Don't Stop (Fleetwood Mac song)
"Don't Stop" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac, written by vocalist and keyboard player Christine McVie. The song was sung by guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie, and it was a single taken from the band's hit album Rumours (1977).
"Don't Stop" | ||||
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Single by Fleetwood Mac | ||||
from the album Rumours | ||||
B-side |
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Released | 1 April 1977 | |||
Recorded | 1976 | |||
Genre | Pop rock | |||
Length | 3:13 | |||
Label | Warner Bros. | |||
Songwriter(s) | Christine McVie | |||
Producer(s) |
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Fleetwood Mac singles chronology | ||||
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Rumours track listing | ||||
11 tracks
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One of the band's most enduring hits, "Don't Stop" was released as the third single from Rumours, peaking at No. 3 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in October 1977. In the UK, "Don't Stop" followed "Go Your Own Way" as the second single from the album and peaked at No. 32.
Music and concept
"Don't Stop" has been described musically as a pop rock song.[1][2] It reflects Christine McVie's feelings after her separation from Fleetwood Mac's bass guitarist, John McVie, after eight years of marriage. "'Don't Stop' was just a feeling. It just seemed to be a pleasant revelation to have that 'yesterday's gone'," McVie remembers in The Fleetwood Mac Story: Rumours and Lies, "It might have, I guess, been directed more toward John, but I'm just definitely not a pessimist."[3]
Reception
Cash Box said that "Mick Fleetwood and John McVie comprise a deadly rhythm section, especially when they're working with a straight ahead shuffle like this one."[4]
Political significance
The song was the theme music for United States presidential candidate Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign, and was played at the 1992 Democratic National Convention during its final night balloon drop. Upon winning the election, Clinton persuaded the group to perform the song for his inaugural ball in 1993.[5]
At the 2000 convention, Clinton ended his speech by saying, "Keep putting people first. Keep building those bridges. And don't stop thinking about tomorrow!" Immediately after the final sentence, the song began playing over the loudspeakers.[6] The song was also played for Clinton's appearances at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 conventions.
Additionally, the song was played at every Conservative Conference by David Cameron when he was the party leader since 2013.
Cover versions
- Darren Hanlon covered the song for Australian youth radio station Triple J's Like a Version segment.
Personnel
- Christine McVie – piano, tack piano, Vox Continental, lead vocals (certain lines on choruses, 2nd verse and fade out)
- Mick Fleetwood – drums
- John McVie – bass guitar
- Lindsey Buckingham – electric guitars, lead vocals (majority of song)
- Stevie Nicks – tambourine, backing vocals
Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
Certifications
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References
- "Blake Shelton puts a country spin on his rendition of Fleetwood Mac's 'Don't Stop'". Coast. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
- Miller, Matt (13 June 2017). "Fleetwood Mac Members Will Warm Your Cold, Dead Heart With 'Don't Stop' On Toy Instruments". Esquire. Retrieved 28 November 2020.
- Brunning, Bob .(2001). Rumours and Lies: The Fleetwood Mac Story. ISBN 978-1-84449-011-0. Retrieved January 2, 2007.
- "CashBox Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. July 9, 1977. p. 15. Retrieved 2021-12-26.
- Greene, Andy (2013-01-22). "Flashback: Fleetwood Mac Reunite in 1993". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2019-10-22.
- USA: DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION WRAP, archived from the original on 2021-12-13, retrieved 2021-04-06
- "Fleetwood Mac – Don't Stop" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- "Fleetwood Mac – Don't Stop" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2016-12-20.
- "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 25, 1977" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- "Fleetwood Mac – Don't Stop" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
- "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, September 17, 1977". Archived from the original on June 9, 2015. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Fleetwood Mac – Don't Stop". GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 18 February 2019.
- "Jaaroverzichten 1977". Ultratop. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- "Top 200 Singles of '77 – Volume 28, No. 14, December 31 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1977". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1977". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". www.musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
- "Cash Box Year-End Charts: 1977/Top 100 Pop Singles, December 31, 1977". Archived from the original on October 20, 2018. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
- "British single certifications – Fleetwood Mac – Don't Stop". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 7, 2020.