Music video by Bon Jovi performing You Give Love A Bad Name. (C) 1986 The Island Def Jam Music Group
Lyrics:
[Intro]
Shot through the heart and you’re to blame
Darling, you give love a bad name
[Verse 1]
An angel’s smile is what you sell
You promise me heaven, then put me through hell
Chains of love, got a hold on me
When passion’s a prison, you can’t break free
Whoa! You’re a loaded gun
Yeah, whoa, there’s nowhere to run
No one can save me, the damage is done
[Chorus]
Shot through the heart and you’re to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
Yeah you give love a bad name
[Verse 2]
Paint your smile on your lips
Blood red nails on your fingertips
A school boy’s dream, you act so shy
Your very first kiss was your first kiss goodbye
Whoa! You’re a loaded gun
Whoa! There’s nowhere to run
No one can save me, the damage is done
[Chorus]
Shot through the heart and you’re to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
Yeah you give love a bad name
[Guitar Solo]
[Chorus]
Shot through the heart and you’re to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
Shot through the heart and you’re to blame
You give love a bad name
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name
You give love
You give love a bad name
You give love
You give love a bad name
You give love
You give love a bad name
You give love
“You Give Love a Bad Name” is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi, released as the first single from their 1986 album Slippery When Wet. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child about a woman who has jilted her lover, the song reached No. 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on November 29, 1986 and became the band’s first number one hit.[3] In 2007, the song reentered the charts at No. 29 after Blake Lewis performed it on American Idol. In 2009 it was named the 20th greatest hard rock song of all time by VH1.[2] Despite the lyrics of the chorus, the song should not be confused with “Shot Through the Heart”, an unrelated song from Bon Jovi’s 1984 self-titled debut album.
Composition
“You Give Love a Bad Name” was originally written for Bonnie Tyler under the title “If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)” with different lyrics. Dissatisfied with its success in the US and the UK, Desmond Child re-wrote the song with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.[4]
The song was written with several catchy repeated lines and associated hooks to appeal to mainstream audiences including the chorus as well as several bridges.
This song is written in the key of C minor and has a tempo of 123 BPM.
The album version of the song ends with the title being repeated until it fades.
Music video
The music video for the song used all-color concert footage (the only all-color video song from Slippery When Wet) and photogenic shots primarily of Jon Bon Jovi, as well as other band members in concert. This video was filmed at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.
Bon Jovi was now being managed by Doc McGee, who realized that Bon Jovi needed a video for MTV. Doc hired video director Wayne Isham, who had directed videos for Doc’s other band, Mötley Crüe. The two bands were competitive with each other and Mötley Crüe felt betrayed that Wayne would direct one of Bon Jovi’s videos.
Wayne had the band’s name painted on the stage and made sure that the band did not see it until they began shooting.
Bon Jovi had been opening for 38 Special, but became a headlining act after the video debuted.
Charts and certifications
Composition
“You Give Love a Bad Name” was originally written for Bonnie Tyler under the title “If You Were a Woman (And I Was a Man)” with different lyrics. Dissatisfied with its success in the US and the UK, Desmond Child re-wrote the song with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora.[4]
The song was written with several catchy repeated lines and associated hooks to appeal to mainstream audiences including the chorus as well as several bridges.
This song is written in the key of C minor and has a tempo of 123 BPM.
The album version of the song ends with the title being repeated until it fades.
Music video
The music video for the song used all-color concert footage (the only all-color video song from Slippery When Wet) and photogenic shots primarily of Jon Bon Jovi, as well as other band members in concert. This video was filmed at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.
Bon Jovi was now being managed by Doc McGee, who realized that Bon Jovi needed a video for MTV. Doc hired video director Wayne Isham, who had directed videos for Doc’s other band, Mötley Crüe. The two bands were competitive with each other and Mötley Crüe felt betrayed that Wayne would direct one of Bon Jovi’s videos.
Wayne had the band’s name painted on the stage and made sure that the band did not see it until they began shooting.
Bon Jovi had been opening for 38 Special, but became a headlining act after the video debuted.
