Have a Nice Day (Bon Jovi album)

Background

Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora headed into the studio with producer and songwriter John Shanks in summer of 2004. to begin working on a band's ninth studio album. They started to write songs and songs came very quick. After Jon and Richie co-wrote all the songs with Shanks, they recorded them immediately using a drum machine. Sambora and Shanks played all the guitar parts, Jon recorded all the vocals and there were no bass player or drummer in the studio. Later in the recording sessions, David Bryan, Tico Torres and Hugh McDonald recorded their parts. In meantime, band was doing finishing touches on their boxset 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong (2004). Jon planned to turn the album over to record company right before Christmas of 2004., but he changed his mind. In December of 2004, he went to Sanctuary Sound Studio to write more songs. When the band regrouped in 2005, they recorded four more songs and also worked on the revised versions of the original songs.

Lyrical themes

Lyrical themes talk about political changes that happened in United States in that period and the state of music business, but also reflect personal and introspective views on issues that Jon had while growing up and about which he never discussed before. Jon said:"I've always kept this 'chin up, glass is half-full' kind of optimism, and [now] I showed some chinks in the armor." Song "Last Man Standing" talks about Jon Bon Jovi's unhappiness with the music industry. In the lyrics, he also reflects his disgust of the music business in general and it's lack of true vision when it comes to supporting the artistry of developing a song, the songwriter and the bands on the road. Jon explained: "Instead of creating what Andy Warhol once called '15 minutes of fame,' I think it's down to just three minutes and 30 seconds," he says. "I don't know how this industry is ever going to have another Bob Dylan when it's all about the single, [not] the album and the vision and that inspiration. [It's] all for the sake of a 99-cent download so they can sell bulk and make their bonuses. It's heartbreaking."

Release and promotion

Album tracklisting, release dates for United States and Canada, and radio release date for the first single were announced on July 14, 2005. First single, the title track "Have a Nice Day" premiered on radio stations worldwide on July 18, 2005. On September 2, 2005. it was announced that full length version of the song "Last Man Standing" is available for listening in discography section on their official website.

Critical and commercial reception

Stephen Thomas Erlewine gave the album 2.5 stars out of 5 by saying that album "picks up where 2002's Bounce left off, showcasing a harder, heavier band than either 2000's Crush or Jon Bon Jovi's 1997 solo effort, Destination Anywhere. Not only that, but this 2005 album finds Jon Bon Jovi picking up on the serious undercurrent of Bounce, writing a series of angry, somber neo-protest songs that form the heart of this record." Blogcritics gave the album 8 stars out of 10 stating that "while their glory days are behind them, there's still a lot left in the tank for Bon Jovi when they want to be a band. The chemistry between Jon and Richie is as strong as ever, and the songwriting prowess they have is a well that never seems to run dry for these guys. While not their best work, this is their best in a long time." Robert Christgau gave the album grade C+ stating that album is "depressing argument for the existence of that intellectual fairy tale, the passive mass audience." Christian Hoard from Rolling Stone gave the album 3 stars out of 5 saying that album is "reliable as it is contained: Acoustic ballads such as 'Bells of Freedom' are vaguely icky, but powerhouse anthems like 'I Want to Be Loved' pack almost as much singalong potential as 'Livin' on a Prayer' did back in the day."

Track listing

‡ Omitted from Japanese, European, and Australian versions

Personnel