Jon Bon Jovi Recalls How ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ Almost Was Cut From ‘Slippery When Wet’
Bon Jovi‘s number one hit song “Livin’ On A Prayer” is a rock and roll standard now, but Jon Bon Jovi wasn’t always convinced the arena rocker was going to be the epic sing-a-long it is today.
JBJ recalled writing the song per Ultimate Classic Rock during a Q&A on the current Runaway to Paradise cruise and said the track almost didn’t make Bon Jovi’s 1986 breakthrough Slippery When Wet.
Bon Jovi said, “Ultimately, the song was so unique. It didn’t sound like anything. You know, ‘Runaway’ had eight notes, like a lot of songs on the radio at the time. Even ‘[You Give Love a] Bad Name’ was reminiscent of other songs that were on the radio. ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’ didn’t sound like anything. So, I was sort of indifferent. I thought, ‘Well, it’s different, but is it a rock song? Is it us?”
He continued, “Granted, we wrote it on acoustic guitars, so there was no drum beat or anything. There was no bass line.” Once a rhythm track was established, however, JBJ came around on the song.
Bon Jovi has been in a very sharing mood on this cruise. Earlier in its voyage, he revealed the new Bon Jovi would be titled Bon Jovi: 2020. Jon quipped of the title, “It’s an election year, so why not? I couldn’t do any worse.” The album will also explore topical issues including veterans dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and mass shootings, particularly the recent shootings in El Paso, Texas and Dayton, Ohio.
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