"We Weren't Born to Follow" is the first single released in August 2009 from Bon Jovi's eleventh studio album, The Circle. The single premiered on radio on August 17, 2009. The single was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.Bon Jovi Nominated for Grammy Award! Bon Jovi News
Since then, the song has reached the peak position on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 68.
Music video The music video, directed by Craig Barry and edited by Brett Langefels for the song was released on October 14, 2009. It features the band performing on the roof of the Clinton Recording Studios in New York City with skyscrapers visible behind them. Interspersed with these scenes are archive clips and pictures of important events and people in history. Designed and composited by Matthew Lucas-Valci, these scenes echo the themes of the song. The video includes images of: Bringing down the Berlin Wall in 1989 Lance Armstrong winning the Tour de France The Dalai Lama A collection of the Wright brothers plane, a space shuttle and Spaceship One of Virgin Galactic Virgin Records owner Richard Branson The Great Wall of China The protests at Beijing's Tiananmen Square in 1989 and the famous Tank Man picture Images of US President Barack Obama Princess Diana in Africa Patrick Thibodeau, a renowned basketball player of Cumberland, Maine, who has Down's Syndrome, playing on the Greely High School boys' basketball team. Martin Luther King Jr. delivering his August 1963 "I Have a Dream" speech Protests about climate change The late guitarist Les Paul The successful emergency water landing of US Airways Flight 1549 and pilot Chesley Burnett Sullenberger III Scenes of the separation stage of a Saturn V rocket along with various astronauts in EVA Gloria Steinem and feminist demonstrations. Robert F. Kennedy Archbishop Desmond Tutu 2009–2010 Iranian election protests
For the week ending November 21, the music video for "We Weren't Born to Follow" reached number 1 on the VH1 Top 20 in the USA.
In popular culture In 2009, TBS used the song in its commercials for that year's Major League Baseball playoffs. Jon Bon Jovi gave a copy of the song to his friend Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, before its public release. The Patriots had initially planned to play it after touchdowns at Gillette Stadium, but ultimately chose to use "This Is Our House" instead.
Track listing
Personnel Bon Jovi Jon Bon Jovi - lead vocals Richie Sambora - guitars, backing vocals Hugh McDonald - bass guitar, backing vocals Tico Torres - drums, percussion David Bryan - keyboards, backing vocals
Additional musicians Charlie Judge - additional keyboards and strings
Technical personnel John Shanks – producer Jon Bon Jovi - co-producer Richie Sambora - co-producer Jeff Rothschild - engineer Mike Rew - additional engineer Obie O'Brien - additional engineer Alex Gibson - additional engineer Lars Fox - Pro Tools editor Bob Clearmountain - mixing engineer Brandon Duncan - mixing assistant George Marino - mastering
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (2009–2010)PeakpositionJapan (Japan Hot 100)3Japan (Oricon)36
Year-end charts Chart (2009)Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40) 68 Germany (Official German Charts) 85 Japan (Japan Hot 100) 78 Japan Adult Contemporary (Billboard)40 US Adult Top 40 (Billboard) 46Chart (2010)Position US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 41
Certifications
Release history
Region Date Label Format Catalog Japan October 21, 2009IslandCD UICL-5026EuropeOctober 23, 2009 0602527239415 0602527239408
References
External links "We Weren't Born to Follow" on the Official Bon Jovi website http://www.oricon.co.jp/music/release/d/837479/1/