Midnight in Chelsea

Album: Destination Anywhere (1997)
Charted: 4
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Jon Bon Jovi wrote this with Dave Stewart, who is famous for his work with Eurythmics, but has also written with Lou Reed, Tom Petty, Gwen Stefani, Bono and many others. In our interview with Dave Stewart, he explained that one of his songwriting skills is creating a melancholy atmosphere, and this song is an example. Says Stewart: "When it starts off the lyrics are describing an old couple that have kind of lost it, and it's describing all the things from the basement, looking up and seeing all these people wandering around in Chelsea."
  • Chelsea is an area of London, and Bon Jovi was staying in a basement apartment there when he wrote this song with Stewart. Jon was enjoying his stay, as no one knew where he was and no one was bothering him.
  • Stewart met Jon Bon Jovi in the English countryside where Bruce Willis was staying with his family. Stewart had taken some pictures of Demi Moore and brought them by. Bon Jovi came over with his wife and kids, and later that evening they picked up guitars and started playing, with Willis joining in on harmonica. This is where Bon Jovi got the idea for the song, and he went to Stewart's apartment in London a few days later to work on it. Says Stewart: "It was an odd combination: me from the North East of England and Jon from New Jersey who seem to have completely different backgrounds. Yet we got on really well. Jon is a really smart, intelligent guy to work with."
  • This song went to #4 in England its first week of release, becoming Jon Bon Jovi's biggest UK hit. Stewart and Bon Jovi performed the song on an episode of Top Of The Pops.
  • The video was directed by Mark Pellington, who did Pearl Jam's "Jeremy" and Demi Lovato's "Skyscraper." Pellington shot it concurrently with the short film Destination Anywhere, which stars Jon Bon Jovi, Demi Moore, Kevin Bacon and Whoopi Goldberg.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.