"Blaze of Glory" | ||||
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Single by Jon Bon Jovi | ||||
from the album Blaze of Glory | ||||
B-side | "Blood Money" | |||
Released | July 21, 1990 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Vertigo | |||
Songwriter(s) | Jon Bon Jovi | |||
Producer(s) |
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Jon Bon Jovi singles chronology | ||||
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"Blaze of Glory" is the debut solo single of American singer-songwriter Jon Bon Jovi. It reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Album Rock Tracks charts in 1990, becoming his only chart-topper away from his band Bon Jovi. "Blaze of Glory" also topped the Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand singles charts and reached No. 13 on the UK Singles Chart.
The power ballad[3] was allegedly recorded by Jon Bon Jovi because Emilio Estevez requested Bon Jovi's song "Wanted Dead or Alive" for the soundtrack to Young Guns II, but Bon Jovi did not think the lyrics—about the band constantly touring—fit the theme of the Western movie. However, the request inspired him to write "Blaze of Glory" with lyrics more topical to the film.
In 1990, guitarist Aldo Nova wrote the main guitar riff used in the Jon Bon Jovi song, "Blaze of Glory".[4] In 1991, to return the favor, Jon Bon Jovi worked with Nova to release Blood on the Bricks on Bon Jovi's label Jambco Records.[4]
The song features a music video and remains a crowd favorite with Bon Jovi fans, despite the fact that the song was not released as one of the band's singles, and only by Jon. The track is notable for the performance of Jeff Beck on guitar. The music video was filmed at The Rectory near Moab, Utah.
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
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1991 | Academy Awards | Best Original Song | Nominated |
American Music Awards | Favorite Pop/Rock Song | Won | |
Golden Globe Awards | Best Original Song | Won | |
Grammy Awards | Best Male Rock Vocal Performance | Nominated | |
Best Song Written for Visual Media | Nominated | ||
MTV Video Music Awards | Best Male Video | Nominated | |
Best Video from a Film | Nominated |
Partial credits from various sources.[5][6][7]
Weekly charts[edit]
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Year-end charts[edit]
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
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Australia (ARIA)[28] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] | Gold | 5,000* |
United Kingdom (BPI)[36] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA)[37] | Platinum | 1,000,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |