Always (Bon Jovi song)
Encyclopedia
"Always" is a power ballad by Bon Jovi
. It was released as a single from their 1994 album, Cross Road
and went on to become their best selling single, with 1.5 million copies sold in the U.S. and more than 3 million worldwide. The song reached #4 in the U.S. Billboard charts, #2 on the top 40 mainstream and was also an international hit (#2 in both the United Kingdom and Australia and #4 in Germany).
, but after disliking the film, the band decided not to lend the song to the producers. Jon Bon Jovi left the track on his shelf and forgot about it, until a friend found the track and convinced him to release it on the band's Cross Road
compilation album. The music video featured actors Jack Noseworthy and Jason Wiles
and actresses Carla Gugino
and Keri Russell
.
's vocals have seen it rarely performed in concert following the band's 1995-1996 These Days tour. During the 2005-2006 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 song is featured on the band's Live From London Video and DVD. Recently the band has performed the original version on their Lost Highway Tour
, particularly in the UK leg. A live version from the song, performed on the final night of the Lost Highway Tour
has been included on the concert DVD from the band: Live at Madison Square Garden
. On The Circle Tour
of 2010, the song has occasionally been played, whilst during the Bon Jovi Live tour of 2011 has also seen it performed.
Ruth Lorenzo
performed the song on the fifth series of The X Factor
during the 8th week. Despite getting excellent reviews from the judges, she received the lowest number of votes from the public. As a result, she ended up becoming the 8th person to be eliminated from the show (5th place). After her eliminination she performed the song again and received a standing ovation from the judges. Following the show, "Always" charted at number 31 on the iTunes UK chart.
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
. It was released as a single from their 1994 album, Cross Road
Cross Road
Cross Road is a greatest hits compilation released by the American band Bon Jovi in 1994. The album contains hits from between Bon Jovi and Keep The Faith and two new tracks: the hit singles "Always" and "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night", as well as a new, updated rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer"...
and went on to become their best selling single, with 1.5 million copies sold in the U.S. and more than 3 million worldwide. The song reached #4 in the U.S. Billboard charts, #2 on the top 40 mainstream and was also an international hit (#2 in both the United Kingdom and Australia and #4 in Germany).
Song origin
The song was originally written for the soundtrack to the film Romeo Is BleedingRomeo Is Bleeding
Romeo Is Bleeding is a darkly comic 1993 crime film starring Gary Oldman and Lena Olin, directed by Peter Medak. The film's title was taken from a song by Tom Waits....
, but after disliking the film, the band decided not to lend the song to the producers. Jon Bon Jovi left the track on his shelf and forgot about it, until a friend found the track and convinced him to release it on the band's Cross Road
Cross Road
Cross Road is a greatest hits compilation released by the American band Bon Jovi in 1994. The album contains hits from between Bon Jovi and Keep The Faith and two new tracks: the hit singles "Always" and "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night", as well as a new, updated rendition of "Livin' on a Prayer"...
compilation album. The music video featured actors Jack Noseworthy and Jason Wiles
Jason Wiles
Jason Austin Wiles is an American actor known for his role in the TV series Third Watch.Wiles was born in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S., and raised in Lenexa, Kansas, where he attended Holy Trinity Catholic School...
and actresses Carla Gugino
Carla Gugino
Carla Gugino is an American actress known for her roles of Sally Jupiter in Watchmen, Dr. Vera Gorski in Sucker Punch, Lucille in Sin City, Amanda Daniels in seasons 3, 5 and 7 of Entourage, Ingrid Cortez in the Spy Kids film trilogy, and as the lead characters of the television series Karen Sisco...
and Keri Russell
Keri Russell
Keri Lynn Russell is an American actress and dancer. After appearing in a number of made-for-television films and series during the mid-1990s, she came to fame for portraying the title role of Felicity Porter on the series Felicity, which ran from 1998 to 2002, and for which she won a Golden Globe...
.
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 JoviJon Bon Jovi
Jon Bon Jovi is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor, best known as the founder, occasional rhythm guitarist, and lead singer of rock band Bon Jovi, which was named after him...
's vocals have seen it rarely performed in concert following the band's 1995-1996 These Days tour. During the 2005-2006 Have a Nice Day Tour
Have a Nice Day Tour
The Have a Nice Day Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Bon Jovi. It took place between November 2005 and July 2006 and commenced two months after the release of their ninth studio album Have a Nice Day....
it was occasionally performed in the acoustic style heard on the band's 2003 This Left Feels Right
This Left Feels Right
UK Bonus TracksJapan Bonus TracksBrazil Bonus Tracks-New songs:Two new songs, "Last Man Standing" and "Thief of Hearts", were written and recorded for inclusion of the album. "Last Man Standing" was a song revealing lead singer Jon Bon Jovi's anger toward the state of the music industry...
album. The song is featured on the band's Live From London Video and DVD. Recently the band has performed the original version on their Lost Highway Tour
Lost Highway Tour
The Lost Highway Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Bon Jovi, that took place from October 2007 to July 2008 in support of their tenth studio album Lost Highway...
, particularly in the UK leg. A live version from the song, performed on the final night of the Lost Highway Tour
Lost Highway Tour
The Lost Highway Tour was a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Bon Jovi, that took place from October 2007 to July 2008 in support of their tenth studio album Lost Highway...
has been included on the concert DVD from the band: Live at Madison Square Garden
Live at Madison Square Garden
Live at Madison Square Garden is a fifth concert video by American band Bon Jovi from the last North American leg of their Lost Highway Tour. It was recorded on July 14 and July 15, 2008 at Madison Square Garden. It was directed by Anthony Bongiovi and Brian Lockwood...
. On The Circle Tour
The Circle Tour
The Circle Tour is a worldwide concert tour by American rock band Bon Jovi. The arena leg of the tour has finished and the stadium run has begun, starting off in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and then heading to East Rutherford, New Jersey for the grand opening of New Meadowlands Stadium...
of 2010, the song has occasionally been played, whilst during the Bon Jovi Live tour of 2011 has also seen it performed.
Ruth Lorenzo
Ruth Lorenzo
Ruth Lorenzo) is a Spanish singer notable for coming fifth in the fifth series of the British TV talent show The X Factor in 2008.Lorenzo's debut Single "Burn" entered the Spanish Singles Charts at number 16 when she released the single on the 27th of June 2011 in Spain...
performed the song on the fifth series of The X Factor
The X Factor (UK series 5)
The fifth UK series of The X Factor was broadcast on ITV in 2008. The series started on 16 August and was won by Alexandra Burke on 13 December, with new judge Cheryl Cole emerging as the winning mentor. Auditions in front of producers were held in April/May, with callbacks in front of the judges...
during the 8th week. Despite getting excellent reviews from the judges, she received the lowest number of votes from the public. As a result, she ended up becoming the 8th person to be eliminated from the show (5th place). After her eliminination she performed the song again and received a standing ovation from the judges. Following the show, "Always" charted at number 31 on the iTunes UK chart.
UK CD single
- "Always" (Edit) (Jon Bon Jovi) 4:52
- "Always" (Jon Bon Jovi) 5:52
- "Edge of a Broken Heart" (Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child) 4:33
German CD single
- "Always" (Edit) (Jon Bon Jovi) 4:52
- "Always" (Jon Bon Jovi) 5:52
- "Edge of a Broken Heart" (Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child) 4:33
- "Prayer 94" (Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child) 5:20
Charts
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Ireland (IRMA Irish Recorded Music Association Irish Recorded Music Association is the Irish record industry association. IRMA is a non-profit association set up to manage and control the music industry in the Republic of Ireland.-Goals and activities:... ) |
1 |
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|
End-of-year charts
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Top 50 Singles | 3 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 91 |
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 17 |