Bon Jovi Defies BDS, Performs in Tel Aviv, Dedicates To Israel New Song "We Don’t Run"

This took place on Saturday 3 October 2015, even as Muslims threw rocks and carried out stabbing attacks on Jews within Israel.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/empathetic-jon-bon-jovi-dedicates-song-we-dont-run-to-israel/

‘Empathetic Jon Bon Jovi Dedicates Song “We Don’t Run” to Israel’

‘Jon Bon Jovi kicked off his band’s first-ever performance in Israel Saturday evening by telling 50,000 cheering Israelis, “I’ve waited a long time for this!”

‘A few songs into the show, he underlined his empathy with Israel by introducing a new song called “We Don’t Run”, released earlier this summer, with the comment, “This should be the fight song for Tel Aviv.”

He should have said, “This should be the fight song for Jerusalem”. But never mind. At least he went to Israel, defying pressure from the usual suspects. – CM

‘And later in the performance, the New Jersey-born rocker name-checked his keyboard player, Jewish musician David Bryan (Rashbaum) by saying that , “Your father would be proud of you” for being in Israel pounding the piano.

‘Probably unbeknownst to the band, the concert began minutes after a terrorist attack (a Muslim terror attack – CM) in Jerusalem 60 km (some 40 miles) away, when a Palestinian man stabbed two Israelis to death in the Old City and injured two others (dear Times of Israel, this is what you say, “when a Muslim man murdered two Jews by stabbing them in the Old City, and wounded two others” – CM)

“Good evening, Tel Aviv, Israel! Are you ready for rock’n’roll? I ‘ve waited a long time for this, baby!” Bon Jovi called out to fans packed into Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park before opening with the song, “That’s What the Water Made Me.”

“We finally made it here. It took us a long time, and we still have a ways to go tonight. Are you with me?” he asked.

“In an 18-song set-list, fans were treated to some of Bon Jovi’s newer material as well as the group’s biggest hits, including “You Give Love a Bad Name”, “It’s My Life”, and, at the end of the long set, “Livin’ on a Prayer”.

‘The 53 year old musician was upbeat and energetic throughout, constantly encouraging the audience to clap and sing along, and having them sing solo at the start of “Wanted Dead or Alive”…

‘Unremarkably, Bon Jovi’s decision to play in Israel had led to pressure from boycott activists, and criticism from anti-Israel fellow rocker Roger Waters.

‘Waters and other supporters of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions movement urged the band to cancel the concert but a local promoter said that Bon Jovi, a longtime Democrat who recently hosted a fund-raiser for presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton, “couldn’t care less”.

Ten out of ten to Bon Jovi for defying what Aussie Israeli blogger Israellycool calls “the BDS-holes”, but negative marks for being fool enough to simultaneously support Ms Clinton.  Here’s hoping that one day soon he’ll realize that if he wants Israel to survive and thrive he had better find a different Presidential candidate to support, and fast. – CM

‘The band and its leader were evidently unfazed by the criticism…

‘When asked why the band had never played in Israel before, Bon Jovi jokingly pointed at his tour promoter and said, “Blame Marcel, he’s never let us come.  But, no, we’re happy to finally be here. This is a place that I’ve always wanted to come to, so this was the perfect opportunity to finally come to Israel”, Bon Jovi said.  

‘He sid he hoped to tour in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem during the band’s stay…

‘Speaking to the Hebrew press last Friday, Bon jovi said…”I Have been everywhere, and Israel was a place that I’ve always wanted to visit, but it never worked out. This time I insisted that Israel must be on our list, and it happened!”.

‘Underlining the sentiment, he ended Saturday’s show with a promise, “I’ll come here any time you want.”

That new song, We Don’t Run, isn’t bad.  Have a listen, and see what you think.

 

Here are the lyrics.  The refrain should send chills down one’s back.

“Take a look around you, yeah, the sky is falling.

“Sinners say your prayers, this train is off the tracks.

“Nothing is forever when tomorrow’s calling

“Dancing with the devil to get one day back.

“I’m not afraid of burning bridges

“Cause I know they’re gonna light my way

“Like a Phoenix, from the ashes

“Welcome to the future, it’s a new day.

“We don’t run

“I’m standing my ground.

“We don’t run

“And we don’t back down.

“There’s fire in the sky

“There’s thunder on the mountains

“Bless each tear and this dirt I was born in/ run?/

“We don’t run.“

“Take me to the banks of your muddy water/

“Where the flesh and blood and the spirit meet

“Only takes your touch for me to find salvation

“You’re the only reason that I still believe.

“I’m not afraid of burning bridges

“Cause I know they’re gonna light my way

“Like a Phoenix, from the ashes

“Welcome to the future, it’s a new day.

“We don’t run

“I’m standing my ground

“We don’t run

“And we don’t back down

“There’s fire in the sky

“There’s thunder on the mountain

“Bless each tear and this dirt I was born in / run?/

“We don’t run.

“We don’t run.

[repeated].

And here’s a response from one Israeli, the lady who writes the blog “A Soldier’s Mother”.  (click on the link and read her whole piece).

http://israelisoldiersmother.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/israel-doesnt-run.html

“Israel Doesn’t Run”.

“…the music in my life is the music of words.  I hear music in what I read and sometimes what I write. This time, in the midst of such great sadness (she is referring, among other things, to the Muslim murder of Eitam and Naama Henkin – CM) this man came to Israel, and sang…and Israel danced to his tune.”