Have a Nice Day (2005)

"Have a Nice Day" is Bon Jovi's 9th studio record and was originally meant to be released in 2004. However the lead singer wasn't happy enough with the result and postponed it in order to rearrange some songs and include new ones. After an unsuccessful Greatest Hits with a Twist, "This Left Feels Right", and a 20 year commemorative box set meant for the fans, it was time to hit the big time again.

Advertised as a big rock record "Have a Nice Day" had a strong image, the black smirk over red was simple and direct. The first single and album title track didn't let any one down, a rocker with great guitars filled with ironic lyrics, rough riffs and a back to the basics kind of attitude. The guitars play a central part on the theme driving it from start to finish. Another hit song for the New Jersey band. "I wanna be Loved" is an organic guitar driven song with the talk box echoing during the verses. Once again the lyrics are not plain, showing anger and bitter sweet. Eventually the optimism prevails, but the struggle is what makes this a complex album track to hear."Welcome to Whatever you are" is one of the band's favorite songs and it was even released as a single, although with no major acclaim. The optimistic ballad about self acceptance has probably one of the band's finest lyrics, although some may find it too much romantic when Jon sings "When you wanna give up and your heart's about to break, remember that you're perfect, God makes no mistakes".

"Who Says you Can't go Home" is a classic mid-tempo written about the importance of home for those who spend too much time far away from it. The instant crowd pleaser was a huge hit in the Country radios. The simple melody and endless Alrights make this a great song, perfect to be played before massive audiences. "Last Man Standing" had originally been written for the acoustic album  "This Left Feels Right", but eventually made it to a proper studio record, being completely redone as a great rocker. The guitar riff drives the song about the "living breathing spectacle" of  "the real thing". This is an iconic song about the romantic view of an artist with "real life calloused fingers wrapped around those guitar strings". The lyrics are at Bon Jovi's best, while the melody has a muscle that sustains the thematic. An instant classic.

"Bells of freedom" is an acoustic ballad plain and simple. The melody is ok, but the lyrics are so abstract no one dares to wonder what they are really about. "Wildflower" is an interesting mid-tempo ballad about the mysteries and ambivalence of the feelings a girl can trigger. "Last Cigarette" is like a tribute to the Beach Boys with loud chorus and again ironic lyrics. The guitars and keyboards highlight the chorus, while the drums and bass drive the verses. A great rocker with the urgency of a love that is like a one last cigarette. "I Am" is the emotional mid-tempo with an epic feeling. A fan favorite that was played live once in the very last show of the 2005/2006 tour.

"Complicated" is a talk box rocker that resembles "It's my Life". The guitars echo while the lyrics are catchy. "I'm smart enough what I don't know, but fool enough to stay when I should go" is just a simple example of the kind of complicated personality the band sings about on this 3 and a half minute song. "Novocaine" is an angered song about splitting up. Melodically upbeaten, the name of the drug fits the bitter sweet feelings of parting ways with a person with whom you spent a significant part of your existence. Finally "Story of my Life" is a great rocker, wrapping up the album with optimistic lyrics.

This was a very important record for the band since it allowed them to have another two hit songs, one of them, "Who Says you can't go Home", in he Country scene. The duet with Country band Sugarland allowed both bands to climb the genre's tops and eventually influence the band's following studio effort.

Have a Nice Day allowed the band to tour for 12 months between the Autumn of 2005 and the Summer of 2006, filling up arenas and  Stadiums across the two sides of the Atlantic ocean.

All in all a great Rock album, probably Bon Jovi's finest Rock statement of the decade. 8/10