BON JOVI - IN THESE ARMS

Released: May 3, 1993

Chart Peak: US: #27    UK: #9 

Released on May 3, 1993, “In These Arms” marked the third single from Bon Jovi’s fifth studio album, “Keep the Faith”. Written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, and David Bryan, and produced by Bob Rock, the song represents the band’s early-’90s reinvention — a shift from their arena-rock dominance of the ’80s toward a more mature, emotionally charged sound. The track became one of the standout hits from the album, reaching No. 27 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 14 on the Top 40/Mainstream chart, and achieving strong international success, peaking at No. 9 in the U.K., No. 7 in the Netherlands, and Top 10 in Australia, Portugal, and Canada.

At its heart, “In These Arms” is a declaration of enduring love and devotion — a plea to hold on to what truly matters. It combines the urgency of Bon Jovi’s rock roots with a soulful, almost gospel-like conviction. Driven by a pulsing bassline, jangling guitars, and tight, punchy drumming, the track balances power and vulnerability. Jon Bon Jovi delivers one of his most impassioned vocal performances, his voice cutting through with both strength and longing.

While often mistaken for a ballad, the song maintains an upbeat pop-rock energy more akin to “Born to Be My Baby” than to the softer anthems of the band’s earlier years. Keyboardist David Bryan, who co-wrote the song, later recorded his own version for his 1994 solo album “On a Full Moon, infusing it with a more introspective tone.

The music video captures Bon Jovi’s onstage charisma and the energy of their Keep the Faith Tour. It combines live performance footage from their New Year’s Eve concert at Stabler Arena in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania on December 31, 1992, with additional scenes shot at the Dane County Coliseum in Madison, Wisconsin in March 1993. The same Bethlehem concert footage had also appeared in the video for “Bed of Roses.”