Livin ' on a Prayer - wikipedia Livin ' on a Prayer For the Family Guy episode, see Livin ' on a Prayer ( Family Guy ). `` Livin ' on a Prayer '' Single by Bon Jovi from the album Slippery When Wet B - side `` Wild in the Streets '' Released October 31, 1986 ( 1986 - 10 - 31 ) Format 7 '' 12 '' CD Genre Hard rock glam metal Length 4 : 11 ( album version ) 4 : 23 ( Rock Band 2 edit ) 5 : 07 ( DualDisc remix ) Label Mercury Songwriter ( s ) Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora Desmond Child Producer ( s ) Bruce Fairbairn Bon Jovi singles chronology `` You Give Love a Bad Name '' ( 1986 ) `` Livin ' on a Prayer '' ( 1986 ) `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' ( 1987 ) `` You Give Love a Bad Name '' ( 1986 ) `` Livin ' on a Prayer '' ( 1986 ) `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' ( 1987 ) Music video `` Livin ' on a Prayer '' on YouTube `` Livin ' on a Prayer '' is Bon Jovi 's second chart - topping song from their third album Slippery When Wet. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child, the single, released in late 1986, was well received at both rock and pop radio and its music video was given heavy rotation at MTV, giving the band their first No. 1 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and their second consecutive No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hit. The song is the band 's signature song, topping fan - voted lists and re-charting around the world decades after its release. The original 45 - RPM single release sold 800,000 copies in the United States, and in 2013 was certified Triple Platinum for over 3 million digital downloads. The official music video has over 440 million views on YouTube as of May 2018. Contents 1 Song history 2 Commercial success 3 Lyrics 4 Music video 5 Alternate versions 6 Credits and personnel 7 Charts and certifications 7.1 Weekly charts 7.2 Year - end charts 7.3 Sales and certifications 8 References 9 External links Song History Jon Bon Jovi did not like the original recording of this song, which can be found as a hidden track on 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Ca n't Be Wrong. Lead guitarist Richie Sambora, however, convinced him the song was good, and they reworked it with a new bass guitar line ( recorded by Hugh McDonald uncredited ), different drum fills and the use of a talk box to include it on their upcoming album Slippery When Wet. The song spent two weeks at number one on the Mainstream Rock Tracks, from January 31 to February 14, 1987, and four weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, from February 14 to March 14. It also hit number four on the UK singles chart. The album version of the song, timed around 4 : 10, fades out at the end. However, the music video game Guitar Hero World Tour features the song 's original studio ending, where the band revisit the intro riff and end with a talk box solo ; this version ends at 4 : 53. The original ending is also playable on the similar video game Rock Band 2, though edited in this case ( thereby eliminating the talk box solo at the end ). The version included on the 2005 DualDisc edition of Slippery When Wet has an extended version of the original ending, with a different talk box solo playing over the riff ( possibly taken from an outtake of the song ) ; this version, which fades out at the end like the standard version of the song, ends at 5 : 06. After the September 11, 2001 attacks -- in which New Jersey was the second - hardest hit state after New York City, suffering hundreds of casualties among both WTC workers and first responders -- the band performed an acoustic version of this song for New York. Bon Jovi performed a similar version as part of the special America : A Tribute to Heroes. Commercial success In 2006, online voters rated `` Livin ' on a Prayer '' No. 1 on VH1 's list of The 100 Greatest Songs of the ' 80s. More recently, in New Zealand, `` Livin ' on a Prayer '' was No. 1 on the C4 music channel 's show U Choose 40, on the 80 's Icons list. It was also No. 1 on the `` Sing - a-long Classics List ''. After Bon Jovi performed in New Zealand on January 28, 2008 while on their Lost Highway Tour, the song re-entered the official New Zealand RIANZ singles chart at number 24, over twenty years after the initial release. Australian music TV channel MAX placed this song at No. 18 on their 2008 countdown `` Rock Songs : Top 100 ''. In 2009, the song returned to the charts in the UK, notably hitting the number - one spot on the UK Rock Chart. In 2010 the song was chosen in an online vote on the Grammy.com website over the group 's more recent hits `` Always '' and `` It 's My Life '' to be played live by the band on the 52nd Grammy Awards telecast. In the Billboard Hot 100 Anniversary 50, `` Livin ' on a Prayer '' was named as 46 in the All time rock songs. After the song was released for download, the song has sold 3.4 million digital copies in the US as of November 2014. The song, including its original ending, is also playable on the music video games Guitar Hero World Tour and Rock Band 2. The song was re-worked and made available to download on November 9, 2010 for use in the Rock Band 3 music gaming platform to take advantage of PRO mode which allows use of a real guitar / bass guitar, and standard MIDI - compatible electronic drum kits / keyboards in addition to up to three - part harmony or backup vocals. In November 2013, the song made its return to the Billboard Hot 100 at number 25, due to a viral video. In 2017, ShortList 's Dave Fawbert listed the song as containing `` one of the greatest key changes in music history ''. Lyrics `` It deals with the way that two kids -- Tommy and Gina -- face life 's struggles, '' noted Bon Jovi, `` and how their love and ambitions get them through the hard times. It 's working class and it 's real... I wanted to incorporate the movie element, and tell a story about people I knew. So instead of doing what I did on ' Runaway ', where the girl did n't have a name, I gave them names, which gave them an identity... Tommy and Gina are n't two specific people ; they represent a lifestyle. '' Bon Jovi explained that he `` wrote that song during the Reagan era ( 1980 -- 1988 ) and the trickle - down economics are really inspirational to writing songs ''. Tommy and Gina are also referred to in Bon Jovi 's 2000 song `` It 's My Life ''. Music video The music video was filmed on September 17, 1986, at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles, California and was directed by Wayne Isham. It all starts with a silhouette of the band walking down the hall and it features shots of the band rehearsing, then playing in front of a crowd. The first half of the video, featuring the rehearsal footage, is in black and white, and the second half of the video, performing to the arena audience, is in color. In the beginning of the video, Jon has a harness attached by professional stunt coordinators and stunt spotters, and later in the video he soars over the crowd via overhead wires. Alternate versions This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( August 2016 ) Bon Jovi have themselves reworked the song several times, including an acoustic live version that served as a precursor to the MTV Unplugged series and a re-recorded version of the song, `` Prayer ' 94, '' which appeared on U.S. versions of their Cross Road hits collection. Credits and personnel Bon Jovi Jon Bon Jovi -- lead vocals Richie Sambora -- guitar, talkbox, backing vocals Alec John Such -- bass guitar, backing vocals Tico Torres -- drums, finger cymbals David Bryan -- keyboards, backing vocals Additional musicians Hugh McDonald -- bass guitar ( wrote and recorded the bass parts, uncredited ) Charts and certifications Weekly charts Chart ( 1986 -- 87 ) Peak position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) Belgium ( VRT Top 30 Flanders ) Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) Finland ( Suomen virallinen lista ) 10 Germany ( Official German Charts ) 20 Ireland ( IRMA ) Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) Norway ( VG - lista ) Scotland ( Official Charts Company ) South Africa ( Springbok Radio ) 5 Spain ( AFYVE ) 6 Sweden ( Sverigetopplistan ) Switzerland ( Schweizer Hitparade ) 12 UK Singles ( Official Charts Company ) UK Rock and Metal ( Official Charts Company ) US Billboard Hot 100 US Mainstream Rock ( Billboard ) US Cash Box Chart ( 2013 ) Peak position US Hot Rock Songs ( Billboard ) 8 Chart ( 2017 ) Peak position Poland ( Polish Airplay Top 100 ) 56 Year - end charts Chart ( 1986 ) Position UK Singles ( Gallup ) 36 Chart ( 1987 ) Position Australia ( Kent Music Report ) 17 Belgium ( Ultratop 50 Flanders ) 29 Canada Top Singles ( RPM ) 28 New Zealand ( Recorded Music NZ ) 17 Netherlands ( Dutch Top 40 ) 32 Netherlands ( Single Top 100 ) 40 US Billboard Hot 100 10 US Album Rock Tracks ( Billboard ) 15 US Cash Box 5 Sales and certifications Region Certification Certified units / Sales Canada ( Music Canada ) Gold 50,000 Japan ( RIAJ ) Platinum 250,000 United Kingdom ( BPI ) Platinum 600,000 United States ( RIAA ) 3 × Platinum 3,400,000 shipments figures based on certification alone sales + streaming figures based on certification alone References Jump up ^ `` AllMusic ( Bon Jovi charts & awards ) Billboard singles ''. Jump up ^ Brodén, Victor. `` On Bass : The Song Guys ''. Premier Guitar. Retrieved 10 March 2017. Jump up ^ Setaro, Shawn. `` Inside The Business Of Bon Jovi With Bryan Reesman ''. Forbes. Retrieved 11 March 2017. Jump up ^ McDonald, Hugh. `` Hugh McDonald Official Website -- Discography ''. Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2017. CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown ( link ) Jump up ^ RIANZ Archived 2011 - 03 - 16 at WebCite Jump up ^ `` More GRAMMY Performers, Presenters Announced ''. Jump up ^ `` Beyonce Swift Boated ''. Jump up ^ It 's Only Rock & Roll : Top Billboard Hot 100 Rock Songs ^ Jump up to : Appel, Rich ( November 26, 2014 ). `` Revisionist History, Part 5 : Bon Jovi 's ' Prayer ' Answered, ' Caroline ' Is Sweeter Than ' Sugar ' ''. Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved November 26, 2014. Jump up ^ Kohler, Chris ( 2010 - 11 - 09 ). `` Bon Jovi Rock Band Tracks Upgraded with Pro Keys, Guitars ''. Wired. Retrieved 2012 - 11 - 09. Jump up ^ Snider, Mike ( 2010 - 06 - 10 ). `` Rock Band 3 : What 's New, What 's Notable ''. USA Today. Retrieved 2012 - 11 - 08. Jump up ^ `` The 19 greatest key changes in music history ''. ShortList. October 1, 2017. Retrieved January 13, 2018. Jump up ^ Dome, Malcolm ( July 2006 ). `` We 'll make it, I swear... ''. Classic Rock # 94. p. 45 - 46. Jump up ^ `` Bon Jovi Calls George Bush as ' lunatic ' ! ''. Jump up ^ `` mvdbase.com -- Wayne Isham technician videography ''. Jump up ^ Brodén, Victor. `` On Bass : The Song Guys ''. Premier Guitar. Retrieved 10 March 2017. Jump up ^ Setaro, Shawn. `` Inside The Business Of Bon Jovi With Bryan Reesman ''. Forbes. Retrieved 11 March 2017. Jump up ^ McDonald, Hugh. `` Hugh McDonald Official Website -- Discography ''. Internet Archive. Archived from the original on 2 March 2012. Retrieved 11 March 2017. Jump up ^ Kent, David ( 1993 ). Australian Chart Book 1970 -- 1992 ( Illustrated ed. ). Sydney : Australian Chart Book. p. 41. ISBN 0 - 646 - 11917 - 6. Jump up ^ `` Ultratop.be -- Bon Jovi -- Livin ' On A Prayer '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop 50. Jump up ^ `` Radio2 top 30 : 7 february 1987 '' ( in Dutch ). Top 30. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Top Singles -- Volume 45, No. 23, March 14, 1987 ''. RPM. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2012. Jump up ^ Pennanen, Timo ( 2006 ). Sisältää hitin -- levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 ( in Finnish ) ( 1st ed. ). Helsinki : Tammi. ISBN 978 - 951 - 1 - 21053 - 5. Jump up ^ `` Offiziellecharts.de -- Bon Jovi -- Livin ' On A Prayer ''. GfK Entertainment Charts. Jump up ^ `` The Irish Charts -- Search Results -- Livin ' On A Prayer ''. Irish Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Nederlandse Top 40 -- Bon Jovi '' ( in Dutch ). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Dutchcharts.nl -- Bon Jovi -- Livin ' On A Prayer '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Charts.org.nz -- Bon Jovi -- Livin ' On A Prayer ''. Top 40 Singles. Jump up ^ `` Norwegiancharts.com -- Bon Jovi -- Livin ' On A Prayer ''. VG - lista. Jump up ^ `` Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 -- 1989 Acts ( B ) ''. Rock.co.za. Retrieved 5 September 2015. Jump up ^ Salaverri, Fernando ( September 2005 ). Sólo éxitos : año a año, 1959 -- 2002 ( 1st ed. ). Spain : Fundación Autor - SGAE. ISBN 84 - 8048 - 639 - 2. Jump up ^ `` Swedishcharts.com -- Bon Jovi -- Livin ' On A Prayer ''. Singles Top 100. Jump up ^ `` Swisscharts.com -- Bon Jovi -- Livin ' On A Prayer ''. Swiss Singles Chart. Jump up ^ `` Official Singles Chart Top 100 ''. Official Charts Company. Jump up ^ `` Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40 ''. Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Bon Jovi Chart History ( Hot 100 ) ''. Billboard. Jump up ^ `` Bon Jovi Chart History ( Mainstream Rock ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved November 8, 2017. Jump up ^ `` CASH BOX Top 100 Singles -- Week ending FEBRUARY 14, 1987 ''. Cash Box magazine. Archived from the original on 19 April 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Bon Jovi Chart History ( Hot Rock Songs ) ''. Billboard. Retrieved 9 November 2015. Jump up ^ `` Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia : : Związek Producentów Audio - Video ''. Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved May 22, 2017. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Singles ''. Music Week. London, England : Spotlight Publications : 24. 24 January 1987. Jump up ^ `` Forum -- ARIA Charts : Special Occasion Charts -- Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts -- 1980s ''. Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Jaaroverzichten 1987 ( Flanders ) '' ( in Dutch ). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Singles of ' 87 ''. RPM. Archived from the original on 13 July 2015. Retrieved 7 October 2012. Jump up ^ `` Top Selling Singles of 1987 ''. Retrieved 5 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Top 100 - Jaaroverzicht van 1987 '' ( in Dutch ). Retrieved 5 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Jaaroverzichten -- Single 1987 '' ( in Dutch ). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Top Pop Singles of ' 87 ''. Billboard.biz. Retrieved 7 October 2012. Jump up ^ `` Top Rock Tracks ''. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 99 ( 52 ) : 16. December 26, 1987. ISSN 0006 - 2510. Retrieved December 17, 2015. Jump up ^ `` The CASH BOX Year - End Charts : 1987 ''. Cash Box magazine. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` Canadian single certifications -- Bon Jovi -- Livin ' on a Prayer ''. Music Canada. Jump up ^ `` Single Certification List -- August 2010 '' ( in Japanese ). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved 5 September 2015. Jump up ^ `` British single certifications -- Bon Jovi -- Livin ' on a Prayer ''. British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 15, 2016. Enter Livin ' on a Prayer in the search field and then press Enter. Jump up ^ `` American single certifications -- Bon Jovi -- Livin ' on a Prayer ''. Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH External links Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics Preceded by `` My Baby '' by The Pretenders Billboard Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks number - one single January 31, 1987 -- February 13, 1987 ( 2 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Midnight Blue '' by Lou Gramm Preceded by `` Open Your Heart '' by Madonna Billboard Hot 100 number - one single February 14, 1987 -- March 7, 1987 ( 4 weeks ) Succeeded by `` Jacob 's Ladder '' by Huey Lewis and the News Preceded by `` Desolation Row '' by My Chemical Romance `` Destabilise '' by Enter Shikari `` Christmas Time ( Do n't Let the Bells End ) '' by The Darkness UK Rock Chart number - one single February 22, 2009 -- March 22, 2009 November 6, 2010 -- November 13, 2010 January 2, 2011 -- January 9, 2011 Succeeded by `` I 'd Come For You '' by Nickelback `` Na Na Na ( Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na ) '' by My Chemical Romance `` Feeling Good '' by Muse Bon Jovi Jon Bon Jovi Tico Torres David Bryan Hugh McDonald Phil X Richie Sambora Alec John Such Dave Sabo Studio albums Bon Jovi 7800 ° Fahrenheit Slippery When Wet New Jersey Keep the Faith These Days Crush Bounce Have a Nice Day Lost Highway The Circle What About Now This House Is Not for Sale Compilation albums Cross Road This Left Feels Right Greatest Hits Burning Bridges 100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Ca n't Be Wrong Live albums One Wild Night Live 1985 -- 2001 Inside Out This House Is Not for Sale -- Live from the London Palladium Singles `` Runaway '' `` She Do n't Know Me '' `` Burning for Love '' ( Japan only ) `` Only Lonely '' `` In and Out of Love '' `` The Hardest Part Is the Night '' `` Silent Night '' `` You Give Love a Bad Name '' `` Livin ' on a Prayer '' `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' `` Never Say Goodbye '' `` Bad Medicine '' `` Born to Be My Baby '' `` I 'll Be There for You '' `` Lay Your Hands on Me '' `` Living in Sin '' `` Keep the Faith '' `` Bed of Roses '' `` In These Arms '' `` I 'll Sleep When I 'm Dead '' `` I Believe '' `` Dry County '' `` Please Come Home for Christmas '' `` Always '' `` Someday I 'll Be Saturday Night '' `` This Ai n't a Love Song '' `` Something for the Pain '' `` Lie to Me '' `` These Days '' `` Hey God '' `` Real Life '' `` It 's My Life '' `` Say It Is n't So '' `` Thank You for Loving Me '' `` One Wild Night '' `` Wanted Dead or Alive '' ( Live ) `` Everyday '' `` Misunderstood '' `` All About Lovin ' You '' `` Bounce '' ( promo single ) `` The Distance '' ( Japan only ) `` It 's My Life ( 2003 ) '' `` Wanted Dead or Alive ( 2003 ) '' ( promo single ) `` Have a Nice Day '' `` Who Says You Ca n't Go Home '' ( with Jennifer Nettles ) `` Welcome to Wherever You Are '' `` ( You Want To ) Make a Memory '' `` Lost Highway '' `` Till We Ai n't Strangers Anymore '' ( with LeAnn Rimes ) `` Summertime '' ( Canada only ) `` Whole Lot of Leavin ' '' `` We Were n't Born to Follow '' `` Superman Tonight '' `` When We Were Beautiful '' `` What Do You Got ? '' `` No Apologies '' `` This Is Our House '' ( promo single ) `` Because We Can '' `` What About Now '' `` This House Is Not for Sale '' Other songs `` Edge of a Broken Heart '' Video albums Breakout : Video Singles Slippery When Wet : The Videos New Jersey : The Videos Access All Areas : A Rock & Roll Odyssey Keep the Faith : An Evening with Bon Jovi Keep the Faith : The Videos Cross Road Live from London The Crush Tour This Left Feels Right Live Lost Highway : The Concert When We Were Beautiful Live at Madison Square Garden Greatest Hits : The Ultimate Video Collection Concert tours Runaway Tour Slippery When Wet Tour Jersey Syndicate Tour Keep the Faith Tour I 'll Sleep When I 'm Dead Tour These Days Tour Crush Tour One Wild Night Tour Bounce Tour Have a Nice Day Tour Lost Highway Tour The Circle Tour Bon Jovi Live Because We Can Bon Jovi Live ! This House Is Not for Sale Tour Solo albums Blaze of Glory ( Jon Bon Jovi ) Stranger in This Town ( Sambora ) On a Full Moon ( Bryan ) Destination Anywhere ( Jon Bon Jovi ) Undiscovered Soul ( Sambora ) Lunar Eclipse ( Bryan ) The Power Station Years : The Unreleased Recordings ( Jon Bon Jovi ) Aftermath of the Lowdown ( Sambora ) Related articles Discography Songs recorded Awards Book Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Livin%27_on_a_Prayer&oldid=843316419 '' Categories : 1986 songs 1986 singles Bon Jovi songs Billboard Hot 100 number - one singles Billboard Mainstream Rock number - one singles Music videos directed by Wayne Isham Number - one singles in Norway Number - one singles in New Zealand RPM Top Singles number - one singles Songs written by Desmond Child Songs about labor Songs written by Richie Sambora Songs written by Jon Bon Jovi Song recordings produced by Bruce Fairbairn Mercury Records singles Hidden categories : CS1 maint : BOT : original - url status unknown Webarchive template webcite links CS1 Dutch - language sources ( nl ) CS1 Finnish - language sources ( fi ) CS1 Japanese - language sources ( ja ) Articles with hAudio microformats All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from December 2015 Articles containing potentially dated statements from May 2018 All articles containing potentially dated statements Articles needing additional references from August 2016 All articles needing additional references Singlechart usages for Flanders Singlechart usages for Germany2 Singlechart usages for Ireland2 Singlechart usages for Dutch40 Singlechart usages for Dutch100 Singlechart usages for New Zealand Singlechart usages for Norway Singlechart usages for Scotland Singlechart called without artist Singlechart called without song Singlechart usages for Sweden Singlechart usages for Switzerland Singlechart usages for UK Singlechart usages for UKrock Singlechart usages for Billboardhot100 Singlechart usages for Billboardmainstreamrock Singlechart usages for Billboardrocksongs Singlechart usages for Poland Certification Table Entry usages for Canada Certification Table Entry usages for Japan Certification Table Entry usages for United Kingdom Certification Table Entry usages for United States Talk Contents About Wikipedia Bosanski Dansk Deutsch Español Français Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska Türkçe Tiếng Việt 中文 8 more Edit links This page was last edited on 28 May 2018, at 09 : 58. 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Question: who wrote the song living on a prayer
Answer: Jon Bon Jovi