The Story Behind Bon Jovi's Biggest Hits
Living On A Prayer
Bon Jovi’s biggest hit is ‘Living On A Prayer’, which was released in 1986 and quickly rose to the top of the charts. It has since been heard around the world. In fact, it has become one of the most iconic pop-rock anthems of all time. So, what’s the story behind this legendary song?
Legend has it that Bon Jovi and legendary music producer, Ted Padula, were driving around in Ted’s truck, listening to music and talking about religion when they heard a sermon on the radio. The message was that some people in the world were “living on a prayer.” Right away, Jon felt a spark. He said “That’s it… That’s the title of my next song.”
The two of them immediately began writing the song, which is, of course, about two characters from humble beginnings. They are “Johnny and June”, a young couple praying for better days.
The song quickly rose to the top of the charts and in 2007, the UK’s official chart company declared it the number one ‘biggest selling single of all time’. It has since been featured in various films and TV shows, and is still popular to this day.
It's My Life
Bon Jovi’s other iconic song is ‘It’s My Life’, released in 2000. This song is a much more modern and lyrically deeper than ‘Living On A Prayer’.
This song was written as an ode to the singer's own self-determination and resilience. Bon Jovi wanted to empower those who felt like their lives were being controlled by others. He said "It's an uplifting song about taking control and making your own decisions. It felt like a good song to write at the time and I'm glad it resonated with so many people."
The song quickly rose to the top of the charts, peaking at number 1 in the UK, and remains an inspiring song to many today.
Conclusion
Bon Jovi is one of the world's most famous and iconic pop-rock bands of all time. Their two most popular songs, ‘Living On A Prayer’ and ‘It’s My Life’, still resonate with many people today, with both of the songs continuing to be heard across the world. So, next time you're singing along to either of these songs, think about the stories behind them!