Don't Stop Me Now

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Lore & Background

The song was written by Freddie Mercury during the sessions for *Jazz*. The band felt they were "getting better at having a good time" and the lyrics reflect this. Musically, the song builds on Mercury's piano playing, with John Deacon and Roger Taylor providing a bass guitar and drums backing track. The song also provides an example of Queen's trademark style of multitrack harmony vocals for the chorus lines. The single reached number 9 in the UK charts but only number 86 in the US. Despite this, the song has grown in stature with time and has been popularised by consistent airplay, its use in advertisements, television programmes and films, and through cover versions. It has subsequently become one of Queen's most popular songs. In a March 2019 *Billboard* article, Bobby Olivier wrote that the song had, in the last six months alone, been featured in commercials for Toyota, Silk almond milk, Amazon and L'Oreal, and that on Sunday, March 3, 2019, it eclipsed 500 million plays on Spotify. Alexis Petridis of *The Guardian* wrote that the "astonishing" song "may be Queen's greatest song of all." The television show *Top Gear* voted it the Greatest Driving Song Ever.

In Their Own Story

Despite its popularity, Brian May was not originally a fan of the song as he felt it was celebrating the hedonistic and risky lifestyle of Mercury, which he considered threatening. He added that he struggled with the lyrics at the time, because it was about a difficult period in Freddie's life when the singer was "taking lots of drugs and having sex with lots of men." However, after hearing the song being played at weddings, parties and funerals, he has come to appreciate it as representing "great joy." The video for the song was directed by J. Kliebenstein and filmed at the Forest National, Brussels, Belgium on 26 January 1979. The video was uploaded to Queen's official YouTube channel on 1 August 2008. Viewed at the time of release as one of the lesser songs in the Queen canon, it was only performed live during 1979, with the last performance in the Crazy Tour. On the studio version, Brian May's only guitar playing is in his guitar solo, but on live versions performed on the band's 1979 Jazz and Crazy tours, May would also play rhythm guitar throughout the rest of the song to give more of a rock feel. A live version of the song features in the band's 1979 album *Live Killers*. Queen reintroduced the track to their set in the 2010s with Adam Lambert and it is now a popular live favourite.

Reader's Guide

This song represents a pinnacle moment in the band's theatrical rock evolution, capturing an unbridled sense of motion and confidence. It serves as a sonic representation of Freddie Mercury's charisma during the late-seventies era. The composition functions not merely as background audio but as a driving force within live performances, often utilized to ignite audience energy. Its arc spans from initial album release to becoming a cultural touchstone decades later through digital platforms and biographical films. Key skills include rapid tempo maintenance and dynamic vocal delivery that demands high stamina from the performer. Defining moments include its resurgence in popular media, cementing its status as an anthem of empowerment. It remains a staple in setlists whenever the band's legacy is celebrated, symbolizing freedom and exhilaration without restraint. The track stands apart from heavier ballads by offering pure adrenaline. Its structure builds momentum relentlessly, mirroring the feeling of speeding through the night. Fans often associate it with celebration and resilience, making it a crucial part of the group's emotional catalog. It bridges the gap between their classic rock roots and modern pop sensibilities due to its enduring appeal across generations.

Did You Know?

• The song was recorded in August 1978 at Super Bear Studios in Berre-les-Alpes, France.
• It was released as a single on 26 January 1979, the same day its music video was filmed at Forest National in Brussels, Belgium.
• In 2014, Rolling Stone readers voted it their third-favourite song by Queen.
• The song was used in the 2004 film Shaun of the Dead, which Bobby Olivier of Billboard credits with its initial rebirth in popularity.
• Brian May originally struggled with the lyrics because they reflected a period when Freddie Mercury was 'taking lots of drugs and having sex with lots of men,' but later came to appreciate the song as representing 'great joy.'