"What Do You Got?" is a song by American rock band Bon Jovi. It is one of four songs written for the band's Greatest Hits album, released in November 2010.[1] The song is the first single from the compilation album.[1] The song was released on the band's official website on August 27.[2] It was also released to radio airplay on August 27. It was officially released on September 21, 2010 as a digital download, but the physical single was released in Germany on October 22, 2010.[3]

"What Do You Got?"
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Greatest Hits
ReleasedAugust 27, 2010
StudioBay 7 Studios, Valley Village, California
Sparky Dark Studios, Calabasas, California
GenreCountry rock, pop rock
Length3:47
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Brett James
Producer(s)Howard Benson, Bon Jovi (co-producer), Sambora (co-producer)
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"When We Were Beautiful"
(2010)
"What Do You Got?"
(2010)
"No Apologies"
(2011)
Music video
What Do You Got? on YouTube

Background and lyrical content

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"What Do You Got?" was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Brett James, produced by Howard Benson and co-produced by Jon Bon Jovi and Sambora. It was recorded in Bay 7 Studios in Valley Village and Sparky Dark Studios in Calabasas, California.[4] The song was written during sessions for The Circle (2009), but it didn't fit that album, so band decided to hold it and finished it for the Greatest Hits (2010).[5]

Lyrically, the song is about the aesthetics of love. Richie Sambora explained: "It's a worldly thing and it doesn't have to be exactly about romance. It could be about with your family, daughter or son. What do you got if you ain't got love. It's a profound statement in its simplicity."[6]

Music video

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The music video was directed by Wayne Isham and produced by Dana Marshall. Isham explained: "I dug the 3D process, and it was awesome to execute it with long-time friends and collaborators Bon Jovi. We've worked together a long time, evolving and growing, so I'm happy to continue that tradition with the new medium of 3D".[7]

Release and reception

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Originally, Jon Bon Jovi didn't want to release "What Do You Got?" as the first single and instead favored "No Apologies". He said: "If anyone wants to pick a single, you tell me. What do I know? That was the one that floated to the top, and I was taken aback because it was the (last) of the five I would've picked. But people have really been relating to the lyric, and seemingly for...radio, it's a hit."[5]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic said that "What Do You Got?" and "No Apologies" "will likely not make any subsequent best-of".[8] Mike Diver from BBC said that the song is a "by-the-book slowie worthy of a few lighters held aloft".[9] Glenn Osrin from Examiner.com said the song "artistically is as slick, smooth and musically competent as fans expect of Bon Jovi". He also stated that "Jon's voice is crisp and clear, up in front in the mix; and Richie Sambora's guitar work is neat, clean, and growing more minimal by the minute". Describing the composition, Osrin said that song "continues the band's trend of recording music that tries to be more socially conscious than rollicking".[citation needed]

Track listing

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U.S. CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What Do You Got?"Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, Brett James3:46
Total length:3:46
German CD single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What Do You Got?"Bon Jovi, Sambora, James3:46
2."Wanted Dead or Alive" (Live from New Meadowlands Stadium)Bon Jovi, Sambora7:09
Total length:10:57
German CD Maxi single
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."What Do You Got?"Bon Jovi, Sambora, James3:46
2."Livin' on a Prayer" (Live from New Meadowlands Stadium)Bon Jovi, Sambora, Desmond Child7:21
3."Born to Be My Baby" (Live from New Meadowlands Stadium)Bon Jovi, Sambora, Child5:16
4."What Do You Got?" (Music video)Bon Jovi, Sambora, James3:52
Total length:20:23

Personnel

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Songwriting and production

Musicians

  • Jon Bon Jovi – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
  • Richie Sambora – lead guitar, harmony vocals
  • David Bryan – keyboards, backing vocals
  • Tico Torres – drums, percussion
  • Hugh McDonald – bass guitar, backing vocals

Chart performance

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Releases

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Country Date Type
Austria August 27, 2010[23] Radio airplay
United States/Canada August 27, 2010 Radio airplay
Malaysia August 31, 2010 Radio airplay
United Kingdom September 4, 2010 Radio airplay
United States September 21, 2010 Digital download
Germany October 15, 2010[24] CD single

In TV

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"What Do You Got?" was used in a promotional video for Grey's Anatomy in Canada.

References

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  1. ^ a b "Bon Jovi Greatest Hits to be released in November worldwide". bonjovi.com. 2010-08-24.
  2. ^ "Bon Jovi audio – What Do You Got?". bonjovi.com. 2010-08-28.
  3. ^ "What Do You Got? on bonjovi.de". bonjovi.de.
  4. ^ What Do You got? (European CD Single). Bon Jovi. New York City: Island. 2010. 0602527548449.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  5. ^ a b "Bon Jovi Mulls Solo Album After 'Circle' Tour Wraps". Billboard. 29 October 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  6. ^ What's Next. January 14, 2011. Event occurs at 8:30 ET. DirecTV. n3D.
  7. ^ "MERGE@Crossroads' Isham Goes 3D for Bon Jovi". CG Today. November 10, 2010. Retrieved January 18, 2017.
  8. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Greatest Hits: The Ultimate Collection – Bon Jovi". Allmusic. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  9. ^ Diver, Mike. "Review of Bon Jovi – Greatest Hits". BBC. Retrieved January 12, 2017.
  10. ^ "Bon Jovi – What Do You Got?" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  11. ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  12. ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Canada AC)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  13. ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Canada Hot AC)". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  14. ^ "Chart Search Results – European Hot 100 Singles 2010-11-06". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  15. ^ "Bon Jovi – What Do You Got?" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
  16. ^ "Chart Search Results – Japan Hot 100 Singles 2010-11-20". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  17. ^ "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Radio Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: insert 201052 into search. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  18. ^ "Top 20 – Lista de Radios – Semana 45: Del 6 al 12 de Noviembre de 2010" (PDF) (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved December 16, 2012.
  19. ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  20. ^ "Bon Jovi Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 27, 2011.
  21. ^ "Chart Search Results – Bubbling Under Hot 100 2010-10-09". Billboard.biz. Archived from the original on May 26, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2012.
  22. ^ "Adult Contemporary Songs – Year-End 2011". Billboard. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  23. ^ "Aktuelles". oe3.ORF.at. Retrieved 2012-03-14.
  24. ^ "What Do You Got? (Ltd. Digipak Edt.): Bon Jovi: Amazon.de: Musik". Amazon.de. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2012-03-14.