Mar 1, 2013 at 1:41 PM | MusicNews | By Rock Square

Singer, actor, icon, Jon Bon Jovi celebrates his 51^st birthday tomorrow, March 2^nd.

For decades, he has carved an indelible place in rock 'n' roll history. His music is an institution and each Bon Jovi arena tour packs concert halls worldwide.

With the release of his new album What About Now, out March 11^th, and his birthday we’ve put together a little playlist of our favorite Bon Jovi songs to mark the occasion. – enjoy!

1.      Runaway

The debut single from Bon Jovi’s first album in 1984, Runaway’s blast of keyboards and slamming guitars announced the band’s arrival in a huge way.

2.      You Give Love a Bad Name

1986’s Slippery When Wet was the band’s breakout smash hit, and this song is a perfect slice of catchy, relentless rock power. Good luck not singing along once it starts!

3.      Wanted Dead or Alive

The hits on Slippery When Wet just keep on coming. This tune, inspired by Bob Seger’s Turn the Page, has a decidedly Western feel – as showcased by its title. And the song transcends generations, as legions of youngsters regularly jam out on their plastic guitars in the video game Rock Band.  

4.      It’s My Life

The lead single from 2000’s Crush, It’s My Life again helped Bon Jovi launch into the 21^st Century with authority. JBJ’s refrain of It’s my life/It’s now or never/I ain’t gonna live forever is a rallying cry for perseverance and motivation – and its pull has helped the tune remain a classic to this day.

5.      Lost Highway

Bon Jovi has endured decades because of their resilience and willingness to change their sound – perhaps best exemplified by 2007’s Lost Highway, a country-tinged album that managed to be their first (!) to debut at #1 on the Billboard charts. This song was its commercial success.

6.      Have a Nice Day

Power chords and Jon Bon Jovi’s voice lead the way on the title track to the band’s 2005 album. The single landed on the Top 10 charts in eleven different countries -- a testament to the tried-and-true formula of chords, Bon Jovi’s voice, and a catchy chorus.

7.      Blaze of Glory

Yes, this single – which was a big hit on the soundtrack to the 1988 western film Young Guns II – was technically a JBJ solo song, but remains a staple in Bon Jovi’s concerts to this day. Jeff Beck on guitars didn’t hurt its success, either.

8.      Bad Medicine

Another #1 hit for the band, Bad Medicine, co-written by pop music mastermind Desmond Child, this 1988 single remains another “must” on any list of top Bon Jovi musical moments.

9.      I’ll Be There for You

It’d be a bad idea to omit any of Bon Jovi’s epic power ballads on a playlist – so here’s I’ll Be There for You, a #1 hit from 1988’s New Jersey. Clearly, Bon Jovi can slow down quite effectively too.

10.    Livin’ on a Prayer

You knew it was coming – but we wanted to save it for last. Grab a friend and sing along – or just start singing yourself. There’s a pretty good chance you’ve already started. This is is a Bon Jovi staple and one of our favorites.

Happy listening, and happy birthday Jon Bon Jovi!

Get all things Bon Jovi by heading to the Marketplace. 

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