It's My Life (Bon Jovi song)

"It's My Life"
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Crush
Released	May 23, 2000
Format	CD single
Genre	Pop metal
Length	3:44
Label	Island
Writer(s)	Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Max Martin
Producer(s)	Luke Ebbin, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"Real Life" (1999) "It's My Life" (2000) "Say It Isn't So" (2000)
Music sample It's My Life Music video "It’s My Life" (official) on YouTube Alternative cover

"It's My Life" is Bon Jovi's first single from the album Crush. It was released on May 23, 2000. It was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Max Martin.

The song charted in the top 10 across several countries (although it only reached number 33 in the US).^[1] Though the band had moved away from the glam-oriented sound with 1992's Keep the Faith, it has the distinction of making Bon Jovi one of the only bands once classified as 1980s glam metal to reach the top 40 in the 2000s, a testament to how the song managed to introduce the band to a new, younger fanbase. The song is arguably their most well known post-1980s hit single and it has been performed live at almost all shows since its release.

Background

The song has many classic Bon Jovi features, such as Sambora's use of the talk box, and a line in the second verse "For Tommy and Gina, who never backed down" refers to Tommy and Gina, a fictional working class couple that Bon Jovi and Sambora first wrote about in their 1986 hit "Livin' on a Prayer".

"It's My Life" is also notable for its line referencing fellow New Jerseyan Frank Sinatra: "My heart is like an open highway / Like Frankie said / I did it 'My Way'." Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora apparently had a disagreement over those lines, with Bon Jovi recalling:^[2]

I had just come home from making U-571 and I said "Sinatra made 16 movies and toured 'til he was 80. This is my role model". He [Sambora] said, "You can't write that damn lyric. Nobody cares about Frank Sinatra but you." And I wrote it anyway.

Response from fans

The song became an anthem that appealed to many fans. As Jon Bon Jovi later stated:^[3]

When I was writing "It's My Life", I thought I was writing very self-indulgently about my own life and where I was in it. I didn't realize that the phrase "It's My Life" would be taken as being about everyone--by teenagers, by older guys, mechanics, whatever. "It's my life, and I'm taking control". Everyone kind of feels that way from time to time.

Music video

The music video was directed by Wayne Isham. Will Estes (as the guy) and Shiri Appleby (as the girl) are the two main characters. At the beginning, The guy is watching a video of a Bon Jovi concert on his computer when he is ordered by his mother to take out the trash. Suddenly the girl calls, and the guy starts running down to his apartment and obediently takes out the trash. He then runs through the streets of Los Angeles up to the concert, getting chased by dogs, running a marathon, posing for pictures, and jackknifing a truck. The video was inspired by the movie Run Lola Run.^[4] Jon Bon Jovi met Will Estes on the set of U-571 and chose him to be in the video. The music video features the 2nd Street Tunnel as one of the main settings.

Track listings and versions

Major formats released for "It's My Life":

German CD Single Pt. 1 (562754) (Released: May 23, 2000) "It's My Life" (Main version) — 3:46 "Hush" (Demo version) — 3:48 "You Can't Lose at Love" (Demo version) — 4:44 "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" (Enhanced Video Clip) Recorded live at the Sanctuary II, New Jersey Web Concert on February 10, 1999. Directed by Tony Bongiovi. UK CD Single Pt. 1 (562752) (Released: 2000) "It's My Life" (Main version) — 3:46 "Hush" (Demo version) — 3:48 "You Can't Lose at Love" (Demo version) — 4:44 Includes Poster. Australian CD Single (562756) (Released: May 23, 2000) "It's My Life" (Main version) — 3:46 "Hush" (Demo version) — 3:48 "You Can't Lose at Love" (Demo version) — 4:44 "I Don't Want to Live Forever" (Demo version) — 4:27 "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" (Enhanced Video Clip) Recorded live at the Sanctuary II, New Jersey Web Concert on February 10, 2000. Directed by Tony Bongiovi.

German CD Single Pt. 2 (562755) (Released: May 23, 2000) "It's My Life" (Dave Bascombe Mix) — 3:44 "Temptation" (Demo version) — 3:48 "I Don't Want to Live Forever" (Demo version) — 4:27 "Livin' on a Prayer" (Enhanced Video Clip) Recorded live at the Sanctuary II, New Jersey Web Concert on February 10, 2000. UK CD Single Pt. 2 (562768) (Released: 2000) "It's My Life" (Dave Bascombe Mix) — 3:44 "Temptation" (Demo version) — 3:48 "I Don't Want to Live Forever" (Demo version) — 4:27 "It's My Life" (Enhanced Video Clip) Dutch CD Single (9815274) (Released: January 26, 2004) "It's My Life" (Acoustic version) — 3:41 "Wanted Dead or Alive" (Demo version) — 3:42 "Joey" (Live version) — 5:03 Recorded live on January 19, 2003 in Yokohama Arena, Japan. 4. "Wanted Dead or Alive" (Enhanced Video Clip)

Official versions and remixes

The following versions and remixes were commercially released.

• Main version — 3:46
• Acoustic version — 3:41
• Dave Bascombe Mix — 3:44

Acoustic version

A much slower, acoustic ballad version of the song is featured on Bon Jovi's 2003 album This Left Feels Right, a collection of their greatest hits that were readapted into new formats. This version was also released as a single.

Awards

Won:

• "Video Of The Year" at the VH1 My Music Awards^[5]
• Chosen as one of the greatest songs of the year at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards

Nominated:

• "Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" at the 43rd Grammy Awards, but lost to U2's "Beautiful Day"

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (2000–01) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[6] 5 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[9] 6 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[10] 17 European Hot 100 Singles[11] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] 6 France (SNEP)[13] 14 Germany (Official German Charts)[14] 2 Hungary (Single Top 40)[15] 6 Ireland (IRMA)[16] 5 Italy (FIMI)[17] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[18] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[19] 3 Poland (Polish Singles Chart)[20] 2 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[21] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[22] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[23] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[24] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[25] 33 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[26] 11 US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[27] 40 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[28] 14

Annual charts Country Position Weeks on chart Australia[29] 24 16[30] Austria[31] 2 34[30] Belgium (Flanders)[32] 8 21[30] Belgium (Wallonia)[33] 19 19[30] France[34] 29 38[30] Germany[35] 5 31[36] Sweden[37] 5 21[30] Switzerland[38] 3 33[30] Decade-end charts Year (2000–2009) Position German Singles Chart[39] 53 Certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments Australia (ARIA)[40] Platinum 70,000^^ Austria (IFPI Austria)[41] Platinum 50,000^x Belgium (BEA)[42] Platinum 50,000^* France (SNEP)[43] Gold 250,000^* Germany (BVMI)[44] Platinum 500,000^^ Italy (FIMI)[45] Gold 25,000^* Netherlands (NVPI)[46] Gold 40,000^^ Sweden (GLF)[47] Platinum 30,000^x Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[48] Platinum 50,000^x United Kingdom (BPI)[49] Gold 400,000^^ United States (RIAA)[50] 2× Platinum 2,000,000^^ ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

Cover versions

• Ukrainian cover band Village and People performed this song during the 2002 "Ukraine has Talent" show.^[51]
• Paul Anka covered the song on his 2005 album Rock Swings.^[52]
• Live version of the song appears on Ukrainian pop singer Ani Lorak's 2007 album 15.
• The song was performed by the male cast in an episode of the TV series Glee, as a mashup with Usher's "Confessions Part II".
• Ella Chen, a member of Taiwanese girl band S.H.E, performed it on their N-Age Genesis Concert in Tainan N-age (美麗新世界演唱會) on August 24, 2002.
• Piano Tribute Players covered the song on the Pop Piano Workout album, released in 2013.

References

1. "AllMusic (Bon Jovi charts & awards) Billboard singles". AllMusic.
2. "Jon Bon Jovi recalls "It's My Life"". The Rock Radio. October 21, 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
3. "Bon Jovi Popularity Soars in Germany". Deutsche Welle. October 12, 2005. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
4. Alex Gernandt: Bon Jovi, 2. edition, Goldmann, München 2001, ISBN 3-442-42851-3, p 261
5. "Creed, Hill Lead My VH1 Awards". Billboard. Retrieved 2010-10-10.
6. "Australian-charts.com – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
7. "Austriancharts.at – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
8. "Ultratop.be – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
9. "Ultratop.be – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
10. Billboard magazine (2000). "Billboard charts". All Music Guide. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
11. Sexton, Paul (July 10, 2000). "Corrs Bump Eminem From Top Of U.K. Chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
12. "Bon Jovi: It's My Life" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
13. "Lescharts.com – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
14. "Offiziellecharts.de – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
15. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
16. "Chart Track: Week 25, 2000". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
17. "Italiancharts.com – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". Top Digital Download. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
18. "Dutchcharts.nl – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
19. "Norwegiancharts.com – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". VG-lista. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
20. "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on 2008-05-08.
21. "Hits of the World - Spain". Billboard: 67. July 15, 2000. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
22. "Swedishcharts.com – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
23. "Swisscharts.com – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
24. "Archive Chart: 2000-06-03" UK Singles Chart. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
25. "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Bon Jovi. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
26. "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Adult Pop Songs for Bon Jovi. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
27. "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Latin Pop Songs for Bon Jovi. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
28. "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Bon Jovi. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
29. "Australian year-end chart". ARIA. 2000. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
30. Hit Parade (2000). "International charts". Retrieved 2009-01-26.
31. Austrian Charts (2000). "Austrian Annual Chart". Retrieved 2009-01-26.
32. Ultra Top (2000). "Flemish Annual Chart". Retrieved 2009-01-26.
33. Ultra Top (2000). "Walloon Annual Chart". Retrieved 2009-01-26.
34. Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique (2000). "French Annual Chart". Disque En France. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
35. Universität Würzburg (2000). "German Annual Chart". ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
36. Mariah-Charts (2000). "Weekly Charts". Retrieved 2009-01-10.
37. Sverigetopplistan (2000). "Swedish charts". Retrieved 2009-01-26.
38. Hit Parade (2000). "Swiss Annual Chart". Retrieved 2009-01-26.
39. "Die ultimative Chart Show | Hits des neuen Jahrtausends | Download". RTL.de. Retrieved 2011-10-15.
40. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
41. "Austrian single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved February 28, 2014. Enter Bon Jovi in the field Interpret. Enter It's My Life in the field Titel. Select single in the field Format. Click Suchen
42. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – 2000". Ultratop & Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
43. "Les Certifications - Bon Jovi - 2000" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
44. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bon Jovi; 'It's My Life')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
45. "Italian single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved February 28, 2014. Select Online in the field Sezione. Enter Bon Jovi in the field Filtra. Select 2014 in the field Anno. The certification will load automatically
46. "Top 40 - Jaargang nummer 32" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 3, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
47. "Bon Jovi - It's My Life" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
48. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (Bon Jovi; 'It's My Life')". Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
49. "British single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 28, 2014. Enter It's My Life in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
50. "American single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 26, 2015. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH
51. YouTube группа "Село и Люди" г. Харьков
52. The Washington Post.

External links

• Bon Jovi — Official Website.
• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics