It's My Life (Bon Jovi song)
"It's My Life" | ||||
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File:Bon jovi-its my life s 1.jpg | ||||
Single by Bon Jovi | ||||
from the album Crush | ||||
Released | May 23, 2000 | |||
Recorded | 1999 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:44 | |||
Label | Island | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | ||||
Bon Jovi singles chronology | ||||
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Audio sample | ||||
It's My Life | ||||
Alternative cover | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"It’s My Life" on YouTube |
"It's My Life" is song by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on May 23, 2000 as the lead single from their seventh studio album, Crush (2000). The song was written and produced by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Max Martin, and co-produced by Luke Ebbin.
The song peaked at number one in Austria, Flemish Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and Switzerland while charting within the top 10 across several other countries and peaking at number 33 in the US Billboard Hot 100. Though the band had moved away from the glam-oriented sound with 1992's Keep the Faith, it has the distinction of making Bon Jovi one of the only bands once classified as 1980s glam metal to reach the top 40 in the 2000s, a testament to how the song managed to introduce the band to a new, younger fanbase. The song is arguably their most well known post-1980s hit single and it has been performed live at almost all shows since its release. This song appeared on Mitsubishi Motors promotional video in 2001-2004.
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 their 1986 hit "Livin' on a Prayer".
"It's My Life" is also notable for its line referencing fellow New Jerseyan 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 till 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
"Nobody had anticipated the song 'It's My Life'," noted Jon Bon Jovi in 2007. "Except us. We knew we had a hit."[3] The song became an anthem that appealed to many fans. As Bon Jovi later stated:[4] "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. At the beginning, Tommy is watching a video of a Bon Jovi concert on his computer when he is ordered by his mother to take out the trash. Suddenly, Gina calls, and Tommy starts running down to his apartment and obediently takes out the trash. He then 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 film Run Lola Run.[5] Jon Bon Jovi met 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.
It is the most viewed video for Bon Jovi on YouTube, with over 740 million views as of April 2019.
Track listings and versions
Major formats released for "It's My Life":
German CD Single Pt. 1 (562754) (Released: May 23, 2000)
UK CD Single Pt. 1 (562752) (Released: 2000)
Australian CD Single (562756) (Released: May 23, 2000)
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German CD Single Pt. 2 (562755) (Released: May 23, 2000)
UK CD Single Pt. 2 (562768) (Released: 2000)
Dutch CD Single (9815274) (Released: January 26, 2004)
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Official versions and remixes
The following versions and remixes were commercially released.
- Main version — 3:46
- Acoustic version — 3:41
- Dave Bascombe Mix — 3:44
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 adapted into new formats. This version was also released as a single.
Awards
Won:
- "Video of the Year" at the VH1 My Music Awards[6]
- Chosen as one of the greatest songs of the year at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards
Nominated:
- "Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" at the 43rd Grammy Awards, but lost to U2's "Beautiful Day"
Charts and certifications
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Decade-end charts
Certifications
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See also
- List of number-one hits of 2000 (Austria)
- List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 2000
- List of number-one hits of 2000 (Italy)
- List of number-one singles of 2000 (Spain)
- List of Romanian Top 100 number ones of the 2000s
- List of number-one singles of the 2000s (Switzerland)
References
- ^ a b Spanos, Brittany (November 10, 2016). "Readers' Poll: 10 Best Bon Jovi Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
- ^ "Jon Bon Jovi recalls "It's My Life"". The Rock Radio. October 21, 2005. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ^ Blake, Mark (August 2007). "My brilliant career: Jon Bon Jovi". Q #253. p. 68.
- ^ "Bon Jovi Popularity Soars in Germany". Deutsche Welle. October 12, 2005. Archived from the original on October 4, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ Alex Gernandt: Bon Jovi, 2. edition, Goldmann, München 2001, ISBN 3-442-42851-3, p 261
- ^ "Creed, Hill Lead My VH1 Awards". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
- ^ "Bon Jovi – It's My Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Brazil" (PDF). ABPD. October 6, 2001. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7292." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7106." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7183." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ Sexton, Paul (July 10, 2000). "Corrs Bump Eminem From Top Of U.K. Chart". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi: It's My Life" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Chart Track: Week 25, 2000". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi – It's My Life". Top Digital Download. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi – It's My Life". VG-lista. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Nielsen Music Control". Archived from the original on October 18, 2007.
- ^ "Music & Media: Portugal" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
- ^ "Topul anului 2000" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ "Bon Jovi – It's My Life". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi – It's My Life". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Latin Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
- ^ "Australian year-end chart". ARIA. 2000. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Hit Parade (2000). "International charts". Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ^ Austrian Charts (2000). "Austrian Annual Chart". Archived from the original on May 22, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ Ultra Top (2000). "Flemish Annual Chart". Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ^ Ultra Top (2000). "Walloon Annual Chart". Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ^ Syndicat national de l'édition phonographique (2000). "French Annual Chart". Disque En France. Archived from the original on March 4, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Universität Würzburg (2000). "German Annual Chart". ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
ger
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2000" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
- ^ Sverigetopplistan (2000). "Swedish charts". Retrieved January 26, 2009.
- ^ Hit Parade (2000). "Swiss Annual Chart". Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Die ultimative Chart Show | Hits des neuen Jahrtausends | Download". RTL.de. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2000 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ "Austrian single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2000". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ "Les Certifications - Bon Jovi - 2000" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bon Jovi; 'It's My Life')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ "Italian single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved June 25, 2018. Select "Tutti gli anni" in the "Anno" drop-down menu. Type "It's My Life" in the "Filtra" field. Select "Singoli" under "Sezione".
- ^ "Top 40 - Jaargang nummer 32" (PDF) (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 3, 2015. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Bon Jovi - It's My Life" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Archived from the original on February 28, 2014. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('It's My Life')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ^ "British single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 28, 2014. Select singles in the Format field. Select Platinum in the Certification field. Type It's My Life in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "American single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
External links
- Bon Jovi — Official Website.
- Template:MetroLyrics song
- Single chart usages for Germany2
- Bon Jovi songs
- 2000 singles
- Number-one singles in Austria
- Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles
- European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
- Number-one singles in Italy
- Dutch Top 40 number-one singles
- Single Top 100 number-one singles
- Number-one singles in Spain
- Number-one singles in Switzerland
- Number-one singles in Romania
- Music videos directed by Wayne Isham
- Song recordings produced by Max Martin
- Songs written by Jon Bon Jovi
- Songs written by Max Martin
- Songs written by Richie Sambora
- 2000 songs
- Island Records singles