It's My Life (Bon Jovi song)

"It's My Life" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released on May 23, 2000, as the lead single from their seventh studio album, Crush (2000). It was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and Max Martin, and co-produced by Luke Ebbin. The song peaked at number one in Austria, Flanders, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Spain, and Switzerland while charting within the top 10 across several other countries and peaking at number 33 on the US Billboard Hot 100. "It's My Life" is Bon Jovi's most well-known post-1980s hit single and helped introduce the band to a new, younger fanbase.^[3]

"It's My Life"
One of retail artworks
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Crush
B-side	"Next 100 Years"
Released	May 23, 2000 (2000-05-23)[1]
Genre	Pop rock[2] arena rock[2]
Length	3:44
Label	Island Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora Max Martin
Producer(s)	Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora Luke Ebbin
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"Real Life" (1999) "It's My Life" (2000) "Say It Isn't So" (2000)
Music video
"It’s My Life" on YouTube

Background

The song has many classic Bon Jovi features, such as Sambora's use of the talk box, and a line in the second verse "For Tommy and Gina, who never backed down" refers to Tommy and Gina, a fictional working class couple that Bon Jovi and Sambora first wrote about in their 1986 hit "Livin' on a Prayer".

"It's My Life" is also notable for its line referencing fellow New Jerseyan Frank Sinatra: "My heart is like an open highway / Like Frankie said / I did it 'My Way'." Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora apparently had a disagreement over those lines, with Bon Jovi recalling:^[4]

I had just come home from making U-571 and I said "Sinatra made 16 movies and toured till he was 80. This is my role model." He [Sambora] said, "You can't write that damn lyric. Nobody cares about Frank Sinatra but you." And I wrote it anyway.

In Paul Anka's cover of the song for his 2005 album Rock Swings, he sings the second line as "Frankie said he did it my way", since Anka wrote the English lyrics for "My Way".

Reception

"Nobody had anticipated the song 'It's My Life'," noted Jon Bon Jovi in 2007. "Except us. We knew we had a hit."^[5] The song became an anthem that appealed to many fans. As Bon Jovi later stated:^[6] "I thought I was writing very self-indulgently about my own life and where I was in it. I didn't realize that the phrase 'It's My Life' would be taken as being about everyone – by teenagers, by older guys, mechanics, whatever. 'It's my life, and I'm taking control.' Everyone kind of feels that way from time to time."

Veteran critic Robert Christgau later hailed "It's My Life" as a "schlock-rock masterpiece" and "everyman anthem" with a lyric that is "all well-meaning Democrat-as-everyman Jon Bon Jovi".^[7]

Music video

The music video was directed by Wayne Isham. Will Estes (as Tommy) and Shiri Appleby (as Gina) are the two main characters.^[8] At the beginning, Tommy is watching a video of a Bon Jovi concert on his computer when he is ordered by his mother to take out the trash. Suddenly, Gina calls and tells him to immediately come to the tunnel as the live concert has already started. Tommy starts running down to his apartment and obediently takes out the trash. He then runs through the streets of Los Angeles up to the concert, getting chased by dogs, running a marathon, posing for pictures, and jackknifing a truck. The video was inspired by the film Run Lola Run.^[9] Jon Bon Jovi met Estes on the set of U-571 and chose him to be in the video. The music video features the 2nd Street Tunnel as one of the main settings.

It is the most viewed video for Bon Jovi on YouTube, reaching 1 billion views (the band's first song to do so) by the end of June 2021.^[10]

Track listings

US 7-inch single[11] A. "It's My Life" B. "Next 100 Years" Australian maxi-CD single[12] "It's My Life" "Hush" (demo version) "You Can't Lose at Love" (demo) "I Don't Want to Live Forever" (demo) "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" (enhanced video clip) Track five was recorded live by Tony Bongiovi at the Sanctuary II, New Jersey Web Concert on February 10, 2000 UK CD1[13] "It's My Life" "Hush" (demo version) "You Can't Lose at Love" (demo version) Includes poster

UK CD2[14] "It's My Life" (Dave Bascombe mix) "Temptation" (demo version) "I Don't Want to Live Forever" (demo version) "It's My Life" (enhanced video) European CD single[15] "It's My Life" "Hush" (demo version) European and Japanese maxi-CD single[16][17] "It's My Life" "Hush" (demo version) "You Can't Lose at Love" (demo version) "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" (live video) Track four was recorded live by Tony Bongiovi at the Sanctuary II, New Jersey Web Concert on February 10, 2000

Acoustic version

A much slower, acoustic ballad version of the song is featured on Bon Jovi's 2003 album This Left Feels Right, a collection of their greatest hits that were adapted into new formats. This version was also released as a single. A live performance was uploaded to YouTube in May 2020.

Awards

Won:

• "Video of the Year" at the VH1 My Music Awards^[18]
• Chosen as one of the greatest songs of the year at the ASCAP Pop Music Awards

Nominated:

• "Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal" at the 43rd Grammy Awards, but lost to U2's "Beautiful Day"

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2000–2001) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[19] 5 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[20] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[21] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[22] 6 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[23] 20[a] Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[24] 38[b] Canada Rock/Alternative (RPM)[25] 11[c] Croatia (HRT)[26] 1 Denmark (IFPI)[27] 2 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[28] 1 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[29] 6 France (SNEP)[30] 14 Germany (GfK)[31] 2 Greece (IFPI)[32] 3 Hungary (Mahasz)[33] 5 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[34] 2 Ireland (IRMA)[35] 5 Italy (FIMI)[36] 1 Japan (Oricon)[37] 21 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[38] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[39] 1 Norway (VG-lista)[40] 3 Poland (Music & Media)[41] 9 Portugal (AFP)[42] 1 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[43] 1 Scotland (OCC)[44] 3 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[45] 1 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[46] 2 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[47] 1 UK Singles (OCC)[48] 3 US Billboard Hot 100[49] 33 US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)[50] 11 US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[51] 14 Chart (2011) Peak position Hungary (Single Top 40)[52] 6 Chart (2022–2024) Peak position Bulgaria (PROPHON)[53] 2 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[54] 54 Romania Airplay (TopHit)[55] 92 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)[56] 81

Year-end charts Chart (2000) Position Australia (ARIA)[57] 24 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[58] 2 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[59] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[60] 19 Denmark (IFPI)[61] 23 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[62] 5 France (SNEP)[63] 60 Germany (Official German Charts)[64] 5 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[65] 58 Ireland (IRMA)[66] 23 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[67] 17 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[68] 12 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[43] 4 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[69] 9 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[70] 5 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[71] 3 UK Singles (OCC)[72] 52 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[73] 45 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[74] 46 Chart (2001) Position US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[75] 85 Decade-end charts Chart (2000–2009) Position Germany (Official German Charts)[76] 53 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[77] 62

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[78]	6× Platinum	420,000‡
Austria (IFPI Austria)[79]	Platinum	50,000*
Belgium (BEA)[80]	Platinum	50,000*
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[81]	Gold	30,000‡
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[82]	Platinum	90,000‡
France (SNEP)[83]	Gold	250,000*
Germany (BVMI)[84]	Platinum	500,000^
Italy (FIMI)[85]	Platinum	50,000‡
Japan (RIAJ)[86] PC download	Gold	100,000*
Japan (RIAJ)[87] Full-length ringtone	Gold	100,000*
Netherlands (NVPI)[88]	Gold	40,000^
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[89]	2× Platinum	120,000‡
Sweden (GLF)[90]	Platinum	30,000^
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[91]	Platinum	50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[92]	2× Platinum	1,200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[93]	3× Platinum	3,000,000‡
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	May 8, 2000	Hot adult contemporary radio	Island	[1]
	May 9, 2000	Contemporary hit mainstream rock active rock radio		[1]
Japan	May 10, 2000	CD	Mercury	[37]
United Kingdom	May 22, 2000	CD cassette		[94]

See also

• List of number-one hits of 2000 (Austria)
• List of Dutch Top 40 number-one singles of 2000
• List of number-one hits of 2000 (Italy)
• List of number-one singles of 2000 (Spain)
• List of Romanian Top 100 number ones of the 2000s
• List of number-one singles of the 2000s (Switzerland)

Notes

1. "It's My Life" reached number 20 when RPM ceased publication in November 2000.
2. "It's My Life" reached number 38 when RPM ceased publication in November 2000.
3. "It's My Life" reached number 11 when RPM ceased publication in November 2000.

References

1. "Going for Adds" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1349. May 5, 2000. pp. 81, 122, 127, 132. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
2. Spanos, Brittany (November 10, 2016). "Readers' Poll: 10 Best Bon Jovi Songs". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
3. "It's My Life".
4. "Jon Bon Jovi recalls 'It's My Life'". The Rock Radio. October 21, 2005. Archived from the original on September 24, 2008. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
5. Blake, Mark (August 2007). "My brilliant career: Jon Bon Jovi". Q #253. p. 68.
6. "Bon Jovi Popularity Soars in Germany". Deutsche Welle. October 12, 2005. Archived from the original on October 4, 2007. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
7. Christgau, Robert (June 23, 2022). "They're Not Gonna Live Forever". And It Don't Stop. Substack. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
8. "Bon Jovi: It's My Life (2000)". IMDB. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
9. Alex Gernandt: Bon Jovi, 2. edition, Goldmann, München 2001, ISBN 3-442-42851-3, p 261
10. "Bon Jovi Score Their First Video in YouTube's Billion Views Club". Billboard.
11. It's My Life (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Bon Jovi. Island Records. 2000. 314 562 801-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
12. It's My Life (Australian maxi-CD single liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 2000. 562 756-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
13. It's My Life (UK CD1 liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 2000. 562 752-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
14. It's My Life (UK CD2 liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 2000. 562 768-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
15. It's My Life (European CD single liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 2000. 562 753-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
16. It's My Life (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 2000. 562 754-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
17. It's My Life (Japanese maxi-CD single liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 2000. PHCR-8470.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
18. "Creed, Hill Lead My VH1 Awards". Billboard. Retrieved October 10, 2010.
19. "Bon Jovi – It's My Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
20. "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
21. "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
22. "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
23. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 7292." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
24. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 7106." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
25. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 7183." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
26. "HR Top 20 Lista". Croatian Radiotelevision. Archived from the original on July 6, 2000. Retrieved March 7, 2021.
27. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 25. June 17, 2000. p. 13. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
28. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 26. June 24, 2000. p. 11. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
29. "Bon Jovi: It's My Life" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
30. "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
31. "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
32. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 31. July 29, 2000. p. 9. Retrieved June 9, 2020. See LW column.
33. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 23. June 3, 2000. p. 17. Retrieved June 9, 2020.
34. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 20 (16.9–23.9 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). September 15, 2000. p. 12. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
35. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – It's My Life". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 7, 2019.
36. "Bon Jovi – It's My Life". Top Digital Download. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
37. "新譜情報" [New Information] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on April 21, 2000. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
38. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 22, 2000" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
39. "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
40. "Bon Jovi – It's My Life". VG-lista. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
41. "Major Market Airplay – Week 37/2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 37. September 9, 2000. p. 19. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
42. "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 36. September 2, 2000. p. 13. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
43. "Topul anului 2000" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
44. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
45. "Bon Jovi – It's My Life" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
46. "Bon Jovi – It's My Life". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
47. "Bon Jovi – It's My Life". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
48. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
49. "Bon Jovi Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
50. "Bon Jovi Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
51. "Bon Jovi Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
52. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved November 3, 2012.
53. "PROPHON – Charts" (in Bulgarian). PROPHON. March 4, 2022. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
54. "OLiS – oficjalna lista airplay" (Select week 20.01.2024–26.01.2024.) (in Polish). OLiS. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
55. "Top Radio Hits Romania Weekly Chart: Sep 12, 2024". TopHit. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
56. "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2022-03-25." TopHit. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
57. "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 2000". ARIA. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
58. "Jahreshitparade Singles 2000" (in German). Retrieved April 24, 2020.
59. "Jaaroverzichten 2000" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
60. "Rapports annuels 2000" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
61. "Års Hitlister 2000: IFPI Danmark: Singles Top 50" (in Danish). IFPI Danmark. Archived from the original on November 16, 2001. Retrieved April 8, 2021 – via Musik.org.
62. "Year in Focus – Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 2000" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 17, no. 52. December 23, 2000. p. 9. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
63. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 2000" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
64. "Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 2000" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
65. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 100". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 5, 2001. p. 10. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
66. "Top 100 of 2000". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. Archived from the original on June 2, 2004. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
67. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 2000". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
68. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 2000" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
69. "Tabla 16. CD-Singles Más Vendidos en 2000" [Best-Selling CD Singles in 2000] (in Spanish). AFYVE. p. 228. Retrieved June 8, 2021. Click on Música grabada.
70. "Årslista Singlar, 2000" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
71. "Swiss Year-End Charts 2000" (in German). Retrieved April 24, 2020.
72. "Best Sellers of 2000: Singles Top 100". Music Week. January 20, 2001. p. 25.
73. "Most Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 48.
74. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs of 2000". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 8, no. 51. December 22, 2000. p. 54.
75. "Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs of 2001". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 9, no. 51. December 21, 2001. p. 54.
76. "Gratis: 'Hits des neuen Jahrtausend'-Liste" [Free: 'Hits of the New Millennium' List] (in German). RTL. 2010. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved October 15, 2011.
77. "Decennium Charts – Singles 2000–2009" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
78. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
79. "Austrian single certifications – Jon Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
80. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 2000". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
81. "Brazilian single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
82. "Danish single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
83. "French single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
84. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Bon Jovi; 'It's My Life')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
85. "Italian single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
86. "Japanese digital single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved February 28, 2021. Select 2012年4月 on the drop-down menu
87. "Japanese ringtone certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Retrieved September 11, 2021. Select 2009年6月 on the drop-down menu
88. "Dutch single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved August 6, 2020. Enter It's My Life in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2000 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
89. "Spanish single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
90. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 2000" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 17, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
91. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('It's My Life')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
92. "British single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
93. "American single certifications – Bon Jovi – It's My Life". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
94. "Review – For Records Releases on May 22, 2000" (PDF). Music Week. May 13, 2000. p. 9. Retrieved August 2, 2021.