Jon Bon Jovi’s honest playlist: ‘You couldn’t help but learn the moves to Gangnam Style’

The arena rock frontman on his friendship with Ed Sheeran, an embarrassing early Christmas song, and the 80s hit he wishes he’d written


The song that changed my life

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. I grew up in New Jersey, so the E Street Band was how you were indoctrinated to rock’n’roll – they were the local heroes.
The best song to play at a party

Livin’ on a Prayer because everyone else knows the words. How do I feel when I hear it on the radio or a party? Amazed and amused!

The song I’ve streamed the most

I can tell you that because Spotify told me Tides by Ed Sheeran is No 1 on my list. I love that song. I met him at a Songwriters Hall of Fame event five or six years ago, stayed in touch and have become friendly. He’s stayed at my home.

The song I’m listening to right now
Legendary by Bon Jovi, from our new record Forever. It’s very joyous. As is my new four-part documentary, Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story, which is a retrospective of the 40 years of our career. It was emotional watching it for the first time. They say you see your life flash before your eyes just before you pass away. It was a bit like that, except, fortunately for me, I’m not dead yet.

The song I wish I had written
The lyrics and melody to The Boys of Summer by Don Henley has always resonated with me. I ran into Don last week, put my arm around him after he had just sung that song, and said: “I really wish I’d written that.”

The song I can no longer listen to
R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas [from the 1980 Star Wars-themed album Christmas in the Stars]. I was a gopher in a recording studio, running errands, and the producer needed a young voice. People have only just recently rediscovered I was the singer. Now it gets played to me all the time.

The song that gets me up in the morning

Today it was Good Day Sunshine by the Beatles. I remember when I first heard them, it was like they were from another planet. They were having so much fun, and the timeless classic songwriting and the recording process were unlike anything else anyone had ever witnessed. I remember seeing McCartney with Wings on the Ed Sullivan Show, then going back and rediscovering the Beatles.

The song I do at karaoke

I’ve been to a karaoke bar once in my life for a charitable event where I wasn’t even singing. I was in a fake wig and moustache pretending to be the barkeep.

The song I inexplicably know every lyric to

Any of the early Beatles like Love Me Do because everybody emulated Beatles records. The early Beatles records would be playing in my house.


The song that I secretly like, but tell people I hate

Gangnam Style by PSY because it was just a niche song like the Macarena but you couldn’t help but learn the dance moves.

The song I’d like played in my funeral
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go by Wham!

Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story is on Disney+.