Don't Stop the Music

"Don't Stop the Music" is a song by Barbadian pop singer Rihanna from her third studio album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). It was the third single from the album in most of Europe, the second single in Germany and Spain and the fourth single in the rest of the world. On December 6, 2007, "Don't Stop the Music" received a Grammy nomination in the category of "Best Dance Recording" at the 50th Grammy Awards. Rihanna performed this song, along with "Umbrella", at the 50th Grammy Awards. The single also made Australian ARIA Chart history when it became the first single to top the charts solely on download sales.

The song was originally intended to be the third main U.S. single from Good Girl Gone Bad, but was replaced by "Hate That I Love You". While "Don't Stop the Music" was instead earmarked only for dance club play and dance radio outlets in the U.S. and released in several European countries and Brazil as the third single. Following "Hate That I Love You"'s release, "Breakin' Dishes" was then planned to follow as the fourth single in the U.S. from the album. However, a sudden resurgence on Top 40 radio stations and in digital downloads of the song, led to the song charting on the Billboard Hot 100, before Def Jam had yet engaged in any American promotion for a single release. Perhaps in response, it was released in the U.S. as the fourth main single from the album on January 15, 2008. Following its official U.S. release, the song has achieved top five success in the United States. It has become Rihanna's third top ten single from Good Girl Gone Bad, her second top five hit from the album, and her fourth top five hit since her debut single Pon de Replay. It is also a top ten success in over twenty other countries.

"Don't Stop the Music" is a moderately fast dance groove composed in the key of F-sharp minor. The song samples Michael Jackson's 1983 single "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'", which in turn derived from the Manu Dibango 1972 single "Soul Makossa", hence the "Mama say mama sa ma-makossa" that is interpolated in the bridge of the song. Jackson's trademark yells can be heard during the chorus and bridge.

"Don't Stop the Music" became Rihanna's first number-one song on the Latin America Top 40 Airplay Chart, and her second top-two song, after "Umbrella" which peaked at number-two for 10 consecutive weeks. The song is also the first English song to reach the top position since "Beautiful Liar" by Beyoncé and Shakira in May 2007. Rihanna has also the distinction of being the fourth international artist to reach the top position, after Madonna, James Blunt and Beyoncé. In Mexico, Rihanna scored her second top ten hit and first number-one single, it also became the first non-spanish number-one hit in over a year.

The song is her second most successful single off of the Good Girl Gone Bad album, with less sales and radio airplay only to the lead single "Umbrella". However, the song has received over 13 million more views than "Umbrella" on YouTube, with over 50 million views, as of April 23, 2008. "Don´t Stop The Music" is so far Rihanna´s second most successful single, just behind "Umbrella". It sold 6,794,000 units and peaked at number one on the United World Chart for four weeks, when it was succeeded by Leona Lewis's "Bleeding Love", which sold 162,680 units. The song also hit number one on the ARIA charts, was knocked off on March 23, 2008 by Flo Rida´s "Low". It was the opening song on Idol Gives Back on April 9, 2008, sung by the remaining contestants of American Idol as past So You Think You Can Dance finalists performed various dance routines.

As of May 14, 2008, the music video for "Don't Stop the Music" has been viewed over 54 million times on popular video-sharing website YouTube, making it Rihanna's most viewed video on the site, as well as the site's 4th most viewed video of all time .

Released: September 7, 2007
Format: CD single, digital download
Recorded: 2007
Genre: Dance-pop, techno
Length: 4:27 (Album Version) 3:40 (Radio Edit)
Label: SRP, Def Jam
Writer(s): T. Dabney/MS Eriksen/TE Hermansen/M. Jackson
Producer: Stargate
Certification: Platinum (IFPI Belgium, ARIA)

It's gettin late
I'm making my way over to my favorite place
I gotta get my body moving shake the stress away
I wasn't looking for nobody when you looked my way
Possible candidate (yeah)
Who knew
That you'd be up in here lookin like you do
You're makin' stayin' over here impossible
Baby I must say your aura is incredible
If you dont have to go don't

Do you know what you started
I just came here to party
But now we're rockin on the dancefloor
Acting naughty
Your hands around my waist
Just let the music play
We're hand in hand
Chest to chest
And now we're face to face

I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the music
DJ let it play
I just can't refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rockin to it
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the music


I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the music
DJ let it play
I just can't refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rocking to it
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the music

Baby are you ready cause its getting close
Don't you feel the passion ready to explode
What goes on between us no one has to know
This is a private show (oh)

Do you know what you started
I just came here to party
But now we're rockin on the dancefloor

Acting naughty
Your hands around my waist
Just let the music play
We're hand in hand
Chest to chest
And now we're face to face

I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the music
DJ let it play
I just can't refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rockin to it
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the music

Ma say ma sa, Ma ma coo sa
Ma say ma sa, Ma ma coosa (2x)

Please don't stop the music

Ma say ma sa, Ma ma coo sa
Ma say ma sa, Ma ma coosa

Please don't stop the music (2x)

I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the music
DJ let it play
I just can't refuse it
Like the way you do this
Keep on rockin to it
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the music

I wanna take you away
Lets escape into the music
DJ let it play
I just can't refuse it
Like the way you do the
Keep on rocking to it
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the
Please don't stop the music

Ma ma say ma ma sa, Ma ma coo sa
Ma ma say ma ma sa, Ma ma coosa(6x)