Dawn Penn’s ‘No, No, No’ In New Netflix Hit ‘Kaos’

Dawn Penn’s You Don’t Love Me (No, No, No) is featured in Netflix’s latest hit, Kaos.

The dark comedy-drama, which dropped on August 29, 2024, has already set the internet ablaze with its audacious reimagining of Greek mythology. But it’s the inclusion of Penn’s 1993 hit, alongside several other musical gems, that genuinely elevates pivotal scenes in the series.

As Dionysus (played by Nabhaan Rizwan) struts into a shop on a quest for Zeus’ (played by Jeff Goldblum) watch, Penn’s sultry vocals provide the perfect backdrop for his divine swagger. The song’s infectious rhythm underscores the tension as Dionysus silences the shopkeeper with nothing more than a godly glare.

Jeff Goldblum as Zeus in ‘Kaos’ CREDIT: Netflix

Kaos doesn’t stop there, peppering its soundtrack with other classics, including Dire Straits’ Money for Nothing, ABBA’s Gimme Gimme Gimme, Mel Tormé’s Games People Play, Eric B & Rakim’s Know The Ledge and David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold the World.

No, No, No has previously lent its hypnotic groove to films like After the Sunset (2004) and Party Girl (1995), as well as the hit TV series Entourage (2009).

Penn’s journey with this song is almost as epic as the myths KAOS reimagines. The track, which she said was inspired by “the painful aftermath of love” and “a broken heart,” was recorded first for Studio One in 1967 and underwent multiple iterations before achieving its final, legendary form.

Penn’s song used elements of American R&B singer Willie Cobbs’s song You Don’t Love Me (1960), which itself is based on R&B singer Bo Diddley’s She’s Fine, She’s Mine (1955).  Both Cobbs and Diddley are credited as songwriters on Penn’s No, No, No.

It was re-recorded in 1968 after producer Clement ‘Sir Coxsone’ Dodd pointed out an error in the original recording.

She re-recorded the song for King Jammys in 1990, then in 1992 for Trojan, and in 1993 for Steely & Clevie when Dodd asked the production duo “to do an album project for Heartbeat, celebrating Studio One’s 35 years in the music industry”.

The Steely & Clevie version became a global phenomenon, reaching No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and earning a gold certification in the UK (400,000 units).

According to WhoSampled.com, it has been sampled in 30 songs and covered in eight. This includes tracks by Rihanna, Eve, Ghostface Killah, Usher, Alicia Keys, and rapper Offset, who used it in his song “Worth It” with Don Toliver.

In December 2021, Mary J. Blige used the song’s intro in the intro for her song Amazing, which featured DJ Khaled.  It was also sampled on Hell No Reprise, which features American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino, Shenseea, and rapper Missy Elliot for The Color Purple movie soundtrack.