Livin' On A Prayer

About this song

Co-writer Desmond Child says Jon Bon Jovi was unsure about including the song on Slippery When Wet, feeling it was too sentimental for the band's hard-edged arena rock direction, until Child and Richie Sambora pushed to keep it. It was released as the album's second single in late 1986 and became the band's second straight US chart-topper in early 1987, also reaching the top 5 in several countries overseas. The song re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 in November 2013 after a fan's dancing video from Boston's TD Garden was re-uploaded to YouTube.

What it's about

Jon Bon Jovi has said the song follows two young people, Tommy and Gina, as their love and ambitions help them through life's hard times. He described them as representing a working-class lifestyle rather than specific people.

Fun facts

• Sampled in 9 other songs, like “Mina, eu já gozei by LUCKHAOS”.
• Covered 33 times, including “Livin' on a Prayer by The Audition”.
• Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child.
• Produced by Bruce Fairbairn.
• Recorded at Little Mountain.