Livin' On A Prayer - The intro alone is captivating: fading in with haunting keyboards; one of the band's most distinctive bass lines; a moment of pure fantasy for air drummers everywhere; the classic talk box riff; and of course "Once upon a time / not so long ago ....". This is the band at their most unshamedly anthemic: with the lyrical story of Tommy and Gina being the perfect metaphor for holding on when life is tough; and the prominence of synthesised organs making it sound for all the world like a pop metal hymn. But this is far from cut from the generic pop metal template: the use of the talk box, coupled with the unusual combination of atmospheric synths and an earthshaking bass line driving the verses; and the contrast of this with the slashing guitar chords and stabbing keyboard during the pre chorus sets it apart. And that's before we even come to the chorus. Possibly the mightiest pop chorus EVER written; with the vocal performance of a lifetime from all involved; but especially Jon, singing higher (without going into falsetto) than possibly he ever has before. And then of course there's the guitar solo, already spotlighted because of the heavy use of the talk box over the rest of the song; it is simply one of the most melodic, memorable, and singalong and air guitar friendly guitar solos ever put to record. And how can anyone forget the all conquering, fist in the air "you live for the fight when that's all that you've got" bridge, soaring into one of the most uplifting key changes in rock history. Make no mistake, this song is magical, and its anthemic status looks set for many many years to come.

5/5