This Ain't a Love Song explained

This Ain't a Love Song
Cover:Bonjovi-thisaintalovesong1.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Bon Jovi
Album:These Days
Genre:Rock[1]
Length:5:08
Label:Mercury
Producer:
Prev Title:Someday I'll Be Saturday Night
Prev Year:1994
Next Title:Something for the Pain
Next Year:1995

"This Ain't a Love Song" is the lead single from American rock band Bon Jovi's sixth studio album, These Days (1995). The rock ballad[1] is an example of the strong rhythm and blues influence that Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora wanted the album to have. Released in May 1995 by Mercury, it reached number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, number six on the UK Singles Chart, and number one on the Finnish Singles Chart.

Critical reception

James Masterton wrote in his weekly UK chart commentary, "The new single is another ballad although rather more understated and reflective than many they have produced in the past."[2] Simon Williams from NME commented, "And hey, guess what? "This Ain't a Love Song" actually is a love song!"[3] Another NME editor, Stephen Dalton, wrote that it "waltzes and croaks" like "Bed of Roses".[4]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "This Ain't a Love Song" was shot at Wat Ratchaburana in Ayuthaya, Thailand, and directed by Andy Morahan.[5]

"Como yo nadie te ha amado"

A Spanish version, "Como yo nadie te ha amado" ("Nobody Has Loved You Like I Do"), was also recorded. However, the lyrics in the two versions differ from each other; the original version talks about a lost love, which is never recovered, while the Spanish version is a reflection on love, about how no one will love someone with the same passion than the narrator.

Mexican singer Yuridia covered the Spanish version, "Como yo nadie te ha amado", on her second studio album Habla El Corazón which peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart.[6] Yuridia's cover received was nominated at the 2008 Latin Billboard Awards for Latin Pop Airplay of the Year by a Female Artist.[7] Her cover also led to Jon Bon Jovi winning an ASCAP Latin Award in the Pop/Ballad field.[8]

Track listings

  1. "This Ain't a Love Song" – 5:06
  2. "Always" (live at A&M Studios) – 4:45
  3. "Prostitute" (demo) – 4:28
  1. "This Ain't a Love Song" – 5:06
  2. "Prostitute" (demo) – 4:28
  3. "When She Comes" (demo) – 3:29
  4. "The End" (demo) – 3:39
  5. "Lonely at the Top" (demo) – 4:14
  1. "This Ain't a Love Song" – 5:06
  2. "Always" (live at A&M Studios) – 4:45
  1. "This Ain't a Love Song" – 5:04
  2. "Lonely at the Top" – 4:14
  3. "The End" – 3:39
  1. "This Ain't a Love Song" – 5:04
  2. "When She Comes" – 3:29
  3. "Wedding Day" – 4:58
  4. "Prostitute" – 4:28
  1. "This Ain't a Love Song" – 5:04
  2. "Lonely at the Top" – 4:14
  1. "This Ain't a Love Song" (album version) – 5:04
  2. "Prostitute" – 4:28
  3. "Lonely at the Top" – 4:14
  4. "When She Comes" – 3:29
  5. "The End" – 3:39
  1. "This Ain't a Love Song" (album version) – 5:03
  2. "Always" (album version) – 5:52
  1. "This Ain't a Love Song"
  2. "Jon's Comment 1"
  3. "Always" (live '94)
  4. "Jon's Comment 2"
  5. "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" (live '94)
  6. "Jon's Comment 3"
  7. "With a Little Help from My Friends" (live '94)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1995)Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[23] 5
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[24] 1
Hungary (Mahasz)[25] 5
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[26] 3
Italy (Musica e dischi)[27] 10
Japan (Oricon)[28] 46
Poland (Music & Media)[29] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (1995)Position
Australia (ARIA)[30] 67
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[31] 31
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[32] 56
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[33] 48
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[34] 13
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)[35] 54
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[36] 41
France (SNEP)[37] 34
Germany (Official German Charts)[38] 77
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[39] 24
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[40] 46
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[41] 53
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[42] 78
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[43] 21
UK Singles (OCC)[44] 91
US Billboard Hot 100[45] 70

Release history

RegionVersionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United States"This Ain't a Love Song"May 15, 1995Mercury[46]
May 23, 1995[47]
JapanMay 26, 1995[48]
United States"Como yo nadie te ha amado"June 1995Radio[49]

Notes and References

  1. Airplay Action. Kops. Pieter. Music & Media. 12. 21. 41. May 27, 1995. ...whose This Ain't A Love Song invades at number 24. The rock ballad....
  2. Web site: Masterton. James. Week Ending June 10th 1995. Chart Watch UK. June 4, 1995. September 19, 2021. James Masterton.
  3. Simon. Williams. Singles. NME. May 27, 1995. 45. January 18, 2024.
  4. Stephen. Dalton. Long Play. NME. July 1, 1995. 49. January 28, 2024.
  5. Web site: mvdbase.com - Bon Jovi - "This ain't a love song". Music Video DataBase. Garcia. Alex S. November 4, 2015.
  6. Web site: Yuridia - Awards. AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. May 29, 2015.
  7. Web site: Finalistas a los premios Latin Billboard. El Nuevo Heraldo. June 8, 2017. es. February 6, 2008.
  8. Web site: 16th Annual Latin Music Awards. American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. August 10, 2015. May 16, 2008.
  9. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. US CD single liner notes. Mercury Records. 856 824-2.
  10. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. Canadian CD single liner notes. Mercury Records. 422 856 824-2.
  11. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. US cassette single sleeve. Mercury Records. 856 824-4.
  12. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. US & Canadian maxi-CD single liner notes. Mercury Records. 422 852 059-2.
  13. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. US 7-inch single vinyl disc. Mercury Records. 422 856 824-7.
  14. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. Japanese mini-CD single liner notes. Mercury Records. PHDR-501.
  15. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. UK CD1 liner notes. Mercury Records. JOVCD 17, 856 999-2.
  16. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. UK CD2 liner notes. Mercury Records. JOVCX 17, 852 001-2.
  17. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. UK cassette single sleeve. Mercury Records. JOVMC 17.
  18. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. Australian cassette single sleeve. Mercury Records. 8569744.
  19. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. European & Australian CD single liner notes. Mercury Records. 856 974-2.
  20. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. European maxi-CD single liner notes. Mercury Records. 856 975-2.
  21. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. French CD single liner notes. Mercury Records. 852 022 - 2.
  22. This Ain't a Love Song. Bon Jovi. 1995. Japanese maxi-CD single liner notes. Mercury Records. PHCR-8330.
  23. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 12. 25. 18. June 24, 1995. February 3, 2020.
  24. Book: Nyman, Jake. 2005. Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja. 1st. Tammi. Helsinki. 951-31-2503-3. fi.
  25. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 12. 34. 14. August 26, 1995. February 16, 2020.
  26. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (2.7. '95 – 15.7. '95). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 20. July 1, 1995. October 1, 2019.
  27. Top National Sellers. Music & Media. 12. 28. 7. July 15, 1995. November 26, 2019.
  28. Web site: ジス・エイント・ア・ラブ・ソング ボン・ジョヴィ. This Ain't a Love Song Bon Jovi. Oricon. ja. August 29, 2023.
  29. Major Market Airplay – Week 26/1995. Music & Media. 11. 26. 27. July 1, 1995. January 16, 2024.
  30. Web site: The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1995. ARIA. January 27, 2019.
  31. Web site: Jahreshitparade Singles 1995. de. March 17, 2019.
  32. Web site: Jaaroverzichten 1995. Ultratop. nl. March 17, 2019.
  33. Web site: Rapports annuels 1995. Ultratop. fr. March 17, 2019.
  34. RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1995. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 22, 2018.
  35. RPM Top 100 Adult Contemporary Tracks of 1995. RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 22, 2018.
  36. Music & Media 1995 in Review – Year End Sales Charts. Music & Media. 12. 51/52. 14. December 23, 1995. February 3, 2020.
  37. Web site: Tops de L'année Top Singles 1995. SNEP. fr. May 1, 2021.
  38. Web site: Top 100 Singles–Jahrescharts 1995. GfK Entertainment. de. March 17, 2019.
  39. News: Árslistinn 1995. Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 16. January 2, 1996. May 30, 2020.
  40. Web site: Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1995. Dutch Top 40. January 23, 2020.
  41. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1995. MegaCharts. nl. March 17, 2019.
  42. Web site: Årslista Singlar, 1995. Sverigetopplistan. sv. April 13, 2020.
  43. Web site: Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1995. de. March 17, 2019.
  44. Top 100 Singles 1995. Music Week. 9. January 13, 1996.
  45. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1995. August 27, 2010. August 15, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090815124541/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1995. dead.
  46. Bon Jovi on a Roll 'These Days'. Newman. Melinda. Billboard. 107. 20. 11, 38. May 20, 1995. The first single, midtempo "This Ain't A Love Song," will go to top 40, hot AC, and AC the week of May 15..
  47. Web site: This Ain't a Love Song / Always / Prostitute. Amazon. July 26, 2021.
  48. Web site: ジス・エイント・ア・ラブ・ソング ボン・ジョヴィ. This Ain't a Love Song Bon Jovi. Oricon. ja. August 29, 2023.
  49. Posthumous Certifications for Selena. Lannert. John. Billboard. 107. 22. 47. June 3, 1995. ...'Como Yo, Nadie Te Ha Amado,' a Spanish-language version of the band's current single, 'This Ain't A Love Song.' The Latino single is due out in early June..

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