Don't Say Goodbye (Paulina Rubio song)

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"Don't Say Goodbye" was written by Cheryl Yie and Joshua 'Gen' Rubin, and produced by Gen Rubin, who also collaborated to the Spanish-language version "Si Tú Te Vas". Both recordings were included for Paulina Rubio's sixth studio album Border Girl (2002). The song was recorded at The Engine Studios in Los Angeles, California and at South Beach Studios in Miami Beach, Florida, and was mixed by Bob Rosa (Soundtrack Studio, New York City).

The dance-pop{{cite web|title=Border Girl by Paulina Rubio|url=https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/39501-paulina-rubio-border-girl.php|access-date=9 March 2021}} and eurobeat{{cite web |title=ドント・セイ・グッドバイ (Universal Music Japan) |url=https://www.universal-music.co.jp/paulina-rubio/products/uicu-5005/ |publisher=Universal Music Japan |access-date=23 May 2023 |language=ja}} song is backed with breathy and sensually raspy but too wispy vocals by Rubio.{{cite magazine |date=22 June 2002 |url= http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/75409/border-girl |access-date=19 June 2015 |publisher=Nielsen Company |magazine=Billboard |author=LC |title= Billboard Review: Border Girl}} According to MTV News, "Don't Say Goodbye" blends buoyant techno beats, sweeping keyboards, jangly guitars and stratospheric vocals. The track is about a former boyfriend of Rubio's who "got goin' just when the goin' was gettin' good".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1453550/paulina-rubio-hoping-to-cross-over-border-like-shakira/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150808030242/http://www.mtv.com/news/1453550/paulina-rubio-hoping-to-cross-over-border-like-shakira/|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 August 2015|title=Paulina Rubio Hoping to Cross over Border Like Shakira|website=MTV }} Rubio later explained that the lyrics of the song "remind me a lot to women that we have no problem saying when you really want someone not to leave".{{cite web |title=La Rubio no se deja |url=http://wvw.nacion.com/viva/2002/abril/29/espec4.html |website=nacion.com |publisher=Nación Viva |access-date=18 September 2020 }} Terra noted that even though it's a breakup song, it makes you want to dance to it.{{cite web |title=5 canciones de Paulina Rubio en inglés que te harán querer bailar hasta el amanecer |url=https://www.terra.com/entretenimiento/2023/1/12/canciones-de-paulina-rubio-en-ingles-que-te-haran-querer-bailar-hasta-el-amanecer-5091.html |access-date=3 May 2023 |language=es}}

"Don't Say Goodbye" received positive reviews from music critics. Chuck Taylor from Billboard called the song "a pure dance beat, sans any hint of Latin instrumental pepperling".{{cite web |title=Billboard (April 27, 2002) |date = 27 April 2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BAEAAAAMBAJ&q=paulina+rubio+don%27t+say+goodbye&pg=PA33 |publisher=Billboard |access-date=16 June 2021 }} In her review, Mike Trias from Radio & Records considered it one of the highlights of the album "with a sexy, get -up- and -dance beat supporting a catchy hook."{{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-RandR/2000s/2002/RR-2002-04-26.pdf|title=Going for Adds|magazine=Radio & Records|issue=1450|page=34|date=26 April 2002|access-date=4 May 2021}}

Sterling Clover from Stylus Magazine named it in her list Pop Playground Top 20 Favorite Singles of 2002.{{cite web|url=http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/pop_playground/top-20-favorite-singles-of-2002.htm|title=Pop Playground – Top 20 Favorite Singles of 2002|work=Stylus Magazine|last=Clover|first=Sterling|date=30 December 2002|access-date=27 August 2021|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206155517/http://stylusmagazine.com/articles/pop_playground/top-20-favorite-singles-of-2002.htm|archive-date=6 February 2010}}

The music video for "Don't Say Goodbye" was directed by American duo The Brothers Strause and filmed on 1 April 2002, at the Universal City, California. It was inspired by the Japanese animated post-apocalyptic cyberpunk action film Akira (1988).{{cite web |title=Paulina Rubio Video Essentials |url=https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/paulina-rubio-video-essentials/pl.bdf0e3d5f98e4eae8c9ca535002c670e |website=music.apple.com |publisher=Apple |access-date=16 June 2021}} It had a total budget of $1 million ($1.4 million in 2020 dollars), which made it the most expensive music video in history at the time by a Mexican artist, and currently one of the most expensive of all time.{{cite web |title=Los cantantes latinos que lograron éxito en inglés |date=17 March 2016 |url=https://www.milenio.com/espectaculos/los-cantantes-latinos-que-lograron-exito-en-ingles |publisher=Milenio |access-date=16 June 2021 |language=Spanish}} The concept of the video was to portray Rubio as a glamorous girl and cosmopolita that conquers her love interest while traveling on a motorcycle through the avenues of a city very similar to Neo-Tokyo, the ficticial city of Akira. About the concept she said:

We did part of it like a Japanese cartoon, and for the dancing, we feel the rhythm of the song because the beat is almost like a heartbeat. The story is about this love that you feel with someone and he just takes one step back. I was riding the motorcycle with him, and at the end, well, he makes his choice. I was riding the bike 'til the end of love. And I was driving, of course. I was in charge.

The music video for "Don't Say Goodbye" and "Si Tú Te Vas" features a futuristic combination of animation, live action, and dancing shots that loosely convey the narrative of the song. The video opens with Rubio riding her red Akira-style motorcycle on the streets of a futuristic city. She stops in the middle of an avenue and begins to vocalize the song, while wearing a red, long-sleeved zip-up crop top and leather pants. Purple-colored clouds cover the sky, while Tokyo-inspired skyline with many skyscrapers lights up the scene behind. She later travels on the above-ground subway to get to the club. At the club, she performs a choreography with her dancers on a multi-colored floor, wearing a black lace tube top with a long-sleeved glove on her arm and white denim shorts. Rubio enjoys the club atmosphere, and stops to talk to her love interest, and she leads him onto the dance floor. The video progresses inside a golden space ship-style room with white flashing lights. Rubio struts wearing a gold lame mini-skirt and orange halter top, while in another scene at the same place, silhouettes of a couple share a passionate dance. There is also a scene which shows Rubio on a red couch, dressed in a revealing translucent bandeau top, wrapping herself in a white fur and lying down. The next shot shows Rubio and her love interest riding on the motorcycle. She's the driver and is "in charge", while he holds onto her, swaying with her when she makes a turn: the final shot shows Rubio moving her hands in front of the pink PAULINA sign.

The music video has received comparisons to Kylie Minogue's works, in the sense that they both incorporate futuristic elements and glamour. According to writer Pam Avoledo from her blog I Want My Pop Culture, who observed the similarities, explained "she seems to be modelling herself off of Kylie Minogue rather than Madonna", who supposedly is her biggest influence. Avoledo also observed "as a way to crossover into the US, it's a complicated one [the success] considering the video is more European than American."{{cite web |title=Video Review: Paulina Rubio "Don't Say Goodbye" |date=28 July 2016 |url=https://iwantmypopculture.com/2016/07/28/in-the-future-the-clothes-will-be-barely-there-in-paulina-rubios-dont-say-goodbye/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030131943/https://iwantmypopculture.com/2016/07/28/in-the-future-the-clothes-will-be-barely-there-in-paulina-rubios-dont-say-goodbye/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=30 October 2020 |access-date=12 August 2021}} The music video was nominated in the category International Viewer's Choice: Latin America (North) at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards; and for Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards Latinoamérica 2002.

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US CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Say Goodbye|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=US CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records|id=UNIR 20743-2}}

1. "Don't Say Goodbye" (English) [Radio Edit] – 3:38
2. "Si Tú Te Vas" (Spanish) [Radio Edit] – 3:38

US 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Say Goodbye|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=US 12-inch single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records|id=440 015 860-1}}

1. "Don't Say Goodbye" (LP Version) – 4:54
2. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Radio Edit) – 3:38
3. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Instrumental) – 4:52
4. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Acapella) – 4:28

US 12-inch single (Remixes){{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Say Goodbye (Remixes)|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=US Remixes 12-inch single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records|id=440 019 123-1}}

1. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Sharp Boys European Xpress Vox Mix) – 7:26
2. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Mike Rizzo Global Club Mix) – 8:10
3. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Flatline Mix) – 8:58
4. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Sharp Boys European Xpress Dub) – 8:03

Australian CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Say Goodbye|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=Australian CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Music|id=015 935 2}}

1. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Radio Edit) – 3:40
2. "Si Tú Te Vas" (Radio Edit) – 3:40
3. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Spanish Fly Radio Mix) – 3:56
4. "Fire (Sexy Dance)" – 3:30

Italian 12-inch single{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Say Goodbye|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=Italian CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records|id=MCST 40291}}

1. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Flatline Mix) – 8:58
2. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Spanish Fly Club Mix) – 6:41
3. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Radio Edit) – 3:38

Japanese maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Say Goodbye|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=Japanese maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Music|id=UICU-5005}}

1. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Radio Edit) – 3:38
2. "Si Tú Te Vas" (Radio Edit) – 3:38
3. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Spanish Fly Club Mix) – 6:38
4. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Flatline Remix) – 8:58

UK maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Say Goodbye|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=UK CD maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Music|id=019348-2}}

1. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Radio Edit) – 3:38
2. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Spanish Fly Radio Mix) – 3:54
3. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Flatline Mix) – 8:58
4. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Video)

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European and UK CD single ("Si Tú Te Vas"){{cite AV media notes|title=Si Tú Te Vas|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=European and UK CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records|id=4733}}

1. "Si Tú Te Vas" (Radio Edit) – 3:38

European CD single ("Si Tú Te Vas"){{cite AV media notes|title=Si Tú Te Vas|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records|id=019 183-2}}

1. "Si Tú Te Vas" (Radio Edit) – 3:38
2. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Radio Edi) – 3:38

European maxi-CD single{{cite AV media notes|title=Don't Say Goodbye|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=European maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records|id=IRPRCDP2}}

1. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Spanish Fly Club Mix) – 6:41
2. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Album Version) – 4:51
3. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Sharp Boys European Xpress Vox Mix) – 7:27
4. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Spanish Fly Radio Mix) – 3:56
5. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Flatline Remix) – 8:58
6. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Sharp Boys European Xpress Dub) – 8:03
7. "Si Tú Te Vas" – 4:50

Spanish CD single ("Si Tú Te Vas"/"Don't Say Goodbye"){{cite AV media notes|title=Si Tú Te Vas/Don't Say Goodbye|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=European CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Music|id=8431588024621}}

1. "Si Tú Te Vas" (Radio Edit) – 3:38
2. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Radio Edi) – 3:38

Mexican CD single ("Si Tú Te Vas"/"Don't Say Goodbye"){{cite AV media notes|title=Si Tú Te Vas/Don't Say Goodbye|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=Mexican CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records|id=CDP 00980-2}}

1. "Si Tú Te Vas" – 3:38
2. "Don't Say Goodbye" – 3:38

Mexican maxi-CD single ("Si Tú Te Vas"/"Don't Say Goodbye"){{cite AV media notes|title=Si Tú Te Vas/Don't Say Goodbye|others=Paulina Rubio|date=2002|type=Mexican maxi-CD single liner notes|publisher=Universal Records|id=015 860-2}}

1. "Si Tú Te Vas" – 3:38
2. "Don't Say Goodbye" – 3:38
3. "Si Tú Te Vas" (Spanish Fly Radio Mix) – 3:58
4. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Sharp Boys European Xpress Vox Mix) – 7:27
5. "Don't Say Goodbye" (Flatline Remix) – 8:58
6. "Si Tú Te Vas" (Spanish Fly Club Mix) – 6:43

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Credits are taken from the CD single liner notes.

• Lead vocals – Paulina Rubio
• Background vocals – Jennifer Karr
• Writing – Cheryl Yie
• Spanish adaptation – Luis Gómez Escolar)
• Writing, producing, recording, programming, keyboards & acoustic guitar – Gen Rubin
• Mixing – Bob Rosa at Soundtrack Studios, New York, NY
• Electric guitar – Rodrigo Medeiros
• Photography – Cesar Urrutia

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{{Certification Table Top|caption=Sales for "Si Tú Te Vas"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|nocert=true|salesamount=15,077|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.infodisc.fr/Ventes_Sing_10Ans.php|title=Les Singles les plus Vendus de la Décennie (2000-2009)|publisher=Infodisc|access-date=March 18, 2022|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610031320/http://www.infodisc.fr/Ventes_Sing_10Ans.php |archive-date=June 10, 2012|language=fr}}}}

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• List of most expensive music videos
• List of number-one singles of 2002 (Spain)

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Category:Songs about parting

Category:2002 singles

Category:2002 songs

Category:English-language Mexican songs

Category:Paulina Rubio songs

Category:Universal Records singles