Don't Let Go (Love)

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"Don't Let Go (Love)"
Set It Off soundtrack
ReleasedOctober 22, 1996 (1996-10-22)
GenreR&B
Length4:52
LabelEastWest
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Organized Noize
  • Ivan Matias
En Vogue singles chronology
"
Whatta Man
"
(1993) 		"Don't Let Go (Love)"
(1996) 		"Whatever"
(1997)
Music video
"Don't Let Go (Love)" on
YouTube

"Don't Let Go (Love)" is a song by American R&B group

Set It Off soundtrack (1996), also appearing on the group's third album, EV3 (1997). The song was the group’s last single and music video to feature member Dawn Robinson and was En Vogue's biggest international single, making it to the top 10 in several countries. According to Billboard
, the single ranked as the 83rd most successful single of the 1990s.

Background

"Don't Let Go (Love)" was written by

grand piano.[1]

The song compelled Elektra mogul Sylvia Rhone to place En Vogue back in the studio to record their EV3 project for release in 1997. While the other group members plus the record producers and label executives were focused on the new En Vogue album, Dawn Robinson wanted to pursue a solo career. Forced to choose between the group or her solo project, Robinson decided to leave En Vogue for a recording deal with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records. The turn of events following the success of the song was the beginning of a long and tumultuous era for En Vogue as member changes became quite frequent.

Critical reception

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."[4] Another editor, David Grad noted its "combination of sensual harmonies and sultry attitude", and deemed it as a "provocative little offering".[5] 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."[6] A reviewer from Music Week rated it four out of five, stating that "the girls let rip with a swoonsome, powerful single" and a "positive taster" for a spring album, that "should please fans and ensure they attract a few more."[7]

Gerald Martinez from

Salon Magazine noted it as a "tempestuous" and "sexy" single.[13] 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.[14] Ian Hyland from Sunday Mirror commented, "The hit singles Whatever and Don't Let Go may well be brilliant but they only add more spice to a mighty fine collection."[15]

Commercial performance

"Don't Let Go (Love)" became the third En Vogue track to reach at number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 where it was the group's sixth and final Top 10 hit. It also peaked at number two on the U.S.

The X Factor, on November 19, 2011. NME ranked the song number 127 in their list of the "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years" in 2011.[9]
The En Vogue hit reached number 23 on the UK chart and in Ireland, it also returned to the charts at number 50. In 1997, the song went to number one 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
RIAA.[17][18][19]

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

Whatta Man".[20]

The video shows En Vogue singing in front of an audience are dressed in black outfits while some clips of Set It 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.[20]

Legacy

In October 2011, NME placed the song at number 127 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[21] In 2018, Stacker ranked it number 43 in their list of "Best pop songs of the last 25 years".[22] In 2019, Elle listed "Don't Let Go" at number 32 in their ranking of "52 Best 1990s Pop Songs"[23]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Result
1997
Grammy Award
for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group		 Nominated
Soul Train Lady of Soul Award
for Best R&B, Rap or Soul Single by Group, Band or Duo		 Won
Billboard Music Award
for Top Soundtrack Single		 Nominated

Charts

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[76] Gold 35,000^
Belgium (BEA)[77] Gold 25,000*
Germany (BVMI)[78] Gold 250,000^
Netherlands (NVPI)[79] Gold 50,000^
New Zealand (RMNZ)[80] Gold 5,000*
Norway (IFPI Norway)[81] Platinum  
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[82] Gold 25,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[83] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[19] Platinum 1,300,000[17][18]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref(s).
United States September 24, 1996
EastWest [84][85]
October 22, 1996
  • 12-inch vinyl
  • CD
  • cassette
 [citation needed]
United Kingdom December 30, 1996 [86]
Japan January 15, 1998 CD [87]

Other versions

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d EV3 (Media notes). En Vogue. Elektra Records. 1997.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "En Vogue - The Very Best of En Vogue". AllMusic. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  3. ^ Flick, Larry (October 19, 1996). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 62. Retrieved February 5, 2020.
  4. Considine, J.D. (June 20, 1997). "EV3". Entertainment Weekly
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  5. ^ Grad, David (December 13, 1996). "Don't Let Go (Love)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 27, 2020.
  6. ^ Ferman, Dave (July 20, 1997). "MUSIC NOTES: EN VOGUE "EV3"". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  7. ^ "Reviews: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. December 21, 1996. p. 12. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
  8. ^ Martinez, Gerald (July 20, 1997). "En Vogue still outstanding". New Straits Times. p. 17. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Schiller, Rebecca (October 6, 2011). "150 Best Tracks Of The Past 15 Years". NME. Retrieved April 7, 2020.
  10. ^ Mulvey, John. "EN VOGUE – EV3". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved November 24, 2020.
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  12. ^ Gardner, Elysa (June 24, 1997). "En Vogue - EV3". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on October 19, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
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  14. ^ Powers, Ann (August 1, 1997). "SPINS". Spin. p. 114. Retrieved March 17, 2020.
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