Jon Bon Jovi Delivers Commencement Message

Jon Bon Jovi recently gave the keynote at the Rutgers-Camden University commencement ceremony. To celebrate the class of 2015, Jon wrote a special tune in honor of the occasion. I have to admit this is way cooler than most commencement speeches!

The university also gave Jon an honorary doctorate of letters recognizing his entertainment career.

Comments

[Kixchix]

Liked the song.

Wish he would embrace his glam roots more.

Dang, for years JBJ defied age and now he looks like just another dude.

[Metalboy!]

Wow! Bon Jovi sure has come a long way from the cover of "Slippery When Wet". Though the words and sentiment are inspiring, I wish he could have been more conscious in his songwriting process to avoid knocking off Simon & Garfunkel's "The Boxer" so blatantly.

But, hey, that's Rock & Roll, right? Or is it... Just ask Joe Ellis of Cats in Boots who alleges Bon Jovi knicked "I'll Be There For You" from him after Ellis gave him a demo tape.

I wonder if Phoebe Haddon the Chancellor of Rutgers (stage left in the video) would be smiling so widely now if she knew about Bon Jovi's history of plagiarism (Ellis wouldn't be the only one who claims to have been plagiarized by Bon Jovi as has been previously touched on here on this very site numerous times).

Knowing his history of alleged burglary only adds to the irony of the occassion, when he proclaims to the audience of graduates, "... I did what I do best. I was so inspired by this invitation, I sat down and wrote you a song..." Doesn't he mean, "I was so inspired by Simon & Garfunkel, I plagiarized them off when I sat down and wrote you a song..."?

[Bob]

I can see a little similarity with "The boxer", but I think the even more obvious ripoff would be from "I've Just Seen A face" by the Beatles. One thing I've never understood is why JBJ and Springsteen feel the need to affect some weird form of southern accent when they sing and/or speak. I lived the first 28 years of my life in Jersey, and I can assure you, no regular person there actually talks like that.

[Metalboy!]

You're right, Bob, on all counts... What's interesting is neither of them adopted their affected Southern accents until somewhat later in their careers.

[Him]

I think it is some variation on AES: Affected Everyman Syndrome. From NSEW, it sounds vaguely familiar and vaguely working class. Mellencamp had a bout of the same; said he caught it from Bob Seger.