"No Coke" | ||||
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Single by Dr Alban | ||||
from the album Hello Afrika | ||||
Released | 3 November 1990 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length |
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Label | Sonet / Warner Music | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Denniz PoP | |||
Dr Alban singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"No Coke" on YouTube |
"No Coke" is a song recorded by Sweden-based musician and producer Dr Alban. It was originally released as the B-side of the 12" version of his debut single "Hello Afrika" and became the second single off his debut album, Hello Afrika (1990). Released in November 1990, the song was a hit in several European countries and reached number-one in Sweden. To date, it is one of Dr Alban's most successful songs, along with "It's My Life" and "Sing Hallelujah". It was produced by Denniz Pop, who recorded the song's signature bassline using a Roland Juno-106 synthesizer. [1] The song is performed in English [ specify ] and the lyrics describe a tragic event outside Alban's nightclub Alphabet Street in Stockholm. In November 2017, it was the topic at SVT:s Hitlåtens historia.
Larry Flick from Billboard viewed the song as a "cleverly written anti-drug anthem", "particularly potent and U.S. club-friendly." [2] He added that "pure (and clever) toasting is woven into a fabric of accessible hip-hop and reggae threads" [3] and concluded that the song is "a brilliant piece of work". [4]
"No Coke" was very successful on the charts in Europe, peaking at number-one in Sweden. It spent two weeks at the top spot and 5 weeks within the top 10. The single made it to the top 10 also in Austria, Germany, Greece (#3), the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. In Austria, it peaked at number two, being held off reaching number-one by Roxette's "Joyride". It spent four weeks at that position. Additionally, "No Coke" was a top 20 hit in Finland and Italy, and a top 30 hit in Belgium. It didn't chart on the UK Singles Chart, but reached number 59 on the UK Dance Singles Chart. The single earned a gold record in Sweden, where the song broke all records by staying for five consecutive weeks at number-one in national radio SR's popular show "Tracks". That's a feat not even achieved by ABBA. [5]
A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Scottish director Paul Boyd. [6] He also directed the video for "Hello Afrika". "No Coke" received heavy rotation on MTV Europe [7] and was later published on Dr. Alban's official YouTube channel in December 2011. By December 2022, it had generated more than 18 million views. [8]
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Alban Uzoma Nwapa, better known by his stage name Dr. Alban, is a Nigerian-Swedish recording artist and producer with his own record label, Dr. Records. His music can best be described as Eurodance/hip-hop reggae in a dancehall style. He has sold an estimated 16 million records worldwide and is most famous for his worldwide 1992 hit "It's My Life", from the album One Love.
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"It's My Life" is a song by Nigerian-Swedish recording artist Dr. Alban. It was released in February 1992 in Sweden as the first single from his second studio album, One Love (1992). Produced by Denniz PoP, the song was a hit in most of the European countries where it was released, peaking at number one in Sweden, Austria, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Belgium and number two in the UK. In France, the song was marketed twice: first in 1992, then in 1993 because the song was used in a TV advert for Tampax tampons, thus giving to the single a second career. The song had enough airplay on US college radio stations to chart on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks in 1992. "It's My Life" was re-released in 1994 in Australia, following the success of "Sing Hallelujah!".
"Sing Hallelujah!" is a song recorded by the Sweden-based musician and producer Dr. Alban. It was released in 1993 as the third single from his second studio album, One Love (1992). The song became a hit in many European countries, managing to reach to the top 5 in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Iceland and Switzerland. In the UK, the song peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart and on the Eurochart Hot 100, it peaked at number four. Outside Europe, in Australia, "Sing Hallelujah!" peaked at number five and in Zimbabwe, it reached number 11. After "It's My Life", this was the second Dr Alban's hit which had an international scope. The song has been described as an "discothèques anthem with dance and disco sonorities". In 2005, "Sing Hallelujah!" charted again when it was re-recorded by the artist in new versions. It peaked at number 12 in Finland.
"Look Who's Talking!" is a song recorded by Sweden-based musician and producer Dr. Alban, featuring vocals from Swedish singer Nana Hedin. It was released in February 1994 as the first single from his third studio album, Look Who's Talking (1994), and reached number-one in Denmark and Finland. The song became a top 10 in almost all other European countries, except France and the UK. It entered the Eurochart Hot 100 on 12 March 1994 at number 61 and went on to peak at the second position four weeks later. In the US, it peaked at number 11 at Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart. And in Zimbabwe, the single peaked at number 10. A CD maxi containing four remixes was also released, particularly devoted to the dance floors.
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