"Don't Wanna Fall in Love" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Jane Child. Released in January 1990 as the second single from her first album, Jane Child, the single went to number 2 for three consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 from April 14 to April 28, 1990. In addition, a new jack swing remix of the song was produced by Teddy Riley and reached number 6 on the Billboard Hot Black Singles chart and number 11 on the Billboard Dance Club Play chart. When released around Europe, it also became successful albeit more modestly. In the UK, the single hit number 22 on the charts. In April 1990, the single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for shipping 500,000 units.

Writing and composition

Child wrote the song in Los Angeles, after moving from New York City. During the session she was playing bass with one hand and pads with the other while singing. While the groove was coming along, lyrics were following closely. She wrote the entire song in that session, except for the second verse later. The intention of the lyrics were not written as a happy love song, reflecting more so on the pleasure vs pain principle. On the finished track, Child uses multi-tracking to sing all the parts, and to play every instrument (keyboards, synthesizer, synth bass, electric bass, drums, percussion, drum programming) except guitar, which is played by James Harrah.

Music video

The music video was directed by cinematographer Derek M. Allen and shot in New York City at the request of Child, due to having written the song while living there. Shot in both black-and-white and color, the video shows Child walking through downtown Manhattan at night, alternating with scenes of the artist at work, singing into a studio microphone, laying down tracks on a Fairlight and mixing the results on a multitrack board. In several scenes, Child wears a Toronto Maple Leafs jersey, paying homage to her hometown.

Track listings

All songs were written by Jane Child.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history