On Valentine’s Day 1987 Bon Jovi peaks to No.1 with “Livin’ On A Prayer”
The song established Bon Jovi as one of the leading Hard Rock bands of the 1980’s worldwide
On Valentine’s Day 1987 Bon Jovi peaks to No.1 with “Livin’ On A Prayer”
Considered by many as Bon Jovi’s signature song, “Livin’ On A Prayer” continued a string of hit singles by the New Jersey band throughout the 1980’s and early 1990’s, and it was their second consecutive No.1 at the Hot 100 followed by their previous single “You Give Love A Bad Name”. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child, originally, Jon Bon Jovi didn’t like the way the song sounded, but after it was reworked, it ends up included on the “Slippery When Wet” album and later released as a single on October 31, 1986. The single was well received at both rock and pop radio and its iconic music video, filmed on September 17, 1986, at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California, was given heavy rotation at MTV, which established Bon Jovi as one of the leading Hard Rock bands of the 1980’s worldwide. Bon Jovi explained that he “wrote that song during the Reagan era (1980–1988) and the trickle-down economics are really inspirational to writing songs”. According to Jon Bon Jovi “It deals with the way that two kids – Tommy and Gina – face life’s struggles, and how their love and ambitions get them through the hard times. It’s working class and it’s real… I wanted to incorporate the movie element and tell a story about people I knew. So instead of doing what I did on ‘Runaway’, where the girl didn’t have a name, I gave them names, which gave them an identity… Tommy and Gina aren’t two specific people; they represent a lifestyle.” Tommy and Gina are also referred to in Bon Jovi’s 2000 single “It’s My Life”. The song spent two weeks at number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks, from January 31 to February 14, 1987, and four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, from February 14 to March 14. It also hit number four on the UK singles chart. In the Billboard Hot 100 Anniversary 50, “Livin’ on a Prayer” was named as 46 in the All-time rock songs.
Look back at the 1986 popular music video for “Livin’ On A Prayer” by Bon Jovi
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