Always (Bon Jovi song)


"Always" is a power ballad by American rock band Bon Jovi. It was released as a single from their 1994 greatest hits album Cross Road and went on to become one of their best-selling singles, with a million copies sold in the US and more than 3 million worldwide. The song reached number four on the US Billboard Hot 100 and 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. In the United Kingdom, it was the first number-one single on the UK Rock and Metal Singles Chart.
"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.

Music video

The music video featured 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.

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 1995–1996 These Days Tour. The song is featured on the band's Live From London video. 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 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 listing

Promo CD single
  1. "Always" 4:37
  2. "Always" 4:52
  3. "Always" 5:52
UK CD single
  1. "Always" 4:52
  2. "Always" 5:52
  3. "Edge of a Broken Heart" 4:33
German CD single
  1. "Always" 4:52
  2. "Always" 5:52
  3. "Edge of a Broken Heart" 4:33
  4. "Prayer 94" 5:20
US Cassette single
  1. "Always "
  2. "Never Say Goodbye"
  3. "Edge of a Broken Heart"

    Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Chart Position
Australia 55
Austria 37
Canada Top Singles 53
Europe 33
France 16
Germany 87
US Billboard Hot 10017

All-time charts

Certifications