Synopsis

Jon Bon Jovi performs "Ugly" in a moody, fragmented promo video connected to the world of his Destination Anywhere project. Intimate performance shots are intercut with stylized imagery and emotionally charged glimpses of a troubled relationship, matching the song's reassurance to someone who sees only their flaws. Rather than building a conventional plot, the clip uses atmosphere, close-ups, and abrupt visual transitions to underline the contrast between self-doubt and the singer's insistence that love can reveal another kind of beauty.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Ugly" was a Jon Bon Jovi solo release rather than a recording by the Bon Jovi band. It appeared on his 1997 album Destination Anywhere and became the album's final single.

• The song was written by Jon Bon Jovi and Eric Bazilian, best known as a member of The Hooters. Desmond Child and Bazilian handled production.

• The single was released in German-speaking Europe on April 6, 1998. It reached No. 39 in Austria, No. 41 in Switzerland, and No. 75 in Germany.

• The video was part of the wider Destination Anywhere visual project. Unlike the main 45-minute film, the "Ugly" clip was included as a promotional video on the DVD edition released in 2005 and was not part of the original VHS presentation.

• Destination Anywhere was conceived as more than a conventional album campaign. Jon Bon Jovi described the project as an attempt to combine his music with acting and film rather than continue making standard music videos.

• The track has a notably unusual arrangement for a Bon Jovi-associated release, with acoustic guitar, harmonica, Wurlitzer piano, drums, bass, and tuba contributing to its rootsy, midtempo sound.

• The album version runs for approximately three and a half minutes, while the European radio edit was shorter.