In a recent interview with the magazine People, Jon Bon Jovileader of the iconic band Bon Jovirevealed that initially he was not convinced of the success that the song could have Livin’ on a Prayereven though it would become one of the biggest hits of his musical career.
The band, which has gained worldwide fame since its formation, is promoting its most recent work, forever, which will be released on July 7. In this same context, the vocalist of the legendary rock band took the opportunity to talk about what is possibly the signature song of his group.
Bon Jovi’s initial lack of connection with the song released in 1986 and belonging to the album Slippery When Wet, was due to his perception that it was too simple a topic. “It’s not that I didn’t want to record it, but I wasn’t very impressed the day we wrote it,” the artist recalled.
It was only after working on the bass line on the studio demo that the song came to life, according to the Grammy winner. “At first it was the simple chord progression, melodies and lyrics, but the bass line came to life when we took it to the band and worked on it,” he reflected.
“We knew what we wanted, we just didn’t have it, and then I said, ‘Yeah, okay. A good day. Good day at the office’, and I made a mistake”Bon Jovi admitted. “Is one of the greatest songs in our catalog”, he highlighted.
But this isn’t the only hit whose impact Bon Jovi didn’t predict. Another similar case was that of “Always”, from the album cross road from 1994, which Jon also highlighted as one of those underrated compositions that ended up being chanted by millions of fans.
Livin’ on a Prayerwritten by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and the composer Desmond Childnot only marked a milestone in the band’s career but also played a crucial role in defining their signature sound.
Additionally, the story behind this and other Bon Jovi hits is explored in depth in Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, a documentary series available on Hulu which includes episodes dedicated to the creation of their most iconic songs.
This song, which was initially considered suitable for a film soundtrack, ended up becoming the second single from Slippery When Wet, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
Among other details, the vocalist of the musical group also talked about the passing of the years and what the first years in music were like. “He was willing to outdo everyone, I think that’s what it was about.”said Bon Jovi, 62. “He wasn’t the best at anything. He was just the one who worked the hardest.and it was nothing more than the desire to improve every day,” he added.
Likewise, the rock star revealed a few weeks ago that he was facing problems with your vocal cords, so he opted for corrective surgery after considering retirement. Currently in recovery, the artist stated that he would be willing to step away from the stage if his postoperative vocal ability did not meet high expectations
“If singing isn’t great, if I can’t be the boy I once was… then it’s over.”Jon detailed. “And I’m fine with it,” he specified, implying his positivity in the face of any possible scenario. However, despite the difficulties, the future seems promising for the band, who will soon release a new album for all their fans.
