You Give Love A Bad Name

Album

Sukiyaki and Other Japanese Hits

Label

Mercury Records

Genre

Glam metal

Composer(s)

Desmond Child;Jon Bon Jovi;Richie Sambora

Entered Chart

Sep 6, 1986

Peak Date

Nov 29, 1986

Released

July 23, 1986

Recorded

Unknown

Catalog #

Mercury 884953-7

B-Side

Raise Your Hands

In 1984, Bon Jovi reached #39 in the US with "Runaway," from their debut, self-titled album. The band was big in the New Jersey area, but got little attention elsewhere. The group was signed by a Polygram Records executive named Derek Shulman, who told us, "I saw the drive and the ambition of Jon Bon Jovi, despite the fact that he could only sing five notes and most of them out of tune." For the band to break through, Shulman thought the key was big choruses, and the man to deliver that was Desmond Child, who worked with Kiss on "I Was Made For Lovin' You." Child got together with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora, and the trio got to work. In our interview with Desmond Child, he said: "The very first day we got together we wrote 'You Give Love a Bad Name.' Then a few weeks later we wrote 'Livin' On A Prayer.' It was a magical collaboration and there was instant chemistry between us." Child later teamed up with Jon and Richie for many more Bon Jovi songs, including "Born To Be My Baby" and "Keep The Faith." He went on to write hits for many other artists, including Cher, Aerosmith, and Ricky Martin. Jon Bon Jovi, Desmond Child and Richie Sambora wrote this in the basement of Sambora's mother's house in New Jersey. Child came up with the title, and Jon immediately thought up the first line ("Shot through the heart..."). From there, they put the rest of the song together, with "Shot Through The Heart" as the working title. The song ended up being about a guy whose girlfriend is really bad for him - common material, but a very interesting way to say it. Jon Bon Jovi dated actress Diane Lane in the mid-'80s, and there were rumors that she was the inspiration for this song, but the lyrical inspiration was more of a universal feeling. At one point, this was intended for the group Loverboy. Bon Jovi and Sambora started out writing it for them, but liked it so much they kept it for themselves. Bon Jovi's video for their first single, "Runaway," was a conceptual clip with lots of smoke and a young girl portraying the title character. It didn't catch on, so for "You Give Love A Bad Name" the band made a straight-on performance video showcasing their charisma and live energy. This one was a winner on MTV, which played the clip constantly and helped send the song to the top of the charts. Bon Jovi's follow-up single, "Livin' On A Prayer," was also a #1 hit, spending four weeks at the top spot while "Bad Name" spent just one. Desmond Child also helped write and produce that one. Report this ad The Slippery When Wet album was recorded in Vancouver with producer Bruce Fairbairn, who had a studio there. At first, the album was going to be called Wanted (after the song "Wanted Dead Or Alive"), but when they tried a photo shoot with an Old West theme, it didn't track. Needing a new title and theme, inspiration struck at a strip club they went to after recording sessions: the No. 5 Orange club in the Gastown district, which had a shower to water the dancers. A shoot was set up at a beach in New Jersey where the band washed cars with girls dressed in T-shirts with the album title, and not much else. A shot of one of these ladies was planned for the cover, but it proved too risqué, so they ended up using a shot of a wet garbage bag with the title written on it in marker - that was Jon Bon Jovi's idea. In 2005, this became a #1 hit in Poland when the Polish singer Mandaryna recorded it. Blake Lewis performed this in 2007 on Season 6 of American Idol, incorporating beatboxing into the song. The judges loved it, and Lewis performed it again on the season finale. Lewis came in second to Jordin Sparks. Lewis' version of the song was released as a single, and made #19 US. >> In The Office episode "Money" from season 4, Dwight plays this on the recorder when he's depressed over his breakup with Angela. It was also used in these TV shows: Family Guy ("Stewie Is Enceinte" - 2015) Glee ("Transitioning" - 2013) The Vampire Diaries ("Graduation" - 2013) 30 Rock ("Floyd" - 2010) How I Met Your Mother ("The Limo" - 2005) The Sopranos ("A Hit Is A Hit" - 1999)

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
Darlin', you give love a bad name

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

Oh, you're a loaded gun, yeah
Oh, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
You give love, a bad name

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

Oh, you're a loaded gun
Oh, there's nowhere to run
No one can save me
The damage is done

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
You give love, oh!

Oh, 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 (bad name)

Shot through the heart
And you're to blame
You give love a bad name (bad name)
I play my part and you play your game
You give love a bad name (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love (bad name)
You give love
You give love