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Livin' on the Edge

December 20, 2023

"Livin' on the Edge" is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith. The song was written by Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, and Mark Hudson. It was released in February 1993 as the first single from the band's commercially successful album Get a Grip. The single reached number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, number three on the Cash Box Top 100, and number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart, where it remained for nine weeks. In the UK, the song peaked at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1993.

"Livin' on the Edge"
Single by Aerosmith
from the album Get a Grip
B-side"Don't Stop", "Can't Stop Messin'"
ReleasedFebruary 23, 1993
Length
  • 6:07 (album version)
  • 6:21 (full version)
LabelGeffen
Songwriter(s)Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Mark Hudson
Producer(s)Bruce Fairbairn
Aerosmith singles chronology
"Sweet Emotion (reissue)"
(1991) 		"Livin' on the Edge"
(1993) 		"Eat the Rich"
(1993)
Music video
"Livin' on the Edge" on YouTube
Alternative cover
Strictly limited edition

Background edit

According to the band's autobiography Walk This Way, the song was inspired by the 1992 Los Angeles riots.[1] Tyler also mentions in the book that the song features the sound of a bass drum he stole from his high school; four loud beats are heard from that drum in a pause between the final verse and chorus.

Music video edit

The music video depicts vandalism, grand theft auto, joyriding, airbag crashing, unprotected sex, violence among school-aged youth, cross-dressing teachers, a naked Steven Tyler holding a zipper by his crotch with half his body painted black (to give the effect he pulled down a zipper, unzipping his body) and lead guitarist Joe Perry playing a lead guitar solo in front of an oncoming McCloud River Railroad freight train. The train scene was filmed on Lake Britton Bridge in Shasta County, California, the same bridge where Stand by Me filmed their famous train scene and employs the same Introvision technology. Directed by Marty Callner, the video features actor Edward Furlong.

Reception edit

"Livin' on the Edge" met with dismissive reactions from music critics. Reviewing Get a Grip for Rolling Stone, Mark Coleman cited "Livin' on the Edge" as an example of the album "playing it safe according to strict late-Eighties directives", and added that it "ascends into a soaring, Bon Jovi-esque power chorale; only the gritty guitars on the bridge keep the damn thing grounded."[2] David Browne of Entertainment Weekly also found the song was uncomfortably derivative of Bon Jovi, remarking that it "might have worked better if it didn’t sound like Bon Jovi trying hard to sound like Aerosmith."[3] Both Browne and Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the song's lyrics as a halfhearted, ineffectual attempt at social commentary.[3][4]

The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for the year 1993.[5] The video for the song earned the band a Viewer's Choice award at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards. The video was also voted "Best Video" by Metal Edge readers in the magazine's 1993 Readers' Choice Awards.[6]

Live performances edit

"Livin' on the Edge" has been a staple at Aerosmith concerts ever since its release. During the Get a Grip Tour, the band performed a portion of "She Cried" (a song recorded by Jay and the Americans, among other artists) as the intro to "Livin' on the Edge". Performances often involved Tyler screaming "There ain't no life nowhere" (from the song "I Don't Live Today" by The Jimi Hendrix Experience) and then breathing heavily over a bright light during the brief interlude. "Livin' on the Edge" was performed at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards, the 36th Grammy Awards, and at Woodstock '94. Additionally, the band performed the song as part of its set at the United We Stand benefit concert, held in Washington, D.C. shortly after the September 11 attacks.

Track listings edit

CD single

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Livin' on the Edge" (LP version)Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Mark Hudson6:07
2."Don't Stop"Tyler, Perry, Jim Vallance4:05
3."Flesh" (LP version)Tyler, Perry, Desmond Child5:57

US maxi-CD single

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Livin' on the Edge" (LP version)Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Mark Hudson6:07
2."Livin' on the Edge" (acoustic version)Tyler, Perry, Hudson5:46
3."Livin' on the Edge" (demo)Tyler, Perry, Hudson5:11
4."Don't Stop"Tyler, Perry, Jim Vallance4:06
5."Can't Stop Messin'"Tyler, Perry, Desmond Child3:30

Strictly limited-edition CD single

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Livin' on the Edge" (LP version)Tyler, Perry, Hudson6:07
2."Livin' on the Edge" (acoustic version)Tyler, Perry, Hudson5:41
3."Can't Stop Messin'" (international release LP version)Tyler, Perry, Jack Blades, Tommy Shaw3:21

German CD single

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Livin' on the Edge" (LP version)Steven Tyler, Joe Perry, Mark Hudson6:07
2."Don't Stop"Tyler, Perry, Jim Vallance4:05
3."Flesh" (LP version)Tyler, Perry, Desmond Child5:57
4."Livin' on the Edge" (acoustic version)Tyler, Perry, Hudson5:41

Charts edit

Release history edit

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States February 23, 1993 Maxi-CD Geffen [7]
Japan March 24, 1993 [27]
United Kingdom March 29, 1993
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [28]

See also edit

Livin' In the Fridge

References edit

  1. ^ "The 20 Songs That Can Represent The Career Of Aerosmith". Society of Rock. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  2. ^ Coleman, Mark (May 13, 1993). "Get a Grip by Aerosmith – Album Review". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 16, 2010.
  3. ^ a b Browne, David (April 23, 1993). "Get a Grip Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 14, 2012.
  4. ^ Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Get a Grip – Aerosmith > Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
  5. ^ "Winners: Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal". Grammy.com. Retrieved November 21, 2018.
  6. ^ Metal Edge, June 1994
  7. ^ a b "Aerosmith – Livin' on the Edge". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  8. ^ "Aerosmith – Livin' on the Edge" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  9. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0979." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  10. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 16. April 17, 1993. p. 27. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  11. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  12. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (21.–27. maí)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). May 19, 1993. p. 27. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
  13. ^ "Aerosmith – Livin' on the Edge" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  14. ^ "Aerosmith – Livin' on the Edge". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  15. ^ "Aerosmith – Livin' on the Edge". VG-lista. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  16. ^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 16. April 17, 1993. p. 28. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
  17. ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  18. ^ "Aerosmith – Livin' on the Edge". Singles Top 100. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  19. ^ "Aerosmith – Livin' on the Edge". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  20. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  21. ^ "Aerosmith Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  22. ^ "Aerosmith Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  23. ^ "Aerosmith Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  24. ^ Cashbox Magazine
  25. ^ "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  26. ^ . Archived from the original on November 10, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2010.
  27. ^ "リビング・オン・ジ・エッジ | エアロスミス" [Living on the Edge | Aerosmith] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  28. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. March 27, 1993. p. 27.

External links edit

  • Aerosmith - Livin' on the Edge on YouTube

December 20, 2023
livin, edge, song, american, hard, rock, band, aerosmith, song, written, steven, tyler, perry, mark, hudson, released, february, 1993, first, single, from, band, commercially, successful, album, grip, single, reached, number, billboard, chart, number, three, c. Livin on the Edge is a song by American hard rock band Aerosmith The song was written by Steven Tyler Joe Perry and Mark Hudson It was released in February 1993 as the first single from the band s commercially successful album Get a Grip The single reached number 18 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart number three on the Cash Box Top 100 and number one on the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart where it remained for nine weeks In the UK the song peaked at number 19 on the UK Singles Chart in April 1993 Livin on the Edge Single by Aerosmithfrom the album Get a GripB side Don t Stop Can t Stop Messin ReleasedFebruary 23 1993Length6 07 album version 6 21 full version LabelGeffenSongwriter s Steven Tyler Joe Perry Mark HudsonProducer s Bruce FairbairnAerosmith singles chronology Sweet Emotion reissue 1991 Livin on the Edge 1993 Eat the Rich 1993 Music video Livin on the Edge on YouTubeAlternative coverStrictly limited edition Contents 1 Background 2 Music video 3 Reception 4 Live performances 5 Track listings 6 Charts 6 1 Weekly charts 6 2 Year end charts 7 Release history 8 See also 9 References 10 External linksBackground editAccording to the band s autobiography Walk This Way the song was inspired by the 1992 Los Angeles riots 1 Tyler also mentions in the book that the song features the sound of a bass drum he stole from his high school four loud beats are heard from that drum in a pause between the final verse and chorus Music video editThe music video depicts vandalism grand theft auto joyriding airbag crashing unprotected sex violence among school aged youth cross dressing teachers a naked Steven Tyler holding a zipper by his crotch with half his body painted black to give the effect he pulled down a zipper unzipping his body and lead guitarist Joe Perry playing a lead guitar solo in front of an oncoming McCloud River Railroad freight train The train scene was filmed on Lake Britton Bridge in Shasta County California the same bridge where Stand by Me filmed their famous train scene and employs the same Introvision technology Directed by Marty Callner the video features actor Edward Furlong Reception edit Livin on the Edge met with dismissive reactions from music critics Reviewing Get a Grip for Rolling Stone Mark Coleman cited Livin on the Edge as an example of the album playing it safe according to strict late Eighties directives and added that it ascends into a soaring Bon Jovi esque power chorale only the gritty guitars on the bridge keep the damn thing grounded 2 David Browne of Entertainment Weekly also found the song was uncomfortably derivative of Bon Jovi remarking that it might have worked better if it didn t sound like Bon Jovi trying hard to sound like Aerosmith 3 Both Browne and Allmusic s Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the song s lyrics as a halfhearted ineffectual attempt at social commentary 3 4 The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for the year 1993 5 The video for the song earned the band a Viewer s Choice award at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards The video was also voted Best Video by Metal Edge readers in the magazine s 1993 Readers Choice Awards 6 Live performances edit Livin on the Edge has been a staple at Aerosmith concerts ever since its release During the Get a Grip Tour the band performed a portion of She Cried a song recorded by Jay and the Americans among other artists as the intro to Livin on the Edge Performances often involved Tyler screaming There ain t no life nowhere from the song I Don t Live Today by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and then breathing heavily over a bright light during the brief interlude Livin on the Edge was performed at the 1993 MTV Video Music Awards the 36th Grammy Awards and at Woodstock 94 Additionally the band performed the song as part of its set at the United We Stand benefit concert held in Washington D C shortly after the September 11 attacks Track listings editCD single No TitleWriter s Length1 Livin on the Edge LP version Steven Tyler Joe Perry Mark Hudson6 072 Don t Stop Tyler Perry Jim Vallance4 053 Flesh LP version Tyler Perry Desmond Child5 57 US maxi CD single No TitleWriter s Length1 Livin on the Edge LP version Steven Tyler Joe Perry Mark Hudson6 072 Livin on the Edge acoustic version Tyler Perry Hudson5 463 Livin on the Edge demo Tyler Perry Hudson5 114 Don t Stop Tyler Perry Jim Vallance4 065 Can t Stop Messin Tyler Perry Desmond Child3 30 Strictly limited edition CD single No TitleWriter s Length1 Livin on the Edge LP version Tyler Perry Hudson6 072 Livin on the Edge acoustic version Tyler Perry Hudson5 413 Can t Stop Messin international release LP version Tyler Perry Jack Blades Tommy Shaw3 21 German CD single No TitleWriter s Length1 Livin on the Edge LP version Steven Tyler Joe Perry Mark Hudson6 072 Don t Stop Tyler Perry Jim Vallance4 053 Flesh LP version Tyler Perry Desmond Child5 574 Livin on the Edge acoustic version Tyler Perry Hudson5 41Charts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1993 PeakpositionAustralia ARIA 7 21Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 8 47Canada Top Singles RPM 9 10Europe Eurochart Hot 100 10 29Finland Suomen virallinen lista 11 9Iceland Islenski Listinn Topp 40 12 37Netherlands Single Top 100 13 42New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 14 11Norway VG lista 15 4Portugal AFP 16 3Spain AFYVE 17 12Sweden Sverigetopplistan 18 29Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 19 21UK Singles OCC 20 19US Billboard Hot 100 21 18US Mainstream Rock Billboard 22 1US Mainstream Top 40 Billboard 23 19US Cash Box Top 100 24 3 Year end charts edit Chart 1993 PositionCanada Top Singles RPM 25 81US Billboard Hot 100 26 94Release history editRegion Date Format s Label s Ref United States February 23 1993 Maxi CD Geffen 7 Japan March 24 1993 27 United Kingdom March 29 1993 12 inch vinylCDcassette 28 See also editLivin In the FridgeReferences edit The 20 Songs That Can Represent The Career Of Aerosmith Society of Rock Retrieved May 23 2022 Coleman Mark May 13 1993 Get a Grip by Aerosmith Album Review Rolling Stone Retrieved November 16 2010 a b Browne David April 23 1993 Get a Grip Review Entertainment Weekly Retrieved May 14 2012 Stephen Thomas Erlewine Get a Grip Aerosmith gt Overview Allmusic Rovi Corporation Retrieved November 15 2010 Winners Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal Grammy com Retrieved November 21 2018 Metal Edge June 1994 a b Aerosmith Livin on the Edge ARIA Top 50 Singles Retrieved September 25 2018 Aerosmith Livin on the Edge in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved September 25 2018 Top RPM Singles Issue 0979 RPM Library and Archives Canada Retrieved September 25 2018 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles PDF Music amp Media Vol 10 no 16 April 17 1993 p 27 Retrieved February 1 2020 Nyman Jake 2005 Suomi soi 4 Suuri suomalainen listakirja in Finnish 1st ed Helsinki Tammi ISBN 951 31 2503 3 Islenski Listinn Topp 40 21 27 mai Dagbladid Visir in Icelandic May 19 1993 p 27 Retrieved October 7 2019 Aerosmith Livin on the Edge in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved September 25 2018 Aerosmith Livin on the Edge Top 40 Singles Retrieved September 25 2018 Aerosmith Livin on the Edge VG lista Retrieved September 25 2018 Top 10 Sales in Europe PDF Music amp Media Vol 10 no 16 April 17 1993 p 28 Retrieved February 1 2020 Salaverri Fernando September 2005 Solo exitos ano a ano 1959 2002 1st ed Spain Fundacion Autor SGAE ISBN 84 8048 639 2 Aerosmith Livin on the Edge Singles Top 100 Retrieved September 25 2018 Aerosmith Livin on the Edge Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved September 25 2018 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Retrieved September 25 2018 Aerosmith Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Retrieved September 25 2018 Aerosmith Chart History Mainstream Rock Billboard Retrieved September 25 2018 Aerosmith Chart History Pop Songs Billboard Retrieved September 25 2018 Cashbox Magazine The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993 RPM Retrieved September 25 2018 via Library and Archives Canada Billboard Top 100 1993 Archived from the original on November 10 2006 Retrieved August 27 2010 リビング オン ジ エッジ エアロスミス Living on the Edge Aerosmith in Japanese Oricon Retrieved August 29 2023 New Releases Singles Music Week March 27 1993 p 27 External links editAerosmith Livin on the Edge on YouTube Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Livin 27 on the Edge amp oldid 1172884710, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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