Bon Jovi: 2020

Bon Jovi: 2020 is the upcoming fifteenth studio album by American band Bon Jovi, which will be released on October 2, 2020.[1] Initially, before the COVID-19 pandemic, the album was scheduled to be released on May 15, 2020, along with the "Beautiful Drug" music video, but it got postponed.[2] While in quarantine, lead singer Jon Bon Jovi wrote two more songs that would be included in the final album: "Do What You Can", which represents the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic[3] and "American Reckoning", a protest song about George Floyd's death, and support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Bon Jovi: 2020
Studio album by
Bon Jovi
ReleasedOctober 2, 2020[1]
Recorded2019–2020
StudioOcean Way Recording
LabelIsland
Producer
Bon Jovi chronology
This House Is Not for Sale – Live from the London Palladium
(2016)		 Bon Jovi: 2020
(2020)
Singles from Bon Jovi: 2020
  1. "Unbroken"
    Released: November 1, 2019
  2. "Limitless"
    Released: February 20, 2020
  3. "American Reckoning"
    Released: July 10, 2020
  4. "Do What You Can"
    Released: July 23, 2020

The albums debut single "Unbroken" was released in November 2019,[4] and the second radio single "Limitless" was released on February 20, 2020. Both songs feature music videos. "American Reckoning" was released on July 10, 2020 along with a lyric video[5], and "Do What You Can" was released as a single on July 23, 2020.

Writing and recording

Jon Bon Jovi wrote totally 23 songs and recorded them on his smartphone in poor audio quality. Later, he brought the recordings to the rest of the band to listen. Recording of the album started on Saturday, March 9, 2019 in Ocean Way Recording studio in Nashville. On the same day, Jon posted 30-second long Instagram story videos showing him, Tico Torres, David Bryan, John Shanks, Hugh McDonald and Phil X tuning up their instruments in the same studio.[6][7] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the release of the album was postponed, and the tour was cancelled. The killing of George Floyd inspired him to write "American Reckoning," and the ensuing pandemic gave the opportunity to write "Do What You Can." Both were written in his home studio.[8]

The band decided to take a more socially conscious approach with the album. "Limitless" is a song that is encouraging optimism in an uncertain world.[9] "Do What You Can" was inspired by the caption "If You Can’t Do What You Do… Do What You Can" which was under the picture of Bon Jovi washing the dishes in JBJ Soul Kitchen Community Restaurant in Red Bank. Picture was taken by his wife Dorothea and it was posted on Bon Jovi's personal Instagram profile. Inspired by that caption, Bon Jovi wrote the complete song very next day. Song was recorded with the full band in the studio few weeks after the Jersey4Jersey benefit concert and added to the album.[8] "American Reckoning" is a song that offers a deeply compelling look at current times. Bon Jovi explained: "I was moved to write American Reckoning as a witness to history. I believe the greatest gift of an artist is the ability to use their voice to speak to issues that move us".[10]

The song "Story of Love" talks about Jon Bon Jovi's family and parenthood. "Lower the Flag" is inspired by the 2019 Dayton shooting. Bon Jovi started to write this song on the day the shooting happened and wrote first draft of the song over the period of two days. He continued tweaking it and realized that he doesn't have a proper title and the chorus for the song. So he came up with a working title "Four dead in Ohio", which is derived from the lyrics of the song "Ohio" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. When he wrote the song, Bon Jovi played the song for the bunch of people, including Shanks. When Bon Jovi rewrote the lyrics in way that last line repeated what the first line of the lyrics said, that's when he came with a title "Lower the Flag". Bridge of the song was different for Bon Jovi from a composition point of view, but the rhythm of the melody was something easy to compose for him. When he finished with the writing, he went in the studio with McDonald, Torres and Shanks. Bon Jovi played the guitar and Torres played drums. While playing drums, Torres realized that drums are hindering the progress of the song, so the band decided to exclude them in the end.[11]

"Blood in the Water" is a song about migrants and the struggles they face. Bon Jovi explained: "Migrants who come to Italy or those who arrive in America from Mexico are looking for a better life. Yet we hear ignorant comments, 'I don't give a damn, let's send them back.'"[12] "Unbroken" was written for the film "To Be of Service," released in 2019. The song discusses soldiers who have PTSD and is from their point of view. The song is meant to honor America's veterans and their service, but also discusses the reality of their daily lives and struggles.[13]

Album title and cover

Jon Bon Jovi revealed the album title Bon Jovi: 2020 during the Runaway to Paradise Mediterranean Cruise. Jon said he gave the album this particular title because he has now a clear vision after the album This House Is Not for Sale (2016) which dealt with personal issues. Second reason why he named the album like that is because year 2020 is an election year.[14]

The cover shows Jon Bon Jovi, in black and white, head tilted forward, mouth in his hand as if he's about to speak. There is an American flag in the reflection of a pensive Jon Bon Jovi's sunglasses. The words "Bon Jovi 2020" are in the upper right corner. The zeroes in 2020 have stars in them. It's the first Bon Jovi album cover to feature only Jon Bon Jovi without any of the band members on it, since the debut album Bon Jovi (1984), beside the abstract album covers.[9][15] The inspiration for the album cover is a photograph of President John F. Kennedy, taken by Michael Ochs in August 1962, of him reflecting upon a crowd in California.[16]

Release and promotion

The first single "Unbroken", was released on November 1, 2019 featuring a music video.[17] The band and Island Records will donate 100 percent of net proceeds from the download of the single to the Patriotic Service Dog Foundation over the next 12 months.[13] On February 6, 2020, it was announced that the next single of the album would be the song "Limitless". To preview the song, fans had to enter a contest and record themselves singing the song and then upload the video footage on the web page www.singbonjovi.com and post video on their Instagram story. On February 19, the winner (Jean Ramos, from Brazil) was announced. The performance date is still unknown.[18]

On February 20, 2020 the band officially released the single "Limitless". On the same day they announced the release date for the album which became available for pre-order on the band's web shop on vinyl, CD, digital download and in a T-shirt bundle version. Pre-orders come with the instant download of the single "Limitless". The album was originally set to be released on May 15, 2020.[9][19][20] On February 21, 2020 music video for the single "Limitless" has been released on YouTube.[21] On March 27, 2020 "Unbroken" featuring Invictus Game Choir was released as digital download. All proceeds will go to the Invictus Games Foundation, in support of the recovery and rehabilitation of international wounded, injured or sick military personnel.[22]

"American Reckoning" was released through all digital platforms on July 10, 2020. On the same day, lyrics and lyrical video were also released. All the download proceeds from will go to support the Bryan Stevenson's Equal Justice Initiative until December 31, 2020.[10]

In the early days of quarantine, instead of playing the complete song "Do What You Can", Bon Jovi played only first verse and chorus. He asked fans to write their verse and tell their story. He received thousands of fan-created verses on social media. The final version of the song written by Bon Jovi, was performed live acoustically for the first time on Jersey4Jersey benefit concert, raising 6 million dollars for the state of New Jersey which was hard hit during the pandemic.[8] "Do What You Can" was released as a single on July 23, 2020. On the same day, it was announced that the album's rescheduled release date will be October 2, 2020. Pre-orders for the album started and album track listing with songwriting credits was also announced.[8]

Bon Jovi: 2020 Tour

Bon Jovi: 2020 Tour was officially announced on January 15, 2020 with dates across arenas in the United States. It was also announced that Bryan Adams would be the opening act for most of the concerts. Tickets went on sale to the general public on January 14, 2020 at 10 am. Every ticket sold included one copy of the album Bon Jovi: 2020.[23] On April 20, 2020 it was announced that the entire tour would be canceled due the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Ticketholders received refunds.[24]

Track listing
Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Limitless"Jon Bon Jovi, Billy Falcon, John Shanks3:41
2."Do What You Can"Bon Jovi4:19
3."American Reckoning"Bon Jovi4:41
4."Beautiful Drug"Bon Jovi, Falcon, Shanks 
5."Story of Love"Bon Jovi 
6."Let It Rain"Bon Jovi 
7."Lower the Flag"Bon Jovi 
8."Blood in the Water"Bon Jovi 
9."Brothers in Arms"Bon Jovi 
10."Unbroken"Bon Jovi6:07
Japanese Bonus Tracks
No.TitleLength
11."Luv Can" 
12."Shine" 
Japanese Limited edition SHM-CD bonus DVD
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Limitless" (Music video)Bon Jovi, Shanks, Falcon3:42
2."Beautiful Drug" (Music video)Bon Jovi, Shanks, Falcon 

Release history
Region Date Label Format Catalog
Japan May 15, 2020 (Canceled) Island CD UICL-1146[25]
SHM-CD+DVD UICL-9120[26]
Europe December 31, 2020 CD 0602508748578[27]
double LP 0602508839290[28]
United States October 2, 2020 CD 602508748578[29]

References
  1. https://store.hmv.com/store/music/cd/bon-jovi-2020
  2. "Bon Jovi Album 'Delayed,' Tour 'At Least Postponed' by COVID-19". Ultimate Classic Rock. April 19, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  3. "Jon Bon Jovi debuts new song at benefit after seeking fan lyric submission". Loudwire. April 23, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  4. "Bon Jovi Unveil New Single 'Unbroken' Benefiting Patriotic Service Dog Foundation". Rolling Stone. November 1, 2019. Archived from the original on December 13, 2019. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  5. "Bon Jovi's New 'American Reckoning' Mourns George Floyd's Murder". Ultimate Classic Rock. July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  6. "Я надел китель и фуражку". Джон Бон Джови о концерте в СССР и о том, что мир велик". TASS. March 6, 2019. Archived from the original on February 5, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  7. "Bon Jovi recording a new album in Nashville". Asbury Park Press. March 1, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  8. "New Single "Do What You Can" Available Now". bonjovi.com. July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  9. "BON JOVI RELEASES NEW SINGLE "LIMITLESS" FROM FORTHCOMING ALBUM BON JOVI 2020, OUT MAY 15". Universal Music Canada. February 2, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  10. "New Song "American Reckoning"". bonjovi.com. July 10, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2020.
  11. "Bon Jovi Album Preview: 2020 Is Not For Sale (Yet)". Pollstar. December 6, 2019. Archived from the original on December 10, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  12. Laffranchi, Andrea (March 6, 2020). "Bon Jovi: "Rimandare indietro i migranti? Che ignoranza...Il mio trisavolo veniva dall'Italia"". Corriere della Sera (in Italian). Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  13. "New Bon Jovi song 'Unbroken' pays tribute to U.S. veterans, the service dogs who help them". USA Today. November 2, 2019. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  14. "Bon Jovi reveals title of new album as Bon Jovi: 2020: LP will focus on 'socially conscious' themes". Firstpost. August 2, 2019. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
  15. Jordan, Chris (February 2, 2020). "A different look for Bon Jovi on new '2020' album cover, 'Limitless' single". Asbury Park Press. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  16. "Behind the Cover". Bonjovi.com. February 2, 2020. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  17. "Bon Jovi Drops Video For New Single 'Unbroken'". ET. November 2, 2019. Archived from the original on February 25, 2020. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  18. "Preview new single "Limitless" & Win a Chance to Sing it Live with JBJ". bonjovi.com. February 6, 2020. Archived from the original on February 6, 2020. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  19. "New Single, Limitless, Out Now!". bonjovi.com. February 2, 2020. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  20. "Pre-Order Bon Jovi 2020". bonjovi.com. February 2, 2020. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  21. "BON JOVI RELEASES NEW SINGLE "LIMITLESS" FROM FORTHCOMING ALBUM BON JOVI 2020, OUT MAY 15". bonjovi.com. February 2, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  22. "BON JOVI Releases "Unbroken" Feat. THE INVICTUS GAMES CHOIR; Audio Streaming". bravewords.com. March 27, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
  23. "Bon Jovi 2020 Tour Announcement". bonjovi.com. January 15, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  24. "Bon Jovi 2020 Tour Cancellation". bonjovi.com. April 20, 2020. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  25. "CDJapan : BON JOVI 2020 Deluxe Edition [SHM-CD+DVD] [Limited Edition] Bon Jovi CD Album". CDJapan. February 2, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  26. "CDJapan : BON JOVI 2020 [Regular Edition] Bon Jovi CD Album". CDJapan. February 2, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  27. "Bon Jovi 2020 Bon Jovi auf Vinyl online kaufen". Saturn. February 2, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  28. "Bon Jovi 2020 Bon Jovi auf CD online kaufen". Saturn. February 2, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2020.
  29. "Bon Jovi - 2020 (CD)". Target. July 23, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
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