This week for our Top Ten we are counting down the best Bon Jovi songs! Bon Jovi has released 14 studio albums, five compilations and three live albums. They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling American rock bands.
10.
This is our house
Greatest Hits, 2010
It was originally written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child and recorded in 2009. Originally intended as an exclusive track for the forthcoming National League Super Bowl season, it became a hit with Bon Jovi fans who asked for it to be included on the band's new hits collection. Greatest Hits had already been pressed to disk and it was too late to include the song of a physical format but it made its debut proper as a bonus track if one downloaded the Greatest Hits from the band's website.
9.
Have a nice day
Have a Nice Day, 2005
This song is about overcoming adversity - the "Have A Nice" day refrain is a bit ironic. Jon Bon Jovi wrote the song after George W. Bush was reelected as US president in 2004. Bon Jovi campaigned for his opponent, John Kerry, and although he was disappointed that Kerry lost, he wanted to make sure those who disagreed with Bush continued to fight.
8.
Always
Cross Roads, 1994
This was written for the film Romeo Is Bleeding, which explains why the opening lines are:
This Romeo is bleeding
But you can't see his blood
Jon Bon Jovi didn't like the film (he described it as a "B Movie), so he shelved the song and released it later. The film got its title from the Tom Waits song.
7.
You Give Love a Bad Name
Slippery When Wet, 1984
Desmond Child got together with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, and the trio got to work.
In an Interview Child said "The very first day we got together we wrote 'You Give Love a Bad Name.' Then a few weeks later we wrote 'Livin' On A Prayer.' It was a magical collaboration and there was instant chemistry between us."
6.
Keep the Faith
Keep the Faith, 1992
The song was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child. It was released in October 1992 as the lead single from Bon Jovi's fifth album of the same name. It is characterised by its driving bass line and is a live staple for the band.
In 2009, Jon Bon Jovi released a new version of "Keep the Faith" with the Washington DC Youth Choir on the compilation album Oh Happy Day.
5.
It's My Life
Crush, 2000
This was Bon Jovi's first release since 1995. Jon Bon Jovi released a solo album in 1997, but this was the first release by the band in 5 years. It was the first single from the album.
Bon Jovi performed this at the 2001 "Concert For New York" to benefit victims of the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center.
4.
Bad Medicine
New Jersey, 1988
This song compares a love affair to a drug addiction and contains many tongue-in-cheek medical analogies ("There ain't no paramedic gonna save this heart attack"). It was the third #1 that Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora wrote with Desmond Child.
This song was released as the lead single from Bon Jovi's fourth album New Jersey. It was one of the band's most successful songs, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, #17 in the UK and #15 in Australia.
3.
Bed of Roses
Keep the Faith, 1992
Jon Bon Jovi started writing this in a hotel room in Los Angeles. He had the hotel bring a piano that they used for weddings to his room. This is a personal song that Jon feels exposes a lot of the problems he was experiencing at the time.
The first verse reflects what Jon was feeling when he was trying to write this. He was badly hung over from the night before, but had a piano in his hotel room and was determined to write something.
2.
Wanted Dead or Alive
Slippery When Wet, 1984
This song uses Old West cowboy imagery to describe the lonely life of a rock star. At the time, starting with their debut album in 1984, Bon Jovi played about 300 shows a year, using the remaining time to work on albums. When it came time to write for their third album, Slippery When Wet, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora wrote this song about what they knew: performing to lots of people who all blended together after a while.
1.
Livin' on a Prayer
Slippery When Wet, 1984
The follow up to Bon Jovi's #1 hit "You Give Love A Bad Name," this song tells the story of Tommy and Gina, two kids working to make it on their own despite constant hardships. It struck a chord with America's youth, especially the ones from New Jersey. The characters in the song relate to the working class fans Bon Jovi played to. "Tommy" works on the docks, while "Gina" works in a diner.