Don't Let Go (Love)

"Don't Let Go (Love)" is a song by the American R&B group En Vogue. It was written by Ivan Matias, Andrea Martin, Marqueze Etheridge and produced by Organized Noize for the Set It Off soundtrack (1996), also appearing on the group's third album, EV3 (1997). The song was the band's last single to feature former band member Dawn Robinson and was En Vogue's biggest international single, making it to number 10 on several countries. According to Billboard, the single ranked as the 83rd most successful single of the 1990s. The song compelled Elektra mogul Sylvia Rhone to place En Vogue back in the studio to record their EV3 for release in 1997. However, Dawn Robinson felt a solo career was not feasible while she was still a member of En Vogue, while the other group members plus the record producers and label executives were focused on the new En Vogue album. Forced to choose, Robinson decided to leave En Vogue for a solo career with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records. The turn of events following the success of "Don't Let Go (Love)" was the beginning of a long and tumultuous era for En Vogue as member changes became quite frequent. In 2011, NME ranked the song at number 127 in their list of the "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years".[1]

"Don't Let Go (Love)"
Single by En Vogue
from the album EV3 and Set It Off soundtrack
ReleasedOctober 22, 1996
RecordedAugust 1996
Genre
Length4:52
LabelEast West
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
En Vogue singles chronology
"Whatta Man"
(1993)		 "Don't Let Go (Love)"
(1996)		 "Whatever"
(1997)
Music video
"Don't Let Go (Love)" on YouTube

Background

"Don't Let Go (Love)" was written by Andrea Martin, Ivan Matias, Marqueze Ethridge, and Organized Noize members Sleepy Brown, Rico Wade, and Ray Murray, while production was by Organized Noize.[2] Vocal production was supervised by Matias.[2] Dawn Robinson sings the entire lead while Maxine Jones performs the bridge. Cindy Herron performs a verse to the bridge. Terry Ellis sings outro lyrics in the music video version and "Fulton Yard Mix". Martin Terry and Tommy Martin played the guitars on the song, while drums were played by Lil' John.[2] Marvin "Chanz" Parkman played the grand piano.[2]

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine described the song as "yearning".[3] Larry Flick from Billboard called it a "bluesy interlude" and commented further that the harmonies are "instantly recognizable, flexing sweetly over the track's live funk beat and snaky guitar licks. If you're looking for a duplication of past hits, forget it. This is a far more musically mature effort that will appeal to both street and sophisticated tastes."[4] J.D. Considine from Entertainment Weekly wrote in his review of EV3, "No surprise, then, that although the women get top billing, the arrangements are the real stars. "Don’t Let Go (Love)" is the most obvious example, since the interplay between lead and background vocals is as disciplined as it is dramatic."[5] Another editor, David Grad noted its "combination of sensual harmonies and sultry attitude" and added it as a "provocative little offering".[6] Dave Ferman from Fort Worth Star-Telegram said the song is "hauntingly lush" and that it "finds the singers' voices ebbing and flowing like the ocean on a threatening day."[7] Gerald Martinez from New Straits Times called it "dramatic", noting that "this song has all the punch, power and stunning voices in harmony that one has come to expect from En Vogue."[8] NME said En Vogue's performance "was gutsy and full of knowing gravitas."[9] People wrote that the single is "still smoldering". They also noted the song's "tough sound" and picked it as the higlight of the EV3 album.[10] Elysa Gardner from Rolling Stone described it as a "even more aggressive tune" and added that the "slow-burning" track "promote romantic and carnal abandon, advising lovers to proceed without caution."[11] Laura Jamison from Salon Magazine noted it as a "tempestuous" and "sexy" single.[12] Ann Powers from Spin called it "a cry for a lover's loyalty that En Vogue convert into a nonnegotiable demand". She complimented the song as their "highest achievement" on EV3.[13]

Commercial performance

"Don't Let Go (Love)" became the third En Vogue track to reach at #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 where it was the group's fifth and final Top 10 hit. It was blocked from the top spot by Toni Braxton's "Un-Break My Heart". It also peaked at #2 on the U.S. Mainstream Top 40 behind No Doubt's "Don't Speak" and ranks at #43 on its all-time chart.[14] The song was a #1 R&B song for one week becoming En Vogue's sixth and final #1 R&B Hit. It reached #5 in the UK in early 1997 and spent 13 weeks in the UK top 40, eight of them in the top 10. The single re-entered the UK chart at number 23 in 2011 after the girl group Little Mix performed the song on the eighth series of the British television singing competition, The X Factor, on November 19, 2011. The En Vogue track reached #23 on the UK chart and also returned to the Irish charts at #50. In 1997, "Don't Let Go (Love)" went to #1 on the Norwegian top 20 singles chart (VG-Lista Topp 20) and stayed there for six consecutive weeks. In total, it was in the top 20 for 16 weeks.

The single sold 1.3 million copies in the United States and was certified platinum by the RIAA.[15][16][17]

Legacy

In October 2011, NME placed the song at number 127 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[18]

In 2018, Stacker ranked it at number 43 in their list of "Best pop songs of the last 25 years".[19]

In 2019, Elle listed "Don't Let Go" at number 32 in their ranking of "52 Best 1990s Pop Songs"[20]

Music video
Unlike the film Set It Off, which was set in Los Angeles, California, the music video for "Don't Let Go (Love)" was set in New York City.

The music video for "Don't Let Go (Love)" was directed by Matthew Rolston under the Alan Smithee pseudonym. It was En Vogue's third collaboration with Rolston following "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" and "Whatta Man".[21]

The music video shows En Vogue singing in front of an audience are dressed in black outfits while some clips of Set if Off are inserted. A second music video was released using the same footage of all four band members singing in front of an audience, but the scenes from Set It Off are replaced with images that followed a new storyline. In this version, Mekhi Phifer plays a man who has been secretly cheating all four band members. The four women find out about each other and confront Phifer's character through their performance at the party.[21]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[71] Gold 35,000^
Belgium (BEA)[72] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[73] Gold 250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[74] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[75] Gold 5,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[76] Platinum  
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[77] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[78] Platinum 600,000
United States (RIAA)[17] Platinum 1,300,000[15][16]

*sales figures based on certification alone
^shipments figures based on certification alone
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

Cover versions
  • The American rock band Deepfield covered this song on their first album, Archetypes and Repetition.
  • The British girl group Sugababes performed this song during their Change Tour in 2008.
  • The song was sampled in the 2009 recording, also titled "Don't Let Go (Love)", by the British hip-hop artist Professor Green.
  • The Korean girl group Bella covered this song in the Korean language as their first single in 2011.
  • On November 19, 2011, girl group contestants Little Mix performed the song on the eighth series of the British television talent contest The X Factor, leading to En Vogue's version re-entering the UK chart at number 23. In the finals, Little Mix performed the song for a second time and they won the show on December 11. The song is a bonus track on the group's winner's single, "Cannonball". Following the group's win and their single, the song re-entered the charts again a few weeks later at number 27. On January 25, 2012, they performed the song at The National Television Awards.
  • On June 15, 2013, the contestant Cleo Higgins performed the song on the second season of British television talent contest The Voice.
  • The Australian singer Delta Goodrem performed the song on her 2016 Wings of the Wild Tour.
  • The Australian singer Greg Gould released an acoustic version of the song on his EP Don't Let Go (Love) on February 10, 2017. In June 2017, he released a duet version of the song, with newly recorded vocals from the original En Vogue member Maxine Jones.
  • The British house music producer James Hype released a cover of the song titled "More Than Friends", with vocals by the south London artist Kelli-Leigh. "More Than Friends" peaked #8 on the UK Singles Chart in August 2017.
  • On the March 20, 2018, episode of reality television singing competition show The Voice, Team Keys contestants Jordyn Simone and Kelsea Johnson performed an arrangement of the song in a Battle round.
  • Bastille did a cover version with Craig David, Kianja and Swarmz for their mixtape Other People's Heartache, Pt. 4.
  • Singer Whitney Reign performed a shortened version of the song during her challenge against Ali Caldwell during the second season comeback episode of The Four: Battle for Stardom.

Awards and nominations
YearAwardResult
1997Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or GroupNominated
1997Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B, Rap or Soul Single by Group, Band or DuoWon
1997Billboard Music Award for Top Soundtrack SingleNominated
gollark: Finally, swapped my white zyu for... a pink zyu.
gollark: Fish can catch a gold lunar herald... during the indigo times.
gollark: Excited for differently coloured lunar heralds for my slowly expanding collection in a few hours.
gollark: 🇿 🇾 🇺
gollark: Also, all hail our copper and Xenowyrm co-overlords.

See also

Sources
  1. "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  2. EV3 (Media notes). En Vogue. Elektra Records. 1997.CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. "En Vogue - The Very Best of En Vogue". AllMusic. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  4. "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. 19 October 1996. p. 62. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  5. "EV3". Entertainment Weekly. 20 June 1997. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  6. "Don't Let Go (Love)". Entertainment Weekly. 13 December 1996. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
  7. "MUSIC NOTES: EN VOGUE "EV3"". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 20 July 1997. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  8. "En Vogue still outstanding". New Straits Times. 20 July 1997. p. 17. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
  9. "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME. 6 October 2011. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  10. "Picks and Pans Review: Stars". People. 14 October 1991. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  11. "En Vogue - EV3". Rolling Stone. 24 June 1997. Archived from the original on 19 October 2008. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  12. Jamison, Laura (18 July 1997). "EN VOGUE - EV3". Salon Magazine. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  13. "SPINS". Spin. 1 August 1997. p. 114. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  14. "Greatest of All Time Pop Songs". Billboard.
  15. "Best-Selling Records of 1996". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 109 (3): 61. January 18, 1997. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  16. "Best-Selling Records of 1997". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 110 (5): 76. January 31, 1998. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  17. "American single certifications – En Vogue – Don't Let Go". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Single, then click SEARCH. 
  18. "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME. 6 October 2011.
  19. Osborn, Jacob (29 August 2018). "Best pop songs of the last 25 years". Stacker. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  20. Tang, Estelle (1 August 2019). "52 Best 1990s Pop Songs". Elle. Retrieved 22 April 2020.
  21. "En Vogue – Don't Let Go Interview". YouTube. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
  22. "Australian-charts.com – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  23. "Austriancharts.at – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  24. "Ultratop.be – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  25. "Ultratop.be – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  26. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9879." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  27. "Top 10 Denmark" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  28. "Music & Media: Eurochart Hot 100" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  29. "En Vogue: Don't Let Go (Love)" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  30. "Lescharts.com – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  31. "Offiziellecharts.de – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  32. "Íslenski Listinn NR. 208 Vikuna 13.2. '97 - 19.2. '97" (PDF). Dagblaðið Vísir. February 14, 1997. p. 16. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  33. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Don't Let Go (Love)". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved February 25, 2018.
  34. "Nederlandse Top 40 – En Vogue" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
  35. "Dutchcharts.nl – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  36. "Charts.nz – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  37. "Norwegiancharts.com – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)". VG-lista. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  38. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  39. "Swedishcharts.com – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)". Singles Top 100. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  40. "Swisscharts.com – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  41. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  42. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  43. "Official R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  44. "En Vogue Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  45. "En Vogue Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  46. "En Vogue Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  47. "En Vogue Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  48. "En Vogue Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  49. "En Vogue Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2018.
  50. "Irish-charts.com – Discography En Vogue". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved January 16, 2020.
  51. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  52. "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Singles 1997". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  53. "Jaaroverzichten 1997" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  54. "Rapports Annuel 1997" (in French). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  55. "1997 Year-End Sales Charts: Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  56. "Tops de L'année | Top Singles 1997" (in French). SNEP. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  57. "Top 100 Single – Jahrescharts 1997" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
  58. "Árslistinn 1997 – Íslenski Listinn – 100 Vinsælustu Lögin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). January 2, 1998. p. 25. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  59. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1997". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 6, 2020.
  60. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1997" (in Dutch). Dutch Charts. GfK. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  61. "Romanian Top 100 Singles Airplay – Top of the Year 1997" (in Romanian). Romanian Top 100. Archived from the original on January 22, 2005. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  62. "Årslista Singlar, 1997" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  63. "Swiss Year-End Charts 1997" (in German). Swiss Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 3, 2018.
  64. "Top 100 Singles 1997". Music Week. January 17, 1998. p. 27.
  65. "Billboard Top 100 – 1997". Archived from the original on June 11, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  66. http://www.soulsystem.it/yend.asp?date=31/12/1997
  67. "Most Played Mainstream Top 40 Songs Of 1997" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 5 no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 38. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  68. "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs Of 1997" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 5 no. 52. December 26, 1997. p. 42. Retrieved March 30, 2020.
  69. Geoff Mayfield (December 25, 1999). 1999 The Year in Music Totally '90s: Diary of a Decade - The listing of Top Pop Albums of the '90s & Hot 100 Singles of the '90s. Billboard. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  70. "Billboard Hot 100 60th Anniversary Interactive Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  71. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1997 Singles". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  72. "Ultratop − Goud en Platina – singles 1997". Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved September 28, 2011.
  73. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (En Vogue; 'Don't Let Go')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  74. "Dutch single certifications – En Vogue – Don't Let Go" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved November 19, 2019. Enter Don't Let Go in the "Artiest of titel" box.
  75. "New Zealand single certifications – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  76. "IFPI Norsk platebransje Trofeer 1993–2011" (in Norwegian). IFPI Norway. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  77. "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards (En Vogue; 'Don't Let Go')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  78. "British single certifications – En Vogue – Don't Let Go (Love)". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.