Bon Jovi was already one of the most exciting new names in hard rock before they released “You Give Love a Bad Name,” but the tune took the band to new heights. Nearly 40 years after the single first arrived, it is bigger than ever on a number of Billboard charts.
“You Give Love a Bad Name” can be found on three rankings in the U.S. this week. It reaches either a new peak or its previously-set high point on two of them. On the third, the track appears for the first time, earning a long-overdue debut.
Bon Jovi’s smash lands highest on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart. On that purchase-only list, the group’s single reappears at No. 4.
Over on the similar Rock Digital Song Sales chart, “You Give Love a Bad Name” also finds its way back. The tune comes in at No. 15 on the ranking of the bestselling rock tracks in the country. It’s only managed two frames somewhere on the roster, and it appears that the cut reaches a new best showing this time around.
“You Give Love a Bad Name” is brand new to the Hard Rock Streaming Songs chart. That tally, which focuses on the hard rock tunes that rack up the most plays on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, sees Bon Jovi earn their latest win. Somehow, this hit has never appeared on this list, but now, decades after the single dropped, it opens at No. 24.
Bon Jovi occupies half of all the spaces on the Hard Rock Digital Song Sales chart this week. “You Give Love a Bad Name” is one of four returning wins from the band, while they also manage to debut their older favorite “Runaway” on the tally.
“You Give Love a Bad Name” may be enjoying its best week ever on the three aforementioned charts, but the song has already lived a full life on other rankings. Bon Jovi earned their first No. 1 on the Hot 100 with this single, which introduced their album Slippery When Wet.
That full-length would go on to become one of the most successful projects in hard rock history. The set has moved at least 12 million copies in the U.S. In addition to its first single hitting No. 1 on the Hot 100, follow-up cut “Livin’ on a Prayer” also worked its way to the summit on the same tally.
“You Give Love a Bad Name” is one of many songs from Bon Jovi that’s performing especially well this week. The group’s catalog is on the rise following the release of a new docuseries about the band on Hulu titled Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story.
