Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now by Starship

Album: No Protection (1987)

Charted: 1 1

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Songfacts®:

"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" was the third #1 single for Starship (after "We Built This City" and "Sara"), but the only members of the group who actually participated in the recording of the song were vocalist Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas, and guitarist Craig Chaquico. Producer Narada Michael Walden preferred to use his veteran session players to round out the instrumental backing, and he programmed the LinnDrum himself.

Walden was one of the hottest producers of the time, coming off hits for Whitney Houston "How Will I Know" and Aretha Franklin "Freeway of Love." He told Songfacts: "I always dug that '60s thing with Grace Slick. She's a very outspoken women. We're all from the Bay Area, so it's like family. I actually played the drums when I laid the track out. I got Grace to come in, flipped it around so instead of the low part, she wound up singing the highest part. I gave her the highest part and she just killed it. That's when I realized it could be a smash. And when I got happy in the studio, she got happy."
Starship were originally called Jefferson Airplane, then Jefferson Starship, and then Starship. "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" was the biggest hit for any version of the group, spending two weeks at #1 in the US and four weeks at #1 in the UK.
The song is a duet between Grace Slick and Mickey Thomas where they play the parts of lovers who will not be divided by all the naysayers. With a big chorus and a timeless love story, it was a surefire hit, crafted by a team of proven winners.

It was written by Diane Warren and Albert Hammond. For Warren, it was her first #1, but she had already written hits for Laura Branigan ("Solitaire") and DeBarge ("Rhythm Of The Night"). Hammond had established himself with "When I Need You" for Leo Sayer and his solo hit "It Never Rains In Southern California." The producer Narada Michael Walden and the group Starship were very reliable hitmakers, and the song got lots of promotion from being featured in the movie Mannequin, which stars Andrew McCarthy (an original Brat Pack member) and Kim Cattrall (who played Samantha Jones in Sex And The City).
Michael Gottleib, who directed the movie Mannequin, commissioned songwriters Albert Hammond and Diane Warren to write this song for the wedding scene of the film and sent them a script for the movie. Hammond drew inspiration from his personal life. He explained in a 1992 BBC Radio interview, "I had lived with my girlfriend Claudia for seven years. I had finally gotten divorced from my other marriage and was thinking of writing a song for me to sing and make a demo for our wedding, so I combined the two. What we thought of, what I said to Diane was, 'it's almost like they've stopped me from marrying this woman for seven years, and they haven't succeeded. They're not gonna stop me doing it.' That's when suddenly Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now came up."
The song returned to the UK singles chart in September 2013 after featuring in TalkTalk TV's advertising campaign. The commercial featured an animated astronaut and ballerina settling down for a date night watching TalkTalk television.
Grace Slick pulled a fast one on Chick-fil-A when she allowed the conservative fast food company to use the song in a commercial that aired during the 2017 Grammy Awards. Angry over anti-LBGTQ statements made by the eatery's CEO, Slick accepted the offer, then promptly donated the profits to Lambda Legal, a civil rights organization that focuses on the LBGTQ community. As for the spot, it combined cows and virtual reality.
The song earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song but lost to "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from Dirty Dancing. This was the first nomination for the song's co-writer, Diane Warren, but far from her last. Warren garnered an astounding 15 more nominations in that category by 2024, when her song "The Journey," recorded by H.E.R. and used in the film The Six Triple Eight, made the list. What might be even more surprising it that none of those songs won the award. Most years, the movies her songs were used in didn't have the gravitas of other contenders. For example, in 1997 her song "How Do I Live" (by LeAnn Rimes) was sunk by "My Heart Will Go On" from Titanic.

Comments: 16

Truthseeker from OrUNTRUE: "Starship were originally called Jefferson Airplane, then Jefferson Starship, and then Starship." Jefferson Starship was a NEW and distinct band, formed in 1974, two years after Jefferson Airplane finally ended (it had been dying on the vine before that). After Paul Kantner and Grace Slick's solo projects hadn't panned out, a new band was formed with some of the same members who had been in the Airplane (but not all, namely the lead guitarist/songwriter, Craig Chaquico and bass player/keyboardist/songwriter Pete Sears). Jefferson Starship got its name from a 1970 solo album of Paul Kantner's from when he was still in the Airplane. If this is supposed to be about "facts," you ought to get that straight and not just repeat rumour and marketing spin.
Dogtired from UsaWho were the two blondes in the music video? Not sure if they were part of the band as backing vocals and playing the tambourines.
Joe from Grand Haven, MiAccording to Songfacts, "Grace Slick pulled a fast one on Chick-fil-A" by donating money to "Lambda Legal". Remaining unclear is how Slick concluded that her donation to a third party could possibly affect Chick-Fil-A in the slightest. If she imagined that she could change their mind she deluded herself.
M.f. Elliott from West Haven, Ct 06516Nothings Gonna Stop Us now is an endearing song in Mannequin! Starship has always released amazing music. I write novels and I would be honored to be given written permission to utilize five lines from the song Nothings Gonna Stop Us Now in a new book of mine. I appreciate all feedback. Sincerely,
M.F. Elliott, Author of PASSAGES THROUGH TIME
James from LeicesterMusicFan99 - people will always associate this song as the main tune to Mannequin - fans of the film will recognise both songs. But for me - This will always be the 'love theme' to the film.
Jg from NcHey Music Fan 99, you don't get to choose what song will be the theme song of a movie. Just read everyone else's comments and you can clearly see what this song meant to others. Millions of others would agree that this song is it. Many wouldn't be able to even remember the other song. This song doesn't start playing during the credits. It actually starts at the ending of the mannequin shedding scene and continues into the short wedding scene and then into the credits. Big difference because everyone would definitely be seated. I guess you stood up and walked out by this point. Don't exaggerate to make your point. It makes you look stupid.
Esskayess from Dallas, TxGood song used in a godawful flick.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyWas nominated for Best Song at the 1987 Academy Awards {Lost to "I've Had the Time of My Life" from the movie "Dirty Dancing"}!!!
Music Fan99 from Houston, TxThis was the song that played during the ending credits of the movie. This was by no means the "theme song"... a movie's theme never gets played for the very 1st time while people are standing up and leaving the theater while the end credits roll. "In My Wildest Dreams" by Belinda Carlisle was the main title theme with the animation etc... which thematically was repeated many times during thr film. Get a f--king clue before publishing wrong information about both movies and their songs.
Linc from Beaumont, TxThe Mannequin Movie was soooo awful! I thought it was dumb when it came out and I was only 7!
Helen from Logan City, AustraliaThis is one of the best motivation songs around and this song will be played at a fundraiser for cancer along with many other motivational songs for the night. This is to enable cancer sufferers to forget about their cancers for one night and enjoy themselves. Helen QLD
Nicola from London, EnglandThis song is great to sing to it, and a very powerful ballad. This song is romantic, and a great way to dance to.
Aureleo from Ponda- Goa, India"Nothing's gonna Stop.." is probably one of the best Rock Ballads I've ever heard.
Shay from Key West, FlThe Starting Line did a cover of this song...it's probably way more cool
Nige from Southampton, EnglandOne of the most requested songs at Wedding receptions as the bride and groom leave
Sarah from Ottawa, CanadaHehehe....I used to love this song when I was 6 years old because I think that's the first time I watched Mannequin. It is a great song.

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