Don't Let Go (Love)

"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]

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 the group's performance "was gutsy and full of knowing gravitas."[9] Editor John Mulvey stated that the single "retains a frankly terrifying power".[10] People Magazine wrote that it is "still smoldering". They also noted the song's "tough sound", and picked it as the higlight of EV3.[11] 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."[12] Laura Jamison 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]

"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 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 number two on the U.S. Mainstream Top 40 behind No Doubt's "Don't Speak" and ranks at number 43 on its all-time chart.[16] The song was a number-one R&B song for one week becoming En Vogue's sixth and final number-one R&B Hit. It reached number five 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 number 23 on the UK chart and also returned to the Irish charts at number 50. In 1997, "Don't Let Go (Love)" 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 certified platinum by the RIAA.[17][18][19]

In October 2011, NME placed the song at number 127 on its list "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".[20]

In 2018, Stacker ranked it at number 43 in their list of "Best pop songs of the last 25 years".[21]

In 2019, Elle listed "Don't Let Go" at number 32 in their ranking of "52 Best 1990s Pop Songs"[22]

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".[23]

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.[23]

• Australian singer Greg Gould released an acoustic version on his Don't Let Go EP which reached Top 10 in Australia on February 10, 2017, and the accompanying music video went viral, surpassing 20 million views. In June 2017, he released a duet version of the song with Maxine Jones.
• 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.
• 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 number eight on the UK Singles Chart in August 2017.

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1997 (U.S.)
• List of number-one hits in Norway

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics