It's My Life (Bon Jovi song)

"It's My Life"
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Crush
Released May 23, 2000
Format CD single
Recorded 2000
Genre Hard rock
Length 3:46
Label Island
Writer(s) Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Max Martin
Producer Luke Ebbin, Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"Real Life"
(1999)		 "It's My Life"
(2000)		 "Say It Isn't So"
(2000)
Music sample
It's My Life
Alternative cover

"It's My Life" is Bon Jovi's first single from the album Crush. It was released on May 23, 2000. It was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Max Martin. The song hit #1 across several countries (although it only reached #33 in the US).[1] However, it has the distinction of being the only song from a band once classified as 1980s hair metal to reach the top 40 in the 21st century, a testament to how the song managed to introduce the band to a new, younger fanbase. The song is arguably their biggest post-1980s hit single and has been performed live at almost all shows since its release.

Contents

Background

The song has many classic Bon Jovi features, such as Sambora's use of the talk box, and a line in the second verse "For Tommy and Gina, who never backed down" refers to Tommy and Gina, a fictional working class couple that Bon Jovi and Sambora first wrote about in the 1986 classic "Livin' on a Prayer."

"It's My Life" is also notable for its line referencing Frank Sinatra: "My heart is like an open highway / Like Frankie said / I did it 'My Way'." Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora apparently had a disagreement over those lines, with Bon Jovi recalling:[2]

“ I had just come home from making U-571 and I said "Sinatra made 16 movies and toured 'til he was 80. This is my role model". He [Sambora] said, "You can't write that damn lyric. Nobody cares about Frank Sinatra but you." And I wrote it anyway. ”

Response from fans

The song became an anthem that appealed to many fans. As Jon Bon Jovi later stated:[3]

“ When I was writing "It's My Life", I thought I was writing very self-indulgently about my own life and where I was in it. I didn't realize that the phrase "It's My Life" would be taken as being about everyone--by teenagers, by older guys, mechanics, whatever. "It's my life, and I'm taking control". Everyone kind of feels that way from time to time. ”

Music video

The music video was directed by Wayne Isham. Will Estes (as Tommy) and Shiri Appleby (as Gina) are the two main characters (as it says in the lyrics "for Tommy and Gina, who never back down". At the beginning, Tommy is watching a video of a Bon Jovi concert on his computer. Gina calls, and during the whole video, Tommy runs through the streets of Los Angeles up to the concert, getting chased by dogs, running a marathon, posing for pictures, and jackknifing a truck. The video was inspired by the movie Run Lola Run.[4] Jon Bon Jovi met Will Estes on the set of U-571 and chose him to be in the video. The music video features the 2nd Street Tunnel as one of the main settings.

Track listings and versions

Major formats released for "It's My Life":

German CD Single Pt. 1 (562754)

(Released: May 23, 2000)

  1. "It's My Life" (Main version) — 3:46
  2. "Hush" (Demo version) — 3:48
  3. "You Can't Lose at Love" (Demo version) — 4:44
  4. "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" (Enhanced Video Clip)
Recorded live at the Sanctuary II, New Jersey Web Concert on February 10, 1999. Directed by Tony Bongiovi.
UK CD Single Pt. 1 (562752)

(Released: 2000)

  1. "It's My Life" (Main version) — 3:46
  2. "Hush" (Demo version) — 3:48
  3. "You Can't Lose at Love" (Demo version) — 4:44
Includes Poster.
Australian CD Single (562756)

(Released: May 23, 2000)

  1. "It's My Life" (Main version) — 3:46
  2. "Hush" (Demo version) — 3:48
  3. "You Can't Lose at Love" (Demo version) — 4:44
  4. "I Don't Want to Live Forever" (Demo version) — 4:27
  5. "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" (Enhanced Video Clip)
Recorded live at the Sanctuary II, New Jersey Web Concert on February 10, 2000. Directed by Tony Bongiovi.
German CD Single Pt. 2 (562755)

(Released: May 23, 2000)

  1. "It's My Life" (Dave Bascombe Mix) — 3:44
  2. "Temptation" (Demo version) — 3:48
  3. "I Don't Want to Live Forever" (Demo version) — 4:27
  4. "Livin' on a Prayer" (Enhanced Video Clip)
Recorded live at the Sanctuary II, New Jersey Web Concert on February 10, 2000.
UK CD Single Pt. 2 (562768)

(Released: 2000)

  1. "It's My Life" (Dave Bascombe Mix) — 3:44
  2. "Temptation" (Demo version) — 3:48
  3. "I Don't Want to Live Forever" (Demo version) — 4:27
  4. "It's My Life" (Enhanced Video Clip)
Dutch CD Single (9815274)

(Released: January 26, 2004)

  1. "It's My Life" (Acoustic version) — 3:41
  2. "Wanted Dead or Alive" (Demo version) — 3:42
  3. "Joey" (Live version) — 5:03
Recorded live on January 19, 2003 in Yokohama Arena, Japan.
4. "Wanted Dead or Alive" (Enhanced Video Clip)

Official versions and remixes

The following versions and remixes were commercially released.

Acoustic version

A much slower, acoustic ballad version of the song is featured on Bon Jovi's 2003 album This Left Feels Right, a collection of their greatest hits that were readapted into new formats. This version was also released as a single.

Awards

Won:

Nominated:

Charts and certifications

Weekly charts

Chart (2000)[6] Peak
position
Australian ARIA Singles Chart 5
Austrian Singles Chart 1
Belgian (Flemish) Singles Chart 1
Belgian (Wallon) Singles Chart 6
Canadian Singles Chart[7] 17
Dutch Singles Chart 1
European Hot 100 Singles[8] 1
Finnish Singles Chart 6
French Singles Chart 14
German Singles Chart[9] 2
Irish Singles Chart[10] 5
Italian FIMI Singles Chart 1
Norwegian Singles Chart 3
Swedish Singles Chart 2
Swiss Singles Chart 1
UK Singles Chart[11] 3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[7] 33
U.S. Billboard Mainstream Top 40[7] 14
U.S. Billboard Adult Top 40[7] 11

Annual charts

Country Position Weeks
on chart
Australia[12] 24 16[6]
Austria[13] 2 34[6]
Belgium (Flanders)[14] 8 21[6]
Belgium (Wallonia)[15] 19 19[6]
France[16] 29 38[6]
Germany[9] 5 31[11]
Sweden[17] 5 21[6]
Switzerland[18] 3 33[6]

Decade-end charts

Certifications

Year (2000–2009) Position
German Singles Chart[19] 53
Country Certification Sales/Shipments
Australia[20] Platinum 70,000[21]
Austria[22] Platinum 30,000[23]
France[24] Silver 125,000[24]
Germany[25] Platinum 500,000[26]
Netherlands[27] Gold 40,000[23]
Sweden[17] Platinum 20,000[23]
Switzerland[28] Platinum 50,000[28]

Cover versions

References

  1. ^ "Allmusic (Bon Jovi charts & awards) Billboard singles". http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3734/charts-awards/billboard-singles. 
  2. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi recalls "It's My Life"". The Rock Radio. October 21, 2005. http://www.therockradio.com/2005/10/jon-bon-jovi-recalls-its-my-life.html. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  3. ^ "Bon Jovi Popularity Soars in Germany". Deutsche Welle. October 12, 2005. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,5830,1738112,00.html. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  4. ^ Alex Gernandt: Bon Jovi, 2. edition, Goldmann, München 2001, ISBN 3442428513, p 261
  5. ^ "Creed, Hill Lead My VH1 Awards". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/news/creed-hill-lead-my-vh1-awards-875010.story#/news/creed-hill-lead-my-vh1-awards-875010.story. Retrieved 2010-10-10. 
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Hit Parade (2000). "International charts". http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?key=4271&cat=s. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  7. ^ a b c d Billboard magazine (2000). "Billboard charts". All Music Guide. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p3734/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  8. ^ Sexton, Paul (July 10, 2000). "Corrs Bump Eminem From Top Of U.K. Chart". Billboard magazine. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/search/google/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=875258. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  9. ^ a b Universität Würzburg (2000). "German Annual Chart". ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. http://ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de/~topsi/deu2000/deu_2000t.html. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  10. ^ Irish Music Recording Association (May 25, 2000). "Irish Singles Chart (searchable database)". irishcharts.ie. http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  11. ^ a b Mariah-Charts (2000). "Weekly Charts". http://www.mariah-charts.com/chartdata/PBonJovi.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-10. 
  12. ^ "Australian year-end chart". ARIA. 2000. http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2000.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  13. ^ Austrian Charts (2000). "Austrian Annual Chart". http://www.austriancharts.at/2000_single.asp. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  14. ^ Ultra Top (2000). "Flemish Annual Chart". http://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=2000. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  15. ^ Ultra Top (2000). "Walloon Annual Chart". http://www.ultratop.be/fr/annual.asp?year=2000. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  16. ^ Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique (2000). "French Annual Chart". Disque En France. http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/monopage.xml?id=259376&year=2000&type=2. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  17. ^ a b Sverigetopplistan (2000). "Swedish charts". http://www.sverigetopplistan.se/. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  18. ^ Hit Parade (2000). "Swiss Annual Chart". http://swisscharts.com/year.asp?key=2000. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  19. ^ "Die ultimative Chart Show | Hits des neuen Jahrtausends | Download". RTL.de. http://www.rtl.de/cms/unterhaltung/tv-programm/show/die-ultimative-chartshow/hits-neue-jahrtausend-download.html. Retrieved 2011-10-15. 
  20. ^ Austrian Recording Industry Association (2000). "Australian Certification". http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations-singles-2000.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  21. ^ Australian Recording Industry Association. "Criteria". http://www.aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-accreditations.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  22. ^ International Federation of the Phonographic Industry — Austria (August 2, 2000). "Austrian Certification (searchable database)". ifpi.at. http://www.ifpi.at/?section=goldplatin. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  23. ^ a b c Recording Industry Association of Japan (2005). "Standard for Certifying Awards of Countries" (PDF). riaj.or.jp. http://www.riaj.or.jp/e/issue/pdf/RIAJ2005E.pdf. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  24. ^ a b Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique (2000). "French Certification". Charts In France. http://www.chartsinfrance.net/certifications/artiste-31.htm. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  25. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bon Jovi; 'It%27s+My+Life')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=It%2527s%2BMy%2BLife&strInterpret=Bon+Jovi&strTtArt=alle&strAwards=checked. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  26. ^ International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (2000). "Criteria" (PDF). musikindustrie.de. http://www.musikindustrie.de/uploads/media/TT-Formular_blanko_02.pdf. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  27. ^ NVPI (2000). "Dutch Certification (searchable database)". http://www.nvpi.nl/nvpi/pagina.asp?pagkey=60461. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  28. ^ a b Hit Parade (2000). "Swiss Certification". http://hitparade.ch/awards.asp?year=2000. Retrieved 2009-01-26. 
  29. ^ [1] The Washington Post.

External links

Preceded by
"Oops!... I Did It Again" by Britney Spears
"Vamos a Bailar (Esta Vida Nueva)" by Paola & Chiara		 Italian FIMI Singles Chart number-one single
May 18, 2000 - June 15, 2000
June 22, 2000 - July 6, 2000		 Succeeded by
"Vamos a Bailar (Esta Vida Nueva)" by Paola & Chiara
Preceded by
"Oops!... I Did It Again" by Britney Spears		 Dutch Singles Chart number-one single
May 20, 2000 - June 10, 2000		 Succeeded by
"Jij bent de zon" by Jop
Swiss Singles Chart number-one single
May 28, 2000 - June 4, 2000		 Succeeded by
"Freestyler" by Bomfunk MC's
Preceded by
"Ich vermiss' dich... (wie die Hölle)" by Zlatko		 Austrian Singles Chart number-one single
June 4, 2000 - June 18, 2000
Preceded by
"Oops!... I Did It Again" by Britney Spears		 Eurochart Hot 100 Singles number-one single
June 24, 2000 - July 22, 2000		 Succeeded by
"The Real Slim Shady" by Eminem
Preceded by
"Freestyler" by Bomfunk MC's		 Belgium (Flemish) Singles Chart number-one single
June 24, 2000 - July 22, 2000		 Succeeded by
"They Stood Up for Love" by Live
Bon Jovi
Studio albums
Compilation albums
Live albums
Solo albums
Video albums
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Related articles
Labels
 Book:Bon Jovi ·  Category:Bon Jovi ·  Portal:Rock music
Bon Jovi singles discography
Bon Jovi
"Runaway" • "She Don't Know Me" • "Burning for Love" (Japan only)
7800° Fahrenheit
Slippery When Wet
New Jersey
Keep the Faith
Cross Road
These Days
Crush
"It's My Life" • "Say It Isn't So" • "Thank You For Loving Me"
One Wild Night Live 1985–2001
Bounce
"Everyday" • "Misunderstood" • "The Distance" (Japan only) • "All About Lovin' You" • "Bounce" (promo single)
This Left Feels Right
"It's My Life (2003)" • "Wanted Dead or Alive (2003)" (promo single)
100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong
"The Radio Saved My Life Tonight" (promo single)
Have a Nice Day
"Have a Nice Day" • "Who Says You Can't Go Home" (with Jennifer Nettles) • "Welcome to Wherever You Are" • "I Want to Be Loved" (promo single)
Lost Highway
The Circle
Greatest Hits
"What Do You Got?" • "No Apologies"" • "This Is Our House" (promo single)
Other singles
"Edge of a Broken Heart" (Disorderlies soundtrack) • "Good Guys Don't Always Wear White"(promo single) • "Please Come Home for Christmas" • "Real Life" (EDtv soundtrack)
Jon Bon Jovi solo singles
Richie Sambora solo singles
"Ballad of Youth" • "One Light Burning" • "Stranger in this Town" • "Hard Times Come Easy" • "In It for Love" • "Undiscovered Soul" • "Made in America"
 Book:Bon Jovi ·  Category:Bon Jovi ·  Portal:Rock music