That leads to the obvious question: can Jon Bon Jovi still do that high part?
This is all hearsay, but I have heard from several people that he has
never been able to replicate it live. But let's put in context what we are talking about to make sure we are talking about the same thing as well. As far as the live version of the song goes, here is who is singing what:
red = Jon
blue = band/Ritchie
So, live, the last chorus after it modulates up goes:
Whoa!We're halfway there!Whoa-oh!Livin' on a prayer!
Take my hand; we'll make it I swear.Whoa-oh!Livin' on a prayer!Jon
has to drop out on the "whoa" parts, even though he doesn't on the album. There just isn't enough room to breathe and sing the entire thing. He even does that on the lower choruses before the solo. That is understandable, and I assume we all acknowledge that.
But in terms of whether he actually goes for the notes, he doesn't try. And if what I have heard is correct, he never really has. The first time through, from versions I have heard, including the One Wild Night album, he goes for the notes on "we're halfway there," and sometimes tries on the rest of his parts (other times, he either drops down, just speaks the lines, or makes the audience sing). The second time through, he just drops down and ad libs a bit and/or makes the audience sing.