"I often tell myself, that we could be more than just friends…
I know you think that if we move too soon it would all end…"
Originally featured on the soundtrack for the 1996 motion picture Set It Off, and later released on En Vogue’s 1997 EV3 album, Don’t Let Go introduces us to a woman whom is declaring her passion for a male friend by advising him that she’s looking not only for romance, but also marriage, and an intense physical relationship.
Dawn Robinson’s lead vocals possess a palpable weariness, speaking to the fact that she’s been holding her emotions in check for too long, and she’s finally willing to lay it all on the line in an effort to win the guy’s affections.
However, there is an unusual line in the second verse about wanting to wear this fellow's clothes and pretend she was him… and subsequently lose control. What does this mean? Maybe she is just SO MUCH in love that she wants to experience EVERYTHING about the guy, and the comment is largely harmless. On the other hand, maybe she’s becoming dangerously obsessive, possibly due to sequestering her true emotions for so long. Or is she just into role playing? Maybe she’s a drama major. Ultimately, what goes on behind closed doors is her business.
"I live in misery when you’re not around.
And I won’t be satisfied ‘till we’re taking those vows…"
Peaking at #2, this funk ballad holds the honor as En Vogue’s biggest hit on the pop chart, holding at the runner-up position for 4 weeks.
Now, the girls reached the #2 slot before, courtesy of their debut single "Hold On" from 1990, and also 1992’s classic "My Lovin’ (You're Never Gonna Get It)". However, neither of those singles held the position for as long as Don’t Let Go, making this soundtrack extraction their biggest hit. Although they never earned a #1 pop hit, the ladies enjoyed no less than six chart toppers on the US R&B singles chart (including Don’t Let Go), which probably did much to sooth any disappointment from not reaching the top of the pops.
Just this past July I caught "Don’t Let Go" on the radio for the first time since its original release. Hard to believe that as big as the song was in 1995, that it tends to be overlooked by radio programmers nowadays. At least in my part of the world it’s forgotten by radio, but your mileage may vary.
"There’ll be some lovemaking, heart breaking, soul shaking…"
Now, as I’ve referenced periodically over the years, I didn't really "get" much ‘90s R&B. To my ears, most of the popular acts of the era seemed either annoyingly whiny, or obnoxiously aggressive, which dissuaded me from listening to the genre much further.
However, I always dug En Vogue. Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones possess a vocal maturity and class that I didn’t often hear from of most of their contemporaries. Whether they were belting out the awesome hard rock anti-racism anthem "Free Your Mind", duetting with Salt-N-Pepa on the classic jam "Whatta Man", dabbling in neo-soul or classical based tunes, or covering acts as diverse as The Andrews Sisters, Aretha Franklin, the Jackson 5, and The Beatles, En Vogue’s harmonies were splendid… beautiful… magnificent even. Yes sir, I loves me some En Vogue.
So what’s it gonna be? Are you gonna log off this page and never look back, or are you going to stick around and listen to En Vogue’s classic tune in the window below? We certainly hope you give it a listen and check in with a comment below. The blog deserves that… En Vogue deserves that, and YOU deserve that!
And don’t forget to continue to tune into the Dial for more songs that jog your memory in the weeks to come. On the docket for next time, an early ‘90s alt pop hit from a classic Gen X Cameron Crowe movie!
Kyle’s Radio Dial… the more you listen, the MORE you remember!
"What’s it gonna be? ‘Cause I can’t pretend…
Don’t you wanna be more than friends…?
Hold me tight and don’t let go… don’t let go…
Have the right to lose control... don't let go."
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