You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)

In Jamaica in 1967, Penn recorded a version of American R&B singer Willie Cobbs's song "You Don't Love Me", which "she first sang for Studio One.[1] At least one writer claims Cobb had based his song on R&B singer Bo Diddley's 1955 recording "She's Fine, She's Mine".[2] Penn's cover of Cobb's song was recorded at Kingston's Studio One by influential producer Coxsone Dodd.[3][4] Dodd, who had lived for a while in the United States, imported American rhythm and blues records to play for his sound system entertainment businesses.[5][6] Penn's song used lyrical and melodic elements of Cobbs' song, but was performed in the emerging rocksteady style – a precursor to reggae.[1][3][4] It starts out with a drum roll, "then a chugging bass line kicks in and Penn's dreamy voice wails":[4]

No no no, you don't love me and I know now (2×)
'Cause you left me baby, and I got no place to go now ...

Dawn Penn's "You Don't Love Me" was a major hit in Jamaica.[3] Based on this success she recorded some other songs, such as "Blue Yes Blue" and a reggae cover version of Scottish singer Lulu's "To Sir with Love".[3] Despite her initial success, Penn decided to take a break from singing, which lasted 17 years.[3] In the late 1980s, after working for banks, accountant agencies, and airlines, she returned to Jamaica in the hopes of reviving her career.[3] In the early 1990s, she re-recorded a version of "You Don't Love Me" with the new title "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)".[3] The noted Jamaican production team Steely & Clevie produced it[3][7] and it featured an updated dancehall arrangement.[3] Songwriting is credited to Penn, Cobbs, and Diddley.[8]

AllMusic editor Alex Henderson noted that Penn's voice "has held up well over the years, and she's in generally good form".[9] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that Penn's "sultry vocal presence on this sailing, instantly memorable dancehall jam belies the pensive nature of the song's story of lost love. An easy-paced groove chugs along with a hip-hop-ish vibe that could prove accessible to crossover and urban formats."[10] Dave Sholin from Gavin Report stated, "Sure, to catch listeners' attention is this unique production from this Jamaican singing sensation."[11] Music & Media commented, "Nutty dreadlocks where art thou? Is real reggae still being made, with all those pale-faced pretenders around? Yes here, with all the dub production gadgets and all."[12] John Kilgo from The Network Forty commented that "it's hard to believe that a woman in her early 50's can spark such a rasta-rhythm tune. Boasting unique vocals with a grooving beat, "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" is sexy and infectious."[13] Charles Aaron from Spin said that producers Steely & Clevie's "quirked-up remake of the 1967 reggae classic made my speakers rumble and swoon when a radio DJ finally wised up. Penn's mesmerizing voice plea is so precise and self-possessed that you figure she'll be fine whether her baby asks her to get down on her knees and pray or not. Inspiration for Luscious Jackson's masterfully strokin' "Daughters of the Kaos."[14]

In 2003, Q Magazine ranked "You Don't Love Me" at number 477 in their list of the "1001 Best Songs Ever".[15] Blender put it at 186th place on their list of "500 Greatest Songs Since You Were Born" in 2005. They wrote: "...dancehall producers Steely & Clevie polished her signature tune into her global comeback hit, wrapping Penn's heartbroken desperation in the sound of a lazy summer's afternoon. Emotional masochism never sounded so sweet."[16]

In the United States, "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart; it remained on the chart for 12 weeks.[17] It also peaked at number 42 on the Hot R&B Singles chart,[18] number 41 on the Hot R&B Airplay chart,[19] and number 45 on the Hot 100 Airplay chart.[20] In the Flanders region of Belgium, "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" debuted at number 44 on the chart week of 23 July 1994, and peaked at number eight in its eighth week; it remained on the chart for a total of 13 weeks.[21] The song placed within the top 20 in Austria and Switzerland, peaking at numbers 13 and 17, respectively.[22][23] "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" also reached number 25 in New Zealand and number 38 in the Netherlands,[24][25] and peaked at number 41 in both France and Germany.[26][27] In the United Kingdom, the song debuted at number nine on the UK Singles Chart during the week of 11 June 1994, later peaking at number three and remaining in the position for two consecutive weeks.[28]

• CD maxi single[29]

1. "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" (Extended Mix) – 4:35
2. "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" (Instrumental Dub) – 3:02
3. "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" (Original Radio Edit) – 3:19
4. "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" (Remix) – 5:13
5. "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" (Remix Instrumental) – 6:07

• Digital download[30]

1. "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" (Album version) – 4:37

Rihanna (pictured) recorded a cover of Penn's version of "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)".

In 1994, the French rapper/singer Melaaz released a cover version titled "Non, Non, Non" with French lyrics.[43]

Reggae group Aswad sampled "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)" for their song "You're No Good", taken from their album Rise and Shine (1994).[44] "You're No Good" peaked at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart on 2 February 1995.[45]

Female rapper Eve released a cover version with brothers Damian Marley and Stephen Marley on her 2001 album Scorpion. Maurice Bottomley for PopMatters reviewed the song, writing "Stephen Marley leads Eve through a note-for-note re-creation of the Dawn Penn (‘90s version) rocksteady classic “No, No, No”. She sings it well enough, but it adds nothing to the original (literally)."[46]

British music DJ's Hexstatic included a mix of the song on "Mr. Scruff's Ninja Tune Megamix" (Hexstatic Edit) by DJ Food on their 2002 DJ mix album Listen & Learn.[47]

Bajan recording artist Rihanna recorded a cover version of the song as a duet with dancehall recording artist Vybz Kartel, for her debut studio album Music of the Sun (2005).[8] It was produced by Evan Rogers, Carl Sturken and D. "Supa Dups" Chin-quee.[8] Jason Birchmeier, writing for AllMusic, described Rihanna's cover as "catchy",[48] while Chantal Jenoure, writing for The Jamaica Observer, labelled it as "hilarious".[49]

English recording artist Lily Allen sampled the song for her "Shame for You", included on her debut studio album, Alright, Still (2006). Lucy Davies for the BBC reviewed the song, writing "Many of her reggae-fused songs stick in your head whilst you desperately suss out why they're familiar, but she rips off her influences with a comic acknowledgement, like 'Shame for You', which blatantly lifts the chorus hook from 'You Don't Love Me (No No No)' by Dawn Penn".[50]

In 2007, American rapper Ghostface Killah covered the song on his compilation album, Hidden Darts: Special Edition, which consists of his rare album B-sides, unreleased songs and mixtape tracks.[51]

American recording artist Beyoncé performed the song as part of a medley with her own hit "Baby Boy" on her I Am... World Tour concert tour (2009–10). After being lifted out of a 20-foot train by a harness and over the audience, she was lowered to the B-stage, where she finished "Baby Boy" and continued with Penn's "You Don't Love Me (No, No, No)".[52][53] It was later included on the CD/DVD release of the tour.[54] She performed a similar medley when she headlined at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Music Festival.