View source for Don't Stop Me Now

{{Short description|1979 single by Queen}}
{{About|the Queen song}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}

<!-- Do not vandalize this article by adding the typos from the book An Absolutely Remarkable Thing. You will lose points and be reverted. -->
{{Infobox song
| name        = Don't Stop Me Now
| cover       = File:Queen-dont-stop-me-now-1979-6-s.jpg
| caption     = UK single picture sleeve
| alt         =
| type        = single
| artist      = [[Queen (band)|Queen]]
| album       = [[Jazz (Queen album)|Jazz]]
| B-side      = *"[[Jazz (Queen album)#"In Only Seven Days"|In Only Seven Days]]" (UK)
*"[[Jazz (Queen album)|More of That Jazz]]" (US)
| released    = 26 January 1979<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/showitem.asp?interpret=Queen&titel=Don%27t+Stop+Me+Now&cat=s|title=Queen – Don't Stop Me Now|first=Steffen|last=Hung|website=hitparade.ch}}</ref>
| recorded    = August 1978
| studio      = Super Bear Studios ([[Berre-les-Alpes]], France)
| genre       = *[[Pop rock]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Don't Stop Me Now – Queen|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/dont-stop-me-now-mt0041498372|last=Guarisco|first=Donald A.|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=1 April 2018|quote=...it starts with Mercury singing over flowery piano lines and soon builds into stomping pop-rocker anchored by rumbling piano lines ... The end result was a smart fusion of pop hooks and rock energy...}}</ref>
*[[hard rock]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/live-killers-mw0000676426|title=Live Killers – Queen {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|last=Prato|first=Greg|website=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=31 May 2020}}</ref>
*[[power pop]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sentinel-echo.com/news/lifestyles/the-show-must-go-on/article_e9b81c92-5eb5-5dfe-92f4-8f3ef9d74be6.html|title=The Show Must Go On|first=Denis|last=House|website=The Sentinel-Echo|date=23 November 2018}}</ref>
| length      = {{plainlist|
* 3:29 (album version)
* 3:34 (with long-lost guitars version)
* 3:38 ([[Bohemian Rhapsody: The Original Soundtrack|...revisited]] version)
}}
| label       = *[[EMI Records|EMI]] (UK) 
*[[Elektra Records|Elektra]] (US)
| writer      = [[Freddie Mercury]]
| producer    = {{flatlist|
* [[Roy Thomas Baker]]
* Queen
}}
| prev_title  = [[Bicycle Race]]
| prev_title2 = [[Fat Bottomed Girls]]
| prev_year   = 1978
| next_title  = [[Mustapha (song)|Mustapha]]
| next_year   = 1979
| misc        = 
{{External music video|{{YouTube|HgzGwKwLmgM|"Don't Stop Me Now"}}}}
}}

"'''Don't Stop Me Now'''" is a song by the British rock band [[Queen (band)|Queen]], featured on their 1978 album ''[[Jazz (Queen album)|Jazz]]'' and released as a single on 26 January 1979. Written by lead singer [[Freddie Mercury]], it was recorded in August 1978 at Super Bear Studios in [[Berre-les-Alpes]] (Alpes-Maritimes), France, and is the twelfth track on the album.<ref>[http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/songs/jazz.htm#dont Jazz – Don't Stop Me Now]  Ultimate Queen. Retrieved 2 July 2011</ref>

The song also appeared on the band's 1981 compilation album ''[[Greatest Hits (Queen album)|Greatest Hits]]''. In June 2011, as part of Queen's 40th anniversary celebrations, an old take of the song containing more guitar parts was included on the bonus EP of the re-released and remastered ''Jazz'' album.<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/greatest-hits-vols-1--2-r220568 Queen Greatest Hits, Vols. 1 & 2] Allmusic. Retrieved 12 July 2011</ref><ref>[https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/jazz-remastered/id440499309 Jazz (Remastered) Queen] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817060045/http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/jazz-remastered/id440499309 |date=17 August 2011 }} iTunes. Retrieved 12 July 2011</ref> Featuring in films, commercials, and television shows, the song has grown in popularity in the decades since its release.<ref name="Billboard 2019"/> Bobby Olivier of ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' attributes its initial rebirth to its appearance in the 2004 cult classic zombie apocalypse film ''[[Shaun of the Dead]]''.<ref name="Billboard 2019"/> In 2014, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' readers voted it their third-favourite song by Queen.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Readers' Poll: 10 Greatest Queen Songs |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/readers-poll-10-greatest-queen-songs-17639/|access-date=26 August 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref>

==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.{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=223}} Musically, the song builds on Mercury's piano playing, with [[John Deacon]] and [[Roger Taylor (Queen drummer)|Roger Taylor]] providing a bass guitar and drums backing track. The song also provides an example of Queen's [[trademark look|trademark style]] of multitrack harmony vocals for the chorus lines.<ref name=am/>

An alternative version of the song, with a harder, guitar-driven arrangement, appeared on ''[[Bohemian Rhapsody: The Original Soundtrack]]'' issued in 2018, billed as "Don't Stop Me Now... Revisited".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/bohemian-rhapsody-original-motion-picture-soundtrack--mw0003208138|title=Bohemian Rhapsody [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]|website=AllMusic|accessdate=7 December 2022}}</ref>

==Reception==
The single reached number 9 in the UK charts but only number 86 in the US; as the album was a top-10 hit, the song got some airplay on U.S. [[album-oriented rock]] stations despite its low chart ranking as a single. Despite this, the song has grown in stature with time and has been popularised not only by consistent airplay, but by its use in advertisements, television programmes and films, and through cover versions. It has subsequently become one of Queen's most popular songs.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/6736491/Official-Top-25-karaoke-songs.html Official: Top 25 karaoke songs] ''The Telegraph''. Retrieved 28 May 2011</ref><ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHm2UG1YYMU Queen interview: Brian May on Don't Stop Me Now] Absolute Radio. Retrieved 21 December 2011</ref><ref>[http://queenonline.com/en/news-archive/press-release-dont-stop-me-now-top-hmv-lyric-poll/ Don't Stop Me Now Tops HMV Lyric Poll] Queen Online. Retrieved 21 December 2011</ref> The song was voted as the third-best Queen song by readers of ''[[Rolling Stone]]'', who noted that "time has also been very kind to it and it's widely seen now as one of the group's best works."<ref>{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/pictures/readers-poll-10-greatest-queen-songs-20140312/3-dont-stop-me-now-0785478 | title= Readers Poll: 10 Greatest Queen Songs | magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] | access-date=1 April 2018}}</ref> The single also has reached [[List of music recording certifications|platinum]] status in the United Kingdom. In a March 2019 ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' article titled, "The Evolution of Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now': How a Minor Hit Became One of the Band's Most Beloved (And Inescapable) Songs", Bobby Olivier wrote,

{{blockquote|"You might have noticed a new commercial promoting the [[American Idol (season 17)|new season of ''American Idol'']]. It was a 90-second music video featuring a dozen or so bright-eyed contestants, all of whom gleefully belted lines from a beloved song that has felt particularly ubiquitous as of late. No, it wasn't "[[Shallow (Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper song)|Shallow]]," or "[[Thank U, Next (song)|Thank U, Next]]"—it was Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now," a classic-rock energizer that has, in the last six months alone, also been featured in commercials for [[Toyota]], [[Silk (brand)|Silk almond milk]], [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] and [[L'Oreal]]. In the latter spot, [[Camila Cabello]] lip-syncs to the 41-year-old song as she dances and applies her lipstick. "Don't Stop Me Now" is not only one of the band's most treasured cuts, but one of the most popular songs of its entire era. On Sunday, March 3 [2019], it eclipsed 500 million plays on [[Spotify]]—nearly double that of any [[Rolling Stones]], [[U2]] or [[Led Zeppelin]] song on the service."<ref name="Billboard 2019">{{cite magazine |title=The Evolution of Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now': How a Minor Hit Became One of The Band's Most Beloved (And Inescapable) Songs |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8501348/queen-dont-stop-me-now-biggest-hits |access-date=22 August 2019 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>}}
[[File:Brian May (NHQ201812310024) (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|Brian May, 2018]]
[[Alexis Petridis]] of ''[[The Guardian]]'' wrote that the "astonishing" song "may be Queen's greatest song of all". He felt it was "a direct product of [Mercury's] hedonism and promiscuity: an unrepentant, joyous, utterly irresistible [[paean]] to gay pleasure-seeking. You find yourself wondering if its title might not have been aimed at his censorious bandmates."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Petridis |first1=Alexis |title=Guaranteed to blow your mind: the real Freddie Mercury |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/oct/24/real-freddie-mercury-bohemian-rhapsody |website=The Guardian |access-date=25 October 2018 |date=24 October 2018}}</ref> Mike Orme of ''[[Stylus Magazine]]'' ranked it the 7th-greatest penultimate track on an album, calling it Queen's "most flamboyant and energetic single" and commenting: "Essentially three and a half minutes of Freddie Mercury jacking the mike from the rest of the world, the song offers him a chance to let us know just how much fun he's having in the spotlight."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Orme |first1=Mike |title=Top Ten Favorite Penultimate Songs |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/staff_top_10/top-ten-favorite-penultimate-songs.htm |website=Stylus Magazine |access-date=24 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205004857/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/articles/staff_top_10/top-ten-favorite-penultimate-songs.htm |archive-date=5 December 2008 |date=27 April 2007}}</ref> ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' praised [[Brian May]]'s [[guitar solo]] and also stated that the song was "less gimmick laden" than Queen's previous single from ''Jazz'', "[[Bicycle Race]]"/"[[Fat Bottomed Girls]]", "while still retaining the brazen braggadocio of Freddie Mercury's lead vocals."<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=Billboard Magazine|title=Top Single Picks|access-date=2020-07-09|page=86|date=February 3, 1979|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/70s/1979/Billboard%201979-02-03.pdf}}</ref> ''[[Cash Box]]'' said it has "vocal dramatics and varied arrangements by Mercury" and "beautifully layered vocals and regal guitar work from [[Brian May|May]]".<ref name=cb>{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=February 3, 1979|page=18|newspaper=Cash Box|accessdate=2022-01-01|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1979/CB-1979-02-03.pdf}}</ref>  ''[[Record World]]'' called it a "fast paced tune with that easily identifiable Freddie Mercury lead vocal and Brian May guitar."<ref name=rw>{{cite magazine|magazine=Record World|date=February 3, 1979|accessdate=2023-02-12|title=Record World Single Picks|page=84|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/79/RW-1979-02-03.pdf}}</ref>  The television show ''[[Top Gear (2002 TV series)|Top Gear]]'' voted it the Greatest Driving Song Ever.{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=225}}

==Criticism==
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.{{sfn|Blake|2010|p=223}} 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".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Eames |first1=Tom |title=The Story of... 'Don't Stop Me Now' by Queen |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/features/the-story-of/queen-dont-stop-me-now-lyrics-meaning-facts/ |website=Smooth Radio |access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Poisuo |first1=Pauli |title=True stories behind popular Queen songs |url=https://www.grunge.com/143963/true-stories-behind-popular-queen-songs/ |website=Grunge |date=28 January 2019 |access-date=10 May 2019}}</ref> However, after hearing the song being played at weddings, parties and funerals, he has come to appreciate it as representing "great joy".<ref name=fo>{{cite magazine|url=https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/brian-may-why-hated-the-queen-song-dont-stop-me-now/|title=Brian May on why he hated the Queen song "Don't Stop Me Now"|magazine=Far Out|date=22 September 2022|accessdate=7 December 2022}}</ref>

==Music video==
The video for the song was directed by J. Kliebenstein and filmed at the [[Forest National]], Brussels, Belgium on 26 January 1979.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ultimatequeen.co.uk/queen/videos/promo-videos.htm |title=Queen Promo Videos |website=Ultimatequeen.co.uk |access-date=14 October 2016}}</ref> The video was uploaded to Queen's official [[YouTube]] channel on 1 August 2008.

==Live performances==
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]].<ref>[http://www.queenconcerts.com/live/queen/crazy.html Queen live on tour: Crazy tour] Queen Concerts. Retrieved 2 July 2011</ref> 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 Tour|Jazz]] and [[Crazy Tour|Crazy]] tours, May would also play rhythm guitar throughout the rest of the song to give more of a [[rock music|rock]] feel. A live version of the song features in the band's 1979 album ''[[Live Killers]]''.<ref>[http://www.allmusic.com/album/r15976/review Live Killers] Allmusic. Retrieved 12 July 2011</ref>

Queen reintroduced the track to their set in the 2010s with [[Adam Lambert]] and it is now a popular live favourite.<ref name=fo/><ref name=am>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/dont-stop-me-now-mt0041537417|title=Don't Stop Me Now|website=AllMusic|accessdate=7 December 2022}}</ref>

==Personnel==
Queen:
* [[Freddie Mercury]] – lead and backing vocals, piano
* [[Brian May]] – guitars, backing vocals
* [[Roger Taylor (Queen drummer)|Roger Taylor]] – drums, percussion, tambourine, triangle, backing vocals
* [[John Deacon]] – bass guitar

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"|Chart
! scope="col"|Peak<br>position
! scope="col"|Peak<br>year
|-
{{single chart|Flanders|23|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|rowspan="7"| 1979
|-
{{single chart|Germany|35|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|songid=8004|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|10|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch40|14|artist=Queen|year=1979|week=11|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|16|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|9|date=19790325|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardhot100|86|artist=Queen|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Sweden|37|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
| 2009
|-
! scope="row"|[[Portugal Digital Songs]] (''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'')<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/biz/charts/2014-06-07/portugal|title=Portugal Digital Songs: June 07, 2014|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=29 November 2018}}</ref>
| 7
| 2014
|-
{{single chart|France|68|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
| 2015
|-
!scope="row"|Australia ([[Australian Recording Industry Association|ARIA]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2018/11/aria-chart-watch-500/|title=ARIA CHART WATCH #500|publisher=auspOp|date=24 November 2018|access-date=24 November 2018|archive-date=24 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124162500/https://www.auspop.com.au/2018/11/aria-chart-watch-500/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
| 53
| rowspan="13"|2018
|-
{{single chart|Austria|38|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Czechdigital|13|year=2018|week=47|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Hungarysingle|15|year=2019|week=33|rowheader=true|artist=Queen|access-date=23 August 2019}}
|-
{{single chart|Italy|54|week=50| rowheader=true|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|access-date=2 August 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardjapanhot100|37|artist=Queen|rowheader=true|access-date=13 December 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Dutch100|97|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Portugal|65|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Slovakdigital2|27|year=2018|week=47|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Spain|77|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|rowheader=true|access-date=2 August 2020}}
|-
{{single chart|Switzerland|52|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|UKrock|1|date=20180111|artist=Queen|song=Don't Stop Me Now|rowheader=true|access-date=29 November 2018}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|7|artist=Queen|rowheader=true|access-date=25 March 2019}}
|-
{{single chart|Billboardjapanhot100|32|artist=Queen|rowheader=true|access-date=4 August 2020|refname=Japan2019}}
|2019
|}

===Year-end charts===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2019 year-end chart performance for "Don't Stop Me Now"
! scope="col"| Chart (2019)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| France (SNEP)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://snepmusique.com/les-tops/le-top-de-lannee/top-singles-annee/?categorie=Top%20Single%20de%20l%E2%80%99ann%C3%A9e&annee=2019|title=Top de l'année Top Singles 2019|publisher=SNEP|language=fr|access-date=2 November 2020}}</ref>
| 134
|-
! scope="row"| Hungary (Single Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slagerlistak.hu/archivum/eves-osszesitett-listak/single_db/2019|title=Single Top 100 – eladási darabszám alapján – 2019|access-date=19 March 2020|publisher=[[Mahasz]]}}</ref>
| 81
|-
! scope="row"| Portugal (AFP)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.audiogest.pt/documents/files/Top%20AFP-AUDIOGEST_01-52_2019_V2%20site%281%29.pdf|title=Top AFP – Audiogest – Top 3000 Singles + EPs Digitais|publisher=[[Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa]]|language=pt|access-date=11 August 2020}}</ref>
| 166
|-
! scope="row"| UK Singles (Official Charts Company)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20190101/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2019|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=4 January 2020}}</ref>
| 99
|-
! scope="row"| US Hot Rock Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2019/hot-rock-songs|title=Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2019|magazine=Billboard|access-date=18 March 2020}}</ref>
| 25
|}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ 2022 year-end chart performance for "Don't Stop Me Now"
! scope="col"| Chart (2022)
! scope="col"| Position
|-
! scope="row"| UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20221231/37501|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2022|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref>
| 99
|}

===Revisited version===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col"|Chart (2019)
! scope="col"|Peak<br>position
|-
{{single chart|Billboardrocksongs|30|artist=Queen|rowheader=true|access-date=4 August 2020|refname=BillboardRevisited}}
|}

==Certifications==
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Queen|title=Don't Stop Me Now|type=single|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=1979|certyear=2020|access-date=25 April 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Queen|title=Don't Stop Me Now|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=1979|certyear=2024|access-date=March 13, 2024}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Queen|title=Don't Stop Me Now|type=single|award=Platinum|number=2|id=11448|relyear=1979|certyear=2022|access-date=July 7, 2022}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Queen|title=Don't Stop Me Now|type=single|award=Gold|number=3|relyear=1979|certyear=2024|access-date=December 20, 2024}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Italy|artist=Queen|title=Don't Stop Me Now|type=single|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1979|certyear=2024|access-date=15 July 2024|id=7245|note=Sales since 2009}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Japan|artist=Queen|title=Don't Stop Me Now|type=single|award=Gold|certmonth=11|relyear=2011|certyear=2021|digital=true|note=2011 release|access-date=20 December 2021}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|artist=Queen|title=Don't Stop Me Now|type=single|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1979|certyear=2023|id=file_2023-08-11-15-58-12.pdf|access-date=16 September 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Queen|title=Don't Stop Me Now|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1979|certyear=2024|access-date=September 30, 2024}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Queen|title=Don't Stop Me Now|type=single|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=2011|certyear=2024|id=1906-1614-1|accessdate=April 12, 2024}}
{{certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Queen|title=Stop Me Now|type=single|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=2003|certyear=2022|access-date=29 August 2022}}
{{certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|noshipments=true}}

==McFly version==
{{Infobox song
| name       = Don't Stop Me Now" / "Please, Please
| cover      = Pleaseplease.jpg
| alt        =
| type       = single
| artist     = [[McFly]]
| album      = [[Motion in the Ocean]]
| released   = {{start date|2006|7|17|df=y}}<ref>{{cite magazine|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=[[Music Week]]|page=23|date=15 July 2006}}</ref>
| recorded   =
| studio     =
| venue      =
| genre      = <!-- Do not add unsourced genres -->
| length     =
* 3:20 ("Don't Stop Me Now")
* 3:09 ("Please, Please")
| label      =
* [[Island Records|Island]]
* [[Universal Records|Universal]]
| writer     =
* [[Freddie Mercury]] ("Don't Stop Me Now")
* [[Danny Jones]], [[Dougie Poynter]], [[Harry Judd]], [[Jason Perry (singer)|Jason Perry]], [[Tom Fletcher]] ("Please, Please")
| producer   =
* Jason Perry
* [[Julian Emery]]
| prev_title = [[Ultraviolet/The Ballad of Paul K]]
| prev_year  = 2005
| title      = Don't Stop Me Now
| title2     = Please, Please
| next_title = [[Star Girl (song)|Star Girl]]
| next_year  = 2006
}}
In 2006, English band [[McFly]] covered "Don't Stop Me Now" and released it as a [[double A-side]] single with original track "Please, Please". The release, titled "Don't Stop Me Now" / "Please, Please", was the first single from their third album, ''[[Motion in the Ocean]]''. It premiered on [[BBC Radio 1]] on 7 June 2006. The double A-side entered the [[UK Singles Chart]] at number one on 23 July 2006, knocking "[[Smile (Lily Allen song)|Smile]]" by [[Lily Allen]] off the top spot. It also reached number 15 in Ireland.

===Charity===
Some of the money from any version of the single went to ''[[Sport Relief]]'' and as a result their version of "Don't Stop Me Now" was played across the [[BBC]]'s sport programmes, including highlights from the [[2006 FIFA World Cup]]. It also was the theme for the "Sport Relief Mile", which McFly also took part in. Judd also travelled to India for ''Sport Relief'' with a collection of other British celebrities including presenter and comedian [[Nick Hancock]] and radio DJ and presenter [[Chris Evans (presenter)|Chris Evans]]. Whilst out in India, Harry took part in a cricket tournament, travelling across India's poorest areas and playing with everyone from the kids to the professionals, all in aid of ''Sport Relief''.

===Track listings===
'''UK CD1'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Stop Me Now / Please, Please|others=[[McFly]]|year=2006|type=UK CD1 liner notes|publisher=[[Island Records]], [[Universal Records]]|id=1703585}}</ref>
# "Don't Stop Me Now"
# "Please, Please" (radio version)

'''UK CD2'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Please, Please / Don't Stop Me Now|others=McFly|year=2006|type=UK CD2 liner notes|publisher=Island Records, Universal Records|id=1703586}}</ref>
# "Please, Please" (single version)
# "Don't Stop Me Now"
# "5 Colours in Her Hair" (US version)
# "5 Colours in Her Hair" (live from Arena Tour)
# "5 Colours in Her Hair" (live video)
# "Harry in India for [[Sport Relief#Sport Relief 2006|Sport Relief]]"

'''UK DVD single'''<ref>{{cite AV media notes|title=Please, Please / Don't Stop Me Now|others=McFly|year=2006|type=UK DVD single liner notes|publisher=Island Records, Universal Records|id=1703675}}</ref>
# "Please, Please" (audio)
# "Don't Stop Me Now" (audio)
# "I've Got You" (US version)
# "I've Got You" (US movie video)
# "Please, Please" (video)
# Behind the scenes at the "Please, Please" video shoot

===Charts===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}

====Weekly charts====
{|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2006)
!Peak<br/>position
|-
!scope="row"|Europe ([[European Hot 100 Singles|Eurochart Hot 100]])<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Hits of the World: Eurocharts|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|volume=118|issue=31|page=67|date=5 August 2006}}</ref>
|4
|-
{{single chart|Ireland2|15|song=Don't Stop Me Now / Please Please|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|Scotland|1|date=20060729|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{single chart|UK|1|date=20060729|rowheader=true}}
|}
{{col-2}}

====Year-end charts====
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (2006)
!Position
|-
!scope="row"|UK Singles (OCC)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/end-of-year-singles-chart/20060108/37501/|title=End of Year Singles Chart Top 100 – 2006|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]|accessdate=8 July 2018}}</ref>
|89
|}
{{col-end}}

== Other versions ==
Cover versions include:
* [[Foxes (singer)|Foxes]] covered the song on the 11 October 2014 episode of ''[[Doctor Who]]'', "[[Mummy on the Orient Express]]". A music video was subsequently released by the BBC to publicise series 8 of the rebooted show.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-10-11/foxes-sings-queens-dont-stop-me-now-in-doctor-who-episode-mummy-on-the-orient-express/|title=Foxes sings Queen's Don't Stop Me Now in Doctor Who episode Mummy on the Orients Express|work=Radio Times}}</ref>
* [[The Vandals]], on their 2004 album ''[[Hollywood Potato Chip]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Prindle |first=Mark |title=Interview with Warren Fitzgerald of The Vandals |website=Citizine |date=2004-06-11 |url=http://www.citizinemag.com/music/music-0501_vandals_warrenf.htm |access-date=2010-04-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608053326/http://www.citizinemag.com/music/music-0501_vandals_warrenf.htm |archive-date=2011-06-08 }}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
* The song was used in the Sonic the Hedgehog franchise: the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (film)|2020 film of the same name]], and a launch trailer for the 2022 game ''[[Sonic Frontiers]],'' as well as other promotional material.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Malliaros |first=Matt |date=2022-11-09 |title=Sonic Meets Queen in the Action-Packed 'Sonic Frontiers' Launch Trailer |url=https://www.cinelinx.com/news/sonic-frontiers-launch-trailer/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=Cinelinx {{!}} Movies. Games. Geek Culture. |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=rawmeatcowboy |date=2022-11-23 |title=Check out the latest commercial for Sonic Frontiers |url=https://gonintendo.com/contents/12755-check-out-the-latest-commercial-for-sonic-frontiers |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=GoNintendo |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moran |first=Sarah |date=2020-02-15 |title=Every Song On The Sonic The Hedgehog Movie Soundtrack |url=https://screenrant.com/sonic-hedgehog-movie-soundtrack-songs/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> It was also featured in the official trailer for [[Pixar]]'s ''[[Elio (film)|Elio]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 March 2025 |title=‘Elio’ Trailer Teases Finding Friendship Among the Stars |url=https://thenerdsofcolor.org/2025/03/19/elio-trailer-teases-finding-friendship-among-the-stars/ |access-date=3 May 2025 |work=The Nerds of Color}}</ref>
* The song and its associated Wikipedia page feature in [[Hank Green]]'s debut novel ''[[An Absolutely Remarkable Thing]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Janet_Lin |date=2018-12-24 |title=2018, an Absolutely Remarkable Green Year |url=https://crgardenjoe.wordpress.com/2018/12/23/2018-an-absolutely-remarkable-green-year/ |access-date=2024-06-07 |website=CRgardenJoe's Blog |language=en}}</ref>
* The song was also used in the 2019 film ''[[Shazam! (film)|Shazam!]]'' and the 2024 film ''[[Venom: The Last Dance]]''.

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last=Blake|first=Mark|year=2010|title=Is This The Real Life? The Untold Story of Queen|publisher=Arum Press|isbn=978-1-84513-713-7}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
* {{YouTube|id=HgzGwKwLmgM|title=Official music video}}
* [https://www.wow-vinyl.com/thesingle.asp?c=1&d=51 ''Don't Stop Me Now – The Story Behind The Song at Wow-Vinyl'']

{{Queen singles}}
{{McFly}}
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[[Category:1978 songs]]
[[Category:1979 singles]]
[[Category:2006 singles]]
[[Category:Queen (band) songs]]
[[Category:The Vandals songs]]
[[Category:McFly songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Freddie Mercury]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by Roy Thomas Baker]]
[[Category:EMI Records singles]]
[[Category:Elektra Records singles]]
[[Category:Hollywood Records singles]]
[[Category:British power pop songs]]
[[Category:Gay-related songs]]
[[Category:Charity singles]]
[[Category:Comic Relief singles]]
[[Category:Island Records singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Scotland]]
[[Category:UK singles chart number-one singles]]
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