Bon Jovi's new song ‘Legendary’ has all the keywords, but lacks the signature sound and feel

After teasing it abundantly over social media and making headlines, American rockers Bon Jovi released ‘Legendary’ earlier this week. For an old-school Bon Jovi fanboy, the song initially appeared exciting — as with any new material — but after a thorough listen, the pall of disappointment took over. I was expecting a rock song – heavy, distorted sound, fast tempo, and something that’s, well, energetic to say the least. What I got was a country-ish ballad, paired with a music video that was discordant with the music and a song, which was an out-in-out disappointment. I still don’t understand why the band is playing in a field with a massive moon in the background. Very un-legendary (pun intended.)

‘Legendary’ is a complete departure from the band’s ‘OG’ sound and that was a bit unsettling, especially for a band that built its foundation on high-octane, anthemic songs over four decades ago. ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’, ‘Livin’ On a Prayer’, ‘Runaway’, ‘Bad Medicine’, ‘Wanted Dead or Alive’ were raging hits in the 1980s-90s, and the band followed it up with ‘It’s My Life’ and ‘Have a Nice Day’ in the 2000s, which was a satisfactory transition — in tandem with the changing times and evolving millennial demographic. ‘Lost Highway’ too was a decent number, although was more acoustic-driven, with Richie Sambora settling for a less heavy sound.

The distinctly country feel in ‘Legendary’ has been a deviation that has disappointed the longtime fan in me. I am sure others will agree with me on this. Well, it wasn’t a bolt from the blue. Bon Jovi hasn’t been what it used to be, and more so after Richie Sambora’s exit in 2013. Additionally, the country-inspired instrumentation and arrangement, go further away from the band's rock-glam roots. While experimentation and evolution are natural progressions for any artist, this departure may feel jarring and out of place for fans accustomed to Bon Jovi's signature sound.