MUSIC MONDAY ~ Jon Bon Jovi

I didn't set out to write Music Monday's post about Jon Bon Jovi, I was a couple of paragraphs into a post about the first issue of Rolling Stone magazine, founded on this day in 1967, and was listening on-line to a BBC music show. A song being played caught my attention. I'd heard it before, several times recently and rather liked it. It's one of those songs that just march right into your head, a crowd pleaser - gets the blood coursing through the veins! I listened intently to the words: "We Weren't Born to Follow" - hmmm - that's Aquarius, I thought. (Video HERE, lyrics at end of post.)

Jon Bon Jovi (JBJ from here on in) is one of many, many artists who were never on my radar back when they were at their height of popularity. I was caught up in some other wild enthusiasm at the time. In a way I'm glad, because it gives me the chance now to discover somebody new, to me, whose work I can investigate and enjoy, as though it were simply - new.

Born on 2 March 1962 in Perth Amboy, New Jersey at 8.45pm (Astrodatabank).

Wow! that's an interesting chart, I said out loud, as my software threw it up onto the screen.



All his personal planets are grouped together in the winter signs of Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. I like that! It's a good mix: Level-headed common sense from business oriented Capricorn, socially aware and quirky Aquarius is there, and compassionate, mystical Pisces. Why didn't I latch onto this star before? He's my kind of guy!


Sun in Pisces and Pisces' ruler, imaginative Neptune are in harmonious trine - Pisces to Scorpio, underlining JBJ's creative talents in songwriting and performing; he has some acting, in movies and TV, in his repertoire too.

Natal Pisces Sun is also in opposition to the outermost planet, Pluto in Virgo, helping to balance the dreaminess of Pisces with the earthy attention to detail and work ethic of Virgo. There's another opposition, between Uranus the innovator and rebel in Leo, and Jupiter and Mars in Aquarius, rulership of Uranus. I interpret that balancing act as blending the show-bizzy feel of Leo with the social awareness of Aquarius - a balance clear to see in JBJ's career history.

Moon in Capricorn grounds JBJ, I'd credit it with the stability of his home background, as well as his good business sense which has helped to fuel a successful career spanning 25 years.

JBJ has much that's admirable in his lifestory. He has a stable marriage of 18 years, with 4 children - a rarity in the world of rock and roll and show-biz in general. He has said in interview that he gave up on drugs very early on - another rarity. He, and his band, "Bon Jovi" have much charitable work to their name, details are at Wikipedia.

He has long been an active supporter of left-wing politics and politicians, which doesn't especially enamour him to right-leaning music fans who will sling mud at the slightest opportunity. Opportunities are slight - few and far between.



Left-Right: Musicians David Bryan, Tico Torres, Richie Sambora, and Jon Bon Jovi of the band "Bon Jovi" attend the premiere of "Bon Jovi: When We Were Beautiful" during the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center on April 29, 2009 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival.

WE WEREN'T BORN TO FOLLOW

This one goes out to the man who mines for miracles
This one goes out the ones in need
This one goes out the sinner and the cynical
This ain't about no apology
This road was paved by the hopeless and the hungry
This road was paved by the winds of change
Walking beside the guilty and the innocent
How will you raise your hand when they call your name?

Yea, Yea, Yea,
We Weren't born to follow
Come on and get up off your knees
When life is a bitter pill to swallow
You gotta hold on to what you believe
Believe that the sun will shine tomorrow
And that your saints and sinners bleed
We weren't born to follow
You gotta stand up for what you believe
Let me hear you say
Yea, Yea, Yea, ooooohhh,, Yea

This ones about anyone who does it differently
This ones about the one who cusses and spits
This ain't about our living in a fantasy
This ain't about giving up or giving in

Yea, Yea, Yea,
We Weren't born to follow
Come on and get up off your knees
When life is a bitter pill to swallow
You gotta hold on to what you believe
Believe that the sun will shine tomorrow
And that your saints and sinners bleed
We weren't born to follow
You gotta stand up for what you believe
Let me hear you say
Yea, Yea, Yea, ooooohhh,, Yea

Let me hear you say
Yea, Yea, Yea, oooohhhhh, Yea
"Guitar"

Yea, Yea, Yea,
We Weren't born to follow
Come on and get up off your knees
When life is a bitter pill to swallow
You gotta hold on to what you believe
Believe that the sun will shine tomorrow
And that your saints and sinners bleed
We weren't born to follow
You gotta stand up for what you believe
Let me hear you say
Yea, Yea, Yea, ooooohhh, Yea.

And a big YEAH! from me too!