Bad Medicine (song)

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"Bad Medicine"
"Bad Medicine" cover
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album New Jersey
B-side(s) "99 in the Shade"
Released 1988
Format CD Single
Recorded 1988
Genre Rock
Length 5:16
Label Mercury Records
Writer(s) Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child
Producer(s) Bruce Fairbairn
Chart positions
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"Edge of a Broken Heart" (1987) "Bad Medicine" (1988) "Born to Be My Baby" (1988)

Bad Medicine is a number-one single by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child. It was released in 1988 as the lead single from the band's massively successful album New Jersey. The song is 5 minutes and 16 seconds long.

Contents

[edit] Success

The song climbed to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 on the Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, #17 in the U.K. and #15 in Australia.

[edit] Lyrical Interpretation

The song compares a love affair to a drug addiction ("now this boy's addicted cause your kiss is the drug", "your love is like bad medicine, bad medicine is what I need") and also has many tongue-in-cheek medical analogies ("Let's play doctor, baby cure my disease"; "There ain't no paramedic gonna save this heart attack"; "I need a respirator cause I'm runnin' out of breath").

[edit] Song Structure

The song is highlighted by a near constant keyboard playing by David Bryan that is well defined in the beginning of the song and at several interludes, as well as loud guitar playing by Richie Sambora, background singing in the bridge and chorus, and a loud fast-paced delivery of lyrics by Jon Bon Jovi. It is one of the more hard rocking and fun-loving songs on New Jersey.

Towards the end of the song, Jon says he's got to go and he's runnin' out of breath, but then says "I'm not done...one more time, with feelin'" and the band finishes out the song with another repeat of the chorus.

[edit] Video

Bon Jovi pose for a live shot in the fan-fiendly video for "Bad Medicine".
Enlarge
Bon Jovi pose for a live shot in the fan-fiendly video for "Bad Medicine".

There are two videos for the song, one with the band live in concert, and the more well-known live video in which a crowd of young people waiting in line to get into the Bon Jovi live video shoot is asked by Sam Kinison if they (the public) "can make a better Bon Jovi video than these guys can." The crowd gives a very enthusiastic response, and members of the crowd are given hand-held cameras and invited onstage to help shoot the video.

The video was very groundbreaking at the time for using such a fan-inclusive approach to making a music video, and captured live shots not often captured by regular video crews.

The video was in color, although the quality given by the hand-held video cameras was not as superb.

[edit] Legacy

"Bad Medicine" continues to see considerable airplay on many rock radio stations and has always been a live staple at Bon Jovi concerts. In concert, an approximately 1-minute interlude of the classic "Shout!" is incorporated into the middle of the song.

The song was featured on the band's compilation album Cross Road, the live album One Wild Night: Live 1985-2001, the acoustic collection This Left Feels Right, as well as several concert videos including Live From London and The Crush Tour.

[edit] Trivia

"Bad Medicine" was featured in the 2001 film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, in the scene where Jay (Jason Mewes) first sees Justice (Shannon Elizabeth) and fantasizes about her.

Preceded by
"Wild, Wild West" by The Escape Club
Billboard Hot 100 number one single
November 19, 1988
Succeeded by
"Baby, I Love Your Way / Freebird Medley" by Will to Power
Bon Jovi
Members
Jon Bon Jovi - Richie Sambora - David Bryan - Tico Torres
Alec John Such - Hugh McDonald
Discography
Albums and extended plays: Bon Jovi - 7800° Fahrenheit - Slippery When Wet - New Jersey -
Keep the Faith - These Days - Crush - Bounce - Have a Nice Day
Compilations: Cross Road - One Wild Night: Live 1985-2001 - This Left Feels Right - 100 Million Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong
DVDs and videos: Live From London - The Crush Tour - This Left Feels Right
Billboard Top 40 Singles: "Runaway - "You Give Love a Bad Name" - "Livin' on a Prayer" - "Wanted Dead or Alive" - "Never Say Goodbye"
"Edge of a Broken Heart" - "Bad Medicine" - "Born to Be My Baby" - "I'll Be There For You" - "Lay Your Hands On Me" - "Living in Sin"
"Keep the Faith" - "Bed of Roses" - "In These Arms" - "Always" - "This Ain't a Love Song" - "It's My Life"
"Who Says You Can't Go Home"
Concert Tours
Slippery When Wet Tour - Jersey Syndicate Tour - Keep the Faith Tour - These Days Tour - Crush Tour - Bounce Tour - Have a Nice Day Tour
Related Content
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Category:Bon Jovi albums - Category:Bon Jovi songs