A rejected movie soundtrack became Bon Jovi's final top-ten hit in the United States
In short: Originally composed for a 1993 crime film, this power ballad was shelved after the artist disliked the final cut. Rescued by an industry friend, it became an international chart-topper and one of the band's most successful singles, despite being rarely performed live due to its extreme vocal demands.
In 1993, Jon Bon Jovi wrote the track for the film Romeo Is Bleeding, which featured Gary Oldman as a compromised police officer linked to the Mafia. After attending a screening, the musician felt the movie failed to live up to its script and withheld the song from the production. The track remained forgotten until John Kalodner, an A&R executive, discovered it and persuaded the band to record and release it.
Released in September 1994 on the greatest hits compilation Cross Road, the song marked the final single appearance of bassist Alec John Such. It achieved significant commercial success, selling over three million copies globally and reaching number four on the US Billboard Hot 100. This milestone represented the band's eleventh and final entry into the top ten of that specific chart. Internationally, it secured the top spot in countries including Israel, Switzerland, and Canada.
Critical reception at the time was mixed. While some reviewers praised the lush orchestration by Michael Kamen and the guitar work of Richie Sambora, others compared the style unfavorably to the work of Bryan Adams. Despite this, the song's music video, directed by Marty Callner and featuring actors like Keri Russell and Carla Gugino, achieved enduring popularity, surpassing one billion views on YouTube by March 2024.
The song's intense vocal requirements led the band to limit its live performances following the 1995–1996 These Days Tour. While it has appeared in acoustic arrangements and occasional original-style performances on subsequent tours, such as the Lost Highway Tour and the 2026 Forever Tour, it remains a challenging staple of their catalog. The original music video remains a significant digital success for the group, standing as their third song to reach the billion-view threshold.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Always (Bon Jovi song)
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