Baby I want you like the roses want the rain.

There is a flour disaster in my kitchen that I'm trying to avoid right now. Flour, egg, maple syrup kinda disaster that was supposed to be fluffy American pancakes but what it really is, is a sticky disaster and there are three possible culprits. A sticky cat, a tattooed man, or a little girl. My money is on the man though. I think neither of us have a career in being Master Chefs. While I keep myself out of that sticky situation (I barely washed the syrup out of my hair just now) and dry my hair and nails…I'm back here thinking how all of my music Mondays are now music Fridays. Someone suggested that I switch days, and I never actually do what I'm told but this seemed like a good idea because he said that he could do with a ''weekend music suggestion'' and besides, Mondays are the worst possible days, who has the energy to read long blogs on some such days. Also I could use a break from drawing. I've been pretty much doing nothing but,  my desk is covered with sketches and drawings at this point, so taking a breather is very welcome. 

I'm still deciding what music to review today. Truth is I haven't been listening to much vinyl these days, or CD's. Got youtube running in the background usually while drawing with my favourite mix and that's that or even rock radio, which (despite playing things I'd be embarrassed to play on what's suppoed to be rock radio station) actually plays good music. I never take music as just background noise but while drawing it is just something so it's not complete silence. I can't stand silence, it makes my skin crawl, but also while drawing I'm so focused on the drawing itself that I don't pay enough attention to music, Metallica swapped to Nickleback the other day and I noticed pretty much when the entire album already played out. Gross. 

There's a song playing on the radio in the back right now by a band with a funny name ''Hootie & The Blowfish'' gotta admit I don't know them, but there's something about the voice and the feel of this song ''Let her cry'' that made me stop for a minute and listen. I don't know, maybe something in the lyrics helped me relate to it. Long story really but to make it short, someone ripped my heart out too and I can't seem to walk away and the falling tears don't seem to help no more. Maybe music does. Actually music always does, there's nothing and no therapy quite like a dark room, a comfy bed, a soft (non sticky, covered in maple syrup) cat and say Michael Hutchences (or whatever else is your poison) voice. 

But this is not about Hutch. Sadly. I don't own enough of their vinyl to write up reviews about them. Sadly. Or maybe lucky for you guys. Or also lucky that I am just too tired to rant about politics that's bringing our country to hell in a handbasket these days. I'ma tell you what, it's not nice going to bed with Corona virus hanging over your head and waking up in a country you no longer know. I had the strongest desire to move since I was 16. I fell in love with Berlin, a city with a special vibe, special beat and I was dead set on going till a little while ago when I suddenly realised that there is only one home. Sure it's the people, family, friends, that make a home but really there's only one place I can call home and I find it proposterous to bolt and let these hyenas ruin my home. I want to make an opportunity for myself here. At home. I want to bring people who brought me down to their knees. I wanna be the last one standing and laughing if you know what I mean. I don't want to run like a coward. I want to be the winner on my own playing field. 

But enough about that, I was supposed to rant about music and that seems to be hard to do these days...so while I'm actually in a Motley Crue mood. Come on is there anything better than ''Kickstart my heart''? No not really. Specially when gorgeous long haired and madly talented singers do covers of it on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZRRcE4xHCM). Sorry Crue, I have a bad crush on this boy. 

This post is actually about another boy that I really like. Or well I did. I mean I do. But old stuff. New stuff is not my flavour of the month. Really. The entire last album…well I already shared some thoughts on how I feel about it. Made me wanna hug my copy of New Jersey and cry my eyes out to be honest. So in that spirit, here's a review of a single vinyl for a change, of a song that's actually one of my favorites by this band.

Bon Jovi were my first really big concert. I grew up on smaller shows near and in my town, hanging backstage with musicians, sitting on their transport boxes. All very fond memories, but before Bon Jovi I haven't seen a huge stadium show. This one wasn't as big as say the Stones or Springsteen on Austrian and Italian biggest stadiums but it's one of my fondest memories. You know how your first time is a huge deal? Well losing your concert virginity is too. You always remember your firsts. And this concert was that much more special because Richie Sambora was still where he belongs. I'm sorry you can kill me, you can hang me, you can do whatever the hell you want but to me Phil just doesn't belong. He's a great musician no question about it but he's not Richie. 

They did ''In these arms'' in Croatia of course. Early on, in the first half of the concert too if I remember right. I mostly remember entire Zagreb, street lights and posts taped with the ''Have a nice day'' red stickers. I thought that was just too cool.

''In these arms'' was written by David Bryan, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, another glowing example why Richie is so missed. The music and the lyrics are just not as good anymore. ''This house is not for sale''? Come on…''In these arms'' is the old Bon Jovi, the Bon Jovi that I love so much and this song, well, this song is absolutely beautiful. It's about everlasting love and about devotion and about that whole fairytale forever love we all dream about. It's not a ballad though, it's more of a pop rock song, the rhythm is fast, strong bass and guitars and a light drum line. And Jon's voice, well, that is just perfect. Soulful, emotional, hair raising. 

''In these arms'' is a fan favorite, which is pretty obvious. Some songs are just obviously favourites. Like ''Living on a prayer'' you can just tell that that is one of the most loved song. The screaming, the singing along, it's such a hair raising moment. They closed their set with Living on a prayer in Croatia and it was probably the best moment of the entire concert. ''In these arms'' is one such song. It's a huge stamp in the bands setlist on  more than one tour, they obviously played it a lot on the ''Have a nice day'' tour and also ''Lost highway'' tour as well as on random playlists on pretty much all concerts. Of course years later when I saw them again in Milano Italy they played it again. 

Usually when playing ''In these arms'' (and this is a huge reason why I love it) live, Jon would let David Bryan sing a portion of the song, and I just LOVE his voice. His own version of the song also appears on a solo album released in 2000, titled ''Lunar Eclipse''.

Music video for this song is Bon Jovi preforming live on the Keep the Faith tour. 1992 and 1993. What a time to be alive huh? I'd kill to be able to see these shows live, but I think the only reason why I wasn't 20 something in the 80's is because God knew I'd be a complete fucking dumbass. 

Side B includes a song ''Save a prayer'' which you know, good song but honestly on this single it's in the way. Side B could include a live version of ''In these arms'' and that would be much better. OR in a perfect world side B would have David Bryan's version of the song. I wish. Hah.

Alright, excuse the typos all the noise and madness in this house is making it hard to focus, so I think I best go investigate if the reason that my cat is  sticky is cleared and also mostly why it feels like this entire house is engulfued in smoke. Lord Jesus help us.