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Livin' on a Prayer

August 29, 2023

For the Family Guy episode, see Livin' on a Prayer (Family Guy).

"Livin' on a Prayer" is a song by the American rock band Bon Jovi, and is the band's second chart-topping single from their third album Slippery When Wet. 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.[7]

"Livin' on a Prayer"
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Slippery When Wet
B-side"Wild in the Streets"
ReleasedOctober 1986
Recorded1986
Genre
Length4:11 (album version)
4:23 (Rock Band 2 edit)
5:07 (DualDisc remix)
5:16 (Crossroads re-record version)
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bruce Fairbairn
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 the band's signature song, topping fan-voted lists and re-charting around the world decades after its release. In 2013, the song was certified triple platinum for over 3 million digital downloads. The official music video reached 1 billion views on YouTube in January 2023.[8]

Song history Edit

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. Lead guitarist Richie Sambora, however, convinced him the song was good, and they reworked it with a new bassline (recorded by Hugh McDonald uncredited[9][10][11]), different drum fills and the use of a talk box to include it on Slippery When Wet. The song spent two weeks at number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, 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.

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 the 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 New York. Bon Jovi performed a similar version as part of the special America: A Tribute to Heroes.

In 2022, Mike Reno, vocalist of the band Loverboy, revealed to Loudwire he is certain the backing vocals he recorded for this song are used.[12]

Reception and legacy Edit

Billboard said that "metal muscle meets gritty reality in a tough, clanging rocker."[13] Cash Box said that "Solid chorus and ringing guitar highlight Jon Bon Jovi’s gutsy singing."[14]

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's show 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.[15]

Australian music TV channel MAX placed the 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, it 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.[16][17]

In the Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary list, "Livin' on a Prayer" was named the 46th greatest rock song of all time.[18] After the song was released for download, the song has sold 3.4 million digital copies in the US as of November 2014.[19] Louder Sound and Billboard ranked the song number four and number two, respectively, on their lists of the 10 greatest Bon Jovi songs.[20][21]

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.[22][23]

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

In 2017, ShortList's Dave Fawbert listed the song as containing "one of the greatest key changes in music history".[24]

In 2021, Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 457 in their updated list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[25]

Lyrics Edit

The song describes two characters, Tommy and Gina, a working-class couple who struggle to make ends meet. Tommy loses his job as a dockworker due to a strike while Gina works as a diner waitress. The storyline was loosely based on real-life events that Jon Bon Jovi and songwriter Desmond Child experienced in the 1970s. Before becoming successful artists and songwriters, Desmond Child and his then-girlfriend, singer-songwriter Maria Vidal, lived together. They had already begun their music careers, but worked day jobs; Child was a taxi driver in New York while Vidal worked as a waitress in a diner named "Once Upon A Stove", similar to Gina in the song. The owner, manager, and other employees of the diner nicknamed Vidal "Gina" due to her slight physical resemblance to Italian actress and photographer Gina Lollobrigida.

"It deals with the way that two kids – Tommy and Gina – face life's struggles," noted Bon Jovi, "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."[26] Tommy and Gina are also referred to in Bon Jovi's 2000 single "It's My Life".

In a 2002 interview, Bon Jovi said that he wrote the song as a response to the Reagan Era, adding, "trickle-down economics are really inspirational to writing songs".[27]

Music video Edit

The music video was filmed on September 17, 1986, at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California and was directed by Wayne Isham.[28] It starts with a silhouette of the band walking down a hall, followed by shots of the band rehearsing, filmed in black and white, then playing in front of a crowd, in color.

In the beginning of the video, Jon has a harness attached by professional stunt coordinators and stunt spotters, and during the final chorus, he soars over the crowd on wires attached to the harness.

Alternative versions Edit

Bon Jovi have 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.[29]

Personnel Edit

Bon Jovi

Additional musicians

Charts Edit

Sales and certifications Edit

Certifications and sales for "Livin' on a Prayer"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[73] 7× Platinum 490,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[74] Gold 50,000^
Germany (BVMI)[75] Gold 250,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[76] Platinum 50,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[77]
Digital single 		Platinum 250,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[78] 3× Platinum 1,800,000‡
United States (RIAA)[79] 3× Platinum 3,400,000[19]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

In popular culture Edit

In May 2013, the song was featured in a segment on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. In this segment, a man and his wife were at a gas station when they were suddenly offered a free tank of gas in exchange for singing a song. The husband, Will Sims II, responded by singing "Livin' on a Prayer." The video of the segment went viral,[80] prompting Jon Bon Jovi to record a video personally thanking the couple for having "so much fun" with the band's song.[81]

In 2019, Grammy Award-winning singer Michelle Williams performed the song on the second US series of The Masked Singer.[82]

See also Edit

Notes Edit

  1. ^ Atributted to multiple references:[1][2][3][4][5][6]

References Edit

  1. ^ "Smashed Hits: Livin' On A Prayer". BBC News. November 27, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2020.
  2. ^ Beaujour, Tom; Bienstock, Richard; Eddy, Chuck; Fischer, Reed; Grow, Kory; Johnston, Maura; Weingarten, Christopher R. (August 31, 2019). "50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  3. ^ Sleazegrinder (December 4, 2015). "The 20 Best Hair Metal Anthems Of All Time Ever". Louder Sound. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Browne, David (September 6, 2001). "Why are Bon Jovi suddenly musical saints?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  5. ^ Breihan, Tom (February 3, 2021). "The Number Ones: Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer"". Stereogum. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  6. ^ Deusner, Stephen (February 18, 2017). "We're all livin' on a prayer: How a hair band anthem from the least cool '80s rockers became a classic". Salon. Retrieved July 3, 2021.
  7. ^ "AllMusic (Bon Jovi charts & awards) Billboard singles".
  8. ^ ""This is unbelievable": Jon Bon Jovi celebrates one billion streams of "Livin on a Prayer"".
  9. ^ a b Brodén, Victor (July 23, 2014). "On Bass: The Song Guys". Premier Guitar. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  10. ^ a b Setaro, Shawn. "Inside The Business Of Bon Jovi With Bryan Reesman". Forbes. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  11. ^ McDonald, Hugh. . Internet Archive. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  12. ^ "Loverboy's Mike Reno Reveals Backing Vocal on Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer'". Loudwire. February 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "Reviews". Billboard. December 13, 1986. p. 61. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  14. ^ "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. December 13, 1986. p. 8. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  15. ^ . Archived from the original on March 17, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  16. ^ "More GRAMMY Performers, Presenters Announced". April 30, 2017.
  17. ^ "Beyonce Swift Boated".
  18. ^ "It's Only Rock & Roll: Top Billboard Hot 100 Rock Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
  19. ^ a b 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.
  20. ^ Dome, Malcolm (June 26, 2016). "The Top 10 Best Bon Jovi Songs". Louder Sound. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  21. ^ Weiss, Dan (October 24, 2017). "Bon Jovi's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
  22. ^ Kohler, Chris (November 9, 2010). "Bon Jovi Rock Band Tracks Upgraded with Pro Keys, Guitars". Wired. Retrieved November 9, 2012.
  23. ^ Snider, Mike (June 10, 2010). "Rock Band 3: What's New, What's Notable". USA Today. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
  24. ^ "The 19 greatest key changes in music history". ShortList. October 1, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2018.
  25. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  26. ^ Dome, Malcolm (July 2006). "We'll make it, I swear…". Classic Rock #94. pp. 45–46.
  27. ^ "Bon Jovi Calls George Bush as 'lunatic'!".
  28. ^ "mvdbase.com – Wayne Isham technician videography".
  29. ^ Cross Road (liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1994. P2-26013.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  30. ^ McDonald, Hugh. . www.huey-mcdonald.com. Archived at the Wayback Machine of Internet Archive. Archived from the original on March 2, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
  31. ^ a b "What Makes This Song Great? Ep.111 BON JOVI "Livin' on a Prayer"". YouTube. Retrieved March 4, 2022.
  32. ^ "Loverboy's Mike Reno Reveals Backing Vocal on Bon Jovi's 'Livin' on a Prayer'". Loudwire. February 9, 2022.
  33. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (Illustrated ed.). Sydney: Australian Chart Book. p. 41. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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  46. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
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  49. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
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  52. ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  53. ^ "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending FEBRUARY 14, 1987". Cash Box magazine. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  54. ^ a b "Bon Jovi: Livin' on a Prayer" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  55. ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 9 November 2015.
  56. ^ "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved May 22, 2017.
  57. ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  58. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  59. ^ "Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications: 24. January 24, 1987.
  60. ^ "Australian Music Report No 701 – 28 December 1987 > National Top 100 Singles for 1987". Kent Music Report, via Imgur.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  61. ^ . Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on October 6, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  62. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1987 (Flanders)" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  63. ^ . RPM. Archived from the original on July 13, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  64. ^ "European Charts of the Year 1987: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 4, no. 51/52. December 26, 1987. p. 34. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  65. ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1987" (in Dutch). Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  66. ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1987" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  67. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1987". Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  68. ^ "Top Pop Singles of '87". Billboard.biz. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  69. ^ "Top Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 99, no. 52. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. December 26, 1987. p. 16. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
  70. ^ "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1987". Cash Box magazine. Retrieved September 5, 2015.
  71. ^ "2008 Year-End UK Charts" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  72. ^ "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2013". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  73. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2020 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved April 23, 2021.
  74. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer". Music Canada.
  75. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bon Jovi; 'Livin' on a Prayer')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  76. ^ "Italian single certifications – Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 24, 2018. Select "2018" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Select "Livin' on a Prayer" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
  77. ^ "Japanese digital single certifications – Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 28, 2021. Select 2017年8月 on the drop-down menu
  78. ^ "British single certifications – Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  79. ^ "American single certifications – Bon Jovi – Livin' on a Prayer". Recording Industry Association of America.
  80. ^ "Gas Pump Couple Join Leno On 'Tonight' For An Encore [Video]". Inquisitr. The Inquisitr. May 12, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2015.
  81. ^ Bon Jovi, Jon (May 12, 2013). Thank you very much for having so much fun with the song! -JBJ. Johannesburg, South Africa: YouTube. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
  82. ^ Komonibo, Ineye (December 5, 2019). "The Butterfly On The Masked Singer Was Revealed – & It Was The Show's Most Touching Moment". Refinery29. Retrieved December 5, 2019.

August 29, 2023
livin, prayer, family, episode, family, song, american, rock, band, jovi, band, second, chart, topping, single, from, their, third, album, slippery, when, written, jovi, richie, sambora, desmond, child, single, released, late, 1986, well, received, both, rock,. For the Family Guy episode see Livin on a Prayer Family Guy Livin on a Prayer is a song by the American rock band Bon Jovi and is the band s second chart topping single from their third album Slippery When Wet 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 7 Livin on a Prayer Single by Bon Jovifrom the album Slippery When WetB side Wild in the Streets ReleasedOctober 1986Recorded1986GenreGlam metal nb 1 power pop 4 Length4 11 album version 4 23 Rock Band 2 edit 5 07 DualDisc remix 5 16 Crossroads re record version LabelMercurySongwriter s Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora Desmond ChildProducer s Bruce FairbairnBon 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 the band s signature song topping fan voted lists and re charting around the world decades after its release In 2013 the song was certified triple platinum for over 3 million digital downloads The official music video reached 1 billion views on YouTube in January 2023 8 Contents 1 Song history 2 Reception and legacy 3 Lyrics 4 Music video 5 Alternative versions 6 Personnel 7 Charts 7 1 Weekly charts 7 2 Year end charts 8 Sales and certifications 9 In popular culture 10 See also 11 Notes 12 ReferencesSong history EditJon 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 Lead guitarist Richie Sambora however convinced him the song was good and they reworked it with a new bassline recorded by Hugh McDonald uncredited 9 10 11 different drum fills and the use of a talk box to include it on Slippery When Wet The song spent two weeks at number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart 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 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 the 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 New York Bon Jovi performed a similar version as part of the special America A Tribute to Heroes In 2022 Mike Reno vocalist of the band Loverboy revealed to Loudwire he is certain the backing vocals he recorded for this song are used 12 Reception and legacy EditBillboard said that metal muscle meets gritty reality in a tough clanging rocker 13 Cash Box said that Solid chorus and ringing guitar highlight Jon Bon Jovi s gutsy singing 14 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 s show 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 15 Australian music TV channel MAX placed the 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 it 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 16 17 In the Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary list Livin on a Prayer was named the 46th greatest rock song of all time 18 After the song was released for download the song has sold 3 4 million digital copies in the US as of November 2014 19 Louder Sound and Billboard ranked the song number four and number two respectively on their lists of the 10 greatest Bon Jovi songs 20 21 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 22 23 In November 2013 the song made its return to the Billboard Hot 100 at number 25 due to a viral video In 2017 ShortList s Dave Fawbert listed the song as containing one of the greatest key changes in music history 24 In 2021 Rolling Stone ranked the song at number 457 in their updated list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time 25 Lyrics EditThe song describes two characters Tommy and Gina a working class couple who struggle to make ends meet Tommy loses his job as a dockworker due to a strike while Gina works as a diner waitress The storyline was loosely based on real life events that Jon Bon Jovi and songwriter Desmond Child experienced in the 1970s Before becoming successful artists and songwriters Desmond Child and his then girlfriend singer songwriter Maria Vidal lived together They had already begun their music careers but worked day jobs Child was a taxi driver in New York while Vidal worked as a waitress in a diner named Once Upon A Stove similar to Gina in the song The owner manager and other employees of the diner nicknamed Vidal Gina due to her slight physical resemblance to Italian actress and photographer Gina Lollobrigida It deals with the way that two kids Tommy and Gina face life s struggles noted Bon Jovi 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 26 Tommy and Gina are also referred to in Bon Jovi s 2000 single It s My Life In a 2002 interview Bon Jovi said that he wrote the song as a response to the Reagan Era adding trickle down economics are really inspirational to writing songs 27 Music video EditThe music video was filmed on September 17 1986 at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles California and was directed by Wayne Isham 28 It starts with a silhouette of the band walking down a hall followed by shots of the band rehearsing filmed in black and white then playing in front of a crowd in color In the beginning of the video Jon has a harness attached by professional stunt coordinators and stunt spotters and during the final chorus he soars over the crowd on wires attached to the harness Alternative versions EditBon Jovi have 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 29 Personnel EditBon Jovi Jon Bon Jovi lead vocals Richie Sambora electric guitar talk box backing vocals Alec John Such bass guitar credited backing vocals Tico Torres drums percussion finger cymbals David Bryan keyboards backing vocalsAdditional musicians Hugh McDonald bass wrote and recorded the bass parts uncredited 9 10 30 Joani Bye backing vocals 31 Nancy Nash backing vocals 31 Mike Reno possible backing vocals uncredited 32 Charts EditWeekly charts Edit Weekly chart performance for Livin on a Prayer Chart 1986 1987 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 33 3Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 34 3Belgium VRT Top 30 Flanders 35 4Canada Top Singles RPM 36 1Finland Suomen virallinen lista 37 10Germany Official German Charts 38 20Ireland IRMA 39 4Netherlands Dutch Top 40 40 2Netherlands Single Top 100 41 4New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 42 1Norway VG lista 43 1Scotland OCC 44 4South Africa Springbok Radio 45 5Spain AFYVE 46 6Sweden Sverigetopplistan 47 2Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 48 12UK Singles OCC 49 4UK Rock amp Metal OCC 50 1US Billboard Hot 100 51 1US Mainstream Rock Billboard 52 1US Cash Box 53 1Chart 2008 PeakpositionFinland Download Latauslista 54 22Chart 2013 PeakpositionUS Hot Rock amp Alternative Songs Billboard 55 8Chart 2017 PeakpositionPoland Polish Airplay Top 100 56 56Chart 2021 2023 PeakpositionFinland Airplay Radiosoittolista 54 48Global 200 Billboard 57 175Hungary Single Top 40 58 37 Year end charts Edit 1986 year end chart performance for Livin on a Prayer Chart 1986 PositionUK Singles Gallup 59 361987 year end chart performance for Livin on a Prayer Chart 1987 PositionAustralia Australian Music Report 60 61 17Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 62 29Canada Top Singles RPM 63 28European Hot 100 Singles Music amp Media 64 70Netherlands Dutch Top 40 65 32Netherlands Single Top 100 66 40New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 67 17US Billboard Hot 100 68 10US Album Rock Tracks Billboard 69 15US Cash Box 70 52008 year end chart performance for Livin on a Prayer Chart 2008 PositionUK Singles OCC 71 1902013 year end chart performance for Livin on a Prayer Chart 2013 PositionUS Hot Rock Songs Billboard 72 95Sales and certifications EditCertifications and sales for Livin on a Prayer Region Certification Certified units salesAustralia ARIA 73 7 Platinum 490 000 Canada Music Canada 74 Gold 50 000 Germany BVMI 75 Gold 250 000 Italy FIMI 76 Platinum 50 000 Japan RIAJ 77 Digital single Platinum 250 000 United Kingdom BPI 78 3 Platinum 1 800 000 United States RIAA 79 3 Platinum 3 400 000 19 Sales figures based on certification alone Shipments figures based on certification alone Sales streaming figures based on certification alone In popular culture EditIn May 2013 the song was featured in a segment on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno In this segment a man and his wife were at a gas station when they were suddenly offered a free tank of gas in exchange for singing a song The husband Will Sims II responded by singing Livin on a Prayer The video of the segment went viral 80 prompting Jon Bon Jovi to record a video personally thanking the couple for having so much fun with the band s song 81 In 2019 Grammy Award winning singer Michelle Williams performed the song on the second US series of The Masked Singer 82 See also EditList of glam metal albums and songsNotes Edit Atributted to multiple references 1 2 3 4 5 6 References Edit Smashed Hits Livin On A Prayer BBC News November 27 2013 Retrieved April 5 2020 Beaujour Tom Bienstock Richard Eddy Chuck Fischer Reed Grow Kory Johnston Maura Weingarten Christopher R August 31 2019 50 Greatest Hair Metal Albums of All Time Rolling Stone Retrieved February 27 2021 Sleazegrinder December 4 2015 The 20 Best Hair Metal Anthems Of All Time Ever Louder Sound Retrieved March 3 2021 a b Browne David September 6 2001 Why are Bon Jovi suddenly musical saints Entertainment Weekly Retrieved June 29 2021 Breihan Tom February 3 2021 The Number Ones Bon Jovi s Livin On A Prayer Stereogum Retrieved July 2 2021 Deusner Stephen February 18 2017 We re all livin on a prayer How a hair band anthem from the least cool 80s rockers became a classic Salon Retrieved July 3 2021 AllMusic Bon Jovi charts amp awards Billboard singles This is unbelievable Jon Bon Jovi celebrates one billion streams of Livin on a Prayer a b Broden Victor July 23 2014 On Bass The Song Guys Premier Guitar Retrieved March 10 2017 a b Setaro Shawn Inside The Business Of Bon Jovi With Bryan Reesman Forbes Retrieved March 11 2017 McDonald Hugh Hugh McDonald Official Website Discography Internet Archive Archived from the original on March 2 2012 Retrieved March 11 2017 Loverboy s Mike Reno Reveals Backing Vocal on Bon Jovi s Livin on a Prayer Loudwire February 9 2022 Reviews Billboard December 13 1986 p 61 Retrieved August 7 2022 Single Releases PDF Cash Box December 13 1986 p 8 Retrieved August 7 2022 RIANZ Archived from the original on March 17 2011 Retrieved January 4 2020 More GRAMMY Performers Presenters Announced April 30 2017 Beyonce Swift Boated It s Only Rock amp Roll Top Billboard Hot 100 Rock Songs Billboard Retrieved January 4 2020 a b 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 Dome Malcolm June 26 2016 The Top 10 Best Bon Jovi Songs Louder Sound Retrieved April 1 2022 Weiss Dan October 24 2017 Bon Jovi s 10 Best Songs Critic s Picks Billboard Retrieved April 1 2022 Kohler Chris November 9 2010 Bon Jovi Rock Band Tracks Upgraded with Pro Keys Guitars Wired Retrieved November 9 2012 Snider Mike June 10 2010 Rock Band 3 What s New What s Notable USA Today Retrieved November 8 2012 The 19 greatest key changes in music history ShortList October 1 2017 Retrieved January 13 2018 The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time Rolling Stone September 15 2021 Retrieved June 9 2022 Dome Malcolm July 2006 We ll make it I swear Classic Rock 94 pp 45 46 Bon Jovi Calls George Bush as lunatic mvdbase com Wayne Isham technician videography Cross Road liner notes Bon Jovi Mercury Records 1994 P2 26013 a href Template Cite AV media notes html title Template Cite AV media notes cite AV media notes a CS1 maint others in cite AV media notes link McDonald Hugh Hugh McDonald Official Website Discography www huey mcdonald com Archived at the Wayback Machine of Internet Archive Archived from the original on March 2 2012 Retrieved March 11 2017 a b What Makes This Song Great Ep 111 BON JOVI Livin on a Prayer YouTube Retrieved March 4 2022 Loverboy s Mike Reno Reveals Backing Vocal on Bon Jovi s Livin on a Prayer Loudwire February 9 2022 Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 Illustrated ed Sydney Australian Chart Book p 41 ISBN 0 646 11917 6 Bon Jovi Livin On A Prayer in Dutch Ultratop 50 Radio2 top 30 7 february 1987 in Dutch Top 30 Archived from the original on September 24 2015 Retrieved September 5 2015 Top Singles Volume 45 No 23 March 14 1987 RPM Archived from the original on October 5 2013 Retrieved October 7 2012 Pennanen Timo 2006 Sisaltaa hitin levyt ja esittajat Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 in Finnish 1st ed Helsinki Tammi ISBN 978 951 1 21053 5 Bon Jovi Livin on a Prayer in German GfK Entertainment charts The Irish Charts Search Results Livin On A Prayer Irish Singles Chart Nederlandse Top 40 Bon Jovi in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved September 5 2015 Bon Jovi Livin On A Prayer in Dutch Single Top 100 Bon Jovi Livin On A Prayer Top 40 Singles Bon Jovi Livin On A Prayer VG lista Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 1989 Acts B Rock co za Retrieved September 5 2015 Salaverri Fernando September 2005 Solo exitos ano a ano 1959 2002 1st ed Spain Fundacion Autor SGAE ISBN 84 8048 639 2 Bon Jovi Livin On A Prayer Singles Top 100 Bon Jovi Livin On A Prayer Swiss Singles Chart Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Official Rock amp Metal Singles Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company Retrieved September 5 2015 Bon Jovi Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Bon Jovi Chart History Mainstream Rock Billboard Retrieved November 8 2017 CASH BOX Top 100 Singles Week ending FEBRUARY 14 1987 Cash Box magazine Retrieved September 5 2015 a b Bon Jovi Livin on a Prayer in Finnish Musiikkituottajat Retrieved August 14 2022 Bon Jovi Chart History Hot Rock amp Alternative Songs Billboard Retrieved 9 November 2015 Listy bestsellerow wyroznienia Zwiazek Producentow Audio Video Polish Airplay Top 100 Retrieved May 22 2017 Bon Jovi Chart History Global 200 Billboard Retrieved July 26 2022 Archivum Slagerlistak MAHASZ in Hungarian Single track Top 40 lista Magyar Hanglemezkiadok Szovetsege Retrieved February 16 2023 Top 100 Singles Music Week London England Spotlight Publications 24 January 24 1987 Australian Music Report No 701 28 December 1987 gt National Top 100 Singles for 1987 Kent Music Report via Imgur com Retrieved January 24 2023 Forum ARIA Charts Special Occasion Charts Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts 1980s Australian charts com Hung Medien Archived from the original on October 6 2014 Retrieved September 5 2015 Jaaroverzichten 1987 Flanders in Dutch Ultratop Hung Medien Retrieved September 5 2015 Top 100 Singles of 87 RPM Archived from the original on July 13 2015 Retrieved October 7 2012 European Charts of the Year 1987 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 4 no 51 52 December 26 1987 p 34 Retrieved April 8 2022 Top 100 Jaaroverzicht van 1987 in Dutch Retrieved September 5 2015 Jaaroverzichten Single 1987 in Dutch Single Top 100 Hung Medien Retrieved September 5 2015 Top Selling Singles of 1987 Retrieved September 5 2015 Top Pop Singles of 87 Billboard biz Retrieved October 7 2012 Top Rock Tracks Billboard Vol 99 no 52 Nielsen Business Media Inc December 26 1987 p 16 ISSN 0006 2510 Retrieved December 17 2015 The CASH BOX Year End Charts 1987 Cash Box magazine Retrieved September 5 2015 2008 Year End UK Charts PDF Official Charts Company Retrieved March 13 2021 Hot Rock Songs Year End 2013 Billboard January 2 2013 Retrieved June 24 2020 ARIA Charts Accreditations 2020 Singles PDF Australian Recording Industry Association Retrieved April 23 2021 Canadian single certifications Bon Jovi Livin on a Prayer Music Canada Gold Platin Datenbank Bon Jovi Livin on a Prayer in German Bundesverband Musikindustrie Retrieved April 10 2023 Italian single certifications Bon Jovi Livin on a Prayer in Italian Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana Retrieved September 24 2018 Select 2018 in the Anno drop down menu Select Livin on a Prayer in the Filtra field Select Singoli under Sezione Japanese digital single certifications Bon Jovi Livin on a Prayer in Japanese Recording Industry Association of Japan Retrieved February 28 2021 Select 2017年8月 on the drop down menu British single certifications Bon Jovi Livin on a Prayer British Phonographic Industry Retrieved May 27 2022 American single certifications Bon Jovi Livin on a Prayer Recording Industry Association of America Gas Pump Couple Join Leno On Tonight For An Encore Video Inquisitr The Inquisitr May 12 2013 Retrieved August 20 2015 Bon Jovi Jon May 12 2013 Thank you very much for having so much fun with the song JBJ Johannesburg South Africa YouTube Retrieved August 9 2018 Komonibo Ineye December 5 2019 The Butterfly On The Masked Singer Was Revealed amp It Was The Show s Most Touching Moment Refinery29 Retrieved December 5 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Livin 27 on a Prayer amp oldid 1169307612, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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