{{Short description|1990 single by Dr. Alban}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox song | name = No Coke | cover = No_coke.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Dr. Alban | album = Hello Afrika | released = 3 November 1990 | recorded = | studio = | venue = | genre = *Dancehall<ref name="Seabrook 2015">{{cite book|title= The Song Machine: Inside the Hit Factory|first=John|last=Seabrook|date= 5 October 2015 |chapter= The Sign|page= 34|publisher=W. W. Norton & Company|location= New York City|isbn=978-0-393-24192-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Song_Machine_Inside_the_Hit_Factory.html?id=kOdwBgAAQBAJ|access-date= 6 December 2025|quote=...a funky dance-hall [sic] reggae-style track called "No Coke}}</ref> *reggae<ref name="Seabrook 2015"/> | length = *7:00 (album version) *3:43 | label = SweMix | writer = *Dr. Alban *Denniz PoP | producer = Denniz PoP | prev_title = Hello Afrika | prev_year = 1990 | next_title = U & Mi | next_year = 1991 | misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|4uPDfuC3Jck|"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-inch 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.<ref>''Hitlatens historia: No Coke''. SVT. Aired on 27 November 2017.</ref> The song is performed in English, and the lyrics describe a tragic event outside Dr. Alban's nightclub Alphabet Street in Stockholm. In November 2017, it was the topic of SVT's ''Hitlåtens historia''.
==Critical reception== Larry Flick from ''Billboard'' viewed the song as a "cleverly written anti-drug anthem", "particularly potent and U.S. club-friendly."<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Dance Trax: Sweden's Hot Clubland Still Looking For U.S. label |magazine= Billboard |date= 18 May 1991 |page= 23 |access-date= 11 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-05-18.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}}</ref> He added that "pure (and clever) toasting is woven into a fabric of accessible hip-hop and reggae threads"<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Dance Trax: Moroder Back On The Dancefloor With New Readings |magazine= Billboard |date= 21 September 1991 |page= 30 |access-date= 11 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-09-21.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}}</ref> and concluded that the song is "a brilliant piece of work".<ref>{{cite magazine|first= Larry |last= Flick |title= Dance Trax: 'DeNiro' Delivers; 'Gypsyland' A Trip; Exposing I.D. |magazine= Billboard |date= 17 April 1993 |page= 24 |access-date= 8 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/90s/1993/BB-1993-04-17.pdf |author-link= Larry Flick}}</ref>
==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.<ref>{{cite magazine|title= Spotlight: Dr. Alban |magazine= Music & Media |date= 26 January 1991 |page= 18 |access-date= 20 October 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-01-26.pdf}}</ref>
==Music video== A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Scottish director Paul Boyd.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://imvdb.com/video/dr.-alban/no-coke|title=No Coke (1991) by Dr. Alban|publisher=IMVDb.com|access-date=15 October 2018}}</ref> He also directed the video for "Hello Afrika". "No Coke" received heavy rotation on MTV Europe<ref>{{cite magazine|first=|last=|title=Station Reports > TV > MTV/London|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-03-23.pdf|work=Music & Media|date=23 March 1991|page=28|accessdate=11 December 2022}}</ref> and was later published on Dr. Alban's official YouTube channel in December 2011. By May 2025, it had generated more than 37 million views.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uPDfuC3Jck|title=Dr Alban - No Coke (Official HD)|publisher=YouTube|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref>
==Track listings== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} * '''7" single''' # "No Coke" (radio mix) — 3:43 # "No Coke" (swe-flow-mix) — 3:50 {{col-2}} * '''CD single''' # "No Coke" (radio mix) — 3:43 # "No Coke" (swe-flow-mix) — 3:50 {{col-end}}
==Charts== {{col-begin}} {{col-2}}
===Weekly charts=== {|class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1990–1991) !Peak<br/>position |- {{single chart|Austria|2|artist=Dr. Alban|song=No Coke}} |- {{single chart|Flanders|26|artist=Dr. Alban|song=No Coke}} |- |Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles|magazine=Music & Media|volume=8|issue=18|page=25|date=4 May 1991}}</ref> |align="center"|8 |- |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= fi }}</ref> |align="center"|12 |- {{single chart|Germany|3|artist=Dr. Alban|song=No Coke|songid=2242}} |- |Greece (IFPI)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-08-03.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=8|issue=31|page=20|date=3 August 1991|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref> |align="center"|3 |- |Italy (''Musica e dischi'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=Musica e dischi|language=it|access-date=29 May 2022}} Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Dr. Alban".</ref> |align="center"|18 |- {{single chart|Dutch40|7|artist=Dr. Alban|song=No Coke}} |- {{single chart|Dutch100|7|artist=Dr. Alban|song=No Coke}} |- {{single chart|Norway|6|artist=Dr. Alban|song=No Coke}} |- |Portugal (AFP)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-08-24.pdf|title=Top 10 Sales in Europe|magazine=Music & Media|volume=8|issue=34|page=22|date=24 August 1991|access-date=20 March 2018}}</ref> |align="center"|6 |- |Spain (AFYVE)<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> |align="center"|7 |- {{single chart|Sweden|1|artist=Dr. Alban|song=No Coke}} |- {{single chart|Switzerland|3|artist=Dr. Alban|song=No Coke}} |- |UK Dance (''Music Week'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1991/MW-1991-11-16.pdf |title= Top 60 Dance Singles |magazine= Music Week |date= 16 November 1991 |page= 22 |access-date= 28 September 2020}}</ref> |align="center"|59 |} {{col-2}}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable" !Chart (1990) !Position |- |Sweden (Topplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm|title=Årstopplistan 1990, Singlar|publisher=Grammotex|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010216102929/http://www.grammotex.se/topp90singlar.htm|archive-date=16 February 2001|access-date=7 April 2025}}</ref> |align="center"|9 |} {| class="wikitable sortable" !Chart (1991) !Position |- |Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://austriancharts.at/year.asp?cat=s&id=1991|title=Jahreshitparade Singles 1991|language=de|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> |align="center"|18 |- |Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1991/MM-1991-12-21.pdf|title=Eurochart Hot 100 Singles 1991|magazine=Music & Media|volume=8|issue=51–52|page=21|date=21 December 1991|access-date=17 January 2020|via=World Radio History}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|34 |- |Germany (Media Control)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/charts/single-jahr/for-date-1991|title=Top 100 Single–Jahrescharts 1991|publisher=GfK Entertainment|language=de|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> |align="center"|22 |- |Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.top40.nl/bijzondere-lijsten/top-100-jaaroverzichten/1991|title=Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1991|publisher=Dutch Top 40|language=nl|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> |align="center"|79 |- |Netherlands (Single Top 100)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dutchcharts.nl/jaaroverzichten.asp?year=1991&cat=s|title=Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991|publisher=MegaCharts|language=nl|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> |align="center"|53 |- |Sweden (Topplistan)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammotex.se/topp91singlar.htm|title=Årstopplistan 1991, Singlar|publisher=Grammotex|language=sv|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010225020647/http://www.grammotex.se/topp91singlar.htm|archive-date=25 February 2001|access-date=7 April 2025}}</ref> |align="center"|63 |- |Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://swisscharts.com/charts/jahreshitparade/1991|title=Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991|language=de|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> |align="center"|23 |} {{col-end}}
==Certifications== {{Certification Table Top}} {{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1990|certyear=1991|access-date=8 August 2023}} {{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Dr. Alban}}
{{authority control}}
Category:1990 singles Category:Dr. Alban songs Category:Dancehall songs Category:Number-one singles in Sweden Category:Songs written by Denniz Pop Category:Song recordings produced by Denniz Pop Category:Songs written by Dr. Alban Category:1990 songs Category:English-language Swedish songs Category:Songs about cocaine Category:Reggae fusion songs Category:Music videos directed by Paul Boyd