Bon Jovi is better than the Boss (Source: AP)
There were a lot of emotional e-mails sent last week due to this column declaring that Bon Jovi was the best musical act from New Jersey. To Bruce Springsteen's credit, his fans are very tactful and don't resort to childish name calling in order to make a point.
However, we will not back down from our opinion: Bon Jovi is a better musical act than Bruce Springsteen. Both are good, but Bon Jovi seemes to have evolved over the years while Bruce Springsteen, especially as seen with his poor Superbowl performance, has devolved.
So you can either agree or disagree. However, lets be thankful that New Jersey has these two talented acts to represent their state.
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Comments
You must be joking!
I like Bon Jovi better.
Bon Jovi is better singer and sold more albums.
I have seen some dumb reporters, but you take the cake. Bruce is a legend! Go get a copy of born to run because you apparently don't have a clue.
I agree about Bon Jovi. They put on a better show, too.
this must be some sort of joke!
You are right. Bon Jovi's music has evolved. Thanks for sticking to your opinion in the face of criticism!
Absolutely agree....Bon Jovi (the man and the band) ROCK!
Bruce is the best in the nation...forget about New Jersey!
this is the dumbest thing i have ever read. Springsteen is the best live performer of all time forget about just in New Jersey. There was a reason why the NFL wanted him to do the halftime show for the past 20 years. It's because he is the best at what he does
i dont know whos worse, the idiot writer, or the idiots that think bon jovi has sold more records ans concert seats. go to forbes and see who is the biggest money maker, when was a bon jovi album in the top ten last, trish and peace? Bruce has had two different albums in the top 10 the past two years. and as far as live shows, look at tix sales for the past three years, IDIOTS
Bon Jovi is just a Bruce wannabe. Don't even speak of them in the same breath.
jeff: "Bruce has had two different albums in the top 10 the past two years."
Bon Jovi's last album "Lost Highway" went to #1 and the one before that, "Have A Nice Day" went to #2.
jeff: "and as far as live shows, look at tix sales for the past three years, IDIOTS"
The HAND tour in 2005-2006 was the third-highest-grossing tour of 2006, taking in just over $131 million, the band played to 2,002,000 fans. The LH tour was the highest grossing tour of 2008 in Billboard's rankings, with ticket sales of $210.6 million and 2,157,675 tickets sold.
you can ask anyone under 25 if they like Bruce Sprngsteen, or if they even know who he is....the answer will be no. He might be very good....but Bon Jovi is better, and he has fans all ages..Bruce springsteen might be a legend......as in it happened in the past...Bon Jovi is right now, and has been for more than 25 years.
Both are good but all of the Boss' best work was all done before 'Born in the U.S.A.' Since that album he's been recycling a lot. Of course BJ is also guilty of recycling, especially in more recent years.
As for better live show - seen Jovi live + it's great. Bruce's half-time show was ok but i've never actually been @ a Springsteen concert. The best Super Bowl half-time show in recent years though was certainly Prince.
yeah bon jovi rules . . . . bruce springsteen is a 'has been' kida guy . . . .
Who is in the rock and roll HOF as an individual?
Any comparisons as silly as they may be would favor the Boss.
Bon Jovi and John Cougar take a backseat to the original. Always has, always will.
Both of them have proven to argueably be the 2 greatest rock superstars of the last 40 years! No reason to argue who's better, it's all in the ears of the beholder. They are great musicians, songwriter's and charismatic superstars who put on incredible concerts every time they play. Sambora, Tico, D. Bryan, H. Mcdonald, Bobby B. and the E street band boys are all incredibly musicians as well. Apparently New Jersey is the home Rock n Roll.
I am amazed that there are those who think BJ is better than Springsteen. Even though BJ is a great musician and I do like his music, I would have to say Springsteen has forgotten more about Rock N Roll that BJ will ever know.
Se te ve la panocha!
bruce is the best anywhere i mean anywhere!
well both of them are great musicians and I appreciate their music, but in my oppinion the boss wins this "battle" because 1. I prefer his songs, lyrics and everything :) and 2. Bruce Springsteen is nearly 60 but he shows more enthusiasm and endurance at his concerts than many younger musicians! (I've been at his Vienna concert this summer)
@alekdome That's definately not true. I'm 18 and a fan of the Boss and also many of my friends like his music or at least know him.
Bon Jovi is better by miles. Springstreen is a has been, and is not internationally acclaimed like Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi is now the best act from New Jersey, more people will remember Bon Jovi than Springsteen who only has a handful of memorable hits.
Elucidate, I beg you: "Bruce Springsteen, especially as seen with his poor Superbowl performance, has devolved." Did I miss the part where an extra pair of legs or a tail emerged? Pretty good guitar playing if the opposable thumbs ceased functioning.
Jon Bon Jovi is not without talent, though it's difficult to thing of them as anything besides an aging hair band. Bruce and the E Streeters are an INTERNATIONAL phenomenon. They sold out dozens of shows in Europe this summer. Every critical poll, both by readers and by writers, places Bruce and his music among the most important of the latter half of the 20th century. It goes something like this: Elvis, Beatles, Dylan, Bruce. There is NEVER a mention of Bon Jovi when the discussion is of truly seminal influences. What did you base this opinion on?
Sue, Where did you learn to write? Are you for real? Not only do you have no idea what you speak of (content), but it seems that spelling and grammer skills should be revisited before you continue with this as a career!
I am a huge Bon Jovi fan, but something tells me that even HE would tell you that Bruce is the best!
Bon Jovi music is more melodius and his stage presence is more greater than bruce. Bruce is more of country rock songs which is always memorable unlike bon whose songs r both country as well as love songs related. So when presentation and looks bon beats bruce by a whisker
Oh my God, you're really serious!
Bon Jovi is not capable of the depth that Springsteen brings to his lyrics. It is in an insult to Bruce to even write an article debating who is better. It's like comparing the Beatles to Britney Spears. As for the half-time show at the Super Bowl, no half-time show has ever been nominated for more Emmy awards. As for the person who said no one under 25 knows who Springsteen is, check out the Glastonbury Festival videos on You Tube to see how wrong you are.
Sue, I agree with what Wall Street said. His name is Bruce Springsteen. If you want to be a writer, you have to do a spell check.
Bon Jovi wins, hands-down
BJ and Springsteen are both excellent acts but having been to a concert of each of them i have to say Bon Jovi blew me away. They are so passionate and entertain like no other band whereas Springsteen was just adequate with not much feeling in what he was singing.Both have had great careers but i will agree with the writer Bon Jovi are definetly the better act.P.S apparently BJ might be playing at the Superbowl so then we will see why they are the better of the two.
I notice you have that Whitney Houston (RIP about her voice). That's probably the worst article ever written about her, and after Sprinsteen and Jovi, she is the next best act to come out of New Jersey. It's gone now, but for that ten-year period from the mid-80s to the mid-90s, I never heard a voice so good and powerful plus she was a decent live act in those years. But Bruce wins handsdown; his commercial success lasted 12 years, while Bon Jovi's only lasted about seven years (thank you Grunge!)
What a stupid article.
What!!! Bon Jovi stole everything from Springsteen, EVERYTHING HE DOES IS MIMICKING SPRINGSTEEN- DO YOU EVEN KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MUSIC, SONGWRITING, PERFORMING! F**K YOU- YOU ARE A TOTAL IDIOT
I can't believe there is even an argument here? When it comes sheer volume of music, intensity in performance, and sincerity, THE BOSS WINS HANDS DOWN! And to even suggest that BONLOSER can even hold a candle in any department to Bruce is mind-boggling. How do you arrive at a conclusion that Springsteen is "devoling", he continuously sells out shows, puts out top charting albums, and remains relevant with his song-writing. YOU are a true idiot!!!
Writer- you're an idiot! Springsteen is the best rock performer all time!
as much as i like bon jovi, springsteen wins. he puts so much time and effort into his music (not saying bon jovi dosnt). but springsteen is just a better lyric writer and liver performer. the boss wins. you just cant beat born to run, thunder road, the river and much more.
bon jovi all looks no talent
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