Bounce is the eighth studio album by American hard rock band Bon Jovi, released on October 8, 2002 on Island/Mercury. Produced by Luke Ebbin, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, the album was recorded at Sanctuary II Studio in New Jersey. Bounce was heavily influenced by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, owing in part to Jon Bon Jovi's proximity to New York.
The album sold over 160,000 copies in the first week in United States, and debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200, making it Bon Jovi's highest debut in the band's history at that time. However, it is the band's only studio album not be certified Platinum in United States.
Album and track information
Regarding the album's lyrical content, vocalist Jon Bon Jovi noted:[1]
| “ |
I think that an album has to be an encapsulized version of a time in my life, a period. And, in this case, it's a year since the last tour ended. [...] So, from the end of July in 2001, to the year 2002, what happened? Well, other things, but 9/11 happened. You have cute romantic songs, you have fun rock songs, and you're gonna have the storytelling, more classic songs that are the makings of what is Bounce. Because you want a beginning, a middle and a end. I want it to be like a book or a movie, where we're taking somebody on a journey of what's gone on in my life in the last year. And though 9/11 played a part in it - a big part in it - a sobering part in it, that was just one aspect. And I didn't want it to be overly sentimental, overly patriotic, but certainly acknowledging what myself, the band and the country have been through. |
” |
The single "Everyday" was written as a response to how the band felt about how to move on after September 11th. Ironically, while it was successful across a number of countries, it wasn't a marked success in the United States. The track "Undivided" speaks more specifically of the aftermath of September 11th, and has become a fan favorite off the album.
The song "Open All Night" was written in response to how Jon Bon Jovi felt about the ending of the TV series Ally McBeal. He portrayed the boyfriend of star Calista Flockhart in the final series, and was upset that his character was written out in the way it was. The producers of the show allegedly asked Jon to stay on for a few extra episodes, so that his character, Victor, could marry Ally. Jon refused on the grounds that his wife was heavily pregnant with their son, Jake, and so Victor had to be written out quicker than was hoped. Jon wrote "Open All Night" as his way of expressing how he wished the character had ended. This was also not the first time that Bon Jovi had written a song with the title "Open All Night"; two of the other songs appear on their 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong box set.
The title track, "Bounce", was dedicated to NFL Head Coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots and close friend of Bon Jovi. The song alludes to the various hardships Belichick experienced before finally winning a Super Bowl. Alternatively, many also felt the song spoke of the nation's rebound following September 11th.
Recording
Jon Bon Jovi states that:[2]
| “ |
Production on this record was somewhat simple in the approach that if it's not broke, don't fix it. We had a great relationship last time with Luke Ebbin, who is a young up-and-coming producer. He did a fine job on Crush and then we'd incorporate the talents of anybody and everybody that would come in the studio. Our managers always say, "There's no 'I' in team." It's a great collaborative effort in every aspect of this record. My ego's not big enough that I have to worry about that. I'm not vain enough to think that my - or even Richie and I's - ideas are the 'be all and end all'. It's not a "you can't look until it's finished process," it's "What do you think?" and then you step back from the canvas, and then when you move up to it again, you have a better perspective of what you're painting. |
” |
Track listing
| Writer(s) |
| 1. |
"Undivided" |
Bon Jovi, Sambora, Falcon |
3:53 |
| 2. |
"Everyday" |
Bon Jovi, Sambora, Carlsson |
3:00 |
| 3. |
"The Distance" |
Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child |
4:48 |
| 4. |
"Joey" |
Bon Jovi, Sambora |
4:54 |
| 5. |
"Misunderstood" |
Bon Jovi, Sambora, Carlsson, Child |
3:30 |
| 6. |
"All About Lovin' You" |
Bon Jovi, Sambora, Carlsson, Child |
3:46 |
| 7. |
"Hook Me Up" |
Bon Jovi, Sambora, Carlsson, Child |
3:54 |
| 8. |
"Right Side of Wrong" |
Bon Jovi |
5:50 |
| 9. |
"Love Me Back to Life" |
Bon Jovi, Sambora |
4:09 |
| 10. |
"You Had Me From Hello" |
Bon Jovi, Sambora, Carlsson |
3:49 |
| 11. |
"Bounce" |
Bon Jovi, Sambora, Falcon |
3:11 |
| 12. |
"Open All Night" |
Bon Jovi, Sambora |
4:22 |
| 13. |
"No Regrets (Japan Bonus Track)" |
Bon Jovi |
4:02 |
| 14. |
"Postcards From the Wasteland (Japan Bonus Track)" |
Bon Jovi |
4:37 |
Promo Album Sampler
- "Everyday" (Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Andreas Carlsson) – 3:00
- "All About Lovin' You" (Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Carlsson, Child) – 3:46
- "Bounce" (Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Falcon) – 3:11
- "Everyday" (Rock Mix) (Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Andreas Carlsson) – 3:00
(12 track album sampler, each track played 3 times on CD.)
Personnel
The following people contributed to Bounce:[3]
Band
Additional musicians
Recording personnel
- Luke Ebbin - producer, programming
- Jon Bon Jovi - producer
- Richie Sambora - producer
- Desmond Child - co-producer
- Andreas Carlsson - co-producer
- Obie O'Brien - engineer
- Mike Rew - assistant engineer
- Gary Tole - Pro-Tools, additional engineering
- Graham Hawthorne - Pro-Tools editor
- Efrain "ET" Torres - additional Pro-Tools engineering
- Samuel Waermo - additional engineering, programming
- Marc Jamison - programming ("You Had Me from Hello")
- Bob "Clear-Fuckin'" Mountain - mixing
- Kevin Harp - mix assistant
- Tim Holland - tech support
- Chris "Lumpy" Hofschneider - tech support
- George Marino - mastering (tracks: 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10 & 11)
- Stephen Marcussen - mastering (tracks: 4, 6, 8, 9 & 12)
Artwork
- Kevin Westenberg - photography
- Kevin Reagan - art direction, design
- Bret Healey - design
References
