"Let's do what we can now" Message from Bon Jovi December 14, 15:00

Work, school, travel, events I've been looking forward to ... I think it's been a year that many people couldn't take for granted.

Meanwhile, this October.

American rock band "Bon Jovi" has released their first album in four years.

Its name is "2020".

What do you want to convey to us through music now?

An independent interview with vocalist Jon Bon Jovi has been realized.

(International Department Reporter Mariko Sato)

A surprising side of popular vocals

"Technology!"

At the beginning of an online interview.

When asked to point the camera up a little, John laughed mischievously, showing an empty cardboard box he brought from somewhere as a stand under his computer.

Our friendly behavior, which we couldn't imagine from the image of the vocals of a popular rock band, eased our tension at once.

"Bon Jovi" was extremely popular, especially from the 1980s to the 90s.

At that time, I wasn't old enough to listen to rock music, but when I asked my boss, I heard that I was listening to "Livin'on a Prayer" and "Keep The Faith" on cassette tapes.

Supported by such fans, the band became more popular in Japan than in the United States.

Recently, I have also sent out social messages, such as focusing on environmental issues and writing songs for Japan in the event of the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Two songs born from the postponement of release

New York, where John is based, is one of the cities in the United States where the new coronavirus was particularly rampant.

John's son and other members were also infected.

The album "2020" was postponed for release in May, but during that time John wrote two songs to add to the album.

One of them is "Do What You Can"

, which sings how to

deal with the

new coronavirus.

Why did you add this song?

Bon Jovi

"A lot has happened here in America since I started writing songs. I thought it would be a symbolic album of the times." Do What You Can "has spread. I wrote it when I was doing it. It's a message to people all over the world saying, "If you can't go to work, do what you can at least, such as wearing a mask."

Collaboration with fans "Do What You Can"

It is said that this song was actually made by "collaboration" with fans.

Bon Jovi

"We felt we were in a special situation. Japanese people and people in New Jersey, USA all had the same experience together. So, the first one I posted the bar and lyrics online and called out, "Write the lyrics, write your story. I'll sing it." The song was already complete and ready to be recorded. But the story the fans sent me was similar to what I was writing, and then I realized that it was a special song. "

Suffering, sadness, anger, and anxiety that many people feel in this corona sickness.

"Do What You Can" inspires us to share those unfinished thoughts and still try to do what each and every one can do.

I noticed "what is really important"

This song has the following verse.

From "Do What You Can"

Keep your social distance, but the

world needs a hug.

There's no substitute for love until you find

a

vaccine. Love

yourself and your family.

Love

your

neighbors and friends. It's

about time for strangers. It's time to love

them, they

're

friends before we meet

What kind of thought did you put into the impressive lyrics "There's no substitute for love"?

Bon Jovi

"We are all pushed to the limit. In front of this virus we are equal. It doesn't matter if you're Japanese or American, Republican or Democrat. Corona is your opponent. Being cornered in this situation made us realize that health, family and friends are the most important. We should recognize that there is no substitute for work, record making, travel. It's more important than running around busy. It was really a humble event. "

I think I must be aware that I was able to realize what is really important because I am living a life with great restrictions.

John complains so.

"Let's do what we can do now"

The reason for this song was the event at the restaurant "JBJ Soul Kitchen" run by Mr. John.

The store started 15 years ago to help low-income people and there is no price on the menu.

People who can eat and donate money.

Those who cannot afford it will volunteer.

However, due to the rapid spread of the infection, from March to the summer, there were not enough volunteers due to restrictions on going out, and John said that he was washing himself in the kitchen every day.

Bon Jovi

"When I was washing the dishes, my wife, Dorothea, took a picture of me and posted it on social media to let people in need know about the store. The word was "If you can't do what you do, do what you can." "If you can't do what you normally do, do what you can do now."

"At the store, with people who need help. I realized that the more I did good, the more joy I had with the people I wanted to help. It feels as good as when I'm shouting on stage. It's magical to think that it makes a big difference in life. "

" It's great for me to be on stage, I like it and I'm good at it, but the stage doesn't make me, my job. It's just that. This support activity is necessary for me to be myself. "

"American Reckoning" as a witness of history

Another song added due to the postponement of the album's release is the "American Reckoning"

theme, which is a matter of racial discrimination.

From "American Reckoning" On the

streets where

America is burning,

the conscience

of the protesting

nation is plundered and

its soul is surrounded. The

history is repeated, and

one mother cries

"I can't breathe."

This May, in the Midwestern Minnesota, a black man, George Floyd, was decapitated by a white police officer and subsequently died.

As a result, the "Black Lives Matter Movement", a protest demonstration against racial discrimination, spread all over the world.

In Japan, it is not easy for artists and athletes to express their opinions on politics and social issues that have mixed pros and cons.

Sometimes I get criticized for saying my thoughts.

However, John faced this problem head-on, saying, "I couldn't help writing this song."

Did you hesitate to release this song in 2020, when the presidential election will take place, as the divisions of race, generation, and region are highlighted?

Bon Jovi

"I don't think it should be. As an artist, if you compromise as a person, and if you lie to yourself, I now find real value in the people and things that I intend to represent. It's gone. "

" I want to make it clear that I was never on either side. What I saw, experienced, and read with my own eyes, as a witness to history, I wrote in the song. I didn't exaggerate what happened, argue for conspiracy theories, and I didn't say you were on the Democratic side and you were on the Republican side. I said, "There was something like this. I just said the fact. If someone says they don't listen to my album because of that, I can't help it. To tell the truth, some radio stations refused to play this song. "

From the eyes of Mr. John who said so, I strongly felt "a sense of responsibility to live in this era."

To Japanese fans ... the title of that song

Even after the presidential election in November, the United States remains deeply divided.

Mr. John emphasizes that music can play a major role in such a situation.

Bon Jovi

"Music is a great way to keep balance. You can see that we were invited to the Soviet Union at the time when the Berlin Wall was still there. We We have also toured in dictator-dominated countries. Music brings people together, regardless of language, politics, culture, or generation. It spreads and shines like light. "

Finally, Mr. John kindly agreed with the message to the Japanese fans who have a close relationship.

Bon Jovi

"I hope everyone in Japan is safe. I want to go again next year. And as I said someday," Keep The Faith "."

The full text of this interview is posted.

(Part 1)

Click here for the second part

International Department press

Sato ShinRiko

2011. He joined

the International Department from 2015 through Fukushima station, the social unit

in charge of the United States, Europe