Don't Go (Yazoo song)

Last updated

"Don't Go"
Yaz - Don't Go.jpg
Artwork for 12-inch remix vinyl release
Single by Yazoo
from the album Upstairs at Eric's
B-side "Winter Kills"
Released2 July 1982 [1]
Genre
Length2:53
Label
Songwriter(s) Vince Clarke
Producer(s)
Yazoo singles chronology
"Only You"
(1982)
"Don't Go"
(1982)
"Situation"
(1982)
Music video
"Don't Go" on YouTube

"Don't Go" is a song by British synth-pop band Yazoo (known in the US and Canada as Yaz). It was released in 1982 as the second single from their debut album, Upstairs at Eric's (20 August 1982). The song peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Yazoo's second top 5 hit. In the US, where the band was known as Yaz, the song was their second big hit on the American dance chart, where it spent two weeks at number one in October 1982. Their first American dance chart hit was "Situation", which had also gone to number one on this chart earlier the same year. The music video for the song features band members Alison Moyet and Vince Clarke in a sort of haunted mansion with Clarke cast in the role of Victor Frankenstein. The song re-entered the UK Dance Chart on 13 December 2009 at number 30, peaking at number 15 on 2 January 2010.

Contents

Critical reception

Ian Birch of Smash Hits considered "Don't Go" to be a "sharp successor" to "Only You". He commented: "Vince coaxes a sterling song out of his synthesizer while Alf balances its metallic clip with a deep, emotion-packed vocal that gets better with every hearing". [5]

Formats and track listings

  1. "Don't Go" – 2:53
  2. "Winter Kills" – 4:02
  1. "Don't Go (Re-mix)" – 4:08
  2. "Don't Go (Re-re-mix)" – 4:20
  3. "Winter Kills (album version)" – 4:03

Note 1: "Winter Kills," the B-side to this single, is explicitly listed as "Not re-mixed" and "Not extended" on the album sleeve
Note 2: The US 12" single mis-prints the track lengths on the record, listing the "Re-mix" as 5:08 and the "Re-re-mix" as 3:20

Charts

Sales and certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [38] Silver250,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Other versions

The following artists have produced covers of or sampled the song:

Starting Rock featuring Diva Avari version

"Don't Go"
SR feat DA - Dont Go cover.jpeg
Single by Starting Rock featuring Diva Avari
Released2006
Length3:27
Label 541
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Hédi Banon
  • Stéphane Tedesco
Starting Rock featuring Diva Avari singles chronology
"Don't Go"
(2006)
"Movin' On"
(2007)

The song was covered and remixed by French project Starting Rock featuring Diva Avari. It was released in December 2006 as a single and had modest success in Europe. It reached the top 10 in Finland.

Music video

The music video depicts a male at a club dancing with women. He meets Diva Avari, who has her eyes set on him and he cannot escape her throughout their time at the club.

Charts

Chart (2006)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders) [50] 10
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [51] 10
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista) [52] 3
France (SNEP) [53] 24
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40) [54] 34
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [55] 42

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erasure (duo)</span> English synth-pop duo

Erasure are an English synth-pop duo formed in London in 1984, consisting of lead vocalist and songwriter Andy Bell with songwriter, producer and keyboardist Vince Clarke, previously known as co-founder of the band Depeche Mode and a member of synth-pop duo Yazoo. From their fourth single, "Sometimes" (1986), Erasure established themselves on the UK Singles Chart, becoming one of the most successful acts of the mid-1980s to the mid-1990s. From 1986 to 2007, the pair achieved 24 consecutive top-40 entries in the UK singles chart. By 2009, 34 of their 37 chart-eligible singles and EPs had made the UK top 40, including 17 climbing into the top 10. At the 1989 Brit Awards, Erasure won the Brit Award for Best British Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yazoo (band)</span> English synth-pop duo

Yazoo were an English synth-pop duo from Basildon, Essex, consisting of former Depeche Mode member Vince Clarke (keyboards) and Alison Moyet (vocals). The duo formed in late 1981 after Clarke responded to an advertisement Moyet placed in a British music magazine, although the pair had known each other since their school days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alison Moyet</span> English singer (born 1961)

Geneviève Alison Jane Ballard is an English singer noted for her powerful bluesy contralto voice. She came to prominence as half of the duo Yazoo, but has since mainly worked as a solo artist.

<i>Upstairs at Erics</i> 1982 studio album by Yazoo

Upstairs at Eric's is the debut studio album by English synth-pop duo Yazoo. It was released on 16 August 1982 by Mute Records. It was produced by the band and E.C. Radcliffe, with assistance from Mute label boss Daniel Miller on some of the tracks. Named after producer Radcliffe's Blackwing Studios where the album was recorded, Upstairs at Eric's was preceded by two UK top-three singles, the ballad "Only You" and the more uptempo "Don't Go". The album reached number two on the UK Albums Chart and has been certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments in excess of 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.

<i>You and Me Both</i> 1983 studio album by Yazoo

You and Me Both is the second and final studio album by English synth-pop duo Yazoo, released on 4 July 1983 in the United Kingdom by Mute Records and in North America by Sire Records. The album's title was an ironic reference to the fact that the duo had grown estranged from each other and recorded much of the album separately; they announced their split a few weeks before the album's release.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Only You (Yazoo song)</span> 1982 single by Yazoo

"Only You" is a song by English synth-pop duo Yazoo. It was written by member Vince Clarke, while he was still with Depeche Mode, but recorded in 1982 after he formed Yazoo with Alison Moyet. It was released as Yazoo's first single on 15 March 1982 in the United Kingdom, taken from their first album, Upstairs at Eric's (1982), and became an instant success on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at number two on 16 May 1982. It would also reach the top 10 in neighbouring Ireland as well as Australia. In the US, "Only You" was released as the band's second single in November 1982 and charted at number 67 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also made the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.

<i>Alf</i> (album) 1984 studio album by Alison Moyet

Alf is the debut solo studio album by English singer Alison Moyet, released on 5 November 1984 by CBS Records. The album launched Moyet's solo career following the disbanding of synth-pop duo Yazoo. The album reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart and features the singles "Love Resurrection", "All Cried Out", "Invisible" and "For You Only".

<i>Raindancing</i> 1987 studio album by Alison Moyet

Raindancing is the second solo studio album by English singer Alison Moyet, released on 6 April 1987 by CBS Records. It reached No. 2 on the UK Albums Chart and features the singles "Is This Love?", "Weak in the Presence of Beauty", "Ordinary Girl" and "Sleep Like Breathing". In the United States, Raindancing was released by Columbia Records with a different cover art and a reordered track listing.

<i>Singles</i> (Alison Moyet album) 1995 greatest hits album by Alison Moyet

Singles is the first greatest hits album by English singer Alison Moyet, released on 22 May 1995 by Columbia Records. The album includes two previously unreleased tracks, Moyet's version of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" and "Solid Wood", as well as a number of hits from the singer's stint in 1980s synth-pop duo Yazoo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Show Me Love (Robin S. song)</span> 1990 single by Robin S

"Show Me Love" is a song performed by American singer Robin S. The song was written by Allen George and Fred McFarlane, originally released in October 1990 by Champion Records in the United Kingdom. In 1992, it was remixed by Swedish house music production duo StoneBridge and Nick Nice, and re-released in many European countries as well as the United States and Japan. It became one of the most well known house anthems in the United Kingdom, and Robin's biggest hit to date. It helped to make house more mainstream. In 1993, it was included on Robin S.'s debut album of the same name. Confusion arose with the 1997 hit "Show Me Love" by Swedish singer Robyn, due to their homonymous names and identical titles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Invisible (Alison Moyet song)</span> 1984 single by Alison Moyet

"Invisible" is a song by English singer Alison Moyet, written by Lamont Dozier for her debut album, Alf. Released in November 1984, "Invisible" peaked at No. 21 on the UK Singles Chart and became Moyet's highest-charting solo single in the United States, peaking at No. 31 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song reached the top 10 in Ireland and New Zealand, peaking at No. 6 and No. 4, respectively. The single's B-side is the Marvin Gaye song "Hitch Hike", which has backing from Darts.

<i>In Your Room</i> (Yazoo album) 2008 box set by Yazoo (Yaz)

In Your Room is a box set by English synth-pop duo Yazoo, also known in North America as Yaz. It is the first Yazoo release since Only Yazoo, a 1999 greatest hits compilation album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nobody's Diary</span> 1983 single by Yazoo

"Nobody's Diary" is a song recorded by British synth-pop band Yazoo. It was released in May 1983 as the first and only single from their second and last album, You and Me Both (1983). The song was written by Alison Moyet and produced by Yazoo, Eric Radcliffe and Daniel Miller. "Nobody's Diary" peaked at number three in the UK Singles Chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Situation (song)</span> 1982 single by Yazoo

"Situation" is a 1982 single by British synth-pop band Yazoo. The song was released in the UK as the B-side to Yazoo's debut single "Only You", which went to number two on the UK Singles Chart. Released as a single in North America, the song peaked at number 73 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US, and hit the top 40 in Canadian charts, peaking at number 31. In late-summer 1982 it became Yazoo's first song to top the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart, remaining at number one on this chart for four weeks. It also crossed over to the Black Singles chart, peaking at number 31.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Other Side of Love</span> 1982 single by Yazoo

"The Other Side of Love" is a song by the British synth-pop band Yazoo, released in 1982 as their fourth single. The single peaked at #13 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's least successful single and the only one of their four singles to miss the top three in the UK. The track was written by band members Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet, and was originally not included on either of the band's albums. It featured Stiff Records' all-female band Sylvia and the Sapphires on backing vocals following a chance meeting on the B.A. Robertson show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Is This Love? (Alison Moyet song)</span> 1986 single by Alison Moyet

"Is This Love?" is a song by British singer-songwriter Alison Moyet, released in November 1986 as the first single from her second studio album Raindancing (1987). The song was written by Moyet and Dave Stewart, who used the pseudonym Jean Guiot for his involvement with the song.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whispering Your Name</span> 1983 single by Ignatius Jones

"Whispering Your Name" is a song written by American singer-songwriter Jules Shear. It was originally performed by Ignatius Jones in 1983, however Shear also recorded the song, which was issued as a single within months of Jones' recording and included on his 1983 album Watch Dog. It has been covered numerous times, including a charting version by Alison Moyet in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feel This Moment</span> 2013 single by Pitbull ft. Christina Aguilera

"Feel This Moment" is a song by American rapper Pitbull featuring American singer Christina Aguilera. The song was released on February 21, 2013 by Mr. 305, Polo Grounds Music and RCA Records, as the fourth single from the album Global Warming, which was released in 2012. It is a dance-pop number that talks about stopping to take a moment to appreciate life. "Feel This Moment" was written by the artists alongside Chantal Kreviazuk and producers Nasri Atweh, Adam Messinger, Sir Nolan, and DJ Buddha. The song interpolates "Take On Me" by a-ha, written and composed by Morten Harket, Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, and Magne Furuholmen.

"Ode to Boy" is a song by English synth-pop duo Yazoo. Originally the B-side to their 1982 hit "The Other Side of Love", it was later included on their second and final studio album You and Me Both in 1983. Whereas Yazoo's version is a sparse atmospheric track with synths and percussion, vocalist Alison Moyet later recorded her own version of the song in an uptempo indie-rock style for her 1994 album Essex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turn Me On (Riton and Oliver Heldens song)</span> 2019 single by Riton and Oliver Heldens featuring Vula

"Turn Me On" is a song by English DJ Riton and Dutch producer Oliver Heldens featuring English-American singer Vula. It was released on 13 September 2019 through Ministry of Sound Recordings. The drop fully incorporates the main melody from Yazoo's 1982 classic "Don't Go" while some of the lyrics reference 1977 song "Doctor Love" by American band First Choice. Marshall Jefferson released a remix of the song on 1 November 2019, which was well received by the two lead artists of the track. The single reached number one on Billboard's Dance/Mix Show Airplay Chart in November 2019, allowing Riton, Heldens, and Vula to each top that chart for the first time.

References

  1. "BPI certifications".
  2. "On Stage > Alison Moyet – Old Vic Theater, London". Billboard . Vol. 114, no. 51. 21 December 2002. p. 37. ISSN   0006-2510. Situation," followed by "Don't Go," two synth-pop dance jams from the singer's Yazoo days that, sadly, sounded out of place
  3. "Album Reviews / Alison Moyet". San Francisco Chronicle . 9 June 2013. Three decades after they were recorded, Alison Moyet's smoldering vocals can still be heard on the radio singing Yazoo's era-defining new wave hits "Only You" and "Don't Go."
  4. Mitchell, Matt (21 July 2023). "The 50 Greatest Synth-Pop Albums of All Time". Paste . Retrieved 26 July 2023.
  5. Birch, Ian (8 July 1982). "Singles". Smash Hits .
  6. "Hits of the World". Billboard . Vol. 94, no. 45. 13 November 1982. p. 64. ISSN   0006-2510.
  7. "Yazoo – Don't Go" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  8. "Yazoo – Don't Go" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  9. Danish Charts Archive. 29 October 1982.
  10. Pennanen, Timo (2021). "Yazoo". Sisältää hitin - 2. laitos Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla 1.1.1960–30.6.2021 (PDF) (in Finnish). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. p. 285. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  11. "Le Détail par Artiste". InfoDisc (in French). Select "Yazoo" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  12. "Ísland Top 10". DV . 8 October 1982. p. 29. ISSN   1021-8254.
  13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Yazoo". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  14. 24 October 1982
  15. "Classifiche". Musica e dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 8 June 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Yazoo".
  16. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 39, 1982" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  17. "Yazoo – Don't Go" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  18. "Yazoo – Don't Go". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  19. Poland Lista Przebojów 3 Archive. 2 October 1982.
  20. Portuguese Charts Archive. 7 December 1982.
  21. "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (Y)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  22. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN   84-8048-639-2.
  23. "Yazoo – Don't Go". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  24. "Yazoo – Don't Go". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  25. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  26. 1 2 3 "Yazoo – Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved 4 June 2013.
  27. "Offiziellecharts.de – Yazoo – Don't Go" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
    • Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
  28. "Yazoo – Don't Go 1999 Mix" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  29. "Yazoo – Don't Go" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  30. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  31. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  32. "National Top 100 Singles for 1982". Kent Music Report. 3 January 1983. Retrieved 1 January 2020 via Imgur.
  33. "Jaaroverzichten 1982" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  34. "TOP – 1982". Top-france.fr (in French). Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  35. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1982" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 . Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  36. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1982" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
  37. "British single certifications – Yazoo – Don't Go". British Phonographic Industry.
  38. Hoos, Willem (21 May 1994). "Dutch Dance Duo Scores Int'l Hit with 'Doop'". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 21. p. 79. ISSN   0006-2510.
  39. "Boobytrax – Don't Go!" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  40. "Lizzy Mack". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  41. Hubbard, Michael (17 July 2006). "Nouvelle Vague – Bande A Part". musicOMH . Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  42. Blyweiss, Adam (22 July 2010). "Kid Sister – Ultraviolet". Mxdwn.com. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  43. "Smoove & Turrell: Antique Soul – 2009 – Album review". Monkeyboxing. 31 August 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  44. "Το νέο single της Tamta 'Φωτιά'" [Tamta's new single "Fotia"] (in Greek). MAD TV. 13 September 2010. Retrieved 23 January 2020.
  45. Lester, Paul (11 November 2010). "Slow Moving Millie (No 1,147)". The Guardian . Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  46. White, Nick (23 August 2019). "Madison Mars Brings Fresh Sound with 'New Vibe Who Dis'". EDM Sauce. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  47. Bein, Kat (12 September 2019). "Oliver Heldens & Riton Sample Yazoo Classic for 'Turn Me On': Exclusive". Billboard. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  48. Aubrey, Elizabeth (17 December 2021). "Listen to Sleaford Mods' cover of Yazoo's 'Don't Go'". NME . Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  49. "Starting Rock feat. Diva Avari – Don't Go" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  50. "Starting Rock feat. Diva Avari – Don't Go" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  51. "Starting Rock feat. Diva Avari: Don't Go" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  52. "Starting Rock feat. Diva Avari – Don't Go" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  53. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Starting Rock feat. Diva Avari" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  54. "Starting Rock feat. Diva Avari – Don't Go" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 July 2013.