"Don't Stand Another Chance" is a song by American recording artist

Janet Jackson Janet Damita Jo Jackson (born May 16, 1966) is an American singer, songwriter, actress and dancer. She is noted for her innovative, socially conscious and sexually provocative records, as well as elaborate stage shows. Her sound and choreogr ...

, included on her second studio album, '' Dream Street'' (1984). It was written by

Marlon Jackson Marlon David Jackson (born March 12, 1957) is an American singer and dancer best known as a member of the Jackson 5. He is the sixth child of the Jackson family. Marlon now runs Study Peace Foundation to promote peace and unity worldwide. Earl ...

and John Barnes. Marlon also produced it, and provided backing vocals along with his brothers

Michael Michael may refer to: People * Michael (given name), a given name * he He ..., a given name * Michael (surname), including a list of people with the surname Michael Given name * Michael (bishop elect)">Michael (surname)">he He ..., a given nam ...

, Jermaine, Tito, and Jackie. "Don't Stand Another Chance" was released as the

lead single A lead single (or first single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date. A similar term, "debut ...

from ''Dream Street'' on August 13, 1984, by

A&M Records A&M Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group and functions as a branch of Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Interscope-Geffen-A&M. Established in 1962 by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss, the label initially operated independent ...

. "Don't Stand Another Chance" received generally positive reviews from critics. Although it did not chart on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, the song managed to reach number one on the

Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (also known as Bubbling Under the Hot 100) is a chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine in the United States. The chart lists the top songs that have not yet charted on the main ''Billboard'' Hot 100. Chart ...

. "Don't Stand Another Chance" became Jackson's second single to enter the top ten of the

Hot R&B Songs Hot R&B Songs is a chart released weekly by '' Billboard'' in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular R&B songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations, digital download sales and streaming data. It was establi ...

chart, reaching number nine. In order to promote ''Dream Street'' and the single, Jackson performed the song on ''

American Bandstand ''American Bandstand'' (AB) is an American Music television, music performance and dance television series that aired in various iterations from 1952 to 1989. It was hosted by Dick Clark who also served as the program's Television producer, pr ...

''. She later included the song on her 2008 Rock Witchu Tour and her performance at the 2010

Essence Music Festival The ESSENCE Festival of Culture is the largest African-American culture and music event in the US. The annual music festival started in 1995 in New Orleans, Louisiana to celebrate the 25th anniversary of ''Essence (magazine), Essence'' magazine. ...

Background

Jackson had initially desired to become a horse racing jockey or entertainment lawyer, with plans to support herself through acting. Despite this, she was anticipated to pursue a career in entertainment, and considered the idea after recording herself in the studio. At age seven, Jackson performed at the

Las Vegas Strip The Las Vegas Strip is a stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada, that is known for its concentration of resort hotels and casinos. The Strip, as it is known, is about long, and is immediately south of the Las Vegas city limits ...

at the MGM Casino and began acting in the variety show ''

The Jacksons The Jackson 5, later known as the Jacksons, are an American pop band composed of members of the Jackson family. The group was formed in Gary, Indiana in 1964, and originally consisted of brothers Jackie, Ti ...

'' in 1976. The year after, she was selected to have a starring role as Penny Gordon Woods in the sitcom ''

Good Times ''Good Times'' is an American television sitcom that aired for six seasons on CBS, from February 8, 1974, to August 1, 1979. Created by Eric Monte and Mike Evans (actor), Mike Evans and developed by executive producer Norman Lear, it was televis ...

''. She later starred in '' A New Kind of Family'' before joining the cast of ''

Diff'rent Strokes ''Diff'rent Strokes'' is an American television sitcom, which originally aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and ...

'', portraying Charlene Duprey for two years. Jackson also played the recurring role of Cleo Hewitt during the fourth season of '' Fame'', but expressed indifference towards the series. When Jackson was sixteen, she was arranged a contract with

and released her self-titled debut album in 1982. She stated, "On my first album the songs were sort of teenage like. I wanted to make a change for my second album. The first album introduces you. The second one sets your image. I couldn't stay like that. People would still look at me as a little girl and I'd never grow". Although the single was initially slated for a mid-July release, "Don't Stand Another Chance" was released on August 13, 1984.

Reception

"Don't Stand Another Chance" received generally positive reviews from critics. Ed Hogan from

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...

did not provide a review of the album version of "Don't Stand Another Chance", but commented that "the extended 12" mix rocks, showcasing outstanding synth work by John Barnes". A writer for ''Broadcast Engineering'' magazine stated "Though Janet Jackson does not have an outstanding voice, she handles herself with real sophistication on Dream Street", in songs like "Don't Stand Another Chance". Phil Hardy wrote in the book ''The Da Capo Companion to 20th-century Popular Music'' that "Don't Stand Another Chance" was not "much better than dance club ready-songs". Although "Don't Stand Another Chance" did not chart on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, it managed to reach number one on the

. The song also became Jackson's second single to enter the top ten of the

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

chart, reaching number nine, and additionally it reached number 23 on the

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chart.

Live performances

In order to promote ''Dream Street'' and the single, Jackson performed the song on ''

'' along with " Dream Street". According to Jason Lipshutz from ''

Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...

'', the Jackson's appearance was among the ten classic moments with TV host

Dick Clark Richard Wagstaff Clark (November 30, 1929April 18, 2012) was an American television and radio personality and television producer who hosted ''American Bandstand'' from 1956 to 1989. He also hosted five incarnations of the Pyramid (game show), ...

on the show. Several years later, Jackson included "Don't Stand Another Chance" on her 2008 Rock Witchu Tour in the "Pre-Control Medley" section of the show. The song was later added to her performance at the 2010

, which she headlined. The song is also used during the DJ intermission on the 2017-2019 State of the World Tour.

Track listings

;Dutch 7" single A. "Don't Stand Another Chance" (Marlon Jackson/John Barnes) – 4:18
B. "Rock 'N' Roll" (Marlon Jackson) – 4:10 ;US 12" single A1. "Don't Stand Another Chance (Specially Remixed Version)" – 6:52
B1. "Don't Stand Another Chance (Dub Version)" – 6:52

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from ''Dream Street'' album liner notes. *

– vocals *John Barnes – producer, rhythm arrangement, keyboards,

Moog synthesizer The Moog synthesizer ( ) is a modular synthesizer invented by the American engineer Robert Moog in 1964. Moog's company, R. A. Moog Co., produced numerous models from 1965 to 1981, and again from 2014. It was the first commercial synthesizer ...

, Fairlight programming, drum programming *Jonathan Moffat – drums * Dino Espinosa,

Jackie Jackson Sigmund Esco "Jackie" Jackson (born May 4, 1951) is an American singer and songwriter best known as a founding member of the Jackson 5, for which he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1997. Jackson is the second child of the Jac ...

Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson (August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009) was an American singer, songwriter, dancer, and philanthropist. Dubbed the "King of Pop", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Michael Jackson, one of the most culturally significan ...

Jermaine Jackson Jermaine LaJuane Jacksun (né Jackson; born December 11, 1954) is an American singer, songwriter and bassist. He is known for being a member of the Jackson family. From 1964 to 1975, Jermaine was second vocalist after his brother Michael of the ...

Tito Jackson Toriano Adaryll "Tito" Jackson (October 15, 1953 – September 15, 2024) was an American musician. He was a founding member of the Jackson 5 (later known as the Jacksons), a group who rose to fame in the late 1960s and 1970s with the Motown la ...

–

backing vocals A backing vocalist is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists. A backing vocalist may also sing alone as a lead-in to the main vocalist's entry or to sing a counter-melody. Backing vocalists are us ...

– producer, rhythm arrangement *Bill Bottrell – engineer, mixing *John McClain – mixing

Charts

References

{{authority control 1984 songs 1984 singles Janet Jackson songs Songs written by Janet Jackson A&M Records singles