Press criticism didn’t stop Bon Jovi from becoming one of the most beloved contemporary rock bands
February 14, 1987: Livin’ On a Prayer by Bon Jovi is No. 1 in the United States
The introduction of Bon Jovi in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 probably surprised more than one person. The New Jersey band that dominated MTV was never really beloved by critics. An article on their album Slippery When Wet published in WECB in 1986 began with the question “ how many clichés can you include in a pop song? ” while in 2005, critic Robert Christgau declared that the group was ” hard rock so harmless that it was closer to Air Supply than toAerosmith “.
During the group’s golden era, critics were not too interested in hard rock and the success of Bon Jovi, this group with a physique made for the camera and whose fans were mostly young, particularly irritated them. An article by Susan Orlean published in 1987 in WECB began with a description of the hair of the singer, Jon Bon Jovi (“ it is obvious that Jon Bon Jovi has the most beautiful hair in rock & roll today », she enthused) before mentioning the list of songs present on Slippery When Wet.
The group’s mix of stadium rock largesse, pyrotechnics and good vibes (not to mention the occasional tearful ballad) created some of the most enjoyable rock hits of the ’80s and ’90s. “Livin’ on a Prayer” is a story about Springsteen about two unlucky lovers who cling to each other during the Reaganomics tune; the backing vocals on “Wanted Dead or Alive” are among the most memorable in rock history (Richie Sambora’s “waaan-teeee-uuughhh-eed!”) and “Born to Be My Baby,” a co-written song by Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora and lyricist Desmond Child, is a successful attempt to achieve the greatness of his contemporary Def Leppard through its audacity. Ballads like “Never Say Goodbye” tinged with nostalgia and “I’ll Be There for You” bring tears to our eyes. A few years later, the group turned to flashier sounds (witness their collaboration with Jennifer Nettles in 2006 which produced “Who Says You Can’t Go Home”).
Bon Jovi’s first success testifies to the group’s arrival on the airwaves. In 1982, Jon and a handful of studio musicians recorded demos at the legendary New York Power Station studio of which his cousin, Tony Bongiovi, was co-owner. “Runaway” is a song recorded during these sessions and in 1983, Bon Jovi pitched it to WAPP, a New York rock radio station that was actively seeking local talent. The title was found on New York Rocks 1983, a compilation of then-unknown artists that also features a song by Long Island rockers Twisted Sister. This helped him get on radio airwaves across the country.
Jon Bon Jovi’s disheveled look also helped him become a staple on MTV. He inspired other groups like Cinderella or Skid Row (whose guitarist Dave “The Snake” Sabo grew up in the same neighborhood as Jon) and represented the United States at the Music Peace Festival in Moscow, a concert which took place in 1989 and which allowed the former Soviet Union to discover some of these groups. At the same time, Bon Jovi also played with fire by releasing the video for “Living in Sin” in which a young protagonist receives communion before sleeping with her boyfriend. MTV also forced him to remove this part before broadcasting the clip on his channel.
The group also promoted the development of MTV Unplugged. Producer Joel Gallen said Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora’s acoustic performance of two songs at the 1989 MTV VMAs was “the starting point” for the show that quickly became the premier music video show musical. Co-creator Jim Burns added that the medley of “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “Wanted Dead or Alive” “helped sell Unplugged to the network.” The Bon Jovi–Sambora duo was a template for many performances at music award shows by groups hoping to add some credibility to their frivolous image. It also helped pave the way for the group’s foray into country music. (After all, Nashville isn’t far west of New Jersey.)
While purists spoke of Bon Jovi with disdain, widespread interest in the band and their anthems meant they became one of the best-known hard rock groups of the ’80s, the ying to the crazy side of Guns N’ Rosesthe American equivalent of major British groups like Def Leppard. Their introduction to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April will preserve one of the most important musical movements and one of the most iconic smiles of the early MTV era.
