Livin' on a Prayer was released by Bon Jovi in 1986 as a single from the album Slippery When Wet, written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Desmond Child. It tells the story of Tommy and Gina, a young working-class couple holding on through hard times, and it became one of the band's biggest hits, reaching number one in the United States. Decades later, its chorus remains a stadium and karaoke staple, and short clips circulate online whenever creators want an instantly recognisable shorthand for hope, resilience and celebration.