Midnight in Chelsea explained

Midnight in Chelsea
Cover:Jon Bon Jovi - Midnight in Chelsea.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Jon Bon Jovi
Album:Destination Anywhere
Written:March 1996 (London)
Recorded:December 1996
Studio:Right Track (New York City)
Genre:Rock
Length:4:53
Label:Mercury
Producer:Dave Stewart, Jon Bon Jovi
Prev Title:Never Say Die
Prev Year:1991
Next Title:Queen of New Orleans
Next Year:1997

"Midnight in Chelsea" is a song by American rock singer Jon Bon Jovi, released as the first single from his second solo album, Destination Anywhere (1997), in June 1997. The song is written and produced by Bon Jovi and Dave Stewart, and is Bon Jovi's highest-charting solo single in the UK, reaching number four on the UK Singles Chart. The song also charted at number 29 on the US Billboard Adult Top 40, number 30 on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart, and number 11 in Canada. Its highest peak was in Spain, where it reached number one for two weeks.

Music video

The song's video was shot in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, with the Hotel Chelsea as a primary location. However, the song is actually about the London neighbourhood from which the Manhattan locale indirectly took its name, as evidenced by lyrics that refer to London topics such as Sloane Rangers, The Sun and "a big red bus". The usual description of lyrics do not include capital letters for The Sun. The music video was released on the DVD .

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard wrote, "You may need to double-check the CD single sleeve to remind yourself that this is, in fact, a Jon Bon Jovi recording. The man who has made millions of teenage girls swoon with his pop/metal musings previews his forthcoming solo outing, "Destination Anywhere", with a sharply time-sensitive slice of funk/rock. This richly textured track opens with a shuffling, hip-hop-spiked drum loop that will unlock many a top 40 door without turning off faithful mainstream rock stations. However, Bon Jovi and co-producer Dave Stewart wisely steer down an appropriately guitar-paved road after the first few bars of the song. Factor in a markedly more mature and restrained vocal and a maddeningly memorable la-la-la chorus, and you have the makings of a smash that will ring in a bright new career phase for the artist."[1] David Sinclair from The Times viewed the song as a "middle-of-the-road taster" from Bon Jovi's solo album.[2]

Track listings

All songs were written by Jon Bon Jovi. Additional writers are credited in parentheses.

  1. "Midnight in Chelsea" (single edit) – 4:03
  2. "Sad Song Night" – 4:11
  3. "August 7" (acoustic version) – 4:12
  4. "Midnight in Chelsea" (album version) – 4:58
  1. "Midnight in Chelsea" (single edit) – 4:03
  2. "Drive" (demo) – 4:14
  3. "Every Word Was a Piece of My Heart" (Dave Stuart mix) – 4:39
  4. "Midnight in Chelsea" (album version) – 4:58
  1. "Midnight in Chelsea" (single edit) – 4:03
  2. "Midnight in Chelsea" (album version) – 4:58

Credits and personnel

Credits are lifted from the Destination Anywhere album booklet.[8]

Recording

Personnel

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1997)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[9] 4
Hungary (Mahasz)[10] 6
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[11] 21
Italy (Musica e dischi)[12] 13
Spain (AFYVE)[13] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1997)Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[14] 80
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[15] 84
Romania (Romanian Top 100)[16] 88
UK Singles (OCC)[17] 145

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesMay 13, 1997Mercury[18] [19]
United KingdomJune 2, 1997[20]
JapanJune 4, 1997CD[21]

Notes and References

  1. Reviews & Previews: Singles. Flick. Larry. Billboard. 109. 21. 54. May 24, 1997. December 4, 2020. Larry Flick.
  2. Sinclair, David (June 7, 1997). "The week's top pop releases; Records". The Times.
  3. Midnight in Chelsea. Jon Bon Jovi. 1997. UK & Australian CD1 liner notes. Mercury Records. MERCD 488, 574 517-2.
  4. Midnight in Chelsea. Jon Bon Jovi. 1997. UK & Australian CD2 liner notes. Mercury Records. MERCX 488, 574 519-2.
  5. Midnight in Chelsea. Jon Bon Jovi. 1997. Japanese CD single liner notes. Mercury Records. PHCR-8402.
  6. Midnight in Chelsea. Jon Bon Jovi. 1997. UK cassette single sleeve. Mercury Records. MERMC 488, 574 516-4.
  7. Midnight in Chelsea. Jon Bon Jovi. 1997. European CD single liner notes. Mercury Records. 574 516-2.
  8. Destination Anywhere. Destination Anywhere. Jon Bon Jovi. 1997. European CD album booklet. Mercury Records. 536 011-2.
  9. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 14. 26. 18. June 28, 1997. March 9, 2020.
  10. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 14. 32. 14. August 9, 1997. May 6, 2018.
  11. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (12.6. '97 – 18.6. '97). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 20. June 13, 1997. October 3, 2019.
  12. Hits of the World – Italy. Billboard. 109. 26. 48. June 28, 1997. June 4, 2020.
  13. Book: Salaverri, Fernando. Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002. 1st. September 2005. Fundación Autor-SGAE. Spain. 84-8048-639-2.
  14. RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Hit Tracks. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. April 15, 2018.
  15. RPM '97 Year End Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. April 15, 2018.
  16. Web site: Romanian Top 100: Top of the Year 1997. Romanian Top 100. ro. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20050922001105/http://www.rt100.ro/topul-anului-1997.html. September 22, 2005. September 19, 2017.
  17. Web site: Najlepsze single na UK Top 40–1997. pl. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150604144848/http://hosting1642755.az.pl/sp%20uk%20best%201997.html. June 4, 2015. August 19, 2019.
  18. Bon Jovi Changes 'Destination'. Newman. Melinda. Billboard. 109. 21. 18. May 24, 1997. 'Midnight In Chelsea,' went to top 40 and AC radio the second week of May....
  19. New Releases. Radio & Records. 1196. 33. May 9, 1997.
  20. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 33. May 31, 1997. July 5, 2021.
  21. Web site: ミッドナイト・イン・チェルシー ジョン・ボン・ジョヴィ. Midnight in Chelsea Jon Bon Jovi. Oricon. ja. September 2, 2023.