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Always (Bon Jovi song)
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Wikipedia article
{{Infobox song
| name = Always
| cover = Always BonJovi.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Bon Jovi
| album = Cross Road
| B-side = Edge of a Broken Heart
| released =
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Rock
| length =
| label = Mercury
| writer = Jon Bon Jovi
| producer = Peter Collins
| prev_title = Dry County
| prev_year = 1994
| next_title = Please Come Home for Christmas
| next_year = 1994
| misc =
}}
"'Always'" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. The power ballad was released as a single from their 1994 greatest hits album, 'Cross Road', in September 1994 and went on to become one of their best-selling singles, with a million copies sold in the US and more than three million worldwide. The song reached number four on the US 'Billboard' Hot 100, becoming his 11th and last top 10 hit. It was an international hit, peaking at number one in Belgium, Canada, Ireland and Switzerland, number two in Australia and the United Kingdom, and number four in Germany. "Always" was Alec John Such's final single with the band before he left in late 1994.
Song origin
The song was originally written by Jon Bon Jovi for the soundtrack to the 1993 film 'Romeo Is Bleeding', starring Gary Oldman as a corrupt cop and Mafia aide who is renounced by his wife. After being unimpressed by a preview screening of the movie which was a critical and box office flop he decided not to lend "Always" to the producers. Bon Jovi commented, "The script was great: the movie wasn't." He left the track on his shelf and forgot about it until John Kalodner, a friend and A&R executive, found it and convinced him to re-record and release the song.'100,000,000 Bon Jovi Fans Can't Be Wrong' (DVD). 2004. 7 minutes in. Island Records.
Critical reception
Larry Flick from 'Billboard' described "Always" as "a charming new tune that banks on a crisp guitar breeze generated by Richie Sambora and Jon Bon Jovi's familiar rasp." He added, "With lush orchestration by Michael Kamen and gradual shifts in tempo, grand track is easily one of the band's most interesting efforts to date. Prepare for deservedly active airplay well into the fall season." Music writer James Masterton wrote in his weekly UK chart commentary, that it "is an epic ballad of the type they are so fond of penning and a bit of judicious promotion smashes it straight into the Top 5." Alan Jones from 'Music Week' rated it four out of five, picking it as Pick of the Week. He wrote, "An intense rock ballad, with strings and piano filling out the group's sound, and Jon Bon Jovi delivering a strong, stylish lead. Shame about the weak bridge. Even so, this is sure to soar with a TOTP appearance already in the bag."
Music video
The music video for the song was directed by American television director Marty Callner. It features Jack Noseworthy, Carla Gugino, Jason Wiles and Keri Russell. There is also an alternate version of the video that is just the band performing the song. "Always" was published on YouTube in June 2009. It has amassed over 813 million views as of March 2022.
Live performances
The song's powerful lyrics and power ballad sound made "Always" an instant hit at live concerts, but the high demand on Jon Bon Jovi's vocals have seen it rarely performed in concert following the band's 19951996 These Days Tour. The song is featured on the band's 'Live From London' video. During the 20052006 Have a Nice Day Tour it was occasionally performed in the acoustic style heard on the band's 2003 'This Left Feels Right' album. The band performed the original version on their Lost Highway Tour, particularly in the UK leg. A live version performed on the final night of the Lost Highway Tour was included on the concert DVD 'Live at Madison Square Garden'. Since then, the song in its original version has been occasionally performed during every tour.
Track listings
* 'US 7-inch single'
:A. "Always" (single edit) 4:52
:B. "Living in Sin" 4:37
* 'US CD and cassette single'
# "Always" (edit) 4:52
# "Never Say Goodbye" 4:49
# "Edge of a Broken Heart" 4:33
* 'US maxi-CD single'
# "Always" (single edit) 4:52
# "I Wish Everyday Could Be Like Christmas" 4:25
# "Living in Sin" 4:37
# "Please Come Home for Christmas" 2:53
* 'European and Australasian CD single'
# "Always" (edit) 4:52
# "Edge of a Broken Heart" 4:33
* 'UK CD1'
# "Always" (edit)
# "Always"
# "Edge of a Broken Heart"
* 'UK CD2'
# "Always" (edit)
# "Always"
# "Edge of a Broken Heart"
# "Prayer '94"
* 'UK cassette single'
# "Always" (edit)
# "Always"
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!scope="col"|Chart (1995)
!scope="col"|Position
|-
!scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)
|55
|-
!scope="row"|Austria (3 Austria Top 40)
|37
|-
!scope="row"|Canada Top Singles ('RPM')
|53
|-
!scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)
|33
|-
!scope="row"|France (SNEP)
|16
|-
!scope="row"|Germany (Official German Charts)
|87
|-
!scope="row"|US 'Billboard' Hot 100
|17
|-
!scope="row"|US Adult Contemporary ('Billboard')
|24
|}
Decade-end charts
All-time charts
Certifications
References
Category:1990s ballads
Category:1994 singles
Category:1994 songs
Category:American soft rock songs
Category:Bon Jovi songs
Category:European Hot 100 Singles number-one singles
Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Mercury Records singles
Category:Number-one singles in Switzerland
Category:Rock ballads
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:Songs written by Jon Bon Jovi
Category:Ultratop 50 Singles (Flanders) number-one singles
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