"This Ain't a Love Song" is the lead single from American rock band Bon Jovi's sixth studio album, These Days (1995). The rock ballad[1] is an example of the strong rhythm and blues influence that Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora wanted the album to have. Released in May 1995 by Mercury, it reached number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number two on the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart, number six on the UK Singles Chart, and number one on the Finnish Singles Chart.
Critical reception
James Masterton wrote in his weekly UK chart commentary, "The new single is another ballad although rather more understated and reflective than many they have produced in the past."[2] Simon Williams from NME commented, "And hey, guess what? "This Ain't a Love Song" actually is a love song!"[3] Another NME editor, Stephen Dalton, wrote that it "waltzes and croaks" like "Bed of Roses".[4]
A Spanish version, "Como yo nadie te ha amado" ("Nobody Has Loved You Like I Do"), was also recorded. However, the lyrics in the two versions differ from each other; the original version talks about a lost love, which is never recovered, while the Spanish version is a reflection on love, about how no one will love someone with the same passion than the narrator.
Mexican singer Yuridia covered the Spanish version, "Como yo nadie te ha amado", on her second studio album Habla El Corazón which peaked at number 16 on the BillboardHot Latin Songs chart.[6] Yuridia's cover received was nominated at the 2008 Latin Billboard Awards for Latin Pop Airplay of the Year by a Female Artist.[7] Her cover also led to Jon Bon Jovi winning an ASCAP Latin Award in the Pop/Ballad field.[8]
Track listings
US and Canadian CD single; US cassette single[9][10][11]
^ abKops, Pieter (May 27, 1995). "Airplay Action". Music & Media. Vol. 12, no. 21. p. 41. ...whose This Ain't A Love Song invades at number 24. The rock ballad...
^This Ain't a Love Song (Canadian CD single liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. 422 856 824-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^This Ain't a Love Song (US cassette single sleeve). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. 856 824-4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^This Ain't a Love Song (US & Canadian maxi-CD single liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. 422 852 059-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^This Ain't a Love Song (US 7-inch single vinyl disc). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. 422 856 824-7.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^This Ain't a Love Song (Japanese mini-CD single liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. PHDR-501.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^This Ain't a Love Song (UK CD1 liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. JOVCD 17, 856 999-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^This Ain't a Love Song (UK CD2 liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. JOVCX 17, 852 001-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^This Ain't a Love Song (UK cassette single sleeve). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. JOVMC 17.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^This Ain't a Love Song (Australian cassette single sleeve). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. 8569744.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^This Ain't a Love Song (European & Australian CD single liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. 856 974-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^This Ain't a Love Song (European maxi-CD single liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. 856 975-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^This Ain't a Love Song (French CD single liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. 852 022 - 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^This Ain't a Love Song (Japanese maxi-CD single liner notes). Bon Jovi. Mercury Records. 1995. PHCR-8330.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^Newman, Melinda (May 20, 1995). "Bon Jovi on a Roll 'These Days'". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 20. pp. 11, 38. The first single, midtempo "This Ain't A Love Song," will go to top 40, hot AC, and AC the week of May 15.
^Lannert, John (June 3, 1995). "Posthumous Certifications for Selena". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 22. p. 47. ...'Como Yo, Nadie Te Ha Amado,' a Spanish-language version of the band's current single, 'This Ain't A Love Song.' The Latino single is due out in early June.