Never Let You Go (Third Eye Blind song)

"Never Let You Go" is a song by American rock band Third Eye Blind. It was released in January 2000 as the second single from their second album, Blue. The song peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spent three weeks at number one in Canada. It also reached number 26 in Iceland, number 15 in New Zealand, and number six on the UK Rock Chart.

"Never Let You Go"
Single by Third Eye Blind
from the album Blue
ReleasedJanuary 2000 (2000-01)
Recorded1999
GenrePower pop[1]
Length3:57
LabelElektra
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Stephan Jenkins
  • The Mud Sisters
  • Arion Salazar
  • Third Eye Blind
Third Eye Blind singles chronology
"Anything"
(1999)		 "Never Let You Go"
(2000)		 "10 Days Late"
(2000)
Music video
"Never Let You Go" on YouTube

Content

Jenkins commented in the liner notes of the band's compilation album, A Collection, that it was written about a muse of his at the time (allegedly Charlize Theron), and it was written to "freak her out" when she heard it on the radio.

The writing credits of the song are a subject of debate among frontman Stephan Jenkins and former bassist Arion Salazar. Despite Jenkins being credited as the sole writer of the song, Salazar claims to have written the bass melodies, bridge, and chord progressions.[2] In an interview with RIFF Magazine, Salazar claimed that Jenkins approached him, stating, "I really want to get the credit on [Never Let You Go]. Maybe if I give you a little more percentage [of the song's profit] I could just leave my name on it?".[2]

Composition

According to the sheet music published at Musicnotes.com by Alfred Publishing, the song is written in the key of E major and is set in time signature of common time with a tempo of 112 beats per minute.[3] Jenkin's vocal range spans two octaves, from C♯4 to G♯6.[3]

Critical reception

Billboard music reviewer and editor Chuck Taylor said that the song "packs in the hooks; a compelling opening guitar riff, a celebratory party ambience, an end-of-song spoken part that kids everywhere will be reciting ad-nauseam, and lead singer/writer/co-producer Stephan Jenkins' dead-on vocals, delivered in a pleasing falsetto at times".[4] He continued to praise the song, calling the chorus "easy, spirited, memorable — the stuff that hits are made of."[4] Elysa Gardner of Entertainment Weekly called the song "crackling, power-pop", commenting that it is nearly as captivating as "Semi-Charmed Life".[1] Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic praised the song's hook, referring to "Never Let You Go" as the album's highlight.[5] Stephen Thompson of The A.V. Club declared that the song is a standout on Blue, calling it a "sparkly, hitworthy single".[6] Julie River of Punknews.org praised the "beautiful chord-based hook", favorably comparing the song to lead single "Anything".[7]

Music video

A music video for the song was released in January 2000, directed by Chris Hafner.[8] In it, the band performs on a metal platform high in a sunset-filled sky. Interspersed with the sky scenes are scenes of the band eating in a dimly-lit Chinese restaurant with several girls and going to a nightclub. At one point, lead singer Stephan Jenkins hangs from the bottom of the platform while his fellow bandmembers and several girls hang onto him, looking down apprehensively.

Meredith Gottlieb of MTV News referred to the video as "abstract".[9]

Track listings
  • Australian CD single[10]
  1. "Never Let You Go" (Radio Version) – 3:58
  2. "Anything" (Extended Version) – 2:48
  3. "New Girl" – 2:17
  • European maxi-CD single[11]
  1. "Never Let You Go" (radio version) – 3:57
  2. "Never Let You Go" (LP version) – 3:57
  3. "Anything" (extended version) – 2:46

Credits and personnel

Credits and personnel are adapted from "Never Let You Go" CD single liner notes.[10]

Charts

Cover versions

Portuguese-American musician RAC released a remake of "Never Let You Go" featuring Matthew Koma and Hilary Duff on February 12, 2020, by Counter Records.[26][27][28] A lyric video was uploaded onto RAC's YouTube channel that same day.[29] The cover was Duff's first release since "Little Lies" in 2016.[30]

References
  1. Gardner, Elysa (November 22, 1999). "Blue". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  2. Gokhman, Roman (August 3, 2016). "How's It Gonna Be? Founding Third Eye Blind members fight for right to acknowledge contributions". RIFF Magazine. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  3. Third Eye Blind (2000). "Third Eye Blind 'Never Let You Go' Digital Sheet Music". Musicnotes.com. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  4. "Revies & Previews" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112 no. 3. January 15, 2000. p. 23. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (November 23, 1999). "Blue – Third Eye Blind". AllMusic. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  6. Thompson, Stephen (March 29, 2002). "Diana Ross: Blue". The A.V. Club. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  7. River, Julie (November 18, 2019). "Blue (retro review) (1999)". Punknews.org. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
  8. "Production Notes" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 112 no. 3. January 15, 2000. p. 69. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  9. Gottlieb, Meredith (April 20, 2000). "Third Eye Blind "Late" for New Video". MTV News. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
  10. Never Let You Go (AUS CD Single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 2000. 7559670162.CS1 maint: others (link)
  11. Never Let You Go (EU Maxi CD Single liner notes). Third Eye Blind. Elektra Records. 2000. 7559-67050-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (pdf ed.). Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
  13. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 9775." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  14. "Top RPM Adult Contemporary: Issue 9842." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  15. "Top RPM Rock/Alternative Tracks: Issue 9750." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  16. "Íslenski Listinn Sætin 21 til 40 (27.3– 4.5 2000)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). April 28, 2000. p. 14. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  17. "Charts.nz – Third Eye Blind – Never Let You Go". Top 40 Singles.
  18. "Chart Log UK 1994–2010 DJ T – Tzant". Zobbel. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  19. "Official Rock & Metal Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  20. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  21. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
  22. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  23. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  24. "Third Eye Blind Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  25. "Billboard Top 100 – 2000". Billboardtop100of.com. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  26. Hosken, Patrick (February 12, 2020). "5SOS And Hilary Duff Are Leading Pop's Third Eye Blind Revival". MTV News. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  27. "Never Let You Go (feat. Matthew Koma & Hilary Duff) – Single by RAC". Apple Music. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  28. "Never Let You Go · RAC, Matthew Koma, Hilary Duff". Spotify. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
  29. RAC – 'Never Let You Go (ft. Matthew Koma & Hilary Duff)' (Lyric Video). YouTube. February 12, 2020.
  30. Bein, Kat (February 6, 2020). "Hilary Duff Teaming With RAC & Husband Matthew Koma to Cover an Early 2000s Hit". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2020.
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