Don’t Say You Love Me

Zoo Freaks, get ready to groove to "Don't Say You Love Me" by Billy Squier from his 1989 album Hear & Now, spinning right here on THE ZOO! This track marked a gritty return to Squier’s hard rock roots after the synth-heavy Signs of Life and polished Enough Is Enough. It climbed to #4 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Tracks and #58 on the Billboard Hot 100, fueled by a raw energy that resonated with fans. The song’s MTV video brought Squier back into heavy rotation, helping Hear & Now achieve gold status. A cool tidbit: the B-side, "Too Much," was recorded during the album sessions but didn’t make the final cut, making it a rare find on the original US cassette single and Australian 7" vinyl. Fans on Reddit still rave about its rocking vibe, with one user calling it a “return to form” after the infamous "Rock Me Tonite" video stumble.

Another story comes from a 1989 performance on The Arsenio Hall Show, where Squier delivered a blistering rendition of "Don't Say You Love Me". Clips shared on Billy Squier Fan’s YouTube channel capture the electric atmosphere, with Squier’s vocals and guitar riffs firing up the crowd. In a 2008 interview with billysquier.com, Squier hinted at his love for performing tracks like this live, saying he wanted to create “a long show” for fans, digging deep into his catalog beyond the hits. The song’s lyrics, like “You can’t get up – you can’t get down / You can’t sit still – you never settle down,” reflect a restless spirit, which Squier himself connected to in a BrainyQuote interview, noting his methodical approach to music: “I just care so much about these albums that I get crazed sometimes when I’m making them.”

Billy Squier’s journey kicked off in Wellesley, Massachusetts, where he was born on May 12, 1950. As a kid, he dabbled in piano lessons at age eight, bribed by his grandfather to stick with it, but his heart wasn’t in it. By 11, he was bored and quit, only to find his true calling at 14 when a classmate sold him a guitar for $90. Inspired by John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Squier formed his first band, the Reltneys, and was hooked. He told BrainyQuote, “I always loved music… my life was music, and I was always consumed by it.” After high school, he briefly attended Berklee College of Music but dropped out when the rigid structure clashed with his free-spirited style, famously telling the department head he’d play his way. In the 1970s, Squier fronted bands like the Sidewinders and Piper, the latter opening for KISS in 1977, before going solo with 1980’s The Tale of the Tape.

His big break came with 1981’s Don’t Say No, produced by Reinhold Mack, which went quadruple platinum and spawned hits like "The Stroke" and "Lonely Is the Night". Squier’s blend of hard rock and pop, paired with his charismatic stage presence, made him an MTV staple. Despite a career dip after the 1984 "Rock Me Tonite" video, he bounced back with Hear & Now and continued performing, even joining Ringo Starr’s All-Starr Band in 2006. Fans can catch up with him at his official website, Facebook, Instagram, and X. For more fan love, check out the Billy Squier Fan Club on Facebook or the Billy Squier Fan YouTube channel for rare live clips and community vibes.