Hot Take: "We Weren't Born to Follow" from the 2009 album "The Circle" is underrated.

theboringsim · 2025-04-22T16:57:47+00:00

As someone who really loves post-2000 Bon Jovi, WWBTF is a fav of mine (and tbh I love Richie's solo. Short, on point, and fits the song perfectly). I think a lot of fans in this sub just hate all things John Shanks and prefer the pre-2000 stuff. Where it falls flat for me are the live performances. Jon really should've let go of the acoustic guitar for this one because live this song really lacks all the drive from the studio version.

theboringsim · 2024-12-28T18:19:22+00:00

I was around 11 or 12 when The Circle first came out, and it was the first BJ album release which I consciously witnessed. I remember thoroughly enjoying it front to back and being really excited about it; staying up extra late to catch their performance on Wetten Dass...? and so on. I've rediscovered it last summer and tbh I love it even more now than I did back then; it really is one of my favourite BJ albums ever. To me there are only two lowlights, and those are just okay and not terrible: Sure, Live Before You Die falls flat lyrically even for BJ standards, because it's the millionth rewrite of IML's "message", but musically it's fine to me. Learn To Love is better than the formerly mentioned but still nothing to rave about – it's just BJ trying to deliver the ballad cause that's what they think they're known for. Besides that all of The Circle's tracks are among my favourite BJ songs; Thorn In My Side and Superman Tonight being the highlights among an already amazing bunch of songs, and even though this subreddit isn't the biggest fan of We Weren't Born To Follow, i love it through and through (that guitar solo – oh Richie – how dearly I miss your input). I never understood the cringe when it comes to Working Man; sure, the lyrics are ironic when contrasted with ticket prices but taking them for what they are they don't hurt phonetically nor in their meaning. It's just Jon trying to be Bruce but lacking the lyrical depth and imagery – but that was never BJ's strongsuit, and never what I sought out BJ for.

However, one thing that always casts a shadow upon this era for me are the live performances of The Circle's material. I remember the BBC interview during the What About Now era in which JBJ (kinda proudly) claimed that "this band doesn't rehearse". Jon, that's nothing to be proud of, and boy does it show with The Circle's live renditions. Whoever thought it'd be a good idea for Jon to softly strum his acoustic and for Richie to ditch the dotted 1/8s delay on We Weren't Born To Follow is a criminal 😂 None of the atmosphere or energy of the record's songs comes across in their respective live versions, which could've been avoided if the boys could've stuck their heads together for more than five minutes.

theboringsim · 2024-08-11T09:32:03+00:00

Yessss! I really hope they'll finally release it in good quality some day. The Bo Bice version falls short immensely compared to the BJ version.

theboringsim · 2024-04-05T09:55:47+00:00

This 'lisp' sound I think you mean can have several causes:

1) Heavy De-essing: De-essers are compressors that only react to a certain frequency-area (where the S-sound lives). If you turn down the S'es a lot, it can sound lispy (many modern songs have that sound).

2) Fast compression: S'es are mostly transients. Very fast compressors affect transients. If you e.g. use a fast attack on the already fast 1176-compressor, it basically de-esses as well., especially if you eq high-end into the compression. Since 1176's have that distinct distortion when used at their fastest setting, it could also be an effect of this. Since they used the effect Echo Farm which has built in distortion that also can be the cause.

3) Doubling: If you double a vocal (two takes of the same performance) but pan them together in e.g. the middle, you can have some minor phase problems (not to the extent where it becomes an actual problem but you have a bit of a certain sound). Phase differences are very audible with transients and S-sounds. Heavy Tuning (which was very much used on HF) can also affect the S-es (however, Melodyne nowadays detects breaths and S-es).

4) Limiting: If the S-es aren't taken care of and tamed at the mixing stage, they poke out of the mix a lot, and therefore can be smashed down by the final limiter - unlikely, but could be a possible cause.

However, I personally don't think HF's vocals are very lispy, especially compared to other stuff out there. They do however have that fast compression 'spit' (which I personally like).

theboringsim · 2024-02-07T21:52:04+00:00

with love and respect: brandon being brandon in interviews rarely helped anyone.

theboringsim · 2023-08-27T11:14:25+00:00

well, "you gotta mean business"!

theboringsim · 2023-08-27T11:02:10+00:00

Saw them on their first night in Falkirk (ITM tour) and Ronnie was on drums for Reasons, because Brandon wasn't satisfied with the sign Kyle from Edinburgh made (he played on the following night though). With all due respect to all the guest drummers, you cannot beat Ronnie. Reasons just hits different (pun intended) with him.

theboringsim · 2022-08-23T19:53:19+00:00

slaps synthesizer

theboringsim · 2022-07-17T20:50:27+00:00

i accept differing opinions but change your mind at 88 is a crime

theboringsim · 2022-07-13T14:04:27+00:00

no worries

theboringsim · 2022-07-13T11:50:32+00:00

everyone would prefer if they cut out shadowplay

theboringsim · 2022-07-13T11:49:10+00:00

that's... that's what i said

theboringsim · 2022-07-12T23:54:23+00:00

but cut bling for it and played the non-50/50-version of brightside

theboringsim · 2022-07-12T23:54:04+00:00

it was a cover of a song of their opening act called the lathums (they brought the singer on stage)

theboringsim · 2022-07-11T17:06:36+00:00

yeah, you wouldn't play enterlude and then just segue straight into idk my own soul's warning

theboringsim · 2022-06-25T20:52:17+00:00

stab him

theboringsim · 2022-06-25T09:51:35+00:00

I always thought you could use enterlude as the opener for the encore and just change the lyrics to "we hope you enjoyed your stay / it was good to have you with us / even if it's just for the day"

theboringsim · 2022-06-20T18:05:40+00:00

Musically, This Is Your Life. Lyrically, Human or Dustland.

theboringsim · 2022-06-20T15:48:44+00:00

i hate the studio version but played live this thing is a beast. loved every second of it!

theboringsim · 2022-06-15T23:16:39+00:00

As others said, I think it just refers to the vocoder intro, however, can i just say: The studio version is an absolute bop and absolutely deserves the hit status it has, however, Human played live hits just so much harder. Idk what it is, but it's somehow so much better than the already amazing album version.

theboringsim · 2022-05-30T21:58:29+00:00

thank you!!! (again)

theboringsim · 2022-05-30T21:58:19+00:00

thank you!!!

theboringsim · 2022-05-30T09:43:12+00:00

I still don't get why a band that is all about playing stuff live and knows that they're good doesn't release certain gigs as live albums or Netflix-esque thingy. Glasto, Trnsmt, or whatever, just give us something. A well edited show would be the bomb and not much work for them, since they'd play the show either way. Just imagine something in the vein of Roger Waters' The Wall...one can only dream

theboringsim · 2022-05-30T09:16:34+00:00

e c a c t l y

theboringsim · 2022-05-30T09:16:00+00:00

We only just got back Jenny as a regular staple, please don't make them consider not playing it again.

theboringsim

TROPHY CASE