Yesterday on AdJab, I mentioned the fact that the Bon Jovi song "Who Says You Can't Go Home?" is now being used to promote New Jersey tourism. The ad plays ad nauseum on New York TV stations, and I've got to tell you, it's driving me batty. First of all, I've never been a big fan of Bon Jovi, despite my Jersey upbringing (and, no, I'm not a big Springsteen fan, either. As far as New Jersey bands go, I like The Smithereens and Yo La Tengo, among others of that stripe), so hearing ol' Jonny sing over and over makes my ears itch. Second, the song is actually a country song, the first song by a rock band to hit #1 on the country charts. And third? It's a pretty generic tune, and not even that catchy. Actually, it sounds more like an ad jingle than an actual song.This has to be distressing to all Bon Jovi fans. I mean, the band you've been following for twenty-odd years is now being out-rocked on TV by Kelly Freaking Clarkson. As Bill Simmons might say: not good times.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-15-2006 @ 7:59PM
Linda said...
Yes, this song w/Jennifer Nettles from Sugarland, has gone on to become a top 10 country song; however, it was originally recorded by Bon Jovi on their latest CD as a rock song. I don't live in Jersey, and in fact have never been there, but I think the song would be great to use as a "tourist-luring" ad. It's better than anything Kansas has ever come up with!
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7-15-2006 @ 10:09PM
rocko said...
Isn't it great living in South Jersey? We get the scenery, the shores (excluding Atlantic City, nobody likes A.C.), the Pennsylvanians, and we're never the butt of any "what's that smell?" jokes. Oh yeah, and we don't get awful ads trying to get tourism in New Jersey.
So I would like to take this time to say: South Jersey is awesome
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7-16-2006 @ 1:16AM
kevcowiffle said...
South Jersey? It's all water ice, hoagies, and Phillies fans. Come to Central Jersey, which is the perfect distance to the beach and the city. No smog or factories like North Jersey, and no goony accents of South. No crime rates like Camden or Newark, and a majority of the people living here can't stand Bon Jovi. But Bruce is huge. Early Bruce, of course.
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7-17-2006 @ 4:25PM
christine said...
I am English and would never want to go home if i lived near my favourite Man in Jersey, North or South wouldn't matter to be just to be a few thousand miles nearer to the great Jon would be fantastic. I have just been to a jovi Concert and it was incredible so leave him alone he's a brilliant ambassador for your Country. Bonjovi walk on water ok.....
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9-02-2006 @ 9:37PM
Preston said...
To be fair to you, Joel, I like the Smithereens from New Jersey too, but Bon Jovi was a smart choice for NJ's tourism ad song. They named their 1988 album New Jersey, so their roots run deep there. I drove on the New Jersey Turnpike this summer en route to NYC and I thought about Bon Jovi's Who Says You Can't Go Home. Was the perfect song, the perfect feel for anyone who's lived in Jersey or those who left and moved to other states. The lyrics from Jon are very autobiographical in some parts.And for the record, BJ did two versions for the album, the rock one on their own, and the country one with Jennifer Nettles. They could have asked Bruce Springsteen, but he's not into endorsements that much. But Bon Jovi is still active--they still sell out concerts 20 years later! Their albums still go platinum or multi platinum worldwide! Even this summer they're still tearing up stages! So selecting their song for the state tourism ad was a smart move.
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