You Give Love a Bad Name

You Give Love a Bad Name is a 1986 song by American hard rock band Bon Jovi and is the first single from their third studio album Slippery When Wet. The song went to No. 1 in the United States (US), No. 2 in Canada and the Netherlands, No. 6 in Finland, No. 7 in New Zealand and No. 14 in the United Kingdom (UK).

"You Give Love a Bad Name"
Single by Bon Jovi
from the album Slippery When Wet
B-side	"Raise Your Hands" (US) "Let It Rock" (UK)
Released	July 23, 1986
Recorded	1986
Genre	Glam metal[1] pop metal[2] hard rock[3][4][5]
Length	3:42
Label	Mercury
Songwriter(s)	Desmond Child Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora
Producer(s)	Bruce Fairbairn
Bon Jovi singles chronology
"Silent Night" (1985) "You Give Love a Bad Name" (1986) "Livin' on a Prayer" (1986)

Tracklist

• 7" single

1. You Give Love a Bad Name – 3:53
2. Raise Your Hands – 4:17

• 12" single

1. You Give Love a Bad Name – 3:53
2. Raise Your Hands – 4:17
3. Borderline – 4:10

• 7" picture disc single

1. You Give Love a Bad Name – 3:53
2. Let It Rock – 5:24

• CD Video single

Audio

1. Let It Rock – 5:24
2. Raise Your Hands – 4:17
3. Without Live – 3:32
4. You Give Love a Bad Name – 3:53

Video

1. You Give Love a Bad Name – 3:53

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1986–1987) Peak position Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 32 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] 25 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 4 Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)[9] 4 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[10] 2 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[11] 52 Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)[12] 6 Ireland (IRMA)[13] 21 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[14] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[15] 2 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[16] 7 South Africa (Springbok Radio)[17] 15 Spain (Productores de Música de España)[18] 31 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[19] 14 UK Singles (OCC)[20] 14 US Billboard Hot 100[21] 1 US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[22] 9 US Cash Box[23] 1 Chart (2017) Peak position Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)[24] 69

Year-end charts Chart (1986) Position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[25] 69 Canada Top Singles (RPM)[26] 88 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[27] 75 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[28] 46 US Billboard Hot 100[29] 30 US Cash Box[30] 30 Chart (1987) Position Canada Top Singles (RPM)[31] 55

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[32]	5× Platinum	350,000
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[33]	Gold	30,000
Canada (Music Canada)[34]	Gold	50,000^
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[35]	Platinum	60,000
Germany (BVMI)[36]	Gold	250,000
Italy (FIMI)[37]	Platinum	100,000
New Zealand (RMNZ)[38]	3× Platinum	90,000
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[39]	Platinum	60,000
United Kingdom (BPI)[40]	2× Platinum	1,200,000
United States (RIAA)[41]	5× Platinum	5,000,000
^shipments figures based on certification alone sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Covers

You Give Love a Bad Name has been covered by various singers since its release. Some of them are independent bands, including the First To Eleven.^[42] First To Eleven's cover version of the song has accumulated 1,538,188 views as of April 8, 2025.^[42]