Don't Stop the Party (Pitbull song)

Updated on Jan 29, 2024

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Recorded 2012 Length 3:26		Genre Hip house, Eurodance
Released September 25, 2012 (2012-09-25) Format CD single, digital download Label Mr. 305, Polo Grounds, RCA

"Don't Stop the Party" is a song recorded by American rapper Pitbull for his seventh studio album, Global Warming. The song features TJR and includes samples of the song "Funky Kingston" by Toots and the Maytals replayed by Mark Summers at Scorccio Sample Replays. It was released on September 25, 2012 as the album's third single by RCA Records.

The song was written by Pitbull, TJR, José García, Jorge Gomez Martinez, Warwick Lyn, and Frederick Hibbert, and it was produced by Rozdilsky under his stage name TJR, with additional production by Scottish house producer Chris Lake. Rozdilsky had previously written the song as "Funky Vodka", which caught Pitbull's attention. It has peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song's accompanying music video was noted for its sexually explicit content, and was subsequently banned from airing in the United Kingdom.

Background and composition

Global Warming was released on November 19, 2012. It is a hip hop, Latin and R&B album which includes styles of Latin hip hop and pop rap. Artists who appeared on the album include Christina Aguilera, Chris Brown, Enrique Iglesias, The Wanted, DJ Havana Brown and Usher. The song was originally titled "Funky Vodka" as written by TJR. The song was played heavily at the Miami Winter Music Conference and caught the attention of Pitbull who asked TJR to work with him for it to be a single from Global Warming.

Speaking about the viral success of the track, TJR has stated: "Funky Vodka is probably the track I'm most proud of. It was pretty cool to see an old school sample-based house tune make it to the overall number one spot on Beatport." "Funky Vodka" itself is based around the Jamaican Reggae classic "Funky Kingston" (1973) by Toots and the Maytals. The sample replay of "Funky Kingston" was produced by Mark Summers at Scorccio Sample Replays. "Don't Stop the Party" is a Hip-house song which has a running time of three minutes and twenty-six seconds (3:26). The single version was written by TJR, Pitbull, Bigram Zayas, and Frederick "Toots" Hibbert. Marc Kinchen, TJR and DJ Buddha served as producers.

Reception

Alexandra Capotorto of PopCrush said that the song "leaves something to be desired, since it’s super repetitive." It has so far peaked at seventeen on the Billboard Hot 100. It has cracked the top ten in Austria and Canada. In Australia, "Don't Stop The Party" debuted at twenty-three on October 8, 2012. The following week, it peaked at fifteen. In New Zealand, it debuted at thirty-seven on October 15; the following week it peaked at twenty-three. To date, it has peaked at sixteen on the Billboard Mainstream Pop Songs chart. Additionally, it broke into the top-twenty of the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, reaching five.

Music video

The music video was first released onto Pitbull's official Vevo channel on October 26, 2012 and was directed by David Rosseau. It features Pitbull on a yacht with several people drinking vodka, as well as naked women, including porn star Kennedy Leigh and model Claudia Sampedro, with materials placed in necessary places. The video has received over 81 million views.

The video was banned from airing in the United Kingdom for being too sexually explicit after reports "flooded in". Natalie Palmer of Entertainmentwise said: "Musicians always want to make an impact, and the best way to do this is with a controversial music video as Pitbull has now discovered." A television source complained that the issues included semi-naked girls, grinding, and girls drinking vodka, which was deemed "too risque" for younger audiences. Ayeesha Walsh of The Sun wrote: "In several parts of the video Pitbull is seen sitting at the foot of the bed whilst topless girls stroke his chest provocatively. There is also obvious placement of a well known vodka brand which leads to further violation of regulations about alcohol and sexual content." Additionally, Walsh noted that the music video was still available online despite it being banned from television screens. Grace Carroll of Gigwise called the video "99.9% porn".

Live performances

Pitbull performed "Don't Stop The Party" at the 2012 MTV Europe Music Awards on November 11, 2012 in Frankfurt, Germany. Alexandra Capotorto noted that Pitbull: "looked like he was straight off the set of a Men in Black film during his performance." He was dressed in black with a white shirt underneath a pair of his signature dark sunglasses. Capotorto said: "he entertained the crowd with his song — and leave it to the master to have background dancers in the form of beautiful women dressed in tight white bodysuits and white wigs." He also performed it at the Latin Grammy Awards of 2012 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on November 15. He also performed it at the 2012 American Music Awards. He also performed the song at the IPL 6 Opening Ceremony at Kolkata,India.

Usage in media

Darts player Peter Wright dances to the song during his walk-on.

"Don't Stop the Party" was used the promos of VH1 Latin America NEO: Musica Nueva. and in Chile, the song was used the promo of Telecanal A las 11 and credits of TVN's Juga2. The song is also played in Despicable Me 2.

Until 2015, Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League use "Don't Stop the Party" as their celebratory goal song at the BB&T Center.

Until 2016, The St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League use "Don't Stop the Party" as their team win song when they win a game at the Scottrade Center

The San Diego Chargers of the National Football League began using the song in 2014 as their celebratory touchdown song at Qualcomm Stadium.

Since 2015, the song has been used in the background during competitions on Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway.