Prank videos have become increasingly prevalent online, largely due to the rise of monetized influencer culture. Don’t get me wrong, I was an annoying little snot in the not-too-distant past who watched Jackass and CKY, and then took my skateboard out with my friends to terrorize anyone we came across with juvenile humor and pesteringly loud voices, but at least it wasn’t a living. We did it for the passion and the culture. The culture of shitty punk teenage boys.
The slew of prank videos on social media is now so widespread that people keep having to up the ante on what gets views or engagement, which usually means continuously going out with a friend and hiding a camera to screw with people who are just trying to go about their days. Could we get some more wholesome pranks, like television shows of the late 90s, where a celebrity would dress in a disguise to mess around with us regular folk? No harm, no foul?
Well, that’s what we get with this video. Use it as your respite from the toxicity and AI-driven content that seems to flood our brains from every which direction. Here, we have a short video of Jon Bon Jovi creating content to spread the word about the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which has been helping provide food assistance and affordable housing to those in need across the United States since 2006.
Although it is advertising a contest that is now well over, it still helps to share the foundation’s mission statement and resources with people who can contribute or seek those resources as needed. In the video, we are at a karaoke bar, set up fully with hidden cameras to capture tipsy groups of friends singing from a playlist of songs. Jon Bon Jovi, lead singer of the famous hair metal band, Bon Jovi, gets decked out in what I can describe as a burnout rocker bartender. Silly Bret Michaels, curved bill cowboy hat, long hair, long scraggly beard, and tinted shades. Surprise, surprise, there just so happened to be a handful of Bon Jovi songs on the list.
Jon pretends to be working the bar around them, fumbling around and making loud noises, taking shots, and chiming in while they try to enjoy their time, reaching up to hit those high notes in the chorus of “Livin’ on a Prayer.” Generally, just seeming like an annoying drunk bartender, but without really harassing anyone. It’s entertaining to see him grab a mic and sing with everyone, as they’re genuinely taken aback by his voice and confused as to why it’s coming out of this drunk idiot’s face.
Only at the end, to reveal his true identity to the groups of friends, stripping his wig and mustache off to cheers and jeers. Everyone is in good spirits, having a good laugh and getting to interact with Jon and his Hollywood handsome smile. Maybe I’m just getting old, and my punk rock youth is waning, but wholesome, corny things like this bring me more joy these days than rewatching old Jackass episodes.
The fact that this video promotes a good cause and a foundation that helps those in desperate need of assistance is even more appealing. I would never have heard of the foundation had I not come across this silly little video. Here is the link to the foundation, where you can learn more about what they do and explore opportunities to help or receive assistance from them. Otherwise, I hope you enjoyed the video and the break from the doom and gloom of most media today.