In June 2000, American rock band Bon Jovi released their seventh studio album, Crush. With this release, she interrupted, to the delight of many fans, a five-year pause that had lasted since the release of These Days (1995).
The first single from the new album was the song It’s My Life (“This is my life”), which became the group’s main hit in the twenty-first century. The track topped the charts in several countries and turned into a real anthem for the millions of Bon Jovi fans.
The history of the creation of the song It’s My Life Bon Jovi
The lyrics and music were composed by Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. Max Martin is also listed as a co-author.
Richie later said:
It’s My Life is a very uplifting, upbeat song. I found out an interesting thing about the song: it is liked by girls and boys, young and old, from the age of six to sixty. Everyone understands its essence, and everyone experiences pleasant feelings when they hear it. I think about my daughter Ava and how the song can inspire her.
The main idea for the chorus came about because within the group we identified with Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack: I am Dean [Dean Martin]and John [Bon Jovi] – This is Frank.
Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Story Behind the Song
Meaning of It’s My Life by Bon Jovi
The composition gave Bon Jovi fans a new encounter with Tommy and Gina, the characters from the 1986 hit song Livin’ on a Prayer.
Bon Jovi explained what the composition was about and expressed his surprise at how the listeners understood the main idea:
I thought I was writing in self-indulgence about my own life and the place I occupy in it. I didn’t realize that the phrase “This is my life” would be perceived as if it was about everyone: about teenagers, older guys, mechanics, – about everyone. “This is my life, I control it.” Everyone experiences this from time to time.
Deutsche Welle, 2005
The lyrics of It’s My Life refer to Frank Sinatra and his composition My Way. Bon Jovi decided to insert a reference to the immortal hit, but Sambora did not like this idea.
John recalled:
I just got back from filming U-571 and said, “Sinatra did sixteen movies and toured until he was eighty. This is my role model.” He [Ричи Самбора] replied: “You can’t write this stupid text. Frank Sinatra is all you care about.” But I still wrote it.
TheRockRadio, 2005
Release and achievements
On May 23, 2000, It’s My Life was released as the lead single from Bon Jovi’s Crush album.
The song topped the charts in Austria, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain and Switzerland. It also rose to number one on the European Singles Chart. On Foggy Albion, the composition reached the third line. It peaked at number thirty-three on the Billboard Hot 100.
For the album This Left Feels Right, Jon Bon Jovi recorded an acoustic, slower version of the song It’s My Life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-oL8PzM_XE
At the ASCAP Pop Music Awards, the song was recognized as one of the best songs of the year. She was also nominated for a Grammy in the category “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group” but lost to Beautiful Day by U2.
Clip It’s My Life – Bon Jovi
The music video for the song was directed by Wayne Isham, inspired by the movie Run Lola Run. Tommy and Gina were played by actors Will Estes and Shiri Appleby.
Watch Jon Bon Jovi’s “It’s My Life” video, which was voted best video of the year at the VH1 My Music Awards.
Interesting Facts
- The It’s My Life video is the most viewed Bon Jovi video on YouTube.
- The “rural cover” of It’s My Life is also in demand in RuNet.
Bon Jovi Lyrics
This ain’t a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain’t gonna be just a face in the crowd
You’re gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud
chorus:
It’s my life
It’s now or never
I ain’t gonna live forever
I just want to live while I’m alive
(It’s my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just want to live while I’m alive
It’s my life
This is for the ones who stood their ground
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tomorrow’s getting harder, make no mistake
Luck ain’t even lucky
Got to make your own breaks
Chorus
Better stand tall when they’re calling you out
Don’t bend, don’t break, baby, don’t back down
Chorus
Authors: RICHARD SAMBORA, JON BON JOVI, MAX MARTIN
Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.,
Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, AUSTRO-MECHANA GMBH
It’s My Life Lyrics Bon Jovi Lyrics
This song is not for the heartbroken
Not a wordless prayer for apostates.
I’m not going to be just a face in the crowd.
You will hear my voice
When I scream out loud
Chorus:
This is my life,
Now or never.
I’m not going to live forever
I just want to live while I’m alive.
(This is my life.)
My heart is like an empty freeway.
As Frankie said:
“I did it my way”
I just want to live while I’m alive.
This is my life.
This is for those who stand their ground
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down.
Tomorrow is getting harder, make no mistake.
Luck isn’t even luckier anymore
You have to push through on your own.
Chorus
Better stand tall when they call you
Don’t bend, don’t break, baby, don’t back down.
Chorus
Song Quotes
Nobody expected the It’s My Life song. Except us. We knew we had a hit.
Jon Bon Jovi, Q, 2007
The important thing about songs like It’s My Life and Livin’ on a Prayer is that they are close to everyone – even if the people listening to them don’t know the language.
Ritchie Sambora
