{{Infobox song | name = Let the Beat Go On | cover = Let_the_beat_go_on.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Dr. Alban | album = Look Who's Talking | released = August 1994 | recorded = 1994 | studio = Cheiron | venue = | genre = * Eurodance * dancehall | length = * 4:03 * 5:28 (extended) | label = | writer = * Dr. Alban * Kristian Lundin * John Amatiello | producer = * Dr. Alban * Kristian Lundin * John Amatiello | prev_title = Away from Home | prev_year = 1994 | next_title = Sweet Dreams | next_year = 1995 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|oKs25yuV3_A|"Let the Beat Go On"}}}} }}
"'''Let the Beat Go On'''" is a song recorded by Swedish musician and producer Dr. Alban. It was released by Cheiron in August 1994 as the third single from Alban's third studio album, ''Look Who's Talking'' (1994). The song is written and produced by Alban with Kristian Lundin and John Amatiello, and the chorus is sung by Swedish singers Nana Hedin and Jessica Folcker. It charted in many European countries, peaking at number-one in Spain, number three in Finland and number nine in Belgium. Jonathan Bate directed the accompanying music video, featuring Alban performing on a green grassmat, amidst female guitarists or sunflowers.
==Critical reception== Larry Flick from ''Billboard'' magazine wrote that Dr. Alban "should easily match the success of the previous 'Away from Home' with this jaunty ditty, which combines elements of pop/rave, hi-NRG, and electro-trance. His tense vocal snaps over a twinkling array of keyboards that will remind some of vintage Giorgio Moroder. Behind the frenzied vocal/synth action is a giddy pop chorus that never leaves the brain after the first spin. Those who like to hang onto the cutting edge will probably prefer the riotous Jungle Speed mix. A gem from the set ''Look Who's Talking''."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-04-01.pdf|first=Larry|last=Flick|title=Single Reviews|magazine=Billboard|date=April 1, 1995|access-date=January 23, 2018|author-link=Larry Flick}}</ref> Pan-European magazine ''Music & Media'' noted, "Probably the doctor's most one-dimensional Euro effort ever, he'll get automatic daytime airplay anyway because of the simple, unavoidable melody."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-11-12.pdf|title=New Releases: Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=46|date=November 12, 1994|page=16|access-date=May 8, 2019}}</ref>
==Chart performance== "Let the Beat Go On" enjoyed moderate success in many European countries, although it didn't reach the same level of success as "It's My Life", "Sing Hallelujah" and "Look Who's Talking". The song peaked at number-one in Spain, where it spent one week atop the Spanish singles chart and further two weeks as number two.<ref name="spain">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-11-05.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe: Spain|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=45|date=November 5, 1994|page=19|accessdate=July 2, 2025}}</ref> It also entered the top 10 in Finland (3) and Belgium (9).
Additionally, the single was a top-20 hit in France (12), Germany (18), the Netherlands (19) and Sweden (17), as well as on the Eurochart Hot 100, where it reached number 19. On the European Dance Radio Chart, it almost peaked atop, reaching number two, becoming the second most-played dance song on European radio that week.<ref name="europedanceradio">{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-11-19.pdf|title=European Dance Radio Top 25|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=47|date=November 19, 1994|page=31|access-date=May 27, 2023}}</ref> Outside Europe, "Let the Beat Go On" peaked at number eight on the ''RPM'' Dance/Urban chart in Canada, number 12 in Israel and number 186 in Australia.
==Music video== The music video for "Let the Beat Go On" was directed by Jonathan Bate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://imvdb.com/video/dr.-alban/let-the-beat-go-on|title=Let The Beat Go On (1995) by Dr. Alban|publisher=IMVDb.com|accessdate=October 16, 2018}}</ref> It depicts Dr. Alban performing behind a microphone, standing amidst female guitarists on a green grassmat in front of a blue backdrop. Sometimes he is surrounded by yellow sunflowers. In between, different characters appears on the grass, such as a dog with its doghouse, children playing, male and female gymnasts, and a crowd of females dancing. In the beginning of the video, the picture is shown upside down. "Let the Beat Go On" received "prime break out" rotation on MTV Europe in October 1994.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-10-22.pdf|title=Station Reports: MTV Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=43|date=October 22, 1994|page=27|access-date=December 19, 2025}}</ref> Same month, it was B-listed on German music television channel VIVA.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1994/MM-1994-10-15.pdf|title=Station Reports: VIVA|magazine=Music & Media|volume=11|issue=42|date=October 15, 1994|page=29|access-date=December 19, 2025}}</ref> In January 1995, the video was A-listed on France's MCM.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-02-18.pdf|title=M&M Airplay Station Reports: MCM|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=7|date=February 18, 1995|page=28|access-date=December 12, 2025}}</ref> It was nominated in the category for Best Swedish Dance Video 1994 at the 1995 Swedish Dance Music Awards.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1995/MM-1995-04-08.pdf#page=40|title=Nominees For The 5th Annual Gilbey's Swedish Dance Music Awards|magazine=Music & Media|volume=12|issue=14|date=April 8, 1995|page=4|access-date=January 13, 2026}} See appendix to ''Music & Media''.</ref> "Let the Beat Go On" was later made available on Dr. Alban's official YouTube channel in 2011, and had generated more than 10 million views as of July 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKs25yuV3_A|title=Dr Alban - Let The Beat Go On (Official HD)|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=July 2, 2025}}</ref> Bate had previously directed the videos for "Look Who's Talking" and "Away from Home".
==Track listings== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * '''7" single, Europe (1994)''' # "Let The Beat Go On" (Short) — 4:03 # "Let The Beat Go On" (DinDogAmaDub) — 5:26
* '''12" single, Europe (1994)''' #" Let The Beat Go On" (Long) — 5:28 #" Let The Beat Go On" (Dindogamadub) — 5:26
* '''CD single, France (1994)''' # "Let the Beat Go On" (Short) — 4:03 # "Let the Beat Go On" (Long) — 5:28
* '''CD maxi, Europe (1994)''' # "Let the Beat Go On" (Short) — 4:03 # "Let the Beat Go On" (Long) — 5:28 # "Let the Beat Go On" (Jungle Speed) — 5:27 # "Let the Beat Go On" (Dingogamadub) — 5:26 {{col-2}} * '''CD maxi, US (1995)''' # "Let The Beat Go On (Short) — 4:03 # "Let The Beat Go On (House Of Peo Single Mix) — 4:12 # "Let The Beat Go On (Long) — 5:28 # "Let The Beat Go On (House Of Peo Extended Club Mix) — 5:42 # "Let The Beat Go On (Jungle Speed) — 5:27 # "Let The Beat Go On (Dindogamadub) — 5:26 {{col-end}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1994) !Peak<br>position |- !scope="row"|Australia (ARIA)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/pd4F2Ze.gif|title=Response from ARIA re: chart inquiry, received July 12, 2016|publisher=Imgur.com|accessdate=July 28, 2016}}</ref> | 186 |- {{Singlechart|Austria|23|artist=Dr. Alban|song=Let The Beat Go On|rowheader=true}} |- {{Singlechart|Flanders|9|artist=Dr. Alban|song=Let The Beat Go On|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Belgium (VRT Top 30 Flanders)<ref>[http://top30-2.radio2.be/#/search/dr.+alban Belgian peak] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409063716/http://top30-2.radio2.be/ |date=April 9, 2012 }}</ref> | 9 |- !scope="row"|Canada Dance/Urban (''RPM'')<ref>[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?&file_num=nlc008388.7959&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=ps0v9n9omrgt615uthn8v43j10 Canadian dance peak]</ref> | 8 |- !scope="row"|Europe (Eurochart Hot 100) | 19 |- !scope="row"|Europe (European Dance Radio)<ref name="europedanceradio"/> | 2 |- !scope="row"|Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref>{{cite book | first= Jake | last= Nyman |year= 2005 | title=Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja | edition= 1st | publisher=Tammi | location= Helsinki| isbn= 951-31-2503-3 | language= Finnish }}</ref> | 3 |- {{Singlechart|France|12|artist=Dr. Alban|song=Let The Beat Go On|rowheader=true}} |- {{single chart|Germany|18|song=Let The Beat Go On|artist=Dr. Alban|songid=25980|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 28, 2025}} |- !scope="row"|Israel (IBA) | 12 |- {{Singlechart|Dutch40|22|artist=Dr. Alban|song=Let The Beat Go On|rowheader=true}} |- {{Singlechart|Dutch100|19|artist=Dr. Alban|song=Let The Beat Go On|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|Spain (AFYVE)<ref name="spain"/><ref>{{cite book |last=Salaverri|first=Fernando|title=Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002|edition=1st |date=September 2005|publisher=Fundación Autor-SGAE|location=Spain|isbn=84-8048-639-2}}</ref> | 1 |- {{Singlechart|Sweden|17|artist=Dr. Alban|song=Let The Beat Go On|rowheader=true}} |- !scope="row"|US Dance Club Play (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-06-03.pdf#page=38|title=Hot Dance Music: Club Play|magazine=Billboard|date=June 3, 1995|page=42|access-date=December 28, 2025}}</ref> | 7 |- !scope="row"|US Maxi-Singles Sales (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-04-22.pdf#page=22|title=Hot Dance Music: Maxi-Singles Sales|magazine=Billboard|date=April 22, 1995|page=24|access-date=December 28, 2025}}</ref> | 22 |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1994) !Position |- !scope="row"|Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/annual.asp?year=1994|title=Jaaroverzichten 1994|language=Dutch|publisher=Ultratop|accessdate=December 7, 2019}}</ref> | 52 |- !scope="row"|Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.top40web.nl/jaarlijsten/jr1994.html|title=Jaarlijsten 1994|language=Dutch|publisher=Stichting Nederlandse Top 40|accessdate=November 29, 2019}}</ref> | 157 |} {|class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" !Chart (1995) !Position |- !scope="row"|Latvia (Latvijas Top 50)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lanet.lv/news/airplay/1995/1995lv.html|title=Latvian Airplay Top Chart - 1995|publisher=Lanet.lv|access-date=March 13, 2026}}</ref> | 173 |} {{col-end}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Dr. Alban}}
{{authority control}}
Category:1994 singles Category:1994 songs Category:Dr. Alban songs Category:English-language Swedish songs Category:Nana Hedin songs Category:Music videos directed by Jonathan Bate Category:Number-one singles in Spain Category:Songs written by Dr. Alban Category:Songs written by Kristian Lundin