Can't Stop This Thing We Started

"Can't Stop This Thing We Started"
"Can't Stop This Thing We Started"
Single by Bryan Adams
from the album Waking Up the Neighbours
B-side	"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You"; "It's Only Love" (live);
Released	September 2, 1991
Genre	Rock
Length	4:29
Label	A&M
Songwriter(s)	Bryan Adams; Robert Lange;
Producer(s)	Robert Lange; Bryan Adams;
Bryan Adams singles chronology

"Can't Stop This Thing We Started" is a song by Canadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams. The song was written by Adams and Robert John "Mutt" Lange, and was released in September 1991 by A&M Records as the second single from Adams' sixth studio album, Waking Up the Neighbours (1991). The song peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 while topping the Canadian RPM 100 Hit Tracks chart for three non-consecutive weeks. The track received two nominations at the Grammy Awards of 1992 for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance, Solo, winning neither.^[2] It served as the 2009 British Columbia Liberal Party campaign theme song.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1991–1992)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[3]	9
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)^[4]	14
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[5]	4
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[6]	1
Canada Adult Contemporary (RPM)^[7]	13
Denmark (IFPI)^[8]	2
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[9]	9
Finland (Suomen virallinen lista)^[10]	10
France (SNEP)^[11]	10
Germany (GfK)^[12]	14
Ireland (IRMA)^[13]	4
Luxembourg (Radio Luxembourg)^[14]	3
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[15]	5
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[16]	10
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[17]	7
Norway (VG-lista)^[18]	7
Portugal (AFP)^[19]	8
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)^[20]	3
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)^[21]	8
UK Singles (OCC)^[22]	12
US Billboard Hot 100^[23]	2
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)^[24]	40
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)^[25]	2
Zimbabwe (ZIMA)^[26]	4

Year-end charts

Chart (1991)	Position
Australia (ARIA)^[27]	85
Belgium (Ultratop)^[28]	40
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[29]	3
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)^[30]	84
Europe (European Hit Radio)^[31]	64
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[32]	62
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[33]	66
Sweden (Topplistan)^[34]	28
US Billboard Hot 100^[35]	59
US Album Rock Tracks (Billboard)^[36]	38

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)^[37]	Gold	50,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[38]	Gold	500,000^{^}
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United Kingdom	September 2, 1991	7-inch vinyl 12-inch vinyl CD cassette	A&M	^[39]
Australia	September 16, 1991	CD cassette		^[40]
Japan	October 16, 1991	Mini-CD		^[41]

References

^ "Bryan Adams' 'Waking Up the Neighbours' Album Review – by Jacob Wingate-Bishop". Splendid Fred Magazine. June 1, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
^ Rock On The Net: 34th Annual Grammy Awards - 1992
^ "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
^ "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
^ "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1660." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
^ "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1691." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 42. October 19, 1991. p. 39. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 42. October 19, 1991. p. 41. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
^ Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
^ "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started" (in French). Le classement de singles.
^ "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Can't Stop This Thing". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
^ Radio Luxembourg Singles. September 29, 1991.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bryan Adams" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
^ "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
^ "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". Top 40 Singles.
^ "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". VG-lista.
^ "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 2. January 11, 1992. p. 18. Retrieved August 6, 2020.
^ "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". Singles Top 100.
^ "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". Swiss Singles Chart.
^ "Bryan Adams: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
^ "Bryan Adams Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "Bryan Adams Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
^ "Bryan Adams Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.
^ * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000
^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
^ "Jaaroverzichten 1991" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
^ "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. December 21, 1991. Retrieved November 23, 2017 – via Library and Archives Canada.
^ "Eurochart Hot 100 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 21. Retrieved January 17, 2020 – via World Radio History.
^ "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
^ "Single top 100 over 1991" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved April 13, 2010.
^ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
^ "Årstopplistan 1991, Singlar" (in Swedish). Grammotex. Archived from the original on February 25, 2001. Retrieved April 7, 2025.
^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1991". Archived from the original on July 7, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.
^ "The Year in Music 1991: Top Album Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. December 21, 1991. p. 41.
^ "Canadian single certifications – Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". Music Canada.
^ "American single certifications – Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". Recording Industry Association of America.
^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 31, 1991. p. 19.
^ "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 16/09/91: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 86. September 15, 1991. p. 19.
^ "ブライアン・アダムス | 愛は止められない" [Bryan Adams | Love Is Unstoppable] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 19, 2025.

[1] "Bryan Adams' 'Waking Up the Neighbours' Album Review – by Jacob Wingate-Bishop". Splendid Fred Magazine. June 1, 2020. Retrieved April 18, 2024.

[2] Rock On The Net: 34th Annual Grammy Awards - 1992

[sc_Australia_Bryan_Adams-3] "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". ARIA Top 50 Singles.

[sc_Austria_Bryan_Adams-4] "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.

[sc_Flanders_Bryan_Adams-5] "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved April 2, 2020.

[sc_Canadatopsingles_-6] "Top RPM Singles: Issue 1660." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 2, 2020.

[sc_Canadaadultcontemporary_-7] "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 1691." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 2, 2020.

[8] "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 42. October 19, 1991. p. 39. Retrieved March 21, 2018.

[9] "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 42. October 19, 1991. p. 41. Retrieved April 2, 2020.

[10] Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.

[sc_France_Bryan_Adams-11] "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started" (in French). Le classement de singles.

[sc_Germany_Bryan_Adams-12] "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.

[sc_Ireland2_-13] "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Can't Stop This Thing". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 2, 2020.

[14] Radio Luxembourg Singles. September 29, 1991.

[sc_Dutch40_Bryan_Adams-15] "Nederlandse Top 40 – Bryan Adams" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.

[sc_Dutch100_Bryan_Adams-16] "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 2, 2020.

[sc_New_Zealand_Bryan_Adams-17] "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". Top 40 Singles.

[sc_Norway_Bryan_Adams-18] "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". VG-lista.

[19] "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 2. January 11, 1992. p. 18. Retrieved August 6, 2020.

[sc_Sweden_Bryan_Adams-20] "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". Singles Top 100.

[sc_Switzerland_Bryan_Adams-21] "Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". Swiss Singles Chart.

[sc_UKsinglesbyname_Bryan_Adams-22] "Bryan Adams: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 14, 2021.

[sc_Billboardhot100_Bryan_Adams-23] "Bryan Adams Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardadultcontemporary_Bryan_Adams-24] "Bryan Adams Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.

[sc_Billboardmainstreamrock_Bryan_Adams-25] "Bryan Adams Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard.

[26] * Zimbabwe. Kimberley, C. Zimbabwe: singles chart book. Harare: C. Kimberley, 2000

[27] Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.

[28] "Jaaroverzichten 1991" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved April 2, 2020.

[29] "RPM 100 Hit Tracks of 1991". RPM. December 21, 1991. Retrieved November 23, 2017 – via Library and Archives Canada.

[30] "Eurochart Hot 100 1991" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 21. Retrieved January 17, 2020 – via World Radio History.

[31] "EHR Year-End Top 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8, no. 51–52. December 21, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved February 24, 2024.

[32] "Single top 100 over 1991" (PDF) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved April 13, 2010.

[33] "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1991" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved April 2, 2020.

[34] "Årstopplistan 1991, Singlar" (in Swedish). Grammotex. Archived from the original on February 25, 2001. Retrieved April 7, 2025.

[35] "Billboard Top 100 – 1991". Archived from the original on July 7, 2009. Retrieved September 15, 2009.

[36] "The Year in Music 1991: Top Album Rock Tracks". Billboard. Vol. 103, no. 51. December 21, 1991. p. 41.

[CanadaBryan_AdamsCan't_Stop_This_Thing_We_StartedsingleCertRef-37] "Canadian single certifications – Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". Music Canada.

[United_StatesBryan_AdamsCan't_Stop_This_Thing_We_StartedsingleCertRef-38] "American single certifications – Bryan Adams – Can't Stop This Thing We Started". Recording Industry Association of America.

[39] "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. August 31, 1991. p. 19.

[40] "New Release Summary – Product Available from : 16/09/91: Singles". The ARIA Report. No. 86. September 15, 1991. p. 19.

[41] "ブライアン・アダムス | 愛は止められない" [Bryan Adams | Love Is Unstoppable] (in Japanese). Oricon. Retrieved September 19, 2025.

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v t e Bryan Adams
Discography Videography Awards and nominations Backing band
Studio albums	Bryan Adams You Want It You Got It Cuts Like a Knife Reckless Into the Fire Waking Up the Neighbours 18 til I Die On a Day Like Today Room Service 11 Tracks of My Years Get Up Shine a Light Pretty Woman – The Musical So Happy It Hurts Classic / Classic Pt. II Roll with the Punches
Live albums	Live! Live! Live! Unplugged Live at the Budokan Bare Bones Live at Sydney Opera House Wembley 1996 Live
Soundtrack albums	Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron Colour Me Kubrick
Compilation albums	So Far So Good The Best of Me Anthology Ultimate
Singles	"Let Me Take You Dancing" "Straight from the Heart" "Cuts Like a Knife" "This Time" "I'm Ready" "Run to You" "Somebody" "Heaven" "Summer of '69" "One Night Love Affair" "It's Only Love" "Diana" "Christmas Time" "Heat of the Night" "Hearts on Fire" "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" "Can't Stop This Thing We Started" "There Will Never Be Another Tonight" "Thought I'd Died and Gone to Heaven" "Do I Have to Say the Words?" "Please Forgive Me" "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?" "The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You" "Let's Make a Night to Remember" "Star" "18 til I Die" "I'll Always Be Right There" "Back to You" "I'm Ready" "On a Day Like Today" "When You're Gone" "Cloud Number Nine" "The Best of Me" "Inside Out" "Here I Am" "Open Road" "Flying" "Room Service" "This Side of Paradise" "I Thought I'd Seen Everything" "Tonight We Have the Stars" "One World, One Flame" "So Happy It Hurts"
Collaborations	"All for Love" "Rock Steady" "I Finally Found Someone" "Don't Give Up" "Bang the Drum" "Feels Like Home"
Videography	Unplugged Live at Slane Castle Live at the Budokan Live in Lisbon Live at Sydney Opera House Wembley 1996 Live
Tours	Ultimate Tour
Other topics	Pretty Woman: The Musical Queen Elizabeth II domestic rate stamp (Canada) "Young Lust"
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