What Do You Got?

"What Do You Got?" was written by Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora and Brett James, produced by Howard Benson and co-produced by Jon Bon Jovi and Sambora. It was recorded in Bay 7 Studios in Valley Village and Sparky Dark Studios in Calabasas, California.^[4] The song was written during sessions for The Circle (2009), but it didn't fit that album, so band decided to hold it and finished it for the Greatest Hits (2010).^[5]

Lyrically, the song is about the aesthetics of love. Richie Sambora explained: "It's a worldly thing and it doesn't have to be exactly about romance. It could be about with your family, daughter or son. What do you got if you ain't got love. It's a profound statement in its simplicity."^[6]

The music video was directed by Wayne Isham and produced by Dana Marshall. Isham explained: "I dug the 3D process, and it was awesome to execute it with long-time friends and collaborators Bon Jovi. We've worked together a long time, evolving and growing, so I'm happy to continue that tradition with the new medium of 3D".^[7]

Originally, Jon Bon Jovi didn't want to release "What Do You Got?" as the first single and instead favored "No Apologies". He said: "If anyone wants to pick a single, you tell me. What do I know? That was the one that floated to the top, and I was taken aback because it was the (last) of the five I would've picked. But people have really been relating to the lyric, and seemingly for...radio, it's a hit."^[5]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from Allmusic said that "What Do You Got?" and "No Apologies" "will likely not make any subsequent best-of".^[8] Mike Diver from BBC said that the song is a "by-the-book slowie worthy of a few lighters held aloft".^[9] Glenn Osrin from Examiner.com said the song "artistically is as slick, smooth and musically competent as fans expect of Bon Jovi". He also stated that "Jon's voice is crisp and clear, up in front in the mix; and Richie Sambora's guitar work is neat, clean, and growing more minimal by the minute". Describing the composition, Osrin said that song "continues the band's trend of recording music that tries to be more socially conscious than rollicking".^{[citation needed]}

Songwriting and production

• Jon Bon Jovi – writer, co-producer
• Richie Sambora – writer, co-producer
• Brett James – writer
• Howard Benson – producer
• Mike Plotnikoff – recording engineer
• Chris Lord-Alge – mixing engineer

Musicians

• Jon Bon Jovi – lead vocals, rhythm guitar
• Richie Sambora – lead guitar, harmony vocals
• David Bryan – keyboards, backing vocals
• Tico Torres – drums, percussion
• Hugh McDonald – bass guitar, backing vocals

"What Do You Got?" was used in a promotional video for Grey's Anatomy in Canada.