"Blaze of Glory"
Single by Jon Bon Jovi
from the album Blaze of Glory
B-side"Blood Money"
ReleasedJuly 21, 1990
Genre
Length
  • 5:35
  • 4:24 (edit)
LabelVertigo
Songwriter(s)Jon Bon Jovi
Producer(s)
Jon Bon Jovi singles chronology
"Blaze of Glory"
(1990) 		"Miracle"
(1990)

"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.

Background

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.

Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
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

Personnel

Partial credits from various sources.[5][6][7]

Charts

Sales and certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
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.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Donkers, Chuck. "Rock the First, Vol. 2 - Various Artists | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved January 5, 2020.
  2. ^ Breihan, Tom (October 4, 2021). "The Number Ones: Jon Bon Jovi's "Blaze Of Glory". Stereogum. Retrieved December 8, 2023. The song is probably too long, and it's definitely chasing the same mythic country-rock grandeur that Steve Earle brought to 1988's "Copperhead Road
  3. ^ "24 of the Biggest and Best Movie Power Ballads". Denofgeek.com. Retrieved March 3, 2022.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ a b Colin Larkin, ed. (1999). The Virgin Encyclopedia of Heavy Rock (First ed.). Virgin Books. p. 326. ISBN 0-7535-0257-7.
  5. ^ "Career Guns Are Blazing For Rocker Jon Bon Jovi". The Morning Call. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  6. ^ Hudak, Joseph (December 17, 2020). "Jon Bon Jovi's 'Blaze of Glory' at 30: Inside His Cowboy Album". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  7. ^ "The Number Ones: Jon Bon Jovi's "Blaze Of Glory"". Stereogum.com. October 4, 2021. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  8. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  9. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  10. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  11. ^ "Radio2 top 30: 8 september 1990" (in Dutch). Top 30. Archived from the original on October 14, 2015. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1293." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  13. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 35. September 1, 1990. p. IV. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  14. ^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  15. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Blaze of Glory". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  16. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Jon Bon Jovi" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  17. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  18. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  19. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory". VG-lista. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  20. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory". Singles Top 100. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  21. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  22. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  23. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  24. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  25. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996. Sheridan Books, Inc. ISBN 978-0-89820-209-0.
  26. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved March 1, 2019.
  27. ^ "Jon Bon Jovi Chart History (Digital Song Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  28. ^ a b "ARIA Top 100 Singles for 1990". ARIA. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  29. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1990" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 7, no. 51. December 22, 1990. p. 36. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  30. ^ "Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1990". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  31. ^ "Top Selling Singles of 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  32. ^ "Swiss Year-End Charts 1990". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  33. ^ "Top 100 Hits for 1990". longboredsurfer.com. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  34. ^ "Top 50 Pop Singles". Cash Box Magazine. December 29, 1990. p. 9.
  35. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory". Recorded Music NZ.
  36. ^ "British single certifications – Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  37. ^ "American single certifications – Jon Bon Jovi – Blaze of Glory". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

Jon Bon Jovi
Awards for "Blaze of Glory"
Authority control databases
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