You Give Love a Bad Name

"You Give Love a Bad Name" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi, released as the first single from their 1986 album Slippery When Wet. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child about a woman who has jilted her lover, the song reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on November 29, 1986, and became the band's first number one hit. In 2007, the song reentered the charts at No. 29 after Blake Lewis performed it on American Idol.

Not to be confused with Shot Through the Heart (Bon Jovi Song).
For the album by GG Allin, see You Give Love a Bad Name (album).
"You Give Love a Bad Name"
Artwork for U.S. vinyl single, also used for the album Slippery When Wet
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Slippery When Wet
B-side
  • "Raise Your Hands" (US)
  • "Let It Rock" (UK)
ReleasedJuly 23, 1986
Recorded1986
Genre
Length3:42
LabelMercury
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Bruce Fairbairn
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"Silent Night"
(1985)		 "You Give Love a Bad Name"
(1986)		 "Livin' on a Prayer"
(1986)
Alternative cover

Despite the lyrics of the chorus, the song should not be confused with "Shot Through the Heart", an unrelated song from Bon Jovi's 1984 self-titled debut album.[5]

Composition

The tune of "You Give Love a Bad Name" was originally recorded by Bonnie Tyler under the title "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)" with different lyrics commissioned by its producer Jim Steinman. Dissatisfied with its success in the US and the UK (which he attributed to reticence on the part of her label in promoting it), Desmond Child re-wrote the song with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.[6]

The song is written in the key of C minor and has a tempo of 123 BPM.

The album version of the song ends with the title being repeated until it fades.

Upon the release of the Ava Max song "Kings & Queens" in 2020, comparisons were drawn with that song, "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)", and reviews highlighted Desmond Child's credit as a songwriter for "Kings & Queens".[7]

Reception

Cash Box called it a "jackhammer single" that could push Bon Jovi to massive success and said that "Jon Bon Jovi’s grinding vocal and the anthemic production spell A-O-R."[8] Billboard called it "hard rock, raspy and aggressive."[9]

In a retrospective analysis, Chris Molanphy expressed his disgust at the song, calling its lyrics "sub-Meat Loaf" (Meat Loaf being best known for his work with Steinman).[10] However, he did credit it for introducing the genre of hair metal to the mainstream. He also noted in another commentary how the song shared many similarities with Steinman's songs due to Child's involvement, saying "Steinman might as well have [produced it]", due to Child using devices such as its verbose title and anthemic chorus, likening it to "'Bat Out of Hell' infused with Aqua Net".[11]

Music video

The music video for the song used all-color concert footage (the only all-color video song from Slippery When Wet) and photogenic shots primarily of Jon Bon Jovi, as well as other band members in concert. This video was filmed at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.

Bon Jovi was now being managed by Doc McGhee, who realized that Bon Jovi needed a video for MTV. Doc hired video director Wayne Isham, who had directed videos for Doc's other band, Mötley Crüe. The two bands were competitive with each other and Mötley Crüe felt betrayed that Wayne would direct one of Bon Jovi's videos.

Wayne had the band's name painted on the stage and made sure that the band did not see it until they began shooting.

Bon Jovi had been opening for 38 Special, but became a headlining act after the video debuted.

Track listing
  • 7" single
  1. "You Give Love a Bad Name" – 3:53
  2. "Raise Your Hands" – 4:17
  • 12" single
  1. "You Give Love a Bad Name" – 3:53
  2. "Raise Your Hands" – 4:17
  3. "Borderline" – 4:10
  • 7" picture disc single
  1. "You Give Love a Bad Name" – 3:53
  2. "Let It Rock" – 5:24

Audio

  1. "Let It Rock" – 5:24
  2. "Raise Your Hands" – 4:17
  3. "Without Live" – 3:32
  4. "You Give Love a Bad Name" – 3:53

Video

  1. "You Give Love a Bad Name" – 3:53

Charts

Sales and certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[38] Gold 50,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[39] Platinum 90,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[40] Gold 250,000‡
Italy (FIMI)[41] Platinum 100,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Platinum 600,000‡

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Industry Awards

1986 Billboard Video Music Conference[43]

Nominee/work Eighth Annual Video Music Awards Result
Bon Jovi Best Overall Video Nominated
Bon Jovi Best Performance Group Nominated
Bon Jovi Best Concert Performance Nominated
Bon Jovi Best Audio Nominated
Bon Jovi Best Longform Program Nominated


Use in media and legacy

The song was used in the game Guitar Hero 5, episodes of Family Guy, 30 Rock, and The Vampire Diaries Season 4 finale, Graduation.[44]

It was placed at No. 20 on VH1's list of the 100 Best Hard Rock Songs.[4]

See also

References
  1. Popoff, Martin (2014). The Big Book of Hair Metal: The Illustrated Oral History of Heavy Metal's Debauched Decade. Voyageur Press. p. 110. ISBN 978-0-7603-4546-7.
  2. Huey, Steve. "You Give Love A Bad Name - Bon Jovi | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  3. "Reviews > Singles > Pop > Recommended > Bon Jovi – You Give Love a Bad Name (3:53)". Billboard. Vol. 98, no. 35. August 30, 1986. p. 83. ISSN 0006-2510.
  4. Stosuy, Brandon (January 5, 2009). "VH1's 100 Greatest Hard Rock Songs". Stereogum. Retrieved April 22, 2019.
  5. Schonfeld, Zach (May 10, 2018). "Every Bon Jovi Album, Ranked: Celebrating 'Slippery When Wet,' 'New Jersey,' and All the Rest". Newsweek. IBT Media. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  6. Curtis Child (August 15, 2013). "Desmond Child Special". YouTube. Google Inc. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved January 26, 2015.
  7. "Single Review: Ava Max – Kings & Queens". A Bit of Pop Music. March 13, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  8. "Single Releases" (PDF). Cash Box. August 23, 1986. p. 11. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  9. "Reviews". Billboard. August 30, 1986. p. 83. Retrieved 2022-08-04.
  10. Molanphy, Chris (4 June 2012). "First Worsts: Remembering When Bon Jovi Gave "Hair Metal" A Bad Name". The Village Voice. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  11. Molanphy, Chris (16 October 2020). "If a Hit Had Operatic Drama—From Meat Loaf to Celine Dion—Chances Are, Jim Steinman Made It". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  12. "Australian Top 50 (ARIA) Singles Chart: Week ending 29th March, 1987". imgur.com. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  13. "Bon Jovi – You Give Love a Bad Name" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  14. "Bon Jovi – You Give Love a Bad Name" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  15. "Radio2 top 30: 13 december 1986" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  16. "Top Singles - December 27, 1986". RPM. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  17. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  18. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – You Give Love a Bad Name". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 19, 2014.
  19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bon Jovi" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
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  22. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  23. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (B)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  24. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  25. "Bon Jovi – You Give Love a Bad Name". Singles Top 100.
  26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  27. "Bon Jovi Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  28. "Bon Jovi – Chart history". Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks for Bon Jovi. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  29. "CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending DECEMBER 6, 1986". Cash Box magazine. Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  30. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved May 29, 2017.
  31. "Jaaroverzichten 1986 (Flanders)" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  32. "Top 100 Singles of '86". RPM. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  33. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986" (in Dutch). Retrieved November 9, 2015.
  34. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1986" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
  35. "Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 27 December 1986. p. Y-21. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  36. "The CASH BOX Year-End Charts: 1986 – TOP 100 POP SINGLES (As published in the December 27, 1986, issue)". Cash Box magazine. Retrieved November 11, 2015.
  37. "Top 100 Singles of '87". RPM. Retrieved October 7, 2012.
  38. "Canadian single certifications – Bon Jovi – You Give Love a Bad Name". Music Canada.
  39. "Danish single certifications – Bon Jovi – You Give Love a Bad Name". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  40. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bon Jovi; 'You Give Love a Bad Name')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  41. "Italian single certifications – Bon Jovi – You Give Love a Bad Name" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  42. "British single certifications – Bon Jovi – You Give Love a Bad Name". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  43. "Billboard Video Music Conference" (PDF). Billboard. 1 November 1986. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  44. "Bon Jovi". IMDb.
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