the whole 80s' Los Angeles trash-glam-punk look. ?Bon Jovi sometimes wore similar stuff, like leather pants, but then they also had some pretty awful mullets back in the day (ahem...Tico). ?All the members of both bands still look great today...except for Axl. ?Still, I'm gonna have to take down Bon Jovi for those mullets.
ADVANTAGE: Guns N' Roses

The Staying Power
Now this is an interesting question. ?Who has had greater staying power, Guns N' Roses or Bon Jovi? ?Well, I guess the obvious answer would be Bon Jovi, seeing as they're still around. ?But then again, to tell you the truth, I tend to hear GN'R's music more on the radio, and among my friends (we're all 18 or 19), despite the fact that the original group hasn't been together for more than 10 years and Bon Jovi's music is supposedly more "commercial". ?Maybe Gn'R would still be on top of the world if they had stuck together; they certainly look as though they would have been able, like Bon Jovi, to make the transition to the 90s, seeing as neither band was as explicitly glam as acts like Poison and both were far more talented.
I guess I'll have to hand out this honour to Bon Jovi, who are still filling stadiums. ?But also because they've been producing great albums for 20 years, while GN'R managed to put out a few incredible records in 5 years.
ADVANTAGE: Bon Jovi


Well, if you tally the results, it looks like the winner is...

  ? GUNS N' ROSES ? ?

Bon Jovi's songwriting has a tendency to be formulaic at times, and also Guns records were just so undeniably good, with great riffs and songwriting. ?But as D says, you don't have to like one or the other. ?Both of them are great bands, just in different ways. ?I love Bon Jovi, and I love Guns N' Roses. ?Bon Jovi's still around, so I'm going to keep enjoying new records from them for a long time coming. ?This new box set looks to be as good as Bruce Springsteen's box set. ?Axl can keep doing whatever it is he's doing, and the original Guns records will remain the highlight of my CD collection.

[Mattman]

Yeah, it's a Bon Jovi vs. Guns N' Roses thread, Einstein.? I was connecting what you said to the topic.? You can't handle it?? Then don't bother posting.? I don't see why you need to get all uptight over nothing.? ?Try taking fewer drugs.

ah for fucks sake dude, it was just a fucking question wasnt it, next time i'll be more accurate? smart arse!!!!

Hehe....cool. 

[D]

very good matt but i disagree in two areas

the look

jon has gotten more cool and better looking as he has gotten older whereas axl with the braids and baggy clothes, plastic surgery etc definitely looks worse, no one had cooler hair than jon bon jovi in the 80's and in the 90's and now he is still considered to be one of the hottest front men of all time, just look at vh1's list plus he was people magazines most sexy rocker in 2000.  so durin the illusion period it was close but as a whole i think jon wins out.

also if there were a category for harmonizing and backup vocals it would definitely go to bon jovi, richie sambora has a lead singers voice with fantastic range and david bryan does great harmonies.


ballads id have to give the edge to bon jovi simply cause im not sure u can call estranged a ballad and u take away estranged and bon jovi simply have more ballads and i think they are better as a whole.

[Mattman]

jon has gotten more cool and better looking as he has gotten older whereas axl with the braids and baggy clothes, plastic surgery etc definitely looks worse, no one had cooler hair than jon bon jovi in the 80's and in the 90's and now he is still considered to be one of the hottest front men of all time, just look at vh1's list plus he was people magazines most sexy rocker in 2000. so durin the illusion period it was close but as a whole i think jon wins out.

Well, while I still think Guns looked way cooler in the 80s - they had that look about them that just made you go, "now THAT is a fucking rock band" - I'll have to agree with you on which frontman looks better now.

ballads id have to give the edge to bon jovi simply cause im not sure u can call estranged a ballad and u take away estranged and bon jovi simply have more ballads and i think they are better as a whole.

"Estranged" is definitely a ballad.  It's got the piano, the reflective lyrics, it's not too fast, and it's got a very fragile vocal performance by Axl.  Sure, it's not a regular ballad, but that's why I like it.  Bon Jovi may have more "ballad" ballads, but GN'R have better ones.  If you're looking for a stereotypical power ballad, then "Don't Cry" is your animal, and it's far better than "Always" or "Thank You For Loving Me".  In my opinion, Bon Jovi's crescendoing power ballads have gone downhill since the Keep The Faith era.

Personally, I prefer the non-formulaic Bon Jovi love songs.  "In These Arms", "(It's Hard) Letting You Go", "Captain Crash and the Beauty Queen From Mars".  They're all wildly different, but that's the whole point.  If you've heard one Bon Jovi power ballad, you've heard them all.  These songs have more variety.

I think that Bon Jovi should experiment more with thier studio albums, actually (NOT re-hashing old ones, because then they go too far).  I always loved the 1992 dustbowl elegy "Dry County"...I thought they should try doing another epic rock song like that.  These Days is my favourite Bon Jovi record because they stepped away from their traditional stadium-rock-mixed-with-power-ballads and tried something a little more subdued, mature, reflective.  Actually, I find that this time of year right now, in the autumn, I always listen to that album a lot for some reason.

[sandman]

bon jovi is a great band. they make great pop music, and they put on great live shows.

but they do NOT deserve more respect.

they are a commercial pop band that appeals to women (who are a very loyal fan base). they nailed a HUGE market and have milked it for years. good looking rock band, clean cut, great voice, simple lyrics about love. women love that shit. and they never tire of it.

they have not evolved or tried anything new.

they have never written one song that i would consider classic.

they have not influenced many bands (except for maybe britney fox, winger, etc.)

if someone asked me to educate them about all types of great music, i wouldn't even think to play them bon jovi.....but it would be irresponsible not to play them AFD.   

[Tied-Up]

Bon Jovi does not deserve respect or accolades for anything except starting the hair band craze.  With this, we were treated to such GREAT bands (dripping with sarcasm, if anyone didn't 'hear' it) as Poison, Winger, Britny Fox, Trixter, Warrent and Slaughter.

Oh joy!

Yes, thank you, thank you Bon Jovi!  Thank you, I worship you now.    

Other than that, they are tepid pop metal at best. 

bon jovi havent sold out!!!!! theyve been doin the same thing since the start of the band, now had they made a grunge record or something that wouldve been sellin out, in your definition Axl doing Oh My God and Silkworms is selling out cause that was the popular music at the time and he tried it.

bon jovi survived being themselves, i mean think about it, how many bands from the 80's are thriving today? bon jovi,U2,Metallica and Red hot chili peppers who really didnt hit big till the 90's so they dont even really count.


i just want some more respect for bon jovi.

U2 were around WAYYYY before the 90s, and were submitting hits too.  Sunday Bloody Sunday and New Year's Day are two of their VERY BEST, and out in the 80s.  They weren't some opening act in the 80s.

[Mattman]

Bon Jovi does not deserve respect or accolades for anything except starting the hair band craze.? With this, we were treated to such GREAT bands (dripping with sarcasm, if anyone didn't 'hear' it) as Poison, Winger, Britny Fox, Trixter, Warrent and Slaughter.

Oh joy!

Yes, thank you, thank you Bon Jovi!? Thank you, I worship you now.? ??

So Bon Jovi started the hair band craze?  What about Motley Crue?  Ratt?  Twisted Sister?  All those bands were more glam than Bon Jovi and had bigger hair.  You could even go all the way back and say that Aerosmith and KISS started hair metal - after all, they had all the basic elements (except for Aqua Net).  Besides, there's nothing wrong with hair bands.  They're fun to listen to and they've got musical chops to spare.

[badapple81]

I think Mattman got it spot on in his summary. Especially the mention of the ballads on Crush & Bounce.

GNR and BJ, like D, are my two fave bands. They are totally different bands tho and am not sure if you can argue if two different types of bands can be better than the other.

[jimmythegent]

Mattman got it pretty much right - although I have to say Izzy is the best Rhthym player since Keith so I disagree there

[journey]

I like Bon Jovi, but to me they're not better than GN'R. ?Guns and Roses brings an element of reality and truth. Their songs aren't just for singing along to, they're there to confront whatever the subject may be. ?GN'R lyrics and music are more empathetic to everyday life.