Midnight in Chelsea

"Midnight in Chelsea" is a song by American rock singer Jon Bon Jovi, released as the first single from his second solo album, Destination Anywhere (1997), in June 1997. The song is written and produced by Bon Jovi and Dave Stewart, and is Bon Jovi's highest-charting solo single in the UK, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart. The song also charted at number 29 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40, number 30 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart, and number 11 in Canada. Its highest peak was in Spain, where it reached number one for two weeks.

"Midnight in Chelsea"
Single by Jon Bon Jovi
from the album Destination Anywhere
Written	March 1996 (London)
Released	June 2, 1997 (1997-06-02)
Recorded	December 1996
Studio	Right Track (New York City)
Genre	Rock
Length	4:53
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Jon Bon Jovi, Dave Stewart
Producer(s)	Dave Stewart, Jon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi singles chronology
"Never Say Die" (1991) "Midnight in Chelsea" (1997) "Queen of New Orleans" (1997)
Music video
"Midnight in Chelsea" on YouTube

Music video

The song's video was shot in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, with the Hotel Chelsea as a primary location. However, the song is actually about the London neighbourhood from which the Manhattan locale indirectly took its name, as evidenced by lyrics that refer to London topics such as Sloane Rangers, The Sun and "a big red bus". The usual description of lyrics do not include capital letters for The Sun. The music video was released on the DVD Destination Anywhere: The Film.

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "You may need to double-check the CD single sleeve to remind yourself that this is, in fact, a Jon Bon Jovi recording. The man who has made millions of teenage girls swoon with his pop/metal musings previews his forthcoming solo outing, "Destination Anywhere", with a sharply time-sensitive slice of funk/rock. This richly textured track opens with a shuffling, hip-hop-spiked drum loop that will unlock many a top 40 door without turning off faithful mainstream rock stations. However, Bon Jovi and co-producer Dave Stewart wisely steer down an appropriately guitar-paved road after the first few bars of the song. Factor in a markedly more mature and restrained vocal and a maddeningly memorable la-la-la chorus, and you have the makings of a smash that will ring in a bright new career phase for the artist."^[1] David Sinclair from The Times viewed the song as a "middle-of-the-road taster" from Bon Jovi's solo album.^[2]

Track listings

All songs were written by Jon Bon Jovi. Additional writers are credited in parentheses.

• UK and Australian CD1^[3]

1. "Midnight in Chelsea" (single edit) (Dave Stewart) – 4:03
2. "Sad Song Night" (Eric Bazillian, Desmond Child) – 4:11
3. "August 7" (acoustic version) – 4:12
4. "Midnight in Chelsea" (album version) (Stewart) – 4:58

• UK and Australian CD2; Japanese CD single^[4][5]

1. "Midnight in Chelsea" (single edit) (Dave Stewart) – 4:03
2. "Drive" (demo) – 4:14
3. "Every Word Was a Piece of My Heart" (Dave Stuart mix) – 4:39
4. "Midnight in Chelsea" (album version) (Stewart) – 4:58

• UK cassette single and European CD single^[6][7]

1. "Midnight in Chelsea" (single edit) (Stewart) – 4:03
2. "Midnight in Chelsea" (album version) (Stewart) – 4:58

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Destination Anywhere album booklet.^[8]

Recording

• Written in London, March 1996
• Recorded and produced at Right Track Studios (New York City), December 1996
• Mixed at A&M Studios (Hollywood, California)
• Remixed at Quad Studios (New York City)
• Mastered at Sterling Sound (New York City)

Personnel

Jon Bon Jovi – writing, vocals, backing vocals, guitar, production Dave Stewart – writing, guitar, production Zhana Saunders – backing vocals Hugh McDonald – bass Alex Silva – keyboards, programming Kenny Aronoff – drums Teese Gohl – string arrangement

Obie O'Brien – mixing, engineering, remixing Jim Labinski – mixing assistant Peter Karam – engineering assistant Ann Mincieli – remixing assistant Mike Rew – remixing assistant George Marino – mastering

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1997) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[9] 17 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[10] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[11] 24 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[12] 11 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[13] 14 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[14] 4 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[15] 2 Germany (Official German Charts)^[16] 9 Hungary (Mahasz)^[17] 6 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[18] 21 Ireland (IRMA)^[19] 13 Italy (Musica e dischi)^[20] 13 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[21] 9 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[22] 16 Norway (VG-lista)^[23] 14 Scotland (OCC)^[24] 4 Spain (AFYVE)^[25] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[26] 49 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[27] 5 UK Singles (OCC)^[28] 4 UK Rock & Metal (OCC)^[29] 1 US Radio Songs (Billboard)^[30] 57 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[31] 29 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[32] 30

Year-end charts Chart (1997) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[33] 80 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[34] 84 Romania (Romanian Top 100)^[35] 88 UK Singles (OCC)^[36] 145

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref(s).
United States	May 13, 1997	Adult contemporary contemporary hit radio	Mercury	^[37]^[38]
United Kingdom	June 2, 1997	CD cassette		^[39]
Japan	June 4, 1997	CD		^[40]

References

1. Flick, Larry (May 24, 1997). "Reviews & Previews: Singles" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 21. p. 54. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
2. Sinclair, David (June 7, 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times.
3. Midnight in Chelsea (UK & Australian CD1 liner notes). Jon Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1997. MERCD 488, 574 517-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
4. Midnight in Chelsea (UK & Australian CD2 liner notes). Jon Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1997. MERCX 488, 574 519-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
5. Midnight in Chelsea (Japanese CD single liner notes). Jon Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1997. PHCR-8402.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
6. Midnight in Chelsea (UK cassette single sleeve). Jon Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1997. MERMC 488, 574 516-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
7. Midnight in Chelsea (European CD single liner notes). Jon Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1997. 574 516-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
8. Destination Anywhere (European CD album booklet). Jon Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1997. 536 011-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
9. "Jon Bon Jovi – Midnight in Chelsea". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
10. "Jon Bon Jovi – Midnight in Chelsea" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
11. "Jon Bon Jovi – Midnight in Chelsea" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3274." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
13. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 3269." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
14. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 26. June 28, 1997. p. 18. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
15. "Jon Bon Jovi: Midnight in Chelsea" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
16. "Jon Bon Jovi – Midnight in Chelsea" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
17. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 32. August 9, 1997. p. 14. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
18. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12.6. '97 – 18.6. '97)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). June 13, 1997. p. 20. Retrieved October 3, 2019.
19. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Midnight in Chelsea". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
20. "Hits of the World – Italy" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 26. June 28, 1997. p. 48. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
21. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 25, 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
22. "Jon Bon Jovi – Midnight in Chelsea" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
23. "Jon Bon Jovi – Midnight in Chelsea". VG-lista. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
24. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
25. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
26. "Jon Bon Jovi – Midnight in Chelsea". Singles Top 100. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
27. "Jon Bon Jovi – Midnight in Chelsea". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
28. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
29. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
30. "Jon Bon Jovi Chart History (Radio Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
31. "Jon Bon Jovi Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
32. "Jon Bon Jovi Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
33. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
34. "RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 15, 2018.
35. (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on September 22, 2005. Retrieved September 19, 2017.
36. (in Polish). Archived from the original on June 4, 2015. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
37. Newman, Melinda (May 24, 1997). "Bon Jovi Changes 'Destination'". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 21. p. 18. 'Midnight In Chelsea,' went to top 40 and AC radio the second week of May...
38. "New Releases". Radio & Records. No. 1196. May 9, 1997. p. 33.
39. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. May 31, 1997. p. 33. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
40. "ミッドナイト・イン・チェルシー | ジョン・ボン・ジョヴィ" [Midnight in Chelsea | Jon Bon Jovi] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 2, 2023.

External links

• Jon Bon Jovi - Midnight In Chelsea (Long Version) on YouTube