THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

325-Bon Jovi-Livin’ on a Prayer.

1986-Number 4 single.

Best Bit-At 0.21. Every mobile DJ, and every party DJ, probably plays this, religiously.

Jon Bon Jovi was born John Francis Bongiovi Jr. on March 2nd, 1962, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, United States, he is one of the founding members of Bon Jovi, who were founded in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey, New York. The band remain active with Jon Bon Jovi, and David Bryan being the only two remaining members from the original line up (see also best songs 959.) With record sales well in excess of 100.0000 they are one of the worlds best selling artists. Music critics have credited them with bridging the gap between Heavy Metal and Pop.

Bon Jovi’s first two studio Albums, their self titled debut from 1984, and ‘7800 Fahrenheit’ from 1985, were a mixture of Hard Rock and Glam Metal, with both achieving moderate success. The band realised that if they were to take things to the next level they would need to create a more radio friendly sound. This led to the hiring of the songwriter and music producer Desmond Child, who already had a proven track record. Child who was born John Charles Barrett on October 28th, 1953, in Gainesville, Florida, United States, had previously worked with the American Rock band Kiss, co-writing their 1979 Billboard Number 11 hit ‘I Was Made for Lovin’ You.’ Child would go on to write for dozens of other artists including Alice Cooper, and Meatloaf. Child was also the co-writer of ‘Livin’ la Vida Loca,’ the U.S., and UK Number 1 hit in 1999 for Ricky Martin.

‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ was co-written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child, and was the second single released from Bon Jovi’s third studio Album ‘Slippery When Wet’ from 1986. The first single release ‘You Give Love a Bad Name’ which is also credited to all three, had given Bon Jovi their first American Number 1 single, a fete which Livin’ on a Prayer replicated.

‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ is the story of Tommy and Gina who are a working class couple struggling to make ends meet. Tommy loses his job as a dockworker because of a strike, while Gina works as a waitress in a diner. The characters Tommy and Gina were loosely based on a real life situation that Desmond Child had encountered in the 1970’s with his then girlfriend Maria Vidal, with whom he was living. At that time Child was a taxi driver, and Vidal was a singing waitress in a diner. Maria Vidal who would go on to have a 1984 UK Number 11 hit with ‘Body Rock’ was nicknamed ‘Gina’ due to her physical resemblance to the Italian actress and photographer Gina Lollobrigida. In 2000 Jon Bon Jovi reintroduced Tommy and Gina in the song ‘It’s My Life.’

‘Tommy’s got his six string in hock, now he’s holding in what he used to make talk, so tough, it’s tough. Gina dreams of running away, when she cries in the night, Tommy whispers, ‘Baby it’s okay, someday,’