No Coke

"No Coke" is a song recorded by Sweden-based musician and producer Dr Alban. It was originally released as the B-side of the 12" version of his debut single "Hello Afrika" and became the second single off his debut album, Hello Afrika (1990). Released in November 1990, the song was a hit in several European countries and reached number-one in Sweden. To date, it is one of Dr Alban's most successful songs, along with "It's My Life" and "Sing Hallelujah". It was produced by Denniz Pop, who recorded the song's signature bassline using a Roland Juno-106 synthesizer.[1] The song is performed in English and the lyrics describe a tragic event outside Alban's nightclub Alphabet Street in Stockholm. In November 2017, it was the topic at SVT:s Hitlåtens historia.

"No Coke"
Single by Dr Alban
from the album Hello Afrika
Released3 November 1990
Genre
Length
  • 3:43
  • 7:00 (Album Version)
LabelSonet / Warner Music
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Denniz PoP
Dr Alban singles chronology
"Hello Afrika"
(1990)		 "No Coke"
(1990)		 "U & Mi"
(1991)
Music video
"No Coke" on YouTube

Critical reception

Larry Flick from Billboard viewed the song as a "cleverly written anti-drug anthem", "particularly potent and U.S. club-friendly."[2] He added that "pure (and clever) toasting is woven into a fabric of accessible hip-hop and reggae threads"[3] and concluded that the song is "a brilliant piece of work".[4]

Chart performance

"No Coke" was very successful on the charts in Europe, peaking at number-one in Sweden. It spent two weeks at the top spot and 5 weeks within the top 10. The single made it to the top 10 also in Austria, Germany, Greece (#3), the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden. In Austria, it peaked at number two, being held off reaching number-one by Roxette's "Joyride". It spent four weeks at that position. Additionally, "No Coke" was a top 20 hit in Finland and Italy, and a top 30 hit in Belgium. It didn't chart on the UK Singles Chart, but reached number 59 on the UK Dance Singles Chart. The single earned a gold record in Sweden, where the song broke all records by staying for five consecutive weeks at number-one in national radio SR's popular show "Tracks". That's a feat not even achieved by ABBA.[5]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Scottish director Paul Boyd.[6] He also directed the video for "Hello Afrika". "No Coke" received heavy rotation on MTV Europe[7] and was later published on Dr. Alban's official YouTube channel in December 2011. By December 2022, it had generated more than 18 million views.[8]

Track listings

Charts and certifications

References
  1. Hitlatens historia: No Coke. SVT. Aired on 27 November 2017.
  2. Flick, Larry (1991-05-18). "Dance Trax: Sweden's Hot Clubland Still Looking For U.S. label" (PDF). Billboard. p. 23. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
  3. Flick, Larry (1991-09-21). "Dance Trax: Moroder Back On The Dancefloor With New Readings" (PDF). Billboard. p. 30. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
  4. Flick, Larry (1993-04-17). "Dance Trax: 'DeNiro' Delivers; 'Gypsyland' A Trip; Exposing I.D." (PDF). Billboard. p. 24. Retrieved 2020-10-08.
  5. "Spotlight: Dr. Alban" (PDF). Music & Media. 1991-01-26. p. 18. Retrieved 2020-10-20.
  6. "No Coke (1991) by Dr. Alban". IMVDb.com. Retrieved 2018-10-15.
  7. "Station Reports > TV > MTV/London" (PDF). Music & Media. 1991-03-23. p. 28. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  8. "Dr Alban - No Coke (Official HD)". YouTube. Retrieved 2022-12-11.
  9. "Dr. Alban – No Coke" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
  10. "Dr. Alban – No Coke" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  11. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  12. "Dr. Alban – No Coke" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  13. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 1991-08-03. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  14. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved 2022-05-29. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Dr. Alban".
  15. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Dr. Alban" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  16. "Dr. Alban – No Coke" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  17. "Dr. Alban – No Coke". VG-lista.
  18. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. 1991-08-24. Retrieved 2018-03-20.
  19. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  20. "Dr. Alban – No Coke". Singles Top 100.
  21. "Dr. Alban – No Coke". Swiss Singles Chart.
  22. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 1991-11-16. p. 22. Retrieved 2020-09-28.
  23. 1991 Austrian Singles Chart Austriancharts.at Archived 2008-06-10 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 2008-09-02)
  24. "Eurochart Hot 100 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. 8 (51–52): 21. 1991-12-21. Retrieved 2020-01-17 – via American Radio History.
  25. "Single top 100 over 1991" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2010-04-13.
  26. 1991 Swiss Singles Chart Hitparade.ch Archived 2013-12-24 at the Wayback Machine (Retrieved 2008-09-02)
  27. "Guld- och Platinacertifikat − År 1987−1998" (PDF) (in Swedish). IFPI Sweden. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-05-17. Retrieved 8 August 2023.
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