Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)

"Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" is a 1996 song by the American R&B/neo soul singer Maxwell. It is the second single released from his debut album, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite. The track peaked in the top ten on Billboard's R&B songs, reached top forty on the Hot 100 and No. 28 on UK's Singles chart.[1] It debuted on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks in August 1996 at number 11, eventually peaking number eight and spending 29 weeks on the chart.[2] It spent eighteen weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 36 on September 28, 1996.[3] The B side of the single is "Lock You Up N' Love Fa Days," which was previously unreleased and also written and produced by Musze.

"Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)"
Single by Maxwell
from the album Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
B-side"Lock You Up N' Love Fa Days"
ReleasedJuly 30, 1996
Recorded1995
Genre
Length
  • 5:46 (Album Version)
  • 4:15 (Video Edit)
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Maxwell
Maxwell singles chronology
"...Til the Cops Come Knockin'"
(1996)		 "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)"
(1996)		 "Sumthin' Sumthin'"
(1996)
Music video
"Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" on YouTube

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from most music critics. AllMusic editor Stephen Cook picked it as one of the highlights on the album Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite.[4] Daryl Easlea for BBC said that it "was the rightful hit single".[5] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that it "continues to revisit the classic soul ground first mined by legends like Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson ." He added that "cruising at a chilled midtempo pace, Maxwell flexes his voice to falsetto heights while also displaying a rich lower register that's so sexy. Wrap in a rubbery bassline and jiggly funk guitars and you have a tasty single".[6] Monyca D. Coleman from Indianapolis Recorder said the song is "brilliant".[7] Music & Media commented that "it won't take long for the world to discover the Next Big Thing In Soul Music. Maxwell is quickly capturing hearts all over the world. He even got TAFKAP to do the sound of his recent Paris show. He oozes charisma and he has the musical clout to back it up. He glides his way through this mid-tempo smoothie with a delicious deep bass and wah wah guitars."[8] Bob Jones from Muzik called it "the next best thing since soul was invented. Awesome, truly awesome!"[9] New Straits Times commented, "Forget about Viagra, this is the real thing! If ethereal tracks like Ascension, Whenever, Wherever and ...Til The Cops Keep Knockin' don't raise body temperatures, you're in serious "shagadelic" trouble my friend. Lights off, stimulus on!"[10] San Antonio Express-News noted the song as "slinky".[11] Vibe described it as a "smooth" and "slow" track with a "sultry mood".[12]

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by American music video and television director and television producer Liz Friedlander.[13] At the beginning, Maxwell stands alone, dancing in the dark in a room that is a large stage surrounded by white screens. As he begins to sing, the light slowly turns on the singer. He is dressed in a shiny gray outfit and a band is now performing around him on stage. Throughout the video, different people are entering the room through a large oval opening. Towards the end, these people are dancing among the musicians while Maxwell sings until the end of the video.[14]

Track listing
12" single, Europe (1996)
No.TitleLength
1."Ascension No One's Gonna Love You, So Don't Ever Wonder" (The Tribute Uncut) 
2."Ascension No One's Gonna Love You, So Don't Ever Wonder" (The Tribute Unsung) 
3."Ascension Don't Ever Wonder" (Uncut) 
4."Dub Ever Wonder (Ascension)" 
12" single, US (1996)
No.TitleLength
1."Ascension No One's Gonna Love You, So Don't Ever Wonder" (The Tribute Cut) 
2."Ascension No One's Gonna Love You, So Don't Ever Wonder" (Uncut) 
3."Ascension No One's Gonna Love You, So Don't Ever Wonder" (Unsung) 
4."Dub Ever Wonder (Ascension)" 
5."Ascension Don't Ever Wonder" (Uncut) 
6."Lock You Up N' Love Fa Days" 
CD single, Europe (1996)
No.TitleLength
1."Ascension Don't Ever Wonder" (Cut)3:47
2."Ascension No One's Gonna Love You, So Don't Ever Wonder" (The Tribute Uncut)5:48
CD maxi, Europe (1996)
No.TitleLength
1."Ascension Don't Ever Wonder" (No One's Gonna Love You, So Don't Ever Wonder The Tribute Uncut)4:18
2."Ascension Don't Ever Wonder" (Dub Ever Wonder Ascension)3:28
3."Lock You Up N' Love Fa Days"5:26
4."Lock You Up N' Love Fa Days" (Unsung)5:28
CD maxi, UK (1996)
No.TitleLength
1."Ascension Don't Ever Wonder" (Uncut) 
2."Ascension No One's Gonna Love You, So Don't Ever Wonder" (The Tribute Uncut) 
3."Ascension No One's Gonna Love You, So Don't Ever Wonder" (The Tribute Unsung) 
4."Reunion" 
CD single, US (1997)
No.TitleLength
1."Ascension Don't Ever Wonder" (Uncut) 
2."Ascension No One's Gonna Love You, So Don't Ever Wonder" (The Tribute Uncut) 
3."Ascension No One's Gonna Love You, So Don't Ever Wonder" (The Tribute Unsung) 
4."Reunion" 

Charts
Chart (1996) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Charts Company) 28
UK R&B (Official Charts Company)[15] 6
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 36
U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs 8
Chart (1997) Peak
position
Scotland (Official Charts Company)[16] 52
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References
  1. www.Official Charts Company-maxwell Official Charts Companying
  2. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs: Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) - Aug 17 1996. Billboard. Retrieved on 2009-04-04.
  3. The Billboard Hot 100: Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) - Sep 28 1996. Billboard. Retrieved on 2009-04-04.
  4. "Maxwell - Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite". AllMusic. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  5. "Maxwell Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite Review". BBC. 2009. Retrieved 2020-04-08.
  6. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 1996-06-29. p. 80. Retrieved 2020-02-05.
  7. Coleman, Monyca D. (1997-01-18). "PIX". Indianapolis Recorder. Retrieved 2020-04-23.
  8. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1996-08-24. p. 10. Retrieved 2018-02-28.
  9. "Soul" (PDF). Muzik. 1996-09-01. p. 131. Retrieved 2020-04-05.
  10. "Sexual nirvana". New Straits Times. 1999-05-20. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  11. "BEST OF THE BEST ; R&B star; Maxwell: Worth the wait". San Antonio Express-News. 2016-06-15. Retrieved 2020-03-25.
  12. "Maxwell - Urban Hang Suite". Vibe. 1996-08-01. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
  13. "Maxwell: Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) (1996)". IMDb. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  14. "Maxwell - Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)". YouTube. Retrieved 2020-07-23.
  15. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com.
  16. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2018-06-13.
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