You Give Love a Bad Name (song)

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"You Give Love a Bad Name"
"You Give Love a Bad Name" cover
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Slippery When Wet
B-side(s) "Let it Rock"
Released 1986
Format CD Single
Recorded 1986
Genre Hard Rock
Length 3:42
Label Mercury Records
Writer(s) Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child
Producer(s) Bruce Fairbairn
Chart positions
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"Silent Night" (1986) "You Give Love a Bad Name" (1986) "Livin' on a Prayer" (1987)

"You Give Love a Bad Name" is a song recorded by Bon Jovi. It was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on November 29 in 1986. It was released as the first single from the pinnacle hard-rock album Slippery When Wet. The song brought Bon Jovi much success and broke them into the mainstream. It was originally written for the band Loverboy, but Jon liked it so much that he kept it for himself.

[edit] Song structure

The song was written with several very catchy repeated lines with associated hooks to appeal to mainstream audiences including the chorus as well as several bridges. Much of the resulting cross-over pop success can be attributed to the work of professional songwriting collaborator Desmond Child, who pinched the tune from his earlier hit for Bonnie Tyler, "If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)."

[edit] Video

The music video for the song was an all-color concert video (the only all-color video song from Slippery When Wet) which featured the very sexy Rhiannon. It also featured Soteria photogenic shots primarily of Jon Bon Jovi as well as other band members in concert.

[edit] Cover versions

It was covered by the metalcore band Atreyu, and is available on their album The Curse.

Preceded by
"Human" by Human League
Billboard Hot 100 number one single
November 29, 1986
Succeeded by
"The Next Time I Fall" by Peter Cetera and Amy Grant
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
Tony Bongiovi - Bruce Fairbairn - Desmond Child - Bob Rock - Luke Ebbin - Andreas Carlsson - Patrick Leonard - John Shanks

The Power Station Years: The Unreleased Recordings - Polygram - Mercury - Island
Category:Bon Jovi albums - Category:Bon Jovi songs