BACKSTAGE AND THE FAN CLUB

So, I’ve been thinking about joining the fan club.

And I need your help.

I’ve heard good things and bad things and so-so things.

What I haven’t heard is the real scoop from those who ARE members.

That’s the question today and I’ll write about it next week.

Tell me – should I join?

Or not?

Email me at sunstreaked@mail.com

No names will be used.

If there’s bad stuff, let’s get it out there so Jovi can clean up their act.

If there’s good stuff, let’s tell ‘em so they can do more.

I also want the skinny on Backstage.

And a big MWAH! for your help.

Who Is Hector Rashbaum?

I surf the net.

A lot.

Way too much.

Sometimes I get lost on tangents that later on make me ask the eternal question “what the fuck was I thinking?!” and other times I know exactly what I was thinking and why I’m glad I continue to surf.

I stumbled across this site and got sucked into a deep dark hole. When a writer is so witty that you find yourself sitting at the ‘puter grinning like an idiot, you know you’ve hit the jackpot.

This particular writer chose to review Bon Jovi songs. Unfortunately, she got side-tracked by school and life and hasn’t written anymore for quite a while, but please don’t miss the ones she’s done.

I’ve found songs I didn’t know existed by reading her blog and appreciated songs I knew by heart more after I saw what she had to say about them. I laughed out loud at some of her comments, while vehemently disagreeing with her about much of what she has to say about Richie. Y’all know I love Richie too, so don’t diss the man!

Hector Rashbaum (her screen alter) is also not the biggest fan of Jon’s, but when she tells you about his voice transporting her, ya better listen cause she’s dead on.

She writes what she loves, what she hates, and what makes her be a Jovi fan. If you weren’t a big fan before you hit her blog, you will be when you leave.

One of the many things I particularly like is that she does not gush about a particular guy. I’ve already mentioned that she’s not overly fond of Richie, and Jon is not a “god” to her. She talks about David and Tico in such a way that I found myself listening again to songs to hear what she meant and she was right! How many times it is Tico’s drumming that drives a song and how intricate is David’s keyboarding, sometimes low, sometimes leading the way.

What follows are some excerpts from her “reviews”:

Wanted Dead or Alive

…Other people run for cover when I'm listening to this song. This is my favorite of the big hits, the songs that are synonymous with Bon Jovi. I love the instrumentation, I love the lyrics, I love it when Richie shouts "I STILL DIE YI YI", I just plain freaking love everything about this song.

And vocally...for the love of God. It's just gorgeous. Jon's voice has so much power, even without him yelling it, you can just feel him pouring everything into those vocals. And Richie's backing is perfect. Absolutely perfect. Richie and Jon have very different voices but there's similarities to the "style"(for lack of a better word) to them that makes them blend very well…

Stick To Your Guns

…Jon has a motherfucking set of pipes on him. Boy can belt shit hardcore.

This is one of the best examples of how powerful Jon's voice was at its peak. It says a lot about where he started from that his voice has deteriorated pretty significantly and he can still belt it out better than guys half his age.

I like this song as a song, but what always really stands out for me is just how intense his voice is. Even during the verses, which are more subdued, it's just amazing…

Crazy (sung by Tico)

…Then the song started and I fell out of my chair (true story - they're designed to tilt back without falling over, but I was already tilting back and Tico distracted me so much I forgot and leaned back more). It's just gorgeous.

His voice is an acquired taste, but when you look at him, you realize it's exactly how the badass mafia-looking guy with the big cigar should sing. Growly. And if you know more about Tico, then he sings just like the way you'd expect the owner of a baby clothing line who's also an artist to sing. Passionate. Which, once you get used to the mix, it works…

Memphis Lives In Me (sung by David)

…The lyrics to "Memphis" are gorgeous. It's one of David's strong points, moreso even than the band's as a whole, that he can take you on this emotional journey of his choosing. "The blues sing softly in the air / like a Sunday morning prayer /one more drink and you'll see God everywhere" and "like a sad old melody / that tears you up but sets you free" are my favorite lyrics of all time. It's imagery and poetry and it's just beautiful…


Now, go get lost in her words for a few weeks. You won’t be asking WTF if you do.

Her Site: Bon Jovi Song of the Day

Now ya know who Hector Rashbaum is.

Cheryl – My Youtube QUEEN!!!

Are you all as much in love with Youtube as I am?

Besides seeing performances I’ve never seen (and man oh man are there lots of those!) there are also the video compilations that people take the time to do.

That brings me to my absolute favorite person on Youtube – Cheryl.

If you know her work – and if you don’t GET THERE NOW! – she’s cheryla541 there.

Just to make really sure you got that it's cheryl a 541 = cheryla541.

I did it twice cause that’s how good she is!

She takes live clips of the Jon and Richie and puts those clips to either their own songs or someone else’s song that matches the mood of the video she’s doing.

Below are some links to a few of my favorites and if you're smart you'll find her name and subscribe so you can get all the new ones she puts out!

Now, get a glass of wine or a cup of tea or whatever your favorite brew is and get ready to get sucked in for the next few hours, days, weeks…

Yeah, they’re that good.

Shake It Jon Bon Jovi

Jon and Richie Our Sweet Emotion

Jon Bon Jovi is a Nasty and Naughty Boy

Jon and Richie Wild Things

I Shiver For Jon Bon Jovi Too


And here is her main page so make sure you subscribe!


P.S. You have NO idea how long it took me to do this! I kept getting distracted.

You will too.

Another Fiction Friday...

Wow! Sorry...lost my breath with the picture above. You too? Yeah, Richie can do that.

I’m a Richie girl only secondary to being a Jon girl and on some days it’s a real coin toss as to where my affections are gonna fall.

And it’s stories like the following that make me a firm believer in the dark side. We seem to all have this picture in our heads about Richie. He’s funny, goofy, silly, tall, sexy, a moose, and an all around nice guy. We are also sure there is a romantic side of Richie and in the story that follows, Norwichliz has just that Richie Sambora for us.

BLOOD RELATIVES introduces us to Victoria “Tori” Adams, a young woman with a heart of gold and a secret that even she doesn’t know.

Adopted as a child, Tori has registered with the Canadian Children’s Aid Society so she can be notified if her birth relatives look for her. She finds out that they are and for a very specific reason – to save a life.

Putting that life above her own wishes with regard to meeting her birth family, Tori travels to America to undergo the surgery and give the gift of life.

Tori has more to deal with than just surgery as she discovers much more than she bargained for when she finds out just exactly who her BLOOD RELATIVES are.

Click the story name, settle back, and get ready for one of the most engaging stories out there.


BLOOD RELATIVES by Norwichliz

* Picture by RichieSamboraGirl21

The Hair…Jon Hates When We Mention The Hair

Too bad, Jon! The hair is to-die-for and you know it. We know you know it. And if you know it, why won’t you listen to us and go back to the blonde? We LOVE the blonde. It reminds us of what most consider our favorite era – The These Days Era and THAT HAIR!

Sweet mother of all the hair gods – that TD hair! It got all wild and sweaty when you were on stage and fell over your eyes in such a way that we all felt our hands reaching out from the audience to brush it back so we could see those eyes. Pure unadulterated sex appeal. It seduced when you let it flow and we succumbed to the siren song when you threw that magnificent throat back and let that hair flow. Thanks to others great shots of this time, here are some photos of TD Jon Bon Jovi and a few with that gorgeous blonde. Feel free to drool at will.




















'Nuff said?

Crushes...

Do you all remember crushes? I’m about to date myself (way lol on that phrase) but I remember my first crush – Donny Osmond. Oh shut the hell up. Who was yours? I was freaking 10, okay? It was that stupid “Puppy Love” song. Now, go play with your doll.

So, that was the first crush, then came *whispers* David Cassidy. God, Im groaning just writing this! And then I turned to “real” boys – and HA! the late 70’s and early 80’s were GREAT! Now hush!

Then came the usual assortment over the years – Sean Connery, Mel Gibson, even Keanu Reeves when he was a puppy (okay, now too, go ahead, drag is out of me!). But, about a year ago I fell deeply into crushdom with Jon Bon Jovi. It’s completely ridiculous, SO 13, and SO MUCH FUN!

Why do we forget that crushes are fun? We aren’t gonna leave our lives, he sure ain’t gonna leave his, but damn, it’s fun! Simple girly, silly, OH MY GOD HE’S GORGEOUS fun.

And these, the pics below, just fuel that fire…

AND ... just gotta throw this one in again...





Oh my...

A Moment for the Real...

Many things happen in a lifetime on a personal level…birth, deaths, marriages, divorces. And then there are things that happen on a global level. Historic events that will be remembered and taught long after we’re gone, for generations to come.

Last night, November 4, 2008, the election for the 44th President of the United States was one of those moments.

Whether you were for Obama or against, whether you are Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative, male or female, living here or abroad, history was made. History for all of us.

I have never been so proud of my country as I was last night. We triumphed over fear, prejudice, stereotypes, bias, and ignorance.

I remember the first American on the moon, the day the Berlin wall fell, the day the Towers fell, and so many more things that will never be forgotten.

Yesterday will never be forgotten.