Peak
2
Weeks
35
Score
7,875
Chart Year
1997
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".[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
The all-female R&B group En Vogue originally recorded this song for the soundtrack of the crime movie Set It Off. The song became their biggest international hit peaking in the top ten in many countries, topping the Billboard R&B chart for one week and the Norwegian singles chart for six weeks. The song was the last single by En Vogue to feature former band member Dawn Robinson, who is the lead vocalist on the track. She had decided to leave the band to pursue a solo career. The success of the single persuaded Elektra mogul Sylvia Rhone to place En Vogue back in the studio to record their EV3 album for release in 1997. However, Robinson's abrupt departure forced the remaining trio to re-record several of Dawn's original lead vocals for the record. Lil John Roberts (not the "Get Low" guy) played drums on this track. Roberts has also played on albums by Idina Menzel, George Duke and George Benson, and he toured with Janet Jackson. The song won the 1997 Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B Group Single. This returned to the UK singles chart in 2011 after the song was covered by X-Factor contestants Little Mix on the show that was broadcast November 19th. The songwriters credited on this track are Marqueze Etheridge, Andrea Martin, Ivan Matias, and the production team Organized Noize, which consists of Rico Wade, Ray Murray and Sleepy Brown (the guy who sings on "The Way You Move"). Etheridge and the Noize team also wrote the TLC hit "Waterfalls."
What's it gonna be 'Cause I can't pretend Don't you want to be more than friends Hold me tight and don't let go Don't let go Have the right to loose control Don't let go I often tell myself That we could be more than just friends I know you think that if we move to soon It would all end I live in misery when you're not around And I won't be satisfied 'till we're taking those vows There'll be some lovemaking, heartbreaking, soul shaking Oh, lovemaking, heartbreaking, soul shaking What's it gonna be 'Cause I can't pretend Don't you want to be more than friends Hold me tight and don't let go Don't let go Have the right to loose control Don't let go I often fantasize The stars above are watching you They know my heart and speak to yours Like only lovers do If I could wear your clothes I'd pretend I was you and lose control There'll be some lovemaking, heartbreaking, soul shaking Oh lovemaking, heartbreaking, soul shaking, oh yeah What's it gonna be 'Cause I can't pretend Don't you want to be more than friends Hold me tight and don't let go Don't let go Have the right to loose control Don't let go Running in and out my life has got me so confused You gotta make the sacrifice Somebody's got to choose We can make it if we try for the sake of you and I Together we can make it right What's it gonna be 'Cause I can't pretend Don't you want to be more than friends Hold me tight and don't let go Don't let go Have the right to loose control Don't let go
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nov 9, 1996 | 25 | 101 |
| 2 | Nov 16, 1996 | 17 | 109 |
| 3 | Nov 23, 1996 | 11 | 115 |
| 4 | Nov 30, 1996 | 7 | 119 |
| 5 | Dec 7, 1996 | 4 | 122 |
| 6 | Dec 14, 1996 | 4 | 122 |
| 7 | Dec 21, 1996 | 4 | 122 |
| 8 | Dec 28, 1996 | 3 | 123 |
| 9 | Jan 4, 1997 | 3 | 123 |
| 10 | Jan 11, 1997 | 3 | 123 |
| 11 | Jan 18, 1997 | 2 | 124 |
| 12 | Jan 25, 1997 | 2 | 124 |
| 13 | Feb 1, 1997 | 2 | 124 |
| 14 | Feb 8, 1997 | 2 | 124 |
| 15 | Feb 15, 1997 | 3 | 123 |
| 16 | Feb 22, 1997 | 5 | 121 |
| 17 | Mar 1, 1997 | 6 | 120 |
| 18 | Mar 8, 1997 | 7 | 119 |
| 19 | Mar 15, 1997 | 8 | 118 |
| 20 | Mar 22, 1997 | 8 | 118 |