Because We Can

"Because We Can"
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album What About Now
Released	January 7, 2013 (US radio) January 8, 2013 (iTunes) February 20, 2013 (CD - Japan) February 22, 2013 (CD - Europe)
Format	Digital download, CD single
Recorded	JBJ Home Studio, NJ
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	4:00 (Album version) 4:05 (Single Edit)
Label	Island
Writer(s)	Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Billy Falcon
Producer(s)	John Shanks, Bon Jovi (co-producer)
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"This Is Our House" (2011) "Because We Can" (2013) "What About Now" (2013)
Music video "Because We Can" on YouTube

"Because We Can" is the first single released from Bon Jovi's twelfth studio album, What About Now.^[1] The single premiered on radio on January 7, 2013. Richie Sambora characterized the new material as a compilation of "different elements"; yet reassured old fans that they will be just as pleased with the new work as they have been with the old for over 30 years.^[2]

Commercial performance

As of March 20, 2013, the song has sold 83,000 copies in the US.^[3]

Critical reception

"Because We Can" has received mixed reviews from critics, with critics either giving the song extremely positive or extremely negative feedback. Rick Florino of Artistdirect gave "Because We Can" a review of 5 out of 5 stars, calling the song "epic" and "invigorating" and favorably comparing it to their previous song "It's My Life".^[4] Billy Dukes of UltimateClassicRock.com reacted negatively to the song, giving it a rating of 3/10 and calling it "too damn cheery" and "mainstream", and dubbed the chorus "hackneyed".^[5] Glenn Gamboa of Newsday gave the song a rating of 3 out of 4 stars, calling the "fresh" song it "distinctly-present day" and "upbeat", however unfavorably compared the song to Fun, saying that the song was "off-putting" and would not gain the band any new fans.^[6] Melinda Newman of HitFix gave the song a B- and called it "anthemic" and "populist", however stated that the song would not change anyone's opinion on the band if they did not like them to begin with. Newman called Jon Bon Jovi's vocals in the song "nasally", however stated that the song was "far better" than their 2009 song "We Weren't Born to Follow".^[7] Simon Ramsay of Stereoboard.com agreed with Newman that the song would not change anyone's opinion on the band, giving the song a rating of 3 out of 5 stars, unfavorably calling it "easily the most commercial piece of pop candy" that the band has ever done.^[8]

Music video

The music video for the song, directed by Fisher Stevens, premiered on January 29, 2013. It shows the band performing at a boxing arena. There are three different versions of the video, with titles "The Boxer: Act 1", "Astrid: Act 2" and "The Beginning: Epilogue". This is Bon Jovi's first video to have different versions.^[9]

Track listing

Digital download
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Because We Can"	Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Billy Falcon	4:00

European CD Maxi [10]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Because We Can"	Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Billy Falcon	4:00
2.	"Keep The Faith" (Live at New Meadowlands Stadium 2010)	Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child	7:09

Japanese CD Maxi [11]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Because We Can"	Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Billy Falcon	4:00
2.	"Because We Can" (Instrumental)	Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Billy Falcon	4:15
3.	"Keep The Faith" (Live at New Meadowlands Stadium 2010)	Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child	7:09

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (2013) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[12] 56 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[13] 21 Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[14] 11 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[15] 28 Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[16] 37 Czech Republic (Rádio Top 100)[17] 47 Finland (The Official Finnish Download Chart)[18] 14 Germany (Official German Charts)[19] 37 Iceland (Tonlist)[20] 28 Ireland (IRMA)[21] 55 Italy (FIMI)[22] 37 Japan (Japan Hot 100)[23] 6 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[24] 36 Scotland (Official Charts Company)[25] 26 Slovakia (Rádio Top 100)[26] 91 South Korea International Singles (Gaon)[27] 33 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[28] 19 Spanish Airplay Chart (Promusicae)[29] 16 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 34 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[31] 38 US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[32] 16 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[33] 17 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[34] 15

Year-end charts Chart (2013) Position US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[35] 62

References

1. "New Single "BECAUSE WE CAN" available at iTunes today, coinciding with global radio launch!". Bon Jovi. Retrieved 2013-01-07.
2. "Richie Sambora says new Bon Jovi record marks a musical evolution!". examiner.com. Retrieved 2013-01-02.
3. http://www.usatoday.com/story/idolchatter/2013/03/20/phillip-phillips-american-idol-return-sales-boost/2003913/
4. http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,10362746,00.html
5. http://ultimateclassicrock.com/bon-jovi-because-we-can-song-review/
6. http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/music/review-of-bon-jovi-s-because-we-can-1.4435642
7. http://www.hitfix.com/news/bon-jovis-new-single-because-we-can-review
8. http://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/176861/9
9. "Bon Jovi's Because We Can Nets #1 Global iTunes Success In 12 Countries, In Advance Of New Album, What About Now, To Be Released March 26th On Island Records!". PRNewswire. January 29, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.
10. http://www.bon-jovi.de/releases/detail/product/186163/because-we-can/
11. http://store.universal-music.co.jp/fs/artist/bonjovi_single/uicl5029
12. http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20130104-0001/Issue1194.pdf
13. "Austriancharts.at – Bon Jovi – Because We Can" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
14. "Ultratop.be – Bon Jovi – Because We Can" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
15. "Ultratop.be – Bon Jovi – Because We Can" (in French). Ultratip.
16. "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Canadian Hot 100 for Bon Jovi.
17. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 20135 into search.
18. "Suomen Virallinen Latauslista - Viikko 2, ti 8.1 - ma 14.1.2013" (in Finnish). Latauslista.fi. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
19. "Officialcharts.de – Bon Jovi – Because We Can". GfK Entertainment.
20. "Icelandic Singles Chart". Tonlist.is. Retrieved 2013-05-11.
21. "Chart Track: Week 02, 2013". Irish Singles Chart.
22. "FIMI – Classifiche – Top Digital – Classifica settimanale WK 02 del 2013". Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (in Italian). Retrieved April 19, 2015.
23. "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Japan Hot 100 for Bon Jovi.
24. "Dutchcharts.nl – Bon Jovi – Because We Can" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
25. "Archive Chart: 2013-01-19". Scottish Singles Top 40.
26. "SNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201313 into search.
27. "South Korea Gaon International Chart (Week: January 6, 2013)". Gaon Chart. Retrieved January 20, 2013.
28. "Spanishcharts.com – Bon Jovi – Because We Can" Canciones Top 50.
29. "Promusicae Radios" (PDF). Retrieved April 2013.
30. "Swisscharts.com – Bon Jovi – Because We Can". Swiss Singles Chart.
31. "Archive Chart: 2013-01-19" UK Singles Chart.
32. "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Bon Jovi. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
33. "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Bon Jovi.
34. "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Adult Contemporary for Bon Jovi.
35. "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2013". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2013.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics