Bad Medicine (song)
| "Bad Medicine" | |||||||
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| Single by Bon Jovi | |||||||
| from the album New Jersey | |||||||
| B-side | "99 in the Shade" | ||||||
| Released | September 3, 1988 | ||||||
| Format | 7-inch vinyl, CD Single | ||||||
| Recorded | 1988 | ||||||
| Genre | |||||||
| Length |
5:16 (album version) 3:54 (single version) | ||||||
| Label | Mercury | ||||||
| Writer(s) | Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Desmond Child | ||||||
| Producer(s) | Bruce Fairbairn | ||||||
| Bon Jovi singles chronology | |||||||
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"Bad Medicine" is a number-one single by American hard rock band Bon Jovi. It was written by musicians Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Desmond Child. It was released in September 1988 as the lead single from the band's album New Jersey.
Song structure
The song is highlighted by a near constant keyboard playing by David Bryan that is well defined in the beginning of the song and at several interludes, as well as loud guitar playing by Richie Sambora, background singing in the bridge and chorus, and a loud fast-paced delivery of lyrics by Jon Bon Jovi. It is one of the more upbeat and hard rocking songs on New Jersey.
Towards the end of the song, Jon says he is running out of breath and has to go, but then relents, saying "I'm not done...one more time, with feelin'" and the band finishes the song with another repeat of the chorus.
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Bad Medicine
 30 second sample from Bad Medicine by Bon Jovi |
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Music video
There are two videos for the song, one with the band live in concert, and a more well-known live video in which a crowd of young people waiting in line to get into the video shoot is asked by Sam Kinison if they (the public) "can make a better Bon Jovi video than these guys can." The crowd gives a very enthusiastic response, and members of the crowd are given hand-held cameras and invited onstage to help shoot the video.
Legacy
"Bad Medicine" continues to see considerable airplay on many rock radio stations and has always been a live staple at Bon Jovi concerts. In concert, an approximately 1-minute interlude of the classic "Shout" is incorporated into the middle of the song. Although with the Circle Tour, "Bad Medicine" has been played with many more covers than just "Shout".
The song was featured on the band's compilation albums Cross Road and Greatest Hits, the live album One Wild Night: Live 1985-2001, the acoustic collection This Left Feels Right, as well as several concert videos including Live From London and The Crush Tour.
In popular culture
- "Bad Medicine" is part of Bon Jovi's Greatest Hits pack released for Rock Band 3.
- In 2008, the Canadian hit show Degrassi: The Next Generation named an episode after this song.
- In the 2001 film Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, the song was played when Justice (Shannon Elizabeth) walks into Mooby's restaurant, giving Jay (Jason Mewes) dreams about kissing her.
- Mexican Wrestler Dr. Wagner Jr. uses the song as his entrance theme.
- The song was frequently sung by football (soccer) fans with the lyrics changed to "Your love is like Barry Venison" in honour of Barry Venison, the former Liverpool F.C. and Newcastle United footballer.[1]
Chart performance
| Chart (1988) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[2] | 4 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[3] | 31 |
| Canada Top Singles (RPM) | 5 |
| Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[4] | 7 |
| France (SNEP)[5] | 98 |
| Germany (Official German Charts)[6] | 54 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[7] | 10 |
| Italy (FIMI)[8] | 13 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] | 10 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[10] | 20 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[11] | 14 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[12] | 2 |
| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[13] | 17 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[14] | 1 |
| US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[15] | 3 |
See also
References
- ↑ "YOUR LOVE IS LIKE BARRY VENISON. BON JOVI - BAD MEDICINE. LIVERPOOL FC. NEWCASTLE FC.". YouTube. June 11, 2009. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- ↑ "Australian-charts.com – Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ↑ "Ultratop.be – Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin - levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
- ↑ "Accès direct à ces Artistes" (in French). Infodisc.fr. Retrieved October 30, 2012. Select BON JOVI then press OK.
- ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine". GfK Entertainment Charts.
- ↑ "The Irish Charts". Irish Recorded Music Association. Archived from the original on July 21, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2012. Insert Bad Medicine in the field Search by Song Title, then press Search.
- ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine". Top Digital Download.
- ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine". Singles Top 100.
- ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ↑ "Charts.org.nz – Bon Jovi – Bad Medicine". Top 40 Singles.
- ↑ "Bon Jovi: Artist Chart History" Official Charts Company.
- ↑ "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Bon Jovi.
- ↑ "Bon Jovi – Chart history" Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs for Bon Jovi.
