I Don't Wanna Fight

This article is about the song by Tina Turner. For the song by Alabama Shakes, see Don't Wanna Fight. For the Westlife song, see Westlife (album).

"I Don't Wanna Fight" is a song by American singer and actress Tina Turner. The track was written by British singer Lulu, her brother Billy Lawrie, and Steve DuBerry. The song was first offered to singer Sade, who sent it on to Turner. Turner recorded it in 1993 as part of the soundtrack for her autobiographical film, What's Love Got to Do with It. Lulu's version appears as a B-side to her 1993 single "How 'Bout Us" as well as on the 2003 album The Greatest Hits.

"I Don't Wanna Fight"
Single by Tina Turner
from the album What's Love Got to Do with It
B-side	"Tina's Wish" (1993 version)
Released	April 23, 1993
Studio	Image Recording
Genre	Pop
Length	6:06 (album version) 4:26 (7-inch edit)
Label	Parlophone
Songwriter(s)	Lulu Billy Lawrie Steve DuBerry
Producer(s)	Chris Lord-Alge Roger Davies
Tina Turner singles chronology
"(Simply) The Best" (1992) "I Don't Wanna Fight" (1993) "Disco Inferno" (1993)
Music video
"I Don't Wanna Fight" on YouTube

Featuring a wistful but resolute vocal set against a synthesizer line, the track was a substantial hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching No. 9 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart. In Canada, it peaked at No. 1 for three weeks, and in Iceland, it reached No. 3. The song was nominated at the 36th Grammy Awards for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and The Grammy Award for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television. It was also awarded one of BMI's Pop Songs Awards in 1994, honoring the songwriters, composers and music publishers of the song.^[1] It was Turner's last single to chart in the top ten of the Billboard Hot 100. Its accompanying music video received heavy rotation on MTV Europe.^[2]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from music critics. Larry Flick from Billboard complimented Turner's "distinctive and worldly vocal delivery". He also noted that she makes her Virgin debut "with a shuffling pop/dance ditty" that stylistically lands somewhere between her comeback hit, "Let's Stay Together", and Amy Grant's "Baby Baby".^[3] The Daily Vault called "I Don't Wanna Fight" a "cinematic epic", stating that it "shows Turner capable of riding today's wave effortlessly without losing herself in it".^[4] Alan Jones from Music Week viewed the song as "a soulful shuffle" that "benefits from rich arrangements and one of Turner's more restrained, though distinctive, vocals."^[5] A reviewer from People Magazine described "I Don't Wanna Fight" as an "ardent ballad" that proved that Turner had "mellowed".^[6] Sam Wood of Philadelphia Inquirer called the song "overproduced".^[7] James Hunter from Vibe stated that "when Turner tears up her voice at the top of the bridge, it's as involving as soulful pop music gets." He concluded, "This is one of the best records of her career".^[8]

Track listing and formats

• European CD, cassette and 7" / UK cassette and 7" / Australian cassette single

1. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Single Edit) – 4:25
2. "The Best" (Single Edit) – 4:08

• European CD and 12" / Australian CD single

1. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Single Edit) – 4:25
2. "Tina's Wish" – 3:08
3. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Urban Mix) – 5:17
4. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Holiday Inn Lounge Mix) – 5:43

• UK CD single #1"

1. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Single Edit) – 4:25
2. "Tina's Wish" (Single Edit) – 3:08
3. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Urban Mix) – 5:17

• UK CD single #2"

1. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Single Edit) – 4:25
2. "The Best" (Single Edit) – 4:08
3. "I Don't Wanna Lose You" – 4:20
4. "What's Love Got to Do with It" – 3:48

• US 7" and cassette / Japanese CD single

1. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Single Edit) – 4:25
2. "Tina's Wish" – 3:08

• US 7" promotional CD single

1. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Chris Lord-Alge Urban Overnight Mix) – 4:19
2. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Jerry Moran Dance Mix) – 4:39

• US 7" promotional CD single

1. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Single Edit) – 4:06
2. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Urban Radio) – 4:03
3. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Urban Mix) – 5:15
4. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Holiday Inn Lounge Mix) – 5:43
5. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Club House Mix) – 5:26
6. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (Urban Radio Instrumental) – 4:02
7. "I Don't Wanna Fight" (LP Version) – 6:05

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "I Don't Wanna Fight" Chart (1993) Peak position Australia (ARIA)^[9] 39 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[10] 29 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[11] 8 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[12] 1 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[13] 1 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)^[14] 11 France (SNEP)^[15] 49 Germany (Official German Charts)^[16] 35 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[17] 3 Ireland (IRMA)^[18] 14 Italy (Musica e dischi)^[19] 7 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[20] 18 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[21] 14 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[22] 7 Norway (VG-lista)^[23] 8 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[24] 39 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[25] 11 UK Singles (OCC)^[26] 7 US Billboard Hot 100^[27] 9 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[28] 1 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)^[29] 51 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)^[30] 6 US Rhythmic (Billboard)^[31] 36

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "I Don't Wanna Fight" Chart (1993) Position Belgium (Ultratop)^[32] 71 Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[33] 5 Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[34] 1 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[35] 92 Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)^[36] 20 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[37] 96 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[38] 40 UK Singles (OCC)^[39] 84 US Billboard Hot 100^[40] 42 US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[40] 2

References

1. "BMI Salutes the PRS Writers and Publishers of BMI's Most Performed Works in the United States of 1993" (PDF). Music & Media. November 5, 1994. p. 2. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
2. "Station Reports > MTV Europe/London" (PDF). Music & Media. July 31, 1993. p. 17. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
3. Flick, Larry (May 8, 1993). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 62. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
4. "What's Love Got To Do With It – Tina Turner". The Daily Vault. July 23, 1998. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
5. Jones, Alan (May 15, 1993). "Market Preview: Mainstream - Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 10. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
6. "Picks and Pans Review: What's Love Got to Do with It". People (magazine). October 11, 1993. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
7. Wood, Sam (July 13, 1993). "Musical Mementos of the Movies". Philadelphia Inquirer.
8. Hunter, James (September 1, 1993). "Single File". Vibe (magazine). Retrieved March 2, 2020.
9. "Tina Turner – I Don't Wanna Fight". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
10. "Tina Turner – I Don't Wanna Fight" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
11. "Tina Turner – I Don't Wanna Fight" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
12. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2186." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
13. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 2182." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
14. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. June 19, 1993. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
15. "Tina Turner – I Don't Wanna Fight" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
16. "Tina Turner – I Don't Wanna Fight" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
17. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (17.06.1993 – 23.06.1993)" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir – Tónlist. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
18. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Don't Wanna Fight". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
19. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 10, no. 34. August 21, 1993. p. 24. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
20. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 27, 1993" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
21. "Tina Turner – I Don't Wanna Fight" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
22. "Tina Turner – I Don't Wanna Fight". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
23. "Tina Turner – I Don't Wanna Fight". VG-lista. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
24. "Tina Turner – I Don't Wanna Fight". Singles Top 100. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
25. "Tina Turner – I Don't Wanna Fight". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
26. "Tina Turner: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
27. "Tina Turner Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
28. "Tina Turner Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2013.
29. "Tina Turner Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
30. "Tina Turner Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
31. "Tina Turner Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
32. "Jaaroverzichten 1993" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
33. "The RPM Top 100 Hit Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. December 18, 1993. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
34. "The RPM Top 100 A\C Tracks of 1993". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. December 18, 1993. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
35. "1993 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 18, 1993. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
36. "Árslistinn 1993". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 4, 1994. p. 16. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
37. "Jaaroverzichten - Single 1993" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
38. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1993" (in German). Retrieved November 24, 2019.
39. "Top 100 Singles 1993". Music Week. January 15, 1994. p. 24.
40. "The Year in Music: 1993" (PDF). Billboard. December 25, 1993. Retrieved October 6, 2015.