Bon Jovi song hits wrong note
New Jersey, a state with a rich musical history, is the only state in the union without an official state song. A group of Pinelands Regional Junior High School students want to change that. They have been working with Assemblyman Brian Rumpf, R-Ocean, to make "Who Says You Can't Go Home" by New Jersey’s Bon Jovi the state song.
"Prepare for a long haul," advises Red Mascara, who has been trying to get a song he wrote, "I'm From New Jersey," designated the official state song for 47 years. The song was approved by the Assembly six times and the Senate three times. It was passed by both houses twice, but was vetoed by former Govs. Brendan Byrne in 1979 and William Cahill in 1972. Cahill, according to a 2005 piece in New Yorker magazine, reportedly remarked, "If there is one thing worse than the song 'I'm from New Jersey,' it is Red Mascara singing 'I'm from New Jersey."
Mascara's song, however, has three things going for it that Bon Jovi's doesn't: It's actually about New Jersey and it says nice things about it. There is no reference to New Jersey in Bon Jovi’s song, and its opening line is, "I spent 20 years trying to get out of this place."
Bon Jovi's fourth album was actually titled "New Jersey," but there aren't many good candidates in it for the state song. Tracks such as "Living in Sin," "Lay Your Hands on Me," "Blood on Blood," "Love for Sale" and "99 in the Shade" wouldn’t sit too well with the Legislature.
Any suggestions for a better candidate for state song? Something by Ol’ Blue Eyes or Springsteen -- other than "Born to Run," which has already been rejected by the Legislature -- or by Count Basie, maybe? How about something by the Smithereens?
"Prepare for a long haul," advises Red Mascara, who has been trying to get a song he wrote, "I'm From New Jersey," designated the official state song for 47 years. The song was approved by the Assembly six times and the Senate three times. It was passed by both houses twice, but was vetoed by former Govs. Brendan Byrne in 1979 and William Cahill in 1972. Cahill, according to a 2005 piece in New Yorker magazine, reportedly remarked, "If there is one thing worse than the song 'I'm from New Jersey,' it is Red Mascara singing 'I'm from New Jersey."
Mascara's song, however, has three things going for it that Bon Jovi's doesn't: It's actually about New Jersey and it says nice things about it. There is no reference to New Jersey in Bon Jovi’s song, and its opening line is, "I spent 20 years trying to get out of this place."
Bon Jovi's fourth album was actually titled "New Jersey," but there aren't many good candidates in it for the state song. Tracks such as "Living in Sin," "Lay Your Hands on Me," "Blood on Blood," "Love for Sale" and "99 in the Shade" wouldn’t sit too well with the Legislature.
Any suggestions for a better candidate for state song? Something by Ol’ Blue Eyes or Springsteen -- other than "Born to Run," which has already been rejected by the Legislature -- or by Count Basie, maybe? How about something by the Smithereens?
posted by Randy Bergmann at 11:49 AM
9 Comments:
Leavin on a jet plane? Workin on a chain gang? Welcome to the jungle? Once bitten twice shy? or the theme song from the Sopranos?
People in New Jersey are literally being taxed out of their homes because of property taxes and you, Mr. Bergmann, want the Legislature to devote even a minute to creating an official state song for New Jersey?
Could you possibly get any more out of touch with your readers?
"Why don't we get drunk (on spending) and screw (the taxpayers)"
How about "Take this state (sic) and shove it, I ain't livin' a here no more!"
Dear Randy Bergmann,
I have suggested to the Governor and a few Senators that a bill is sponsored to allow a song writing contest be opened up to all students of New Jersey. I believe we would really see some talent come from our students. I think Jon Bon Jovi has been recognized far too many times and for all the wrong reasons. Jon Bon Jovi does what he does for himself and no one else. His song was written in Tennessee and only so that he could break into the country music scene as well as gain southern voters for his personal democratic friends running for office. Everything Jon does is planned. If you know middle school students, they do not listen to Bon Jovi. In fact there are lots of them who don't even know who he is. So why would they come up with Bon Jovi? Or, perhaps, it was suggested to them. Jon has been known to even buy up his own CD's to have a better ranking on Billboard. I really do not think that Jon(being the man he says he is) would have a problem stepping aside for students as he and his band mates say they belong to Save The Music organization which helps music stay "alive" in the school system.
Write your elective officials with your suggestions for them to sponsor a bill(or you could use my idea). If you don't then Bon Jov's song will quietly clear and be approved. The bill has already been started for them.
I say, step aside Jon and give someone else a chance just like you were given when you were young. I know you say you always believe in children.
We are looking in the wrong places for a NJ song...what about Sarah Vaughan, Count Basie...songs from the past, not the present. And a song that would lend itself to NJ's multicultural diverse self, and while still respecting its rich history...
Margaret
Exactly Margaret. That's why I suggest it be opened to all students. This would produce vast amounts of diversity in music. How wonderful.
How about "I'm from New Jersey", by John Gorka.
I like the idea of a Bon Jovi song being the official state song, and I don't even like New Jersey. Even if it doesn't mention NJ by name, the group is associated with NJ and it speaks fondly of being able to "go home again," to people who still "call you one of their own." I think what these kids did was great and I hope the legislature makes it official soon, so NJ can finally have a song like most other states, and so they can move on to other important things to improve their home.
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