“Don’t Turn Around” is a catchy and emotional pop-reggae track by Swedish group Ace of Base, released in March 1994 as the third single from their U.S. debut album, The Sign (or Happy Nation in Europe). The song is a cover of a track originally written by Diane Warren and Albert Hammond, first recorded by Tina Turner in 1986 as a B-side to her single “Typical Male”. Ace of Base’s version became one of the most successful renditions of the song, giving it a fresh, danceable twist. Five years earlier, in 1988, “Don’t Turn Around” was covered by British reggae group, Aswad.
The lyrics of “Don’t Turn Around” convey the heartbreak of a relationship’s end, with the narrator asking their former partner not to look back as they walk away. Ace of Base’s version transforms the original ballad into a vibrant pop-reggae track, blending a tropical beat with the group’s signature melodic sensibility.
The song was a commercial success, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and charting in the top 10 in several countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom. It became one of Ace of Base’s standout hits, further cementing their place as one of the most popular pop acts of the 1990s.