Don't Look Back (Fine Young Cannibals song)

"Don't Look Back"
Single by Fine Young Cannibals
from the album The Raw & the Cooked
A-side	"Don't Look Back"
B-side	"You Never Know"
Released	August 25, 1989
Format	7" single 12" maxi CD maxi
Genre	Pop, rock
Length	3:43
Label	I.R.S.
Writer(s)	Roland Gift, David Steele
Producer	Fine Young Cannibals
Fine Young Cannibals singles chronology
"Good Thing" (1989) "Don't Look Back" (1989) "I'm Not the Man I Used to Be" (1989)

"Don't Look Back" is a song by British pop-rock band Fine Young Cannibals. It was released as the third single from the band's 1989 album The Raw & the Cooked. The song reached the top 40 charts in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Music and lyrics

Written by lead vocalist Roland Gift and bassist David Steele, the lyrics of "Don't Look Back" are mostly pessimistic, and depict someone who tries desperately to leave their difficult past behind them without looking back.^[1] While the band's previous two hits, the U.S. number ones "She Drives Me Crazy" and "Good Thing", were influenced by American rhythm and blues, "Don't Look Back" features guitar riffs that are more reminiscent of The Byrds and The Beatles.^[1]

Release and reception

Released in August 1989, "Don't Look Back" peaked at number 11 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and spent eight weeks in the top 40 section of the chart.^[2] It reached number eight on the Singles Sales chart, number 18 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart,^[2] and number nine on the Modern Rock chart.^[3] The song peaked at number 10 on the Canadian Singles Chart in October.^[4] It also reached number 34 in the UK,^[5] number 23 in New Zealand, and number 38 in Australia.^[6]

Track listing

7" Vinyl (Europe, Australasia)

1. "Don't Look Back" - 3:43
2. "You Never Know" - 4:27

7" Vinyl (U.S., Canada)

1. "Don't Look Back" - 3:36
2. "As Hard As It Is" - 3:10

12" Vinyl, CD Maxi-Single

1. "Don't Look Back" (12" mix) - 5:50
2. "You Never Know" - 4:27
3. "Don't Look Back" (7" mix) - 3:43

Chart performance

Chart (1989)	Peak position
UK Singles Chart[5]	34
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[6]	38
Canadian Singles Chart[4]	10
New Zealand RIANZ Singles Chart[6]	23
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[2]	11
U.S. Dance Music/Club Play[3]	26
U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks[3]	38
U.S. Modern Rock Tracks[3]	9

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Thompson, Dave. ""Don't Look Back" - Song Review". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). http://www.allmusic.com/song/t2371927. Retrieved 2010-01-16. 
2. ^ ^{a b c} Whitburn, Joel (2004). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits (8th ed.). New York: Billboard Books. p. 224. ISBN 978-0823074990. 
3. ^ ^{a b c d} "Fine Young Cannibals - Charts & Awards - Billboard Singles". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p4247. Retrieved 2010-01-16. 
4. ^ ^{a b} "RPM 100 Singles". RPM (RPM Music Publications Ltd.) 50 (23). 1989-10-02. ISSN 0315-5994. http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.6585&volume=50&issue=23&issue_dt=October%2002%201989&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=dhlllam7jb72l6haf8gm1vehs2. Retrieved 2010-01-16. 
5. ^ ^{a b} Strong, Martin Charles (2002). The Great Rock Discography (6th ed.). Edinburgh: Canongate Books. ISBN 978-1841953120. 
6. ^ ^{a b c} "Fine Young Cannibals - 'Don't Look Back'". Ultratop. http://www.ultratop.be/en/showitem.asp?interpret=Fine+Young+Cannibals&titel=Don%27t+Look+Back&cat=s. Retrieved 2010-01-16.