Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now | Music Lifts

In the first edition of Music Lifts (2026), we’re uplifted by the iconic rock band Queen performing “Don’t Stop Me Now.”

Welcome to Music Lifts, featuring songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the first edition of Music Lifts (2026), we highlight “Don’t Stop Me Now” as performed by Queen.

Woo, Freddie Mercury (1946 – 1991)! The legendary frontman from the legendary rock band Queen delivered one of the best performances of his career with “Don’t Stop Me Now”. “Don’t Stop Me Now” is the 12^th track on the band’s 1978 album, Jazz. Mercury and guitarist Brian May (b. 1947) penned “Don’t Stop Me Now.” Roy Thomas Baker (1946 – 2025) and Queen produced it. Mercury continues singing in the intro, “And the world, I’ll turn it inside out, yeah / I’m floatin’ around in ecstasy.” Ooh-wee, Freddie! Surprisingly, “Don’t Stop Me Now” only modestly impacted the pop charts, peaking at number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 👀.  No worries, considering the single has been streamed more than 2.5 billion times and certified multiplatinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.

So, why is “Don’t Stop Me Now” such a great, uplifting song? Freddie Mercury shines, showing off his incredible chops as a vocalist.  It begins abruptly with him singing the introduction (excerpted above).  His tone is beautiful during this balladry, where the dramatic vocals are everything. Queen also showcases top-notch musicianship, shining through the accompaniment.  The piano (Mercury) is a brilliant touch, while there are some sickening bass riffs (John Deacon, b. 1951). Returning the focus to the vocals, how about the playful, staccato treatment of the lyrics, “Don’t stop me now / Don’t stop me now.”

From there, the tempo kicks up, the energy grows, and the musical backdrop becomes bigger.  With musicianship on another level, there is more brilliant piano playing, and the electrifying, anchoring bass (Deacon) and drums (Roger Taylor, b. 1949). Adding to the excellence is a marvelous vocal arrangement, intact with celestial harmonies.  There are plenty of playful moments vocally and instrumentally. Of course, the lyrics fly high, too.  “I’m a shootin’ star, leapin’ through the sky like a tiger,” Mercury sings in the first verse, and continues, “Defyin’ the laws of gravity.” In the second, he playfully asserts, “I’m a sex machine, ready to reload like an atom bomb / About to oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, explode.” Oh, snap, Freddie! The pre-chorus, and the chorus also make “Don’t Stop Me Now” unstoppable:

“Don’t stop me now

I’m havin’ such a good time, I’m havin’ a ball

Don’t stop me now

If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call

(Don’t stop me now) ‘Cause I’m havin’ a good time

(Don’t stop me now) Yes, I’m havin’ a good time

I don’t wanna stop at all, yeah.”

One of the best instrumental moments is the high-flying, souped-up guitar solo by May. Rock on 🤘! After reaching a fever pitch with a quick tempo, Mercury concludes “Don’t Stop Me Now” with a dramatic, slower, but still inspired outro. “Don’t Stop Me Now” is the type of classic record that is timeless and never fails to pump you up. This is a crowd-pleaser that is well worth analyzing yet stands alone just as well.  Queen put their foot, rather feet, into this one!

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Queen » Jazz » Hollywood Records, Inc. » 1978

Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now: Music Lifts No. 1 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Hollywood Records, Inc.; Emma Bauso, foad shariyati, nappy, Niko Twisty, Victoria Strelka_ph, Wolrider YURTSEVEN from Pexels; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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