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Don't Go (Skrillex, Justin Bieber and Don Toliver song)

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"Don't Go"
Single by Skrillex, Justin Bieber, and Don Toliver
from the album Don't Get Too Close
ReleasedAugust 20, 2021
GenreR&B
Length2:48
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Skrillex singles chronology
"En Mi Cuarto"
(2021) 		"Don't Go"
(2021) 		"Horizon"
(2022)
Justin Bieber singles chronology
"Essence"
(2021) 		"Don't Go"
(2021) 		"Ghost"
(2021)
Don Toliver singles chronology
"Drugs n Hella Melodies"
(2021) 		"Don't Go"
(2021) 		"Honest"
(2022)
Music video
"Don't Go" on YouTube

"Don't Go" is a song by American record producer Skrillex, Canadian singer Justin Bieber, and American rapper and singer Don Toliver. It was released as a single through Atlantic Records and Owsla on August 20, 2021. Production was handled by Skrillex and Harv, while the vocals were handled by Bieber and Toliver. All four wrote the song alongside Poo Bear, Beam, Aldae, Carlton McDowell, Jr., Jordan Douglas, and Drew Gold.

Background

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Speaking about "Don't Go", Skrillex explained that he thought of Bieber while creating the instrumental, with Toliver later being part of the song. He further said: "The song is a beautiful mess of organic energy melting together. For every 100 people listening to it, I hope there are 100 different interpretations".[1] The song was originally supposed to appear on Bieber's sixth studio album, Justice (2021), but did not end up making the final cut of the album, which led to the song later being released as a single as himself and Skrillex thought that it was "fire".[2]

Composition and lyrics

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"Don't Go" is an R&B song that is set in the key of B major with a tempo of 135 beats per minute.[3][4] It contains "vibrant" bass-heavy production and finds Bieber and Toliver singing about their respective significant others to remain by their side. On the chorus, Bieber sings: "I put in the work to hear you say (Don't go, don't—)/ Misery missin' your company (Don't go, don't go)/ See 'em pullin' at you that way (Don't go, don't)/ Ooh, if this is where you supposed to be (Don't go)".[5] Bieber and Australian rapper and singer the Kid Laroi discussed a similar theme on their chart-topping 2021 single, "Stay".

Release and promotion

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On October 28, 2020, Skrillex and Bieber were seen recording in a music studio alongside producers and songwriters Harv and Poo Bear, along with Jon Bellion, Maejor, and Ant Clemons, among others.[6] The two announced the collaboration and release date of the song on August 16, 2021.[7] Two days later, the two artists revealed the title of the song along with a snippet, in which the cover art was revealed as part of the pre-save.[8]

Critical reception

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Upon release, "Don't Go" received positive reviews from music critics, majority of whom praised Skrillex's production and his chemistry with Bieber on the track. Two days before the song was released, on August 18, 2021, Jason Heffler of EDM felt that Skrillex, Bieber, and Toliver have "cooked up a woozy R&B banger, a slow-burner rife with the hypnotic yet forceful bass of a contemporary Skrillex production", basing it on the snippet that was shared that day.[9] Karlie Powell of Your EDM stated that "the production is smooth as can be with a booming baseline, accented by creative rhythm and flow" and "if it sounds like a hit, it's probably a hit!".[10] Writing for Billboard, Katie Bain felt that "the song is a dreamy R&B number, with Skrillex's production sitting well back to enable Bieber and Toliver's vocals to dominate".[11] Shaad D'Souza of Paper wrote that the pairing of Bieber and Skrillex resulted in "a woozier, looser song than we've come to expect", but still called it "brilliant and infectious".[12] Uproxx's Carolyn Droke felt that the combination of "acoustic guitar and a network of electronic notes for a moving beat" made for "intricate production".[13] Issy Sampson of The Guardian called the track "a moody, moany banger" and "an overdue return to form for the Bieber".[14]

Music video

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The official music video for "Don't Go", directed by Salomon Ligthelm, premiered to Skrillex's YouTube channel alongside the song on August 20, 2021. It sees himself, Bieber, and Toliver surrounded in an art museum that shows art of them at different exhibits. The paintings have tears coming from them. Before the video ends, all artists turn to gold.[15]

Credits and personnel

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  • Skrillex – production, songwriting, all instruments, programming, mixing
  • Justin Bieber – vocals, songwriting
  • Don Toliver – vocals, songwriting
  • Harv – production, songwriting, guitar, all instruments, programming
  • Poo Bear – songwriting
  • Beam – songwriting
  • Aldae – songwriting
  • Carlton McDowell, Jr. – songwriting, guitar
  • Jordan Douglas – songwriting
  • Drew Gold – songwriting, recording
  • Josh Gudwin – vocal production, recording
  • Derek "206Derek" Anderson – recording
  • Dhamari Trice Hanson “Dusjni” - guitar production
  • Manny Marroquin – mixing
  • Mike Bozzi – mastering

Charts

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Chart performance for "Don't Go"
Chart (2021–2023) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[16] 43
Australia Hip Hop/R&B (ARIA)[17] 12
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[18] 32
Canada CHR/Top 40 (Billboard)[19] 44
Global 200 (Billboard)[20] 38
Hungary (Single Top 40)[21] 40
Ireland (IRMA)[22] 55
Japan Hot Overseas (Billboard)[23] 10
Netherlands (Single Tip)[24] 3
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[25] 7
Portugal (AFP)[26] 174
Romania (Airplay 100)[27] 91
South Africa (RISA)[28] 87
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[29] 67
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[30] 98
UK Singles (OCC)[31] 56
US Billboard Hot 100[32] 69
US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs (Billboard)[33] 43
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[34] 24

Release history

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Release dates and formats for "Don't Go"
Country Date Format Label Ref.
Various August 20, 2021
[35]
United States August 31, 2021 Rhythmic contemporary radio [36]

References

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  1. ^ "Skrillex: Exploring New Sound on "Don't Go" with Justin Bieber and Don Toliver | Apple Music". August 20, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021 – via YouTube.
  2. ^ Amter, Charlie (October 20, 2021). "Hitmaker of the Month: Justin Bieber Collaborator Harv Has Enough Juice to Go Around After 'Peaches' Powers 2021". Variety. Retrieved October 20, 2021.
  3. ^ Lavin, Will (August 20, 2021). "Skrillex calls on Justin Bieber and Don Toliver for new single 'Don't Go'". NME. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  4. ^ Moore, Sonny; Bieber, Justin; Toliver, Caleb; Harvey, Bernard; Boyd, Jason; Beam (rapper), Tyshane; Hein, Gregory; McDowell, Jr., Carlton; Douglas, Jordan; Gold, Drew. "Don't Go". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  5. ^ Lavin, Will (August 20, 2021). "Skrillex calls on Justin Bieber and Don Toliver for new single 'Don't Go'". NME. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  6. ^ Kaufman, Gil (August 19, 2021). "Skrillex Drops Moody Preview of 'Don't Go' Featuring Justin Bieber & Don Toliver: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  7. ^ Heffler, Jason (August 16, 2021). "Skrillex Reunites With Justin Bieber for New Collab With Don Toliver". EDM. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  8. ^ "Skrillex teases new song with Justin Bieber and Don Toliver - We Rave You". OLT News. August 18, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  9. ^ Heffler, Jason (August 18, 2021). "Listen to a Preview of Skrillex, Justin Bieber and Don Toliver's "Don't Go" Before It Hits Streaming Platforms". EDM. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  10. ^ Powell, Karlie (August 19, 2021). "Justin Bieber Teases New Song "Don't Go" with Skrillex & Don Toliver Out Tomorrow [PREVIEW]". Your EDM. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  11. ^ Bain, Katie (August 20, 2021). "Skrillex, Justin Bieber & Don Toliver Team Up for 'Don't Go': Stream It Now". Billboard. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  12. ^ D'Souza, Shaad (August 20, 2021). "Sound Off: 10 New Songs You Need to Hear Now". Paper. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  13. ^ Droke, Carolyn (August 24, 2021). "All The Best New Pop Music From This Week". Uproxx. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  14. ^ Sampson, Issy (September 3, 2021). "This week's tracks: Blackstarkids, Justin Bieber, Natalie Imbruglia". The Guardian. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
  15. ^ Legaspi, Althea (August 20, 2021). "Skrillex, Justin Bieber, Don Toliver Link Up on New Song 'Don't Go'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  16. ^ "Skrillex, Justin Bieber & Don Toliver – Don't Go". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles for week of 30 August 2021". Australian Recording Industry Association. August 30, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  18. ^ "Skrillex Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  19. ^ "Skrillex Chart History (Canada CHR/Top 40)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  20. ^ "Skrillex Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  21. ^ "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved September 2, 2021.
  22. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Skrillex". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  23. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas [ 2021/09/01 公開]". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  24. ^ "Dutch Single Tip" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. August 28, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  25. ^ "NZ Hot Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 30, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  26. ^ "Skrillex, Justin Bieber & Don Toliver – Don't Go". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
  27. ^ Arvunescu, Victor (September 20, 2021). "Top Airplay 100 - Toată lumea vrea să asculte piesa lui Masked Wolf!" [Top Airplay 100 - Everybody wants to listen to Masked Wolf's song!] (in Romanian). Un site de muzică. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  28. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 100: 20/08/2021 to 26/08/2021". The Official South African Charts. Recording Industry of South Africa. Archived from the original on September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
  29. ^ "Skrillex, Justin Bieber & Don Toliver – Don't Go". Singles Top 100. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  30. ^ "Skrillex, Justin Bieber & Don Toliver – Don't Go". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  31. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  32. ^ "Skrillex Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
  33. ^ "Skrillex Chart History (Hot Dance/Electronic Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  34. ^ "Skrillex Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  35. ^ "Don't Go - Single by Skrillex, Justin Bieber & Don Toliver on Apple Music". Retrieved August 20, 2021 – via Apple Music.
  36. ^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on August 25, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
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