I was quite young when I first heard Bon Jovi, around seven or eight years old. I remember ‘Livin’ on a Prayer‘, ‘It’s My Life‘, and ‘You Give Love a Bad Name‘ playing on the radio during the school run on different mornings. That’s when I knew I really liked this band.
They originally formed back in 1983 and have changed their lineup a few times over the years. The current core of Bon Jovi features Jon Bon Jovi on lead vocals, David Bryan on keyboards, Tico Torres on drums, Hugh McDonald on bass, and Phil X on lead guitar.
The band released the original version of Forever with 12 tracks on 7th June 2024. The Legendary Edition, featuring different guest vocalists on each song plus two additional tracks, arrived on 24th October 2025.
In my opinion, this is not their best album, and some of the guest vocals don’t work for me, Robbie Williams and Lainey Wilson being two examples. There are nostalgic moments throughout with catchy hooks and emotional depth. I honestly prefer their older material, though Jon still has a great voice even today. A few tracks stood out…
Opening track ‘Red, White and Jersey‘ makes for a strong start and is one of the new additions not on the original release. You can tell it’s Bon Jovi from the very first notes, no guest vocals here, just the band doing their thing.
‘Waves‘ pairs Jon with Jason Isbell, and it’s a powerful, emotionally charged collaboration. Their vocals harmonise beautifully, while some epic guitar riffs drive the track forward with real force.
On ‘Walls of Jericho‘, Def Leppard‘s Joe Elliott joins the fray. It’s upbeat, catchy, easy to move to, and both singers bring commanding performances.
‘Living in Paradise‘ features Avril Lavigne, one of my inspirations. I love her voice, and it’s a perfect fit here. She and Jon match and harmonise together brilliantly, it’s my favourite song on the album.
Overall, Forever: Legendary Edition isn’t essential Bon Jovi, and frankly didn’t need quite so many guest spots, some of which feel mismatched. The Spanish version of ‘We Made It Look Easy‘ also feels unnecessary. I’d recommend giving the album a listen to form your own opinion, but personally, I won’t be returning to the full record, just the handful of tracks that worked for me.
