Livin' on a Prayer

"Livin' on a Prayer"
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Slippery When Wet
B-side	"Wild in the Streets"
Released	October 31, 1986
Format	7", 12", CD Single
Genre	Hard rock glam metal
Length	4:11 (album version) 4:53 (full version) 4:23 (Rock Band 2 edit) 5:07 (DualDisc remix)
Label	Mercury
Writer(s)	Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child
Producer(s)	Bruce Fairbairn
Certification	Triple Platinum
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"You Give Love a Bad Name" (1986) "Livin' on a Prayer" (1986) "Wanted Dead or Alive" (1987)
Music video Livin' on a Prayer on YouTube

"Livin' on a Prayer" is Bon Jovi's second chart-topping single from their 12× platinum Slippery When Wet album. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child, the single, released in late 1986, was well received at both rock and pop radio and its music video was given heavy rotation at MTV, giving the band their first No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and their second consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit.^[1]

The song has become the band's signature song, topping fan-voted lists and re-charting around the world decades after its release. The original 45-RPM single release sold 800,000 copies in the United States, and in 2013 was certified Triple Platinum for over 3 million digital downloads.

Song history

Jon Bon Jovi did not like the original recording of this song, which can be found as a hidden track on 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong. Richie Sambora, however, convinced him the song was good, and they reworked it with a new bass line, different drum fills and the use of a talk box to include it on their upcoming album Slippery When Wet. The song spent two weeks at number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks, from January 31 - February 14, 1987, and four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, from February 14 – March 14. It also hit number four on the UK singles chart.

The album version of the song, timed around 4:10, fades out at the end. However, the music video game Guitar Hero World Tour features the song's original studio ending, where the band revisit the intro riff and end with a talk box solo; this version ends at 4:53. The original ending is also playable on similar video game Rock Band 2, though edited in this case (thereby eliminating the talk box solo at the end). The version included on the 2005 DualDisc edition of Slippery When Wet has an extended version of the original ending, with a different talk box solo playing over the riff (possibly taken from an outtake of the song); this version, which fades out at the end like the standard version of the song, ends at 5:06.

After the September 11, 2001 attacks – in which New Jersey was the second-hardest hit state after New York, suffering hundreds of casualties among both WTC workers and first responders – the band performed an acoustic version of this song for The Concert for New York City. Bon Jovi performed a similar version as part of the special America: A Tribute to Heroes.

Enduring success

In 2006, online voters rated "Livin' on a Prayer" No. 1 on VH1's list of The 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s. More recently, in New Zealand, "Livin' on a Prayer" was No. 1 on the C4 music channel show's "U Choose 40", on the 80's Icons list. It was also No. 1 on the "Sing-a-long Classics List". After Bon Jovi performed in New Zealand on January 28, 2008 while on their Lost Highway Tour, the song re-entered the official New Zealand RIANZ singles chart at number 24, over twenty years after the initial release.^[2]

Australian music TV channel MAX placed this song at No. 18 on their 2008 countdown "Rock Songs: Top 100". In 2009, the song returned to the charts in the UK, notably hitting the number-one spot on the UK Rock Chart.

In 2010 the song was chosen in an online vote on the Grammy.com website over the group's more recent hits "Always" and "It's My Life" to be played live by the band on the 52nd Grammy Awards telecast.^[3][4]

In the Billboard Hot 100 Anniversary 50, "Livin' on a Prayer" was named as 46 in the All time rock songs.^[5] After the song was released for download, the song has sold 3.4 million digital copies in the US as of November 2014.^[6]

The song, including its original ending, is also playable on the music video games Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2. The song was re-worked and made available to download on November 9, 2010 for use in the Rock Band 3 music gaming platform to take advantage of PRO mode which allows use of a real guitar / bass guitar, and standard MIDI-compatible electronic drum kits / keyboards in addition to up to three-part harmony or backup vocals.^[7][8]

In November 2013, the song made its return to the Billboard Hot 100 at number 25, due to a viral video.

Lyrical interpretation

The song is about a fictional working class couple, Tommy and Gina, who struggle to make ends meet and maintain their relationship. Tommy "used to work on the docks" because "union's been on strike, he's down on his luck". Gina works at a diner, "workin' for her man".

While some have loosely interpreted the lyrics to be anti-labor, inferring that the striking labor union is the catalyst for the troubled chain of events for Tommy and Gina, others have pointed out that the song does not clarify the circumstances behind the strike, and the lone, vague reference could just as easily be interpreted as a pro-labor message with bosses' attacks forcing the union to go on strike. Jon Bon Jovi explained that he "wrote that song during the Reagan era (1980–88) and the trickle-down economics are really inspirational to writing songs".^[9]

Music video

The video for the song features shots of the band rehearsing, then playing in front of a crowd. The first half of the video, featuring the rehearsal footage, is in black and white, and the second half of the video, performing to the arena audience, is in color.

In the beginning of the video, Jon Bon Jovi has a harness attached, and later in the music video he soars over the crowd via overhead wires.

The music video was recorded on September 17, 1986 at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California and was directed by Wayne Isham.^[10] Clips of the video are also used in the Muppet Babies episode "Scooter By Any Other Name" during the song "Look At Me Now".

Covers

• Bon Jovi have themselves reworked the song several times, including an acoustic live version that served as a precursor to the MTV Unplugged series and a re-recorded version of the song, "Prayer '94", which appeared on U.S. versions of their Cross Road hits collection.

• British new wave band Dead Or Alive used the song's guitar riff for the 7" Remix and 12" Big Revolver Mix of its single, "Hooked On Love".

• In May 2013, a segment on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno aired, featuring a man and a woman at a gas station being offered a free tank of gas in exchange for a song. The husband, Will Sims II, chose "Livin' on a Prayer". The video went viral.^[11] Sims later went on to compete as a castaway on Survivor: Worlds Apart.^[12]

• At the 2014 Winter Whites Gala at Kensington Palace, Bon Jovi performed the song with Taylor Swift and Prince William.

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts Chart (1986–87) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[13] 3 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 3 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[15] 4 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[17] 10 Germany (Official German Charts)[18] 20 Ireland (IRMA)[19] 4 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 4 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[22] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[23] 1 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[24] 5 Spain (AFYVE)[25] 6 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 12 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[28] 4 UK Rock and Metal (Official Charts Company)[29] 1 US Billboard Hot 100[30] 1 US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)[31] 1 US Cash Box[32] 1 Chart (2013) Peak position US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[33] 8 Chart (2016) Peak position Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[34] 58

Year-end charts Chart (1986) Position UK Singles (Gallup)[35] 41 Chart (1987) Position Australia (Kent Music Report)[36] 17 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[37] 29 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[38] 28 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[39] 17 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[40] 32 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[41] 40 US Billboard Hot 100[42] 10 US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)[43] 15 US Cash Box[44] 5 Sales and certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments Canada (Music Canada)[45] Gold 50,000 Japan (RIAJ)[46] Gold 100,000 United Kingdom (BPI)[47] Platinum 1,000,000 United States (RIAA)[48] 3× Platinum 3,400,000[6] ^^shipments figures based on certification alone

Succession and progression

In popular culture

• Family Guy season 10 episode 12 shares the same name as the song.
• The song was featured on the commercial for the 2009 film Paul Blart: Mall Cop and the 2013 film Free Birds.
• The Goldbergs season 1 finale is titled the same name as the song and features the song in the episode.
• The song was featured in the music video game Guitar Hero World Tour as the opening song for the guitar career, as well as in the game Rock Band Unplugged.
• This was the last song heard in the series Everybody Hates Chris, playing in a jukebox in the last scene.

References

1. "Allmusic (Bon Jovi charts & awards) Billboard singles".
2. RIANZ
3. More Grammy performers/presenters announced
4. Beyonce Swift Boated
5. It's Only Rock & Roll: Top Billboard Hot 100 Rock Songs
6. Appel, Rich (November 26, 2014). "Revisionist History, Part 5: Bon Jovi's 'Prayer' Answered, 'Caroline' Is Sweeter Than 'Sugar'". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 26, 2014.
7. Kohler, Chris (2010-11-09). "Bon Jovi Rock Band Tracks Upgraded with Pro Keys, Guitars". Wired. Retrieved 2012-11-09.
8. Snider, Mike (2010-06-10). "Rock Band 3: What's New, What's Notable". USA Today. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
9. Bon Jovi Calls George Bush as 'lunatcic'! @ Top40-Charts.com – 40 Top 20 & Top 40 Music Charts from 25 Countries
10. Wayne Isham videography
11. http://www.inquisitr.com/658657/gas-pump-couple-join-leno-on-tonight-for-an-encore-video/
12. http://www.observernewsonline.com/content/hickory-native-will-simms-competes-survivor
13. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 41. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
14. "Ultratop.be – Bon Jovi – Livin' On A Prayer" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
15. "Radio2 top 30: 7 february 1987" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
16. "Top Singles – Volume 45, No. 23, March 14, 1987". RPM. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
17. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
18. "Offiziellecharts.de – Bon Jovi – Livin' On A Prayer". GfK Entertainment Charts.
19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Livin' On A Prayer". Irish Singles Chart.
20. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bon Jovi search results" (in Dutch) Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
21. "Dutchcharts.nl – Bon Jovi – Livin' On A Prayer" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
22. "Charts.org.nz – Bon Jovi – Livin' On A Prayer". Top 40 Singles.
23. "Norwegiancharts.com – Bon Jovi – Livin' On A Prayer". VG-lista.
24. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (B)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
25. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
26. "Swedishcharts.com – Bon Jovi – Livin' On A Prayer". Singles Top 100.
27. "Swisscharts.com – Bon Jovi – Livin' On A Prayer". Swiss Singles Chart.
28. "Bon Jovi: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
29. "Archive Chart: 2010-11-13" UK Rock Chart. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
30. "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Bon Jovi.
31. "Bon Jovi – Chart history". Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks for Bon Jovi. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
32. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending FEBRUARY 14, 1987". Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
33. "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Bon Jovi. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
34. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
35. "Top 100 Singles". Music Week (London, England: Spotlight Publications): 24. 24 January 1987.
36. "Forum - ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
37. "Jaaroverzichten 1987 (Flanders)" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
38. "Top 100 Singles of '87". RPM. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
39. "Top Selling Singles of 1987". Retrieved 5 September 2015.
40. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987" (in Dutch). Retrieved 5 September 2015.
41. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
42. "Top Pop Singles of '87". Billboard.biz. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
43. "Top Rock Tracks". Billboard (Nielsen Business Media, Inc) 99 (52): 16. December 26, 1987. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
44. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1987". Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
45. "Canadian single certifications – Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer". Music Canada.
46. "Single Certification List - August 2010" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
47. "British single certifications – Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 15, 2016. Enter Livin' on a Prayer in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select single in the field By Format. Select Platinum in the field By Award. Click Search
48. "American single certifications – Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics