The song is the group’s second to join the club
Queen’s official video for “Don’t Stop Me Now” has passed one billion views on YouTube. The clip marks the iconic group’s second entry into the coveted club, following “Bohemian Rhapsody,” which reached the mark in July 2019, becoming the first-ever pre-1990s music video to achieve this feat on the platform.
Written by Freddie Mercury for Queen’s 1978 album Jazz, the track was released as a single in January 1979. At the time, its performance was surprisingly modest compared to Queen’s usual hits. It reached No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart. It was a minor hit in the US, only peaking at No. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100.
“Don’t Stop Me Now” steadily gained momentum through TV, film and ad placements. Its iconic use during the bar fight scene in the 2004 cult classic Shaun of the Dead introduced the track to a new generation. It subsequently featured in Glee, Doctor Who, Skins, and Hardcore Henry.
In 2005, viewers of BBC’s Top Gear voted it the “Greatest Driving Song Ever.”
The song has earned over two billion streams on Spotify, ranking among Queen’s top three overall tracks alongside “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Another One Bites the Dust.”
In 2015, cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Jacob Jolij analyzed popular music using a mathematical formula assessing tempo, key, and lyrics. “Don’t Stop Me Now” was rated as the top feel-good song of all time, thanks to its fast pace of 150 BPM, major key structure, and relentlessly positive, buoyant lyrics.
“Don’t Stop Me Now” has achieved five-times platinum status in the UK and quadruple platinum in the US.