"Follow the Rules'" is a song recorded by Italian electronic music group

Livin' Joy Livin' Joy are an Italian Eurodance group who released various successful hits during the mid-1990s, including " Dreamer", " Don't Stop Movin'" and "Follow the Rules". The group consists of singer Tameko Star, and Italian brothers Paolo and Gia ...

featuring American singer Tameko Star (a.k.a. Doris Diggs). It was released in 1996 by MCA as the third single from the group's only album, '' Don't Stop Movin'' (1996). The song, written by Star with producer brothers Visnadi, was the follow-up to " Don't Stop Movin'", which had been a number-one hit in Italy. The new single peaked at number three on the

Italian singles chart The Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana (FIMI) is an umbrella organization that keeps track of virtually all aspects of the music recording industry in Italy. It was established in 1992, when major corporate labels left the previously exist ...

, number nine in the UK and number twelve in Finland. It can be described as an anthemic dance track based around the message of following your dreams and making them come true. In style it was similar to its predecessor, but with a heavier piano house/organ sound.

Critical reception

A reviewer from ''

Music Week ''Music Week'' is a trade publication for the UK record industry distributed via a website and a monthly print magazine. It is published by Future. History Founded in 1959 as '' Record Retailer'', it relaunched on 18 March 1972 as ''Music W ...

'' rated the song four out of five, describing it as "another storming anthem", that "will be another biggie and rouse interest in the

album An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...

". In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue noted that the song "has some delicious Italia

House A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

piano over a great

dance Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

beat", complimenting it as "a positive uplifting track". Damien Mendis from the ''

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'' Dance Update" praised it, giving the song five out of five. He added that "now Tameko Star, Visnadi and DJ Vioni are set to repeat that success Don't_Stop_Movin'".html" ;"title="f " Don't Stop Movin'"">f " Don't Stop Movin'"with another smash — and a possible number one? All their trademark elements are present to ensure maximum familiarity — in no less than nine mixes too. if you fancy a Classic Def moment then check

Satoshi Tomiie is a Japanese DJ, record producer and musician. Biography A lifelong student of jazz and classical piano, Satoshi had an influential impact from his very first record. His debut single ‘Tears’, which he co-produced in 1989 with Chicago's � ...

's mixes. They stay very close to the original with enough juice to play in slightly less commercial clubs. Pure unashamed perfect

pop dance Dance-pop is a popular music subgenre that originated in the late 1970s to early 1980s. It is generally uptempo music intended for nightclubs with the intention of being danceable but also suitable for contemporary hit radio. Developing from a ...

. Love it."

Chart performance

Proving to be a moderate success for Livin' Joy across Europe, the single was a top 10 hit in Italy, where it hit number three, and in the UK. On the

UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...

, it managed to stay in the sales charts for five weeks after entering and peaking at number nine in mid-October 1996. Additionally, "Follow the Rules" reached number twelve in Finland, number sixteen in Scotland, number 28 in Ireland and number 29 in Sweden. On the

Eurochart Hot 100 The European Hot 100 Singles was compiled by '' Billboard'' and ''Music & Media'' magazine from March 1984 until December 2010. The chart was based on national singles sales charts in 17 European countries: Austria, Belgium (two charts separately ...

, it peaked at number 27 in November 1996. Outside Europe, the single was successful in Israel, peaking at number eight and it also charted in Australia, reaching number 73.

Airplay

In the UK, "Follow the Rules" received more than 500 plays a week on mainstream radio at its peak and around 45 regional radio stations were giving it support. After the success of " Dreamer" and " Don't Stop Movin'", radio stations were keen to play the track. On

Capital Radio Capital London is a radio station owned and operated by the Global media company as part of its national Capital FM Network. As Capital Radio it was launched in the London area in 1973 as one of Britain's first two commercial radio stations. I ...

, it was the most popular of the three songs, while Atlantic 252 couldn't get enough of it, spinning it 54 times in the week it dropped out of the

Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...

Dance Dance is a performing art form consisting of sequences of movement, either improvised or purposefully selected. This movement has aesthetic and often symbolic value. Dance can be categorized and described by its choreography, by its repertoir ...

station

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was playing it 50 times a week at the end of October and start of November 1996, while Radio One gave it between 15-18 plays per week, balancing out a guitar-led playlist. Lead vocalist Tameko Star also benefited from television exposure and her performance on the ''

Smash Hits ''Smash Hits'' was a British music magazine aimed at young adults, originally published by EMAP. It ran from 1978 to 2006, and, after initially appearing monthly, was issued fortnightly during most of that time. The name survived as a brand fo ...

'' Poll Winners' Party helped bring the act out to a wider audience.

Track listing

* 12" single, UK #"Follow the Rules" (Original Mix) — 3:51 #"Follow the Rules" (Extended Under Mix) — 5:47 #"Follow the Rules" (Do the Right Mix) — 5:33 #"Follow the Rules" (

's Transatlantic Club Mix) — 9:36 #"Follow the Rules" (Light Piano Mix) — 3:15 * CD single, UK #"Follow the Rules" (Radio Mix) — 3:06 #"Follow the Rules" (Original Mix) — 3:51 #"Follow the Rules" (Transatlantic Club Mix) — 9:36 #"Follow the Rules" (Extended Under Mix) — 5:47 #"Follow the Rules" (Do the Right Mix) — 5:33 #"Follow the Rules" (Light Piano Mix) — 3:15 * CD maxi, Italy #"Follow the Rules" (Radio Mix) — 3:12 #"Follow the Rules" (Original Mix) — 3:50 #"Follow the Rules" (Do the Right Mix) — 5:33 #"Follow the Rules" (Light Piano Mix) — 3:07

Charts

References

{{authority control 1996 singles 1996 songs Livin' Joy songs MCA Records singles English-language Italian songs