Don't Stop Movin' (Livin' Joy song)

"Don't Stop Movin'" is a song by Italian electronic dance music group Livin' Joy. It is the follow-up release to their previous single, "Dreamer", which was a number-one hit in the UK. The song was released on their only album, Don't Stop Movin (1996). Along with the rest of the album, it featured vocals by Tameko Star who also co-wrote the song with producer-brothers Gianni and Paolo Visnadi. "Don't Stop Movin" peaked at number one in Italy and number 12 on the Eurochart Hot 100. In the UK, the single had was released on 3 June 1996 by MCA Records and peaked number five on the UK Singles Chart, where it spent seven weeks in the top 10 and a 14 weeks in the top 100. It ended the year as the UK's 34th-biggest-selling single of 1996.

"Don't Stop Movin'"
Single by Livin' Joy (Tameko Star)
from the album Don't Stop Movin
Released3 June 1996 (1996-06-03) (UK)
GenreHouse[1]
Length
  • 5:20 (album version)
  • 3:40 (single version)
  • 3:00 (video edit)
LabelMCA
Songwriter(s)
  • Gianni Visnadi
  • Paolo Visnadi
  • Tameko Star
Producer(s)
  • Gianni Visnadi
  • Paolo Visnadi
Livin' Joy (Tameko Star) singles chronology
"Dreamer"
(1994)
"Don't Stop Movin'"
(1996)
"Follow the Rules"
(1996)
Music video
"Don't Stop Movin'" on YouTube

Background and release

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The single was a turning point for Livin' Joy, ushering in a new vocalist after the group failed to reach a deal with Janice Robinson, the original vocalist on "Dreamer". Tameko Star was to front the group from this point on. The frantic synths and beats of the song are sent in with Tameko’s powerful vocals and she delivered an uplifting message over the clunking energetic beat. One of self-assurance, self belief in order to succeed and achieve.

Chart performance

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"Don't Stop Movin'" went on becoming a major hit on several continents, peaking at number-one in Italy. It entered the top 10 also in Finland (7), Scotland (7), Sweden (8) and the United Kingdom, where it peaked at number five on 9 June 1996 in its first week on the UK Singles Chart.[2] The single spent seven weeks in the UK Top 10 and a 14 weeks in the Top 100. On the UK Dance Singles Chart, it reached number-one, while it peaked at number two on the Swedish Dance chart and number 12 on the Eurochart Hot 100. Additionally, the song was a top-20 hit also in Iceland (15), Ireland (14) and the Netherlands (19). Outside Europe, "Don't Stop Movin'" reached number two on the RPM Dance/Urban chart in Canada, number three on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, and number six in both Australia and Israel.

The song was awarded with a gold record in Australia and the United Kingdom, after 35,000 and 400,000 singles were sold, respectively.

Critical reception

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Larry Flick from Billboard constated that the new singer of the group "has the pipes to make this happy-house anthem work". He also noted that the song "has a lot of pep and radio-friendly energy".[3] Kristy Barker from Melody Maker named it this year's "Glorious Pop Rush" Top 3 with Spice Girls' "Wannabe" and "Say You'll Be There".[4] A reviewer from Music & Media described it as a "bouncy number ready for embrace", adding, "The ingredients: a pounding beat, assured female vocals (Tameko Star) and a strong chorus. Radio should take notice."[5] Music Week gave it four out of five, writing, "It has the same feelgood vibe and incredibly catchy hook as "Dreamer" and, although matching its success was always going to be difficult, this is pretty good going."[6]

In a retrospective review, Pop Rescue named it "the motivational poster of 90s dance music", stating that Starr "makes light work of the lyrics with her powerful vocals."[7] Dave Fawbert from ShortList complimented the song as "one of those brilliant '90s follow-ups-to-a-hit-that-is-basically-the-same-but-not-quite-as-good-but-that-basically-means-it's-still-brilliant. Coming after "Dreamer", it fulfilled its mission perfectly."[8] Toni Birghental from Sun-Sentinel felt it "sets the album's mood. The words, "You can be mystical, magical, physically phenomenal, good to go, not too slow", along with the high energy music are great motivation for aerobics fans."[9]

Track listings

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  • 12-inch single – Italy (1996)
  1. "Don't Stop Movin'" (single version) – 3:40
  2. "Don't Stop Movin'" (album version) – 5:20
  3. "Don't Stop Movin'" (Want-Will H-Mix) – 5:59
  4. "Don't Stop Movin'" (A-Manetta Mix) – 5:46
  5. "Don't Stop Movin'" (Gettin' Right Mix) – 5:25
  6. "Don't Stop Movin'" (Gettin' Right Reprise) – 4:11
  • CD single – France & UK (1996)
  1. "Don't Stop Movin'" (single version) – 3:40
  2. "Don't Stop Movin'" (album version) – 5:20
  3. "Don't Stop Movin'" (Gettin' Right Mix) – 5:25
  • CD maxi – Europe (1996)
  1. "Don't Stop Movin'" (single version) – 3:40
  2. "Don't Stop Movin'" (album version) – 5:20
  3. "Don't Stop Movin'" (Want-Will H-Mix) – 5:59
  4. "Don't Stop Movin'" (A-Manetta Mix) – 5:46
  5. "Don't Stop Movin'" (Gettin' Right Mix) – 5:25
  6. "Don't Stop Movin'" (Gettin' Right Reprise) – 4:11

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[34] Gold 35,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[35] Gold 400,000

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United Kingdom 3 June 1996 (1996-06-03)
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
MCA [36]
United States 7 January 1997 (1997-01-07) Rhythmic contemporary radio [37]
21 January 1997 (1997-01-21) Contemporary hit radio [38]

Cover versions

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The song was covered by Swedish singer Velvet on her 2006 album Finally.[39]

References

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  1. ^ "Unstoppable 90's – Various Artists - Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 August 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Livin' Joy: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  3. ^ Flick, Larry (14 December 1996). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 65. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  4. ^ Barker, Kristy (26 October 1996). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 47. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  5. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 24. 15 June 1996. p. 9. Retrieved 28 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Reviews" (PDF). Music Week. 25 May 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  7. ^ "Review: "Don't Stop Movin" by Livin' Joy (CD, 1996)". Pop Rescue. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  8. ^ Fawbert, Dave (31 March 2017). "Who would win in a fight: 'Now That's What I Call Music! 96' vs 'Now That's What I Call Music! 34'". ShortList. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  9. ^ Birghental, Toni (30 May 1997). "Livin' Joy's Geared To The Club Crowds". Sun-Sentinel.
  10. ^ "Livin' Joy – Don't Stop Movin'". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
  11. ^ "Livin' Joy – Don't Stop Movin'" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  12. ^ "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 9629." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  13. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 26. 29 June 1996. p. 20. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  14. ^ "Livin' Joy: Don't Stop Movin'" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat.
  15. ^ "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (13.07.1996 – 19.07.1996)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 13 July 1996. p. 42. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  16. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Stop Movin'". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  17. ^ "Top National Sellers" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 22. 1 June 1996. p. 15. Retrieved 26 November 2019.
  18. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 28, 1996" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  19. ^ "Livin' Joy – Don't Stop Movin'" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  20. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Livin' Joy – Don't Stop Movin'". Singles Top 100.
  22. ^ a b "Årslistor > Year End Charts > Swedish Dance Chart 1996" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 14, no. 11. 15 March 1997. p. 30 (see appendix to the magazine). Retrieved 8 December 2020.
  23. ^ "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  24. ^ "Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. 15 March 1997. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  25. ^ "Dance Club Songs". Billboard. 8 March 1997. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  26. ^ "Dance Singles Sales". Billboard. 1 February 1997. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  27. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996". Australian Record Industry Association. Archived from the original on 2 November 2015. Retrieved 8 November 2015 – via Imgur.
  28. ^ "RPM Year End Dance Top 50". RPM. Retrieved 26 November 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  29. ^ "1996 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 13, no. 51/52. 21 December 1996. p. 12. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  30. ^ "Årslista Singlar, 1996" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved 25 November 2019.
  31. ^ "Top 100 Singles 1996". Music Week. 18 January 1997. p. 25.
  32. ^ "The RM Club Chart of the Year 96" (PDF). Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert). 11 January 1997. p. 8. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  33. ^ "The Year in Music 1997: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 52, no. 109. 27 December 1997. p. YE-44.
  34. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1996 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  35. ^ "British single certifications – Livin' Joy – Don't Stop Movin". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  36. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1 June 1996. p. 27. Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  37. ^ "New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1177. 20 December 1996. p. 44. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  38. ^ "New Releases" (PDF). Radio & Records. No. 1180. 17 January 1997. p. 44. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  39. ^ "Velvet - Don't Stop Movin'". swedishcharts.com/. Retrieved 6 March 2009.