Bon Jovi has released 12 studio albums with his band; to date, the band has sold over 130 million albums worldwide. Bon Jovi has also released two solo albums. In the 1990s, Bon Jovi started an acting career, starring in the films Moonlight and Valentino and U-571 and appearing on television in Sex and the City and Ally McBeal.
As a songwriter, Bon Jovi was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2009. In 2012, Bon Jovi ranked #50 on the list of Billboard Magazine's "Power 100", a ranking of "The Most Powerful and Influential People In The Music Business". In 1996, People Magazine named him one of the "50 Most Beautiful People In The World". In 2000, People awarded him the title "Sexiest Rock Star", and he was placed at #13 on VH1's list of "100 Sexiest Artists".
Bon Jovi was a founder and majority owner of the Arena Football League team, the Philadelphia Soul. He is the founder of The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, founded in 2006.
Early life:
John Francis Bongiovi Jr. was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, a son of two former Marines, barber John Francis Bongiovi Sr. and Playboy Bunny turned florist Carol (Sharkey). He has two brothers, Anthony and Matthew. His father was of Italian (from Sciacca, Sicily) and Slovak ancestry and his mother is of German and Russian descent. He has stated that he is a blood relative of singer Frank Sinatra. Bon Jovi was raised Catholic. He spent summers in Erie, Pennsylvania, with his grandparents, and sold newspapers. As a child, John attended St. Joseph High School, in Metuchen, New Jersey, during his freshman and sophomore years. He later transferred to Sayreville War Memorial High School in Parlin, New Jersey.
Music career - Beginnings
Jon Bon Jovi began playing music in 1975, at the age of 13, playing piano and guitar with his first band, Raze. At 16, he met David Bryan and formed a band called Atlantic City Expressway. Still in his teens, Bon Jovi played in the band John Bongiovi and the Wild Ones, playing clubs such as the Fast Lane and opening for local acts. By 1980, he had formed another band, the Rest, and opened up for New Jersey acts such as Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes.
When he was seventeen, Bon Jovi was sweeping floors at his cousin Tony Bongiovi's recording studio, Power Station. In 1980, when Meco was there recording Christmas in the Stars: The Star Wars Christmas Album, Tony Bongiovi recommended John for the song "R2-D2 We Wish You A Merry Christmas", which became his first professional recording (credited as John Bongiovi).
In 1983, Bon Jovi visited a local radio station WAPP 103.5FM "The Apple" in Lake Success, New York to write and sing the jingles for the station. He spoke with DJ Chip Hobart and to the promotion director, John Lassman, who suggested Jon let WAPP include the song "Runaway" on the station's compilation album of local homegrown talent. Jon was reluctant, but eventually gave them the song, which he had rerecorded in 1982 (following a rough early recording in 1981) with local studio musicians whom he designated The All Star Review: Guitarist Tim Pierce, keyboardist Roy Bittan, drummer Frankie LaRocka, and bassist Hugh McDonald.
Bon Jovi
In March 1983, Jon Bon Jovi called David Bryan, who in turn called bassist Alec John Such and an experienced drummer named Tico Torres. Guitarist Richie Sambora later joined the band; Bon Jovi, Sambora, Such, Bryan, and Torres became the founding members of Bon Jovi. In 1984 and 1985, Bon Jovi released their first two albums and their debut single "Runaway" managed to crack the Top 40. In 1986, the band achieved widespread success and global recognition with their third album, Slippery When Wet, which had sold 28 million copies worldwide as of 2011. Slippery When Wet included three Top 10 singles, two of which reached No. 1 ("You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin' on a Prayer").
As of 2019, Bon Jovi has released 14 studio albums, five compilations and three live albums. They have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making them one of the bestselling American rock bands. Bon Jovi has performed more than 2,700 concerts in over 50 countries for more than 34 million fans. Bon Jovi was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and into the U.S. Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in 2018.
Solo career:
In 1990, Jon Bon Jovi recorded a soundtrack to the movie Young Guns II more commonly known as Blaze of Glory. Having been originally approached by his friend Emilio Estevez to lend "Wanted Dead Or Alive" as the theme song for his upcoming Billy the Kid sequel, Bon Jovi ended up composing an all-new theme song for the film's soundtrack and delivering his first solo album. The album featured guests such as Elton John, Little Richard and Jeff Beck. The title track, "Blaze of Glory", peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1991, "Blaze of Glory" won an award for Favorite Pop/Rock Single at the American Music Awards and awarded a Golden Globe, as well. The song also earned him an Academy Award nomination and a Grammy Award nomination.
Lost Highway Tour:
In 1991, Jon Bon Jovi started his own label, Jambco Records, and produced Aldo Nova's album Blood on the Bricks and Billy Falcon's album Pretty Blue World.
Bon Jovi's second solo album was 1997's Destination Anywhere. A short movie of the same name was recorded right around the record's release, based entirely on the songs from the record and starring Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon and Whoopi Goldberg. The film debuted on both MTV and VH1 in 1997.
In 2012, Jon Bon Jovi recorded a soundtrack to the movie Stand Up Guys more commonly known as Not Running Anymore. On December 13, 2012, it was announced that "Not Running Anymore" would be nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
Acting career:
Jon Bon Jovi is a credited actor in the movies Moonlight and Valentino, The Leading Man, Destination Anywhere, Homegrown, Little City, No Looking Back, Row Your Boat, Vampires Los Muertos, U-571, Cry Wolf, National Lampoon's Pucked, and New Year's Eve.[citation needed] He also had a supporting role in the movie Pay It Forward, where he played Helen Hunt's abusive ex-husband.[citation needed] His TV series appearances include Sex and the City, 30 Rock, Las Vegas, The West Wing, and an extended stint on Ally McBeal as a plumber who was Ally's boyfriend for a short period of time. He also had a brief, uncredited role in the 1990 film Young Guns II. On January 24, 2011, it was confirmed that Bon Jovi would be cast in the film New Year's Eve, released later that year, as a successful rock star who is connected with Katherine Heigl's character.
Sports franchises
In 2004, Bon Jovi became founder and primary owner of the Philadelphia Soul of the Arena Football League. He appeared in several television commercials for the league, typically with John Elway, Hall of Fame quarterback for the Denver Broncos (and co-owner of the AFL's Colorado Crush). Bon Jovi is no longer part owner of the Soul. In 2011, Bon Jovi expressed interest in purchasing 15% of the Atlanta Falcons for $150 million.
In 2014, a group of investors including Bon Jovi made it to the final round of bidding to acquire the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League, but the team was sold to Terry Pegula, the owner of the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League.
Philanthropy:
Jon Bon Jovi has worked on behalf of the Special Olympics, the American Red Cross, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, Covenant House, Project H.O.M.E., The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation (formerly the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation), and other groups.
He has been named the first founding ambassador of the Habitat for Humanity Ambassador program as part of the international nonprofit organization's new advocacy outreach initiative. Jon Bon Jovi has been raising awareness with Habitat for Humanity since 2005 when he provided the funds to build six homes in Philadelphia and built the homes alongside the homeowner families, as well as with members of his Philadelphia Soul Arena football team. The construction site also served as the video shoot location for his band's single "Who Says You Can't Go Home". In 2006, he made a $1 million donation to build 28 Habitat homes in Louisiana in partnership with low-income families on the hurricane-stricken coast. In July 2007, Bon Jovi announced a project that will rehabilitate a block of 15 homes in north Philadelphia. During an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2005, the band donated $1 million to the Angel Network foundation.
The Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation (formerly the Philadelphia Soul Charitable Foundation) was founded in 2006 and exists to combat issues that force families and individuals into economic despair. Through the funding and creation of programs and partnerships, they support innovative community efforts to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness. On October 19, 2011, they opened the JBJ Soul Kitchen, a community restaurant where patrons pay what they can afford for their meals, either with money or by volunteering work. On January 21, 2019, the restaurant provided free meals to government workers and family members who had been affected by the federal government shutdown.
He is one of 21 artists singing on "Everybody Hurts", a charity single organized by Simon Cowell aiding victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake.
Political activism:
Although Bon Jovi's voter registration indicates that he is unaffiliated, he has supported and toured with many Democratic politicians. He toured extensively on behalf of presidential candidate John Kerry in 2004, appearing at and playing acoustic sets (with Richie Sambora) at rallies for the Kerry-Edwards ticket throughout the United States. Bon Jovi also played as a part of the Live Earth concert at the Meadowlands in 2007, and was introduced by former Vice President Al Gore. In 2008, Jon Bon Jovi supported Barack Obama for president, holding an exclusive private dinner at his home, as a fundraiser for his campaign. He also played at a 2009 Manhattan fundraiser for former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton to lessen some of her $6.3 million 2008 campaign debt. On Sunday, January 18, 2009, Bon Jovi performed a duet at the Obama Inauguration Concert of the Sam Cooke classic "A Change is Gonna Come" with Bettye LaVette. On June 4, 2009, Bon Jovi performed an acoustic benefit show for Democratic Governor Jon Corzine at the NJPAC in Newark, New Jersey.
On June 24, 2009, Bon Jovi, Sambora and Andy Madadian recorded a musical message of worldwide solidarity with the people of Iran. The handwritten Persian sign in the video translates to "we are one". On December 15, 2010, Bon Jovi was appointed by Barack Obama to the White House Council for Community Solutions. In 2017, Bon Jovi raised money for Jim Renacci, conservative Republican representative from Ohio's 16th congressional district and then a candidate for Ohio governor.
Personal life:
Graceland Wedding Chapel, where Jon Bon Jovi married Dorothea Hurley. The chapel has used it as a claim to fame ever since. During a stop in Los Angeles on The New Jersey Syndicate Tour in 1989, Bon Jovi secretly took a trip to Las Vegas, and married his high school sweetheart, Dorothea Hurley (born September 29, 1962), on April 29 at the Graceland Wedding Chapel. The couple has four children: a daughter, Stephanie Rose (born May 31, 1993), and three sons, Jesse James Louis (born February 19, 1995), Jacob Hurley (born May 7, 2002) and Romeo Jon (born March 29, 2004).
A former resident of Rumson, New Jersey, he established his Sanctuary Sound recording studio in the basement of his home there. Bon Jovi describes himself as a recovering Catholic. Bon Jovi is a close friend of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick. He owns two Super Bowl rings from the Patriots, and Bon Jovi was the first musical act to hold a concert at the Patriots' home field, Gillette Stadium.
Janie Don't Take Your Love To Town
Jon Bon Jovi Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Wish I could slip inside and be
In some technicolor dream
But the air's too thick for one of us to breathe
I'm not fool enough to think
You couldn't live life without me
I didn't come this far to throw the towel in
If I ain't smart enough to say I'm sorry
It's just because the words got in the way
I remember how it used to be
I was you and you were me
We were more than just the same
Now these shoes don't fit, my skin's too tight
When you want a kiss, I take a bite
Let your heart call up the cops, read me my rights
Last night I drank enough to drown
Raise a toast to your good looks and to my health
Look, we both know how much I've let you down
Janie don't you take your love to town
Janie don't you take your love to town
Janie don't you take your love to town
If I've got to beg, I'll beg, just don't walk away
Janie don't you take your love to town
You deserve a shooter, a saint
Someone to give it to you straight
To find the soul thought flesh and bone
My life's a treasure, full of sunny weather
But it's left me feeling cold
Now all you want to do is take me home
I hated you, the night you said you loved me
I hated you, 'cause I couldn't love myself
I'm begging you now, baby please just hold me
I got one foot in, one foot off the ground
Janie don't you take your love to town
Janie don't you take your love to town
If I've got to beg, I'll beg, just don't walk away
Janie don't you take your love to town
Sitting here while you're fast asleep
In the bathroom by the sink
Trying to write the right words down
I turn out the lights, close my eyes
There ain't no prayers or kiss goodnight
What I'll forget to say tomorrow, I'll say now
Janie don't you take your love to town
Janie don't you take your love to town
Janie don't you take your love to town
If I've got to beg, I'll beg, just don't walk away
Janie don't you take your love to town
The lyrics of Jon Bon Jovi's song "Janie Don't Take Your Love To Town" tell the story of a troubled relationship. The singer is sitting beside his partner who is sleeping and wishes he could enter her dreams. However, the air between them is too thick, and they cannot breathe. The singer acknowledges that his partner could live life without him, but he did not come this far to walk away from the relationship so easily.
The singer remembers how they used to be, where they were more than just the same, and how now they are two different people. He feels that the shoes don't fit anymore, and his skin feels too tight. He admits that he drank enough last night to drown and raises a toast to his partner's good looks and his health. The singer acknowledges that he has let his partner down, and he doesn't want her to take her love somewhere else.
He begs her not to walk away and reminds her that she deserves someone who will be honest with her and give her the love she deserves. He acknowledges his mistakes in the relationship and the times he couldn't love himself. He wants her to hold him and not take her love to town.
In conclusion, "Janie Don't Take Your Love To Town" is a song about a desperate plea to save a relationship. It explores the struggle to keep a relationship alive despite the differences and mistakes that have been made. The song expresses the fear of losing someone who means everything to you.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting here just watching you sleep
I am here observing you, while you sleep
Wish I could slip inside and be
I wish to be there with you, close and unseparated
In some technicolor dream
Imagining a beautiful dream-like world
But the air's too thick for one of us to breathe
Our situation is suffocating as there is not enough space or fresh air for one of us, let alone both of us
I'm not fool enough to think
I do not underestimate you to be foolish to think
You couldn't live life without me
I know you are strong enough to live your life without me by your side
I didn't come this far to throw the towel in
I have come a long way to give up now
I didn't fight this hard to walk away
I have put in so much effort to just leave
If I ain't smart enough to say I'm sorry
If I have trouble apologizing or acknowledging my mistake
It's just because the words got in the way
It's because I'm having trouble expressing myself and finding the right words to make it right
I remember how it used to be
I look back at how things were between us
I was you and you were me
We shared a deep connection, and we were one
We were more than just the same
Our bond was not just ordinary but unique and special
Now these shoes don't fit, my skin's too tight
Our relationship is no longer comfortable, and it's becoming more strained
When you want a kiss, I take a bite
I am pushing you away even when you crave my affection
Let your heart call up the cops, read me my rights
You have every right to confront me about my behavior and hold me accountable for my actions
Last night I drank enough to drown
I drank heavily and excessively
Raise a toast to your good looks and to my health
I am celebrating your beauty while I am aware of my ill health
Look, we both know how much I've let you down
We both acknowledge how much I have disappointed you
Janie don't you take your love to town
Please, do not leave me
You deserve a shooter, a saint
You deserve someone honest and selfless
Someone to give it to you straight
Someone who is straightforward and truthful with you
To find the soul thought flesh and bone
To connect with your innermost being and not just your physical presence
My life's a treasure, full of sunny weather
My life is valuable and full of happiness and positivity
But it's left me feeling cold
Despite this, I feel a sense of emptiness
Now all you want to do is take me home
You only want to be with me and take care of me
I hated you, the night you said you loved me
I felt angry and resentful when you expressed your love to me that one night
I hated you, 'cause I couldn't love myself
I did not love myself enough to reciprocate your love fully
I'm begging you now, baby please just hold me
I am asking you to comfort and support me
I got one foot in, one foot off the ground
I am stuck in a limbo where I am unsure of my sentiments
Sitting here while you're fast asleep
I am still here observing you while you sleep
In the bathroom by the sink
I'm in the bathroom, reflecting on my feelings
Trying to write the right words down
I am struggling to find the correct words to express my emotions adequately
I turn out the lights, close my eyes
I am trying to shut off my thoughts and feelings
There ain't no prayers or kiss goodnight
We have grown apart, and our affectionate gestures have diminished
What I'll forget to say tomorrow, I'll say now
I'm not waiting to regret not saying what I need to say; I'm sharing it now
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JON BON JOVI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Geisa Rocha
Bon Jovi é igual vinho,quanto mais o tempo passa melhor fica...
Amo essa música❤
Leandro
Infelizmente hj ele não canta mais como antigamente, sinto falta deles jovens ! Até 2010 ainda cantava em bom nível, hj sua voz é irreconhecível 😔😔
Iran Viterbo
Gostaria que fosse, mas infelizmente não.
Anair Squissato
Eu amo Jon Bon Jovi essa música é linda demais Janie Dont TaKe
Denise Silva
Maravilhoso como sempre 😍🥰 como não amar bon Jovi ❤
Érica Lima
Tá aí um cantor q nunca envelhece sempre jovem e sorriso contagiante apaixonada por Jon Bon Jovi desde criança 😍😍
Magno Vedovatto
Ah ele envelheceu pra caralho
Priscylla Mello
Envelheceu pra caramba! Mas continua gato pra caralho!
Ricardo Ornelas
Esse videozinho aí tem 25 anos, querida Kkkkkkk
Ricardo Ornelas
@Sapo65 nop. 25 anos. O álbum “Destination anywhere” é de 1997. Eu tenho o CD 😉