Bon Jovi is on their “Because We Can” Tour and I want to go. I have two problems:
- The concert is about 1 hour away and I‘m not sure if I’ll feel like making that drive.
BUT, I’ve wanted to see them for a
long time. I know Bon Jovi first became the shiz-nit in the ‘80s. However, I didn’t get
into them until 2001. I actually did a piece about how I came to love them on
NPR a long time ago.
Long story short, I was in college
contemplating if I should do an exchange program to the HBCU Spelman College. I
dreamt of being a Spelmanite since I was a little girl. I was accepted to the
school but didn’t get enough financial support to attend. I went to UC San
Diego instead.
While at UCSD, I learned of an
exchange program to Spelman. Some relatives tried to discourage me from
applying because they thought I should just stay in San Diego. It would cost too much. What will do with
your apartment? You’re doing too much.
Blah, blah, blah. You know how people can be about YOUR dreams and goals. But you can’t let others’
fears dictate your life.
I sat in my bedroom contemplating
what to do. I was watching MTV and “It’s My Life” came on. Normally I turned
the station when I saw the video because I wasn’t into rock back then. And MTV
played that video constantly because it was a huge hit at the time. For some
reason, I decided to watch the video that day. Those lyrics changed my life.
Seriously.
It's my life, it's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
It's my life
My heart is like the open highway
Like Frankie said I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life
Hmmm…”I
just wanna live while I’m alive”? The 100-watt light bulb came
on. I decided then that I would
live for me and go to Spelman for the semester. It was one of the best
decisions I made. It was one of the best times I had in college, if not the best.
And so I started listening to Bon Jovi. “It’s My Life” became my pump song.
When I need to pump myself up, I play this song. That song kept my spirits up through grad school,
unemployment and other personal stuff. It helped keep my faith in myself and
see the bigger picture for myself in life.
I also like the band because they talk about real life
stuff, like love and overcoming hardships. Their songs have a story. I grew up on hip-hop and still love it,
especially stuff from the 1990’s.
I’m not feeling the new stuff today. I can only take so many
songs about sex, clubbing and money. I can only take so much “bitch this” and “hoe
that” lyrics.
Maybe I’ll go solo and check them out in San Jose this
spring. I’ve always had this wish to go to a Bon Jovi concert in black leather
pants with my afro teased out. LOL I don’t know why I’ve had that fantasy. I
guess it’s because I can.
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| More about Bon Jovi’s tour: http://bit.ly/1134SI0 |
UPDATE: I grew a pair of eggs and decided to buy my ticket. I'm going to my first Bon Jovi concert!
Too bad you don't live on the East Coast. I love Bon Jovi and so does my cousin in New Jersey. Lots of black female Bon Jovi fans here. ;)
ReplyDelete@ Erika,
ReplyDeleteSo that's where all the Bon Jovi lovin' sistas are. LOL Another reason why I need to move to DC. :) Oooh if we all went it would be so much. I know something crazy would happen. Good crazy. :)
Has the concert happened already? If so, I hope you went. I love Bon Jovi too. I grew up in Nigeria and I've discovered quite a few people here who love the band.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite radio station plays at least one Bon Jovi song everyday. Infact, they are playing 'Hey God' as I type this. LOL!!!
Anita Baker is my favourite artist and I went to see her in concert by myself as no one else could make it. I was daunted at the prospect, but I had the best time ever!!!!! In the end, it didn't matter that I went alone.
The concert is next month and I haven't bought my ticket yet. Wow your radio station plays a Bon Jovi song daily? That's cool!
DeleteI commend you for getting past your fears and going to Anita Baker by yourself. I love, love, love Anita Baker. I'm glad you had a good time. The Bon Jovi concert is next month. I'll see if there are tickets left. If so I'll go. Thanks for the encouragement!
Yes, it seems like the people at the radio station are HUGE Bon Jovi fans. It's not a joke! Mondays are dubbed 'Rock Mondays' (seriously!) and Bon Jovi is in heavy rotation.
ReplyDeleteI hope you got a ticket to the concert and I look forward to a review.
Ore,
DeleteI just bought my ticket Friday night! And I will be rocking out in my car on Monday morning to celebrate. I rarely hear Bon Jovi on the radio out here. I need to move to your city. Thanks and I will have a review for after the concert next month.