| "This Is Our House" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 iTunes cover | ||||
| Single byBon Jovi | ||||
| from the albumGreatest Hits | ||||
| Released | September 6, 2011 (iTunes) | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Length | 4:22 | |||
| Label | Island | |||
| Songwriters | Jon Bon Jovi,Richie Sambora,Desmond Child | |||
| Bon Jovi singles chronology | ||||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
 Physical single and Spotify cover | ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "This Is Our House (Live)" onYouTube | ||||
"This Is Our House" is a song by the Americanrock bandBon Jovi. It was originally written byJon Bon Jovi,Richie Sambora andDesmond Child and recorded in 2009. Originally intended as an exclusive track for the forthcoming National League Super Bowl season, it became a hit with Bon Jovi fans who asked for it to be including on the band's new hits collection.Greatest Hits had already been pressed to disk and it was too late to include the song of a physical format, but it made its debut proper as a bonus track if one downloadedGreatest Hits from the band's website. The song was also released as a bonus track on the iTunes edition ofGreatest Hits in the UK and Europe but was released as a digital single in September 2011. Bon Jovi opened many shows in 2010-2012 with the song.
Designed as a "sports anthem", the song was used by a number of sports leagues and teams, including Australia'sNational Rugby League, who prominently used the song as part of its marketing campaign beginning in the 2011 season. In contrast, its use by theNew Jersey Devils was deemed controversial by fans due to the traditions surroundingGary Glitter's "Rock and Roll", which the team had discontinued to promote a more positive fan atmosphere. It has been the touchdown song for theNew England Patriots since 2009.
"This Is Our House" was written to be a "sports anthem". Speaking of the song, Jon Bon Jovi stated, "Having led anArena Football Leagueteam from inception to championship and as a lifelong sports fan, I know the intensity and dedication that goes into cheering on your team."[1] Owing to its thematic, before the band performed the song duringThe Circle Tour atMosaic Stadium at Taylor Field inRegina, Saskatchewan, Jon Bon Jovi suggested that theSaskatchewan Roughriders (who play their home games at Mosaic) adopt it as their theme song.[2]
Fitting for its purpose, "This Is Our House" saw a number of uses by sports teams and leagues. In February 2011, Australia'sNational Rugby League announced that "This Is Our House" would be the official theme song of the league beginning in the2011 season, securing rights to the song for three years for use in its promotional campaigns. The song primarily appeared in television commercials, and as the theme music forNine Network telecasts of the league. Fan reception to the campaign was positive, so much so that the NRL wanted to have Bon Jovi make a live appearance during its championship game, theNRL Grand Final.[3] However,Kelly Clarkson was chosen to perform instead.[4] The song was used until the2013 NRL season, when it was replaced by a cover of "Something's Got a Hold on Me" byJessica Mauboy.[5] The song was also used in promotions by theNew York Rangers, theNew England Patriots, and theNational Football League.[1]
At their home opener for the2013-14 season on October 5, 2013, theNational Hockey League'sNew Jersey Devils adopted "This Is Our House" as its goal music, replacing part 2 ofGary Glitter's "Rock and Roll"—whose use by the team dated back to the team's move fromColorado in 1982. The team later stated that the change was intended to "[create] a game experience that represents what we are on the ice, makes all age groups proud of who we are, and represents our community"—a comment alluding a mocking "hey, you suck!" chant sung in tune to the song by fans. The change was met with an immediately negative response; fans booed the playing of "This Is Our House" throughout the game and reacted viasocial networking services.[6]
Yahoo! Sports writer Greg Wyshynski pointed out the irony of Bon Jovi's music being booed by residents of their own state, joking that doing so "might be grounds for deportation in New Jersey. (OK, maybe just a shakedown from the feds; booingBruce would mean deportation.)"[6][7][8] Following a vote by fans on the team's website alongsideLocksley's "The Whip" andMonster Truck's "Righteous Smoke", "This Is Our House" was ultimately replaced byThe White Stripes' "Seven Nation Army".[9]
