We Weren't Born To Follow: Choral Instrumental Pak
By Jon Bon Jovi / By Richie Sambora / As performed by Bon Jovi / Arranged by Kirby Shaw
Item: 35-PK00177882
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Description
From the Bon Jovi album The Circle, this 2009 single evokes themes of working people "picking themselves up by their bootstraps in hard times." This uplifting message and full voiced choral arrangement will be an outstanding choice for graduation or as a concert closer. Duration: ca. 3:20.
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Additional Details
Publisher:
Hal Leonard
SKU:
35-PK00177882
More about this title
About the Composer: Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi emerged as one of rock's most commercially successful songwriters in the 1980s, building a career on anthemic melodies and narratives centered on ordinary people navigating life's struggles. His compositional approach combines accessible pop sensibilities with rock instrumentation, making his work particularly suited to ensemble arrangements that maintain the emotional core of the originals.
Why we love this
Kirby Shaw's arrangement captures the song's defiant spirit without oversimplifying it, giving your ensemble a contemporary piece with genuine emotional weight. The combo voicing keeps the texture clean and singable while the accompanying parts provide harmonic richness that rewards careful balance work.
What to expect
The music carries an undercurrent of determination; major key brightness pairs with driving rhythms that propel the piece forward without becoming trite. There's an almost defiant optimism here, the kind you feel when a room full of voices connects around a shared, hopeful message.
Who it's for
This arrangement works for mixed choirs at the high school or college level, as well as community ensembles seeking accessible contemporary material with substance. Directors programming graduation ceremonies, pops concerts, or end-of-year celebrations will find a piece that resonates with audiences while offering real musical challenges for singers.
How to get the most out of it
- Build the dynamic arc gradually across the first verse and chorus; resist the urge to sing at full volume immediately, as you'll need room to grow into the final section.
- Lock the rhythm section into a steady groove during the verses so the soloists have a solid foundation; even small unevenness in pulse will expose itself at this tempo.
- Balance the text delivery so the message about resilience lands clearly; busy harmonic writing shouldn't obscure the lyrical content that makes this piece meaningful.
- Explore the recorded accompaniment to understand the production's energy and instrumentation, then decide where your live voices can authentically add or replace those elements.
How to use it
Place this as a concert closer when you want to send your audience out energized and reflective. It pairs well with other contemporary pop or rock arrangements, or it can stand alone as a powerful statement piece that bridges classical ensemble traditions with modern repertoire your singers actually connect with.
Skills your students will build
- Maintaining rhythmic precision in syncopated pop idioms
- Balancing contemporary harmony voicings for clarity and blend
- Text projection in high-energy ensemble settings
- Interpreting dynamic and emotional arc across longer forms
- Coordinating with accompaniment to support rather than compete