Livin' on a Prayer
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| "Livin' on a Prayer" | ||
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| Single by Bon Jovi | ||
| from the album Slippery When Wet | ||
| B-side(s) | "Wild in the Streets"/"Edge of a Broken Heart" | |
| Released | 1987 | |
| Format | CD Single | |
| Recorded | 1986 | |
| Genre | Rock | |
| Length | 4:09 | |
| Label | Mercury Records | |
| Writer(s) | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child | |
| Producer(s) | Bruce Fairbairn | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Bon Jovi singles chronology | ||
| "You Give Love a Bad Name" | "Livin' on a Prayer" | "Wanted Dead or Alive" |
"Livin' on a Prayer" is Bon Jovi's second single from their Slippery When Wet album. It is perhaps their most famous song, and generally regarded as a classic by Bon Jovi fans.
Ironically, 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 convinced him the song was good, and they reworked it and included it on their Slippery When Wet album. It became their signature song, spending four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987. It also hit number four on the UK singles chart.
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[edit] Lyrical interpretation
The song is about a fictional working class couple, Tommy and Gina, who struggle to make ends meet and maintain their relationship. However, the names Tommy and Gina were actually the names of Jon Bon Jovi's nephew and niece, Tommy and Gina.[citation needed]
This is the first time that Sambora used the talk box as a lead instrument.
The first verse of the song appears to be about their younger days; Tommy "used to work on the docks" but the "union's been on strike, he's down on his luck". Gina works at a diner, "'workin' for her man".
The second verse appears to be set much later. Gina "dreams of running away" implying that they have once again fallen on hard times.
Some have interpreted the lyrics to be anti-labor-union, as the striking labor union seems to be the catalyst for the troubled chain of events for Tommy and Gina. However, others have pointed out that the song does not clarify the circumstances behind the strike, and that the rest of the song does not appear to have a political message.
"I wrote that song during the Reagan era and the trickle-down economics are really inspirational to writing songs..." - Jon Bon Jovi [1]
Since Jon performed the song at rallies for Al Gore in the 2000 presidential campaign, and given that proponents of Reaganomics would not likely use the term trickle-down economics, it seems highly unlikely that the song is anti-labor union.[original research?]
[edit] Music Video
The video for the song featured shots of the band rehearsing, then playing in front of a crowd. The first half of the video when the band is rehearsing is black and white, and the second half of the video, onstage, is in color.
In the beginning of the video, he has a harness attached, and later in the music video he "soars" over the crowd by overhead wires.
The music video was shot at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester, Minnesota
[edit] References in Other Songs
Bon Jovi made several references to lyrics in "Livin' on a Prayer" in subsequent songs.
- In the 1988 song "99 in the Shade" from New Jersey, Jon Bon Jovi sings "Somebody even tells me Tommy's comin' down tonight, if Gina says it's alright," referring to the characters of "Livin' on a Prayer"
- In the 1992 song "Fear" from Keep the Faith, Jon Bon Jovi sings "take my hand, I know we'll make it", similar to the line from "Livin' on a Prayer", "take my hand, we'll make it, I swear." The two songs share similar themes.
- Jon Bon Jovi has said that the 1995 Bon Jovi song "Lie to Me" from These Days is about the characters Tommy and Gina, although they are not mentioned explicitly in the song[citation needed]
- In the 2000 hit single "It's My Life" from Crush is the line "this is for the ones who stood their ground, for Tommy and Gina, who never backed down", again referring to the fictional characters. Additionally, in the music video, it is revealed the lead male character is named "Tommy" when his mother calls on him to take out the trash.
- In the 2005 song "Novocaine" from Have a Nice Day, "Livin on a Prayer" is referenced in the line "there's a different kind of meaning now to livin' on a prayer."
Some other bands referenced Tommy and Gina in their songs, too.
- Bowling For Soup's Punk Rock 101 includes the lyric "Like Tommy and Gina/They're livin' on a prayer".
- Stellar Kart has covered this song also.
- A brief a cappella set of Livin' on a Prayer was included as part of the November 7th episode of the TV show Gilmore Girls.
[edit] Trivia
- In 2006, online voters rated "Livin' On A Prayer" #1 on VH1's list of "The 100 Greatest Songs of the '80s".
- For a commercial about the Arena Football League that Bon Jovi did with John Elway, he asks the quarterback who is suiting up to go into the fictional game. "What? Are you living in the past?" To which Elway says, "Better than living on a prayer."
- The song is often played during Chicago White Sox home games, during an offensive rally when the Sox need a big clutch hit. It usually draws an enthusiastic crowd response.
- The song's chorus was used in an old Filipino Zesto orange juice commercial in the 1990's. It went, "Cool and refreshing, that's the way to go-o. Oh! Way to go, Zesto!".
- The Auburn University Marching Band recently began playing the song at home football games when a big offensive or defensive play is needed. The student section often sings along.
- The Band of the Fighting Irish has performed the song at numerous University of Notre Dame football halftimes, and it remains a crowd favorite for all sporting events at the university.
- In New Zealand, "Livin' On A Prayer" Was Number one on the C4 music channel show's "U choose 40", on the 80's Icons list.
- Livin on a Prayer was one of the theme songs for the 2004 presidental campaign of Democrat John Kerry
- Livin on a Prayer almost did not make the cut for the album Slippery When Wet.
- The Final Four George Mason Patriots often play this song as their kind of "Theme Song".
- Livin on a Prayer is often played at Penn State Football games in Beaver Stadium to the accompaniment of over 100,000 fans.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by "Open Your Heart" by Madonna |
Billboard Hot 100 number one single February 14, 1987- March 7, 1987 |
Succeeded by "Jacob's Ladder" by Huey Lewis & the News |
