Bon Jovi will perform “We Weren’t Born To Follow” at an historic event commemorating the 20th anniversary of the fall of Berlin Wall on Monday, November 9th in Berlin, Germany for the “Fest der Freiheit,” a commemorative event taking place at Brandenburg Gate.
In front of an enormous crowd, heads of state and global figures including Angela Merkel, Gordon Brown, Hillary Clinton, Dimitri Medvedev, Nicolas Sarkozy, Hans Dietrich Genscher, Mikhail Gorbachev, Lech Walesa and Nelson Mandela, Bon Jovi will perform their latest single, “We Weren’t Born To Follow,” an anthemic celebration of independence, dedicated to those who fight for freedom in the face of adversity.
In 1983, when Bon Jovi was formed, the Berlin Wall was the ultimate symbol of a divided world. The ultimate fall of the “iron curtain” in 1989 affected Jon Bon Jovi deeply. He recalls an exchange at Checkpoint Charlie in 1986 with a border official who looked to be the same age, and not too different in many respects, from the singer himself. Three years later Jon chipped a piece of the Wall off and has kept it ever since.
“It’s a reminder that, while walls can separate us geographically, they can’t conceal the ways that we’re all human beings sharing similar dreams and desires,” he said.
See the “We Weren’t Born To Follow” video, featuring a salute to world leaders who have enacted change:
EMI Music/Vector Recordings is set to release the highly anticipated recording Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration on March 31. The album features performances by 3 Doors Down, Al Green, Patty Griffin, Heather Headley, Jon Bon Jovi, Jonny Lang, Queen Latifah, Joss Stone with Buick Audra and many more (see below for full track listing). For the project, these world-renowned musicians collaborated with Gospel artists and several of today’s top Gospel Choirs to record renditions of some of the most loved and recognizable inspirational songs. It’s been said you don’t just hear gospel music you feel it. It’s woven through the fabric of the American spirit and history and its influence can be felt and heard around the world today and in the background of many of today’s most talented artists and musicians.
The album’s concept resulted from a close partnership between EMI Gospel and Vector Recordings and was produced by Ken Levitan, Bill Hearn, Jack Rovner, Ken Pennell, Drew & Shannon, Johnny K, Sanchez Harley, Obie O’Brien, Keith Thomas, Tommy Sims, Cedric Thompson, Simon Climie, Michael McDonald, Joss Stone and Buick Audra. Of the project, Bill Hearn, CEO of EMI Christian Music Group comments, “We wanted to create an album that honored the legacy of gospel music—it’s the backbone of the American spirit—but also create unique artist pairings that fans could find no where else.” Vector’s Ken Levitan adds, “Gospel music has always been not only spiritually and musically uplifting but also a great American art form. With this project we’ve taken artists who have been successful in other genres and combined them with this great art form to create new powerful music.”
While recording the record at Ocean Way Studio in Nashville, Jonny Lang notes, “(Gospel music) is really all I’ve been listening to for the last few years…it’s my favorite form of music…at least for now…” Lang goes on to say, “it’s such an honor to record with the legendary Fisk Jubilee Singers, their very first take on the song just blew me away. They’re such pros…quite an honor…” Additionally, Heather Headley comments, “It’s not everyday that you get the opportunity to revisit a classic song like “People Get Ready,” record it with a great producer like Keith Thomas, and sing alongside a legend such as Rev. Al Green. It really was a pleasure, and I had a great time doing it.”
Track Listing:
1. Jonny Lang & the Fisk Jubilee Singers “I Believe”
2. 3 Doors Down & the Soul Children of Chicago “Presence of the Lord”
3. Robert Randolph & The Clark Sisters “Higher Ground”
4. Jon Bon Jovi & the Washington Youth Choir “Keep the Faith”
5. Al Green & Heather Headley “People Get Ready”
6. Mavis Staples & Patty Griffin “Waiting for My Child To Come Home”
7. Michael McDonald & the West Angeles COGIC Mass Choir “Storm Before The Calm”
8. Angelique Kidjo “Redemption Song”
9. Aaron Neville & the Mt. Zion Mass Choir “A Change is Gonna Come”
10. Queen Latifah & Jubilation “Oh Happy Day”
11. Joss Stone & Buick Audra “This Little Light Of Mine”
3 Doors Down recently filmed an exclusive live performance for www.IHeartMusic.com which features a version of the Bon Jovi staple, “Wanted Dead Or Alive” which will blow you away! The band also performs classics from their back catalog plus a few off their recently released self-titled album. The videos also include an interview with 3 Doors Down vocalist Brad Arnold.
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