| "Livin' on the Edge" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byAerosmith | ||||
| from the albumGet a Grip | ||||
| B-side |
| |||
| Released | March 1993 | |||
| Length |
| |||
| Label | Geffen | |||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Bruce Fairbairn | |||
| Aerosmith singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Music video | ||||
| "Livin' on the Edge" onYouTube | ||||
| Alternative cover | ||||
 Strictly limited edition | ||||
"Livin' on the Edge" is a song by Americanhard rock bandAerosmith. The song was written bySteven Tyler,Joe Perry, andMark Hudson. It was released in March 1993[1] byGeffen Records as the first single from the band's commercially successful eleventh album,Get a Grip (1993). The single reached number 18 on the USBillboard Hot 100 chart, number three on theCash Box Top 100, and number one on theBillboardAlbum Rock Tracks chart, where it remained for nine weeks. In the UK, the song peaked at number 19 on theUK Singles Chart in April 1993.
According to the band's autobiographyWalk This Way, the song was inspired by the1992 Los Angeles riots.[2] Tyler also mentions in the book that the song features the sound of abass drum he stole from his high school; four loud beats are heard from that drum in a pause between the final verse and chorus.
The music video for "Livin' on the Edge" was directed by American directorMarty Callner and features actorEdward Furlong. It depicts vandalism,grand theft auto,joyriding, airbag crashing, unprotected sex, violence among school-aged youth,cross-dressing teachers, a naked Steven Tyler holding a zipper by his crotch with half his body painted black (to give the effect he pulled down a zipper, unzipping his body) and lead guitarist Joe Perry playing a lead guitar solo in front of an oncomingMcCloud River Railroad freight train. The train scene was filmed onLake Britton Bridge inShasta County, California, the same bridge whereStand by Me filmed their famous train scene and employs the sameIntrovision technology.
"Livin' on the Edge" met with dismissive reactions from music critics. ReviewingGet a Grip forRolling Stone, Mark Coleman cited "Livin' on the Edge" as an example of the album "playing it safe according to strict late-Eighties directives", and added that it "ascends into a soaring,Bon Jovi-esque power chorale; only the gritty guitars on the bridge keep the damn thing grounded."[3] David Browne ofEntertainment Weekly also found the song was uncomfortably derivative of Bon Jovi, remarking that it "might have worked better if it didn’t sound like Bon Jovi trying hard to sound like Aerosmith."[4] Both Browne andAllmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the song's lyrics as a halfhearted, ineffectual attempt at social commentary.[4][5]
The song won aGrammy Award for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal for the year 1993.[6] The video for the song earned the band aViewer's Choice award at the1993 MTV Video Music Awards. The video was also voted "Best Video" byMetal Edge readers in the magazine's 1993 Readers' Choice Awards.[7]
"Livin' on the Edge" has been a staple at Aerosmith concerts ever since its release. During theGet a Grip Tour, the band performed a portion of "She Cried" (a song recorded byJay and the Americans, among other artists) as the intro to "Livin' on the Edge". Performances often involved Tyler screaming "There ain't no life nowhere" (from the song "I Don't Live Today" byThe Jimi Hendrix Experience) and then breathing heavily over a bright light during the brief interlude. "Livin' on the Edge" was performed at the1993 MTV Video Music Awards, the36th Grammy Awards, and atWoodstock '94. Additionally, the band performed the song as part of its set at theUnited We Standbenefit concert, held inWashington, D.C. shortly after theSeptember 11 attacks.
CD single
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Livin' on the Edge" (LP version) | Steven Tyler,Joe Perry,Mark Hudson | 6:07 |
| 2. | "Don't Stop" | Tyler, Perry,Jim Vallance | 4:05 |
| 3. | "Flesh" (LP version) | Tyler, Perry,Desmond Child | 5:57 |
US maxi-CD single
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Livin' on the Edge" (LP version) | Steven Tyler,Joe Perry,Mark Hudson | 6:07 |
| 2. | "Livin' on the Edge" (acoustic version) | Tyler, Perry, Hudson | 5:46 |
| 3. | "Livin' on the Edge" (demo) | Tyler, Perry, Hudson | 5:11 |
| 4. | "Don't Stop" | Tyler, Perry,Jim Vallance | 4:06 |
| 5. | "Can't Stop Messin'" | Tyler, Perry,Desmond Child | 3:30 |
Strictly limited-edition CD single
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Livin' on the Edge" (LP version) | Tyler, Perry, Hudson | 6:07 |
| 2. | "Livin' on the Edge" (acoustic version) | Tyler, Perry, Hudson | 5:41 |
| 3. | "Can't Stop Messin'" (international release LP version) | Tyler, Perry,Jack Blades,Tommy Shaw | 3:21 |
German CD single
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Livin' on the Edge" (LP version) | Steven Tyler,Joe Perry,Mark Hudson | 6:07 |
| 2. | "Don't Stop" | Tyler, Perry,Jim Vallance | 4:05 |
| 3. | "Flesh" (LP version) | Tyler, Perry,Desmond Child | 5:57 |
| 4. | "Livin' on the Edge" (acoustic version) | Tyler, Perry, Hudson | 5:41 |
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
|
| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | March 1993 | Maxi-CD | Geffen | [8] |
| Japan | March 24, 1993 | [30] | ||
| United Kingdom | March 29, 1993 |
| [31] |
