"Don't Stop" is a song by British-American

rock Rock most often refers to: * Rock (geology), a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals or mineraloids * Rock music, a genre of popular music Rock or Rocks may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * Rock, Caerphilly, a location in Wales ...

band Fleetwood Mac, written by vocalist and

keyboard Keyboard may refer to: Text input * Keyboard, part of a typewriter * Computer keyboard ** Keyboard layout, the software control of computer keyboards and their mapping ** Keyboard technology, computer keyboard hardware and firmware Music * Musi ...

player

Christine McVie Christine Anne McVie (; née Perfect; 12 July 1943 – 30 November 2022) was an English musician and songwriter. She was best known as keyboardist and one of the vocalists of the band Fleetwood Mac. McVie was a member of several bands, nota ...

. The song was sung by guitarist

Lindsey Buckingham Lindsey Adams Buckingham (born October 3, 1949) is an American musician and record producer, best known as the lead guitarist and male lead vocalist of the band Fleetwood Mac from 1975 to 1987 and 1997 to 2018. In addition to his tenure with Fl ...

and Christine McVie, and it was a single taken from the band's hit album '' Rumours'' (1977). One of the band's most enduring hits, "Don't Stop" was released as the third single from ''Rumours'', peaking at 3 on the US '' Billboard'' Hot 100 in October 1977. In the UK, "Don't Stop" followed "

Go Your Own Way "Go Your Own Way" is a song by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac from their eleventh studio album, '' Rumours'' (1977). The song was released as the album's first single in December 1976 on both sides of the Atlantic. Written and sung ...

" as the second single from the album and peaked at No. 32.

Music and concept

"Don't Stop" has been described musically as a

pop rock Pop rock (also typeset as pop/rock) is a fusion genre with an emphasis on professional songwriting and recording craft, and less emphasis on attitude than rock music. Originating in the late 1950s as an alternative to normal rock and roll, earl ...

song. It reflects Christine McVie's feelings after her separation from Fleetwood Mac's bass guitarist,

John McVie John Graham McVie (born 26 November 1945) is a British bass guitarist. He is best known as a member of the rock bands John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers from 1964 to 1967 and Fleetwood Mac since 1967. His surname, combined with that of Mick Fle ...

, after eight years of marriage. "'Don't Stop' was just a feeling. It just seemed to be a pleasant revelation to have that 'yesterday's gone'," McVie remembers in ''The Fleetwood Mac Story: Rumours and Lies'', "It might have, I guess, been directed more toward John, but I'm just definitely not a pessimist."Brunning, Bob .(2001). ''Rumours and Lies: The Fleetwood Mac Story''. . Retrieved 2 January 2007. The song is widely misperceived as having one lead singer. However, Buckingham sings the first verse, while Christine McVie sings the second. Both singers sing the third verse simultaneously. The chorus features alternating vocals by Buckingham and Christine McVie.

Reception

'' Cash Box'' said that "

Mick Fleetwood Michael John Kells Fleetwood (born 24 June 1947) is a British musician, songwriter and occasional actor. He is best known as the drummer, co-founder, and leader of the rock band Fleetwood Mac. Fleetwood, whose surname was merged with that of t ...

and

comprise a deadly rhythm section, especially when they're working with a straight ahead shuffle like this one."

Political usage

The song was the theme music for United States presidential candidate

Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and agai ...

's 1992 presidential campaign, and was played at the 1992 Democratic National Convention during its final night balloon drop. Upon winning the election, Clinton persuaded the group to perform the song for his inaugural ball in 1993. At the 2000 convention, Clinton ended his speech by saying, "Keep putting people first. Keep building those bridges. And don't stop thinking about tomorrow!" Immediately after the final sentence, the song began playing over the loudspeakers. The song was also played for Clinton's appearances at the 2004,

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

and

2012 File:2012 Events Collage V3.png, From left, clockwise: The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia lies capsized after the Costa Concordia disaster; Damage to Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, New Jersey as a result of Hurricane Sandy; People gat ...

conventions. Additionally, the song was played at Conservative Conferences during David Cameron's tenure as party leader.

Personnel

– piano,

tack piano A tack piano (also known as a harpsipiano, jangle piano, and junk piano) is an altered version of an ordinary piano, in which objects such as thumbtacks or nails are placed on the felt-padded hammers of the instrument at the point where the ha ...

Vox Continental The Vox Continental is a transistorised combo organ that was manufactured between 1962 and 1971 by the British musical equipment manufacturer Vox. It was designed for touring musicians and as an alternative to the heavy Hammond organ. It supp ...

, lead vocals (certain lines on choruses, 2nd verse and fade out) *

– drums *

– bass guitar *

– electric guitars, lead vocals (majority of song) * Stevie Nicks – tambourine, backing vocals

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

References

{{Authority control 1977 singles Fleetwood Mac songs Nina Nesbitt songs Songs written by Christine McVie Song recordings produced by Ken Caillat Song recordings produced by Richard Dashut Warner Records singles Cashbox number-one singles RPM Top Singles number-one singles 1976 songs Male–female vocal duets Bill Clinton Political party songs