By Steve Harding

LOS ANGELES, Calif. --

“We Weren’t Born To Follow” is the first single off Bon Jovi’s 11th studio disc, “The Circle” (due out November 10). It has raced up the HOT AC chart faster than any of the band’s previous singles — a strong feat given their catalog. It is a catchy, radio friendly rock song, the likes of which we have grown to expect from the band.

Bon Jovi has successfully released music for over 25 years now. That’s right… 25 years! Who would have thought… from the band that so quickly became the most notable, “big hair ‘80s rock band” of that era?! I would guess that even the most ardent fans of the band, never mind the haters, have mumbled at one point, “Aren’t these guys and their music supposed to be long gone by now?” And Bon Jovi proved us all wrong.

Over those 25 years, frontman, songwriter, actor and model Jon Bon Jovi has been called by many — nothing more than an undying ‘80s mainstream pin-up, and by just as many — a modern day Frank Sinatra. Either way you swing, Jon, along with faithful guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, and drummer Tico Torres, have released memorable, sing-a-long rock songs with an incredible track record of consistency (starting back in 1983 with the release of the single “Runaway”).

“We Weren’t Born To Follow” is yet another.

The melodies and guitar sounds will be familiar to Bon Jovi fans. You get wisps of “It’s My Life” and “Born To Be My Baby,” to name an easy couple. And I will bet each listener finds a few comparisons of his or her own. But that’s not a bad thing. It’s what true fans want and expect. When Jon’s crackled tones start belting the chorus, “we weren’t borrrnnnn to faaallow,” you can’t help but sing along.

As for the lyrics, Jon has continued to look towards love… and then society… for inspiration… maybe turning more to the outer world as the years have gone on. And that is what you have here. In a simple, obvious summation, 1988’s love story “Born To Be My Baby” is now 2009’s “We Weren’t Born To Follow,” a song about the current state of the union, a call to the country. He has taken the personal story of “Tommy and Gina” (Living On A Prayer”) out of the battle, in order to make an anthemic cry out to us all.

All and all, “We Weren’t Born To Follow” is another solid single from one the most successful rock bands of all time. And as a taste of what’s to come on the full disc, “The Circle,” it’s great news for those longtime fans who are waiting for another full dose of Bon Jovi’s “Bad Medicine.”

Copyright 2009 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.
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