Don't Rush Me Explained

Don't Rush Me
Cover:dontrushme.jpg
Caption:US single cover
Type:single
Artist:Taylor Dayne
Album:Tell It to My Heart
B-Side:In the Darkness
Released:[1]
Genre:
Length:3:47
Label:Arista
Producer:Ric Wake
Prev Title:I'll Always Love You
Prev Year:1988
Next Title:With Every Beat of My Heart
Next Year:1989

"Don't Rush Me" is a song performed by American singer Taylor Dayne, released as the fourth single from her debut studio album Tell It to My Heart (1988). It was written by Alexandra Forbes and Jeff Franzel, with production provided by Ric Wake. It was first released in early September 1988 in the United Kingdom before being officially released on October 24, 1988, to the United States via Arista Records to contemporary hit radio. The cover art of the single was later used on the 1988 US reissue of Tell It to My Heart. The song lyrically has a message regarding abstinence.[4]

"Don't Rush Me" gave Dayne her then-highest-charting single in the United States, hitting number two on the US Billboard Hot 100; internationally however the track under-performed, only hitting the top forty in Germany.

Critical reception

Cashbox gave the single a positive review writing, "Taylor displays her usual beefy vocal blast that seems to elevate the most standard of material. This song is a hair above that, and should fly on CHR."[5] Gavin Report also gave the track a favorable review saying, "'Don't Rush Me,' though thoroughly danceable is neither aggresssive nor sluggish. It's a pop bullseye that is immediately likeable."[6] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented favorably writing, "Formula disco with bite. Dayne has a striking voice and plenty of enthusiasm."[7]

Chart performance

"Don't Rush Me" peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 on January 21, 1989, being blocked from the top spot by Phil Collins's "Two Hearts".[8] At the time, it was Dayne's highest-charting single on the Billboard Hot 100. It spent 20 weeks in total on the chart and was also a success on component charts, hitting number three on the Adult Contemporary chart and number six on the Dance Club Songs chart. On Cashbox however, the track topped the chart for a single week on January 28, 1989.

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Don't Rush Me" was originally directed by Alek Keshishian in Los Angeles. It featured a performance by Dayne and "a series of vignettes involving a "real sexy guy" in various states of undress."[9] For unknown reasons however, the music video was re-shot and Keshishian was replaced by David Hogan for directing and filmed in New York City instead of Los Angeles. The revised clip is a performance video shot at the Capitol Theatre.[10] It made its debut to VH-1 on December 10, 1988. It was released the following week to MTV and Night Tracks. On December 24, 1988, the video was also released to BET.

Track listings and formats

US 7-inch single[11]

  1. "Don't Rush Me" – 3:47
  2. "In the Darkness" – 3:16

US 12-inch single[12]

  1. "Don't Rush Me" (Extended Version) – 7:15
  2. "Don't Rush Me" (Bonus Beats) – 3:35
  3. "Don't Rush Me" (Single Version) – 3:47
  4. "Don't Rush Me" (Dub Version) – 6:07

French 12-inch single[13]

  1. "Don't Rush Me" (Continental Clubhouse Mix) – 8:40
  2. "Don't Rush Me" (Continental Dubhouse Mix) – 5:36
  3. "Don't Rush Me" (Rushapella) – 3:35

German CD single[14]

  1. "Don't Rush Me" (Extended Version) – 7:15
  2. "Don't Rush Me" (Dub Version) – 5:41
  3. "Don't Rush Me" (Single Version) – 3:47
  4. "In the Darkness" – 3:16

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1988–1989)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 73
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[16] 4
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[17] 88
Israel (IBA)[18] 6
US Hot Crossover 30 (Billboard)[19] 5
US Top 100 Pop Singles (Cashbox)[20] 1
US Adult Contemporary (Gavin Report)[21] 7
US Top 40 (Gavin Report)[22] 2
US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records)[23] 3
US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records)[24] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)! scope="col"
Position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[25] 63
US Billboard Hot 100[26] [27] 38
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[28] 36
US Adult Contemporary (Gavin Report)[29] 59
US Top 40 (Gavin Report)[30] 62
US Adult Contemporary (Radio & Records)[31] 49
US Contemporary Hit Radio (Radio & Records)[32] 45

Notes and References

  1. Taylor Dayne, "Don't Rush Me": The Next One To Rush The Charts. Radio & Records. 33. October 21, 1988. 760.
  2. Web site: Tom . Breihan . The Number Ones: Taylor Dayne's "Love Will Lead You Back. . September 10, 2021 . December 2, 2023. The bland synth-rocker “Don’t Rush Me” made it all the way to #2..
  3. Taylor Dayne: Performer bringing edgy sound to UNA. Times Daily. 5B. October 24, 1988. ...the album covers a variety of sounds ranging from the mid-tempo R&B feel of "Don't Rush Me" to the breezy sound of "In the Darkness.".
  4. Book: Everett, Walter . Sex and Gender in Pop/Rock Music: The Blues Through the Beatles to Beyoncé . May 4, 2023 . . 9781501345975.
  5. News: November 5, 1988 . Single Releases: Feature Picks . . 7 . LI . 16 . 0008-7289.
  6. News: October 21, 1988 . Inside A/C: Reviews . . 26 . 1729.
  7. News: October 8, 1988 . Previews: Singles . . 25 . 5 . 41.
  8. Web site: January 21, 1989 . Billboard Hot 100 . March 15, 2016 . Billboard.
  9. October 22, 1988 . Music Video: Video Track . . . 80 . 100 . 43 . 0006-2510.
  10. December 10, 1988 . Music Video: Video Track . . . 58 . 100 . 50 . 0006-2510.
  11. Don't Rush Me . US 7-inch vinyl single sleeve . . . 1988 . AS1-9722.
  12. Don't Rush Me . US 12-inch single sleeve . Taylor Dayne . Arista Records . 1988 . AD1-9723.
  13. Don't Rush Me . French 12-inch maxi-single sleeve . Taylor Dayne . Arista Records . 1989 . 611 905.
  14. Don't Rush Me . German CD single liner notes . Taylor Dayne . Arista Records . 1988 . 661 687.
  15. Web site: Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received June 17, 2014 . August 5, 2012 . imgur.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141129020821/http://i.imgur.com/9AQCjII.jpg . November 29, 2014 .
  16. RPM 100 Singles for February 13–18, 1989. RPM. 6. February 13, 1989. 49. 16. December 12, 2024.
  17. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 25. October 1, 1988. 5. 40.
  18. Web site: Israel Singles Chart 1987-1995. UKMix.org. January 12, 2025. May 26, 2021.
  19. Hot Crossover 30. Billboard. 72. January 14, 1989. 0006-2510. Prometheus Global Media. 101. 2.
  20. Cash Box Charts: Top 100 Singles. Cashbox. 20. January 28, 1989. 0008-7289. LII. 29.
  21. the Gavin Report: Adult Contemporary. Gavin Report. 24. January 27, 1989. 1741.
  22. the Gavin Report: Top 40. Gavin Report. 6. January 13, 1989. 1739.
  23. The Back Page: Adult Contemporary. Radio & Records. 120. February 3, 1989. 774.
  24. The Back Page: Contemporary Hit Radio. Radio & Records. 96. January 13, 1989. 771.
  25. Web site: Top Singles - Volume 51, No. 8, December 23, 1989. RPM. December 23, 1999. November 22, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170907032648/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6684&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062. September 7, 2017. dead.
  26. December 23, 1989 . 1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles . Y-22 . Billboard . 101 . 51 .
  27. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1989.
  28. December 23, 1989 . 1989 The Year in Music: Top Pop Singles . Y-42 . Billboard . 101 . 51 .
  29. Adult Contemporary 1989 – Top 100. Gavin Report. 21. December 15, 1989. 1787.
  30. Top 40 1989 – Top 100. Gavin Report. 19. December 15, 1989. 1787.
  31. Top 89 of '89: AC. Radio & Records. 91. December 15, 1989. 819.
  32. Top 89 of '89: CHR. Radio & Records. 64. December 15, 1989. 819.