En Vogue has sold over 28 million albums and singles worldwide. They have won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of 7 VMAs. The group was named the second most successful girl group of the 1990s and the 18th most successful act overall of the 1990s according to Billboard magazine.
Assembled in Oakland, California in July 1989, En Vogue launched with original members Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, Dawn Robinson and Terry Ellis. The inspiration for the group came when production duo of Foster and Mc Elroy envisioned a modern-day girl group in the tradition of the 1950s/1960s female trios. The blueprint was based on the plan of recruiting singers who possessed strong voices, noticeably good looks, and intelligence. Auditions were held in 1988, with Herron, Jones and Robinson making the final cut. Like previous girl groups, En Vogue was originally conceived as a trio, but after hearing Ellis audition, Foster and McElroy decided to create a quartet. At first, they selected the name "For You." They shifted to "Vogue", but ultimately settled on En Vogue, upon learning that another group had already claimed the Vogue moniker.
After forming, the group began working with their producers on their debut album. Recording began in August 1989 and wrapped up in December of the same year. Born to Sing was released on April 3, 1990. The album charted at number twenty-one on the Billboard 200 and number three on Billboard's R&B Albums Chart. The first single, "Hold On," was released to radio in late February 1990 and became a crossover pop hit, reaching number two on Billboard's Hot 100 singles charts, and number one on both the R&B singles and Hot Dance Music/Club Play charts. It later went to #5 in the UK, and became a hit in Europe. The next two singles, "Lies" and "You Don't Have to Worry," each went to number one on the Billboard R&B charts, while the fourth and final single, "Don't Go," charted at number three on the Billboard R&B. The album was later certified platinum by the RIAA.
"Hold On" was awarded a Billboard Music Award for "R&B Single of the Year," a Soul Train Award for "R&B/Urban Contemporary Single of the Year, Group, Band or Duo" and have been nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group". In 1990, En Vogue signed an endorsement deal to appear in a Diet Coke commercial directed by Spike Lee.
En Vogue's second album, Funky Divas, was released in the spring of 1992. The album debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard R&B and ultimately doubled the take of its predecessor, going multi-platinum. The album's first two singles: "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" and "Giving Him Something He Can Feel" both went top ten pop, and peaked at number one on the R&B charts. The next single, "Free Your Mind" also went top ten. The final two singles "Give It Up Turn It Loose" and "Love Don't Love You" both were top forty hits.
The album went on to sell more than three million copies, won an American Music Award for "Favorite Soul/R&B Album," and was nominated for five Grammy Awards. The music video for "Free Your Mind" earned the group three MTV Video Music Awards for "Best Choreography," "Best Dance Video," and "Best R&B Video." They were also honored with Soul Train's prestigious "Entertainer of the Year Award." In addition to this, the group were featured in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Essence among other major publications. Riding high on the success of Funky Divas, a six-song EP entitled Runaway Love was released in the fall of 1993, spawning the hit "Runaway Love."
The group was signed to an endorsement deal with Converse, and were featured as an opening act on Luther Vandross' 1993 tour. Among the numerous countries toured were England, Germany, the Netherlands and France which confirmed the group's live vocal and performing prowess. However, according to an article in Vibe magazine, Vandross (by his own admission in interviews) and his entourage clashed with the members of En Vogue during the tour and he vowed never to work with them again afterwards.
En Vogue also made numerous television appearances on such series as In Living Color, A Different World, Roc and Hangin' With Mr. Cooper (the latter two of which they also sang the show's theme songs.) In 1993, En Vogue were featured vocalists on Salt-N-Pepa's top ten hit "Whatta Man", from Salt-N-Pepa's Very Necessary album. The track also appeared (slightly edited) on En Vogue's Runaway Love EP.
In 1995, En Vogue was amongst numerous female vocalists featured on the song "Freedom" for the soundtrack to Panther. Also in 1995, group member Terry Ellis recorded a solo album entitled Southern Gal, which spun off the top ten R&B single "Where Ever You Are."
In 1996, En Vogue recorded "Don't Let Go (Love)" for the soundtrack to the motion picture Set It Off. Released in the autumn, it became the group's biggest hit to date; the single peaked at number two on the Hot 100, number one on the R&B singles chart, and was certified platinum by the RIAA. It, inadvertently, would also be the final En Vogue single to feature Robinson. One of Robinson's final performances with her bandmates came in October of that year, when the group sang the final National Anthem rendition in the history of Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, which came in game five of the 1996 World Series.
In response to the large commercial success of "Don't Let Go (Love)", the group steadfastly went to work on its third album. As the album was nearing completion, Robinson chose to leave the group in April 1997 after difficult contractual negotiations reached a stalemate. Despite Robinson's abrupt departure, En Vogue resolved to continue on as a trio (forcing the group to re-record some of the tracks on their forthcoming album that had originally featured her on lead vocals).
EV3, the group's third album, was released in the spring and debuted at number eight on both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard R&B charts. The first single, the Babyface-penned and produced "Whatever" went on to become a top-20 pop hit, a top ten R&B hit, while also peaking at number five on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. On August 26, 1997, the single was certified gold by the RIAA. The follow-up single "Too Gone, Too Long" (which was produced by David Foster and written by Diane Warren) performed more modestly, managing to only peak in the top forty.
Despite its being certified platinum, and the album being nominated for Grammy Award and a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award, sales of EV3 failed to live up to full commercial expectation. A world tour had been planned, but was canceled due to poor ticket sales. In 1998, En Vogue recorded "No Fool No More" for the soundtrack to the motion picture, Why Do Fools Fall In Love as well as a version of I Want A Monster to Be My Friend for the Elmopalooza special on ABC. The following year, a greatest hits compilation, The Best of En Vogue, was released.
In 2004, En Vogue (now composed of Ellis, Herron and Bennett) released Soul Flower on independent label 33rd Street Records. While the album failed to chart on the Billboard 200, it managed to peak at number forty-seven on the R&B charts. The albums two singles: "Losin' My Mind" and "Ooh Boy", however, failed to chart. Soon after promotion had finished on this album, Maxine Jones returned to En Vogue, turning the group back into a quartet for the first time since 1996. The group teamed with Boyz II Men for select concert dates during the summer of 2004. That same year En Vogue graced the cover of R&B Showcase magazine.
In 2005, after an eight-year absence, Robinson rejoined En Vogue. The original four went on to sign with one of the industry's largest management firms, The Firm Management Group. That September, they joined Salt N Pepa for the girl groups' first-ever joint public performance of their 1994 hit, "Whatta Man" at VH-1's Hip Hop Honors, and briefly toured. They also earned another Grammy nomination for the single "So What the Fuss", which featured Stevie Wonder and Prince (on guitar). The group also appeared in the single's music video. After failing to agree on business terms, Robinson once again chose to defect from En Vogue and Bennett returned. As a result, En Vogue was let go from The Firm. En Vogue continued to perform spot dates in North America with Terry Ellis, Maxine Jones, Cindy Herron and Rhona Bennett. This line-up also saw the group return to Europe and Japan for select concert dates. During this time, En Vogue teamed up with Belgian singer Natalia for a song called "Glamorous" where Rhona Bennett's vocals are featured. The single reached No. 2 in the Belgian charts and was followed by a DVD release of the concert, which went double platinum.
On June 24, 2008, the original lineup of En Vogue appeared on the BET Awards, performing with Alicia Keys, SWV and TLC as a tribute to girl groups of the 1990s. With speculation abuzz, En Vogue received the twenty-eighth highest number of hits on the Rock on the Net website for the month of June 2008. The following month, the group ascended to the twelfth position. As of June 30, Robinson stated via an En Vogue Yahoo! fan site that she had indeed returned to En Vogue. On August 6, the original members appeared on Los Angeles' KTLA television station and announced that they have reunited and would do spot dates around the country during the latter part of 2008. The foursome kicked off the Americana at Brand Concert Series in Glendale, California that same evening. Furthermore, En Vogue performed at the 2009 Essence Music Festival, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. They continue to tour throughout the United States. In October 2010, the band performed their first UK show in 18 years in London.
On September 26, 2011, a new single called "I'll Cry Later" was sent to select urban adult contemporary radio stations. In December 2011, Dawn Robinson left En Vogue once again.
In March 2012, a lawsuit was filed by Wells Fargo Bank against Rufftown, Inc. for breach of contract. On May 8, Cindy Herron announced on their official En Vogue Facebook page that no new album was coming out.[citation needed] En Vogue toured in 2012. In June 2012, Rhona Bennett, who was filling in for Robinson's absence announced on her Facebook page that she was in rehearsals with the group, hinting that she was once again filling in for Robinson.
In August 2012, Maxine Jones, as well as Dawn Robinson, left the group and would begin their own En Vogue with two new members and would be touring, releasing solo albums and potentially another group album. Herron and Ellis would continue to tour as En Vogue with Rhona Bennett. It was also soon announced that the members would take each other to court for use of the En Vogue name; a judge ruled that Herron and Ellis, as holders of the group's LLC, had exclusive rights to the group's name. Herron and Ellis filed suit against Jones and Robinson, demanding $1 million for unauthorized use of the name, though the damages request was ultimately determined to be without merit, as Herron and Ellis could not demonstrate harm done to the company from Jones's use of the name (although Robinson was named in the suit, she was not directly involved in the dispute, as she had surrendered her rights to use the name herself when she departed from the LLC years earlier).
In late 2012, Robinson and Jones announced that they would be starting a new group called "Heirs to the Throne". In 2013, Robinson chose not to begin a new group with Jones and joined the cast of the reality show "R&B Divas: L.A.". In early 2013, Jones began a touring with Alison Carney and Maria Freeman as her new line-up of En Vogue, entitled En Vogue to the Max.
In March 2012, a lawsuit was filed by Wells Fargo Bank against Rufftown, Inc. for breach of contract. On May 8, Cindy Herron announced on their official En Vogue Facebook page that no new album was coming out. En Vogue toured in 2012. In June 2012, Rhona Bennett, who was filling in for Robinson's absence announced on her Facebook page that she was in rehearsals with the group, hinting that she was once again filling in for Robinson.
In July 2014, Pyramid Records announced that En Vogue (Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron-Braggs, Rhona Bennett) will be recording a new studio album. Their first one in almost ten years since their last studio album Soulflower.
Don't Let Go
En Vogue Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ooh, ooh
Oh, oh
Hey
What's it gonna be 'cause I can't pretend?
Don't you wanna be more than friends?
You have the right to lose 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 love making, heartbreaking, soul shaking
Oh, lovemaking, heartbreaking, soul shaking
What's it gonna be 'cause I can't pretend?
Don't you wanna be more than friends? (don't you wanna be)
Hold me tight and don't let go (don't let go)
You have the right to lose 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 love making, heartbreaking, soul shaking
Oh, love making, heartbreaking, soul shaking (oh yeah)
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)
You have the right to lose 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 wanna be more than friends? (Oh)
Hold me tight and don't let go (don't let go) (yeah)
You have the right to lose control
You got the right, you got the right (don't let go)
I said you got the right to lose control, yeah, ooh
Don't let go, ooh, hey, oh, oh
Don't let go cause I can't pretend
What's it gonna be cause I can't pretend?
Don't you wanna be more than friends?
And hold me tight and don't let go (don't let go)
Have the right to lose control, don't let go
Lose control, yeah
What's it gonna be?
Don't let go
Don't let go (don't you wanna be?)
Don't let go
Hold me tight and don't let go (don't let go) (don't let go)
Don't let go
En Vogue’s "Don't Let Go" is a love song about the desire for more than just friendship. The opening command "What's it gonna be 'cause I can't pretend?" sets the stage for the song's message that the singer can't ignore her attraction to the other person anymore. She wants to take their relationship to the next level, and she begs the individual to hold her tight and not let go. She can't stop herself from daydreaming about them and what they could be. She even suggests she would like to swap bodies with her love interest and lose control while pretending to be them.
The singer insists there can be some heartbreak along the way and soul-shaking moments. However, she still wants to take the chance and urges the other person to do the same. The final verse suggests that their relationship has been rocky, and they are in a confusing state. Nonetheless, somebody has to make a sacrifice for them to work, and they can make it happen as long as they try together.
Line by Line Meaning
What's it gonna be 'cause I can't pretend?
I can't hide my feelings anymore, so what decision are you going to make?
Don't you wanna be more than friends?
I want a romantic relationship with you, not just a friendship.
Hold me tight and don't let go (don't let go)
Hug me and show that you really care about me.
You have the right to lose control (don't let go)
You're allowed to let your guard down and express your true feelings for me.
I often tell myself that we could be more than just friends
I've been trying to convince myself that our relationship is more than just platonic.
I know you think that if we move too soon it would all end
You're worried that starting a romantic relationship would ruin our friendship.
I live in misery when you're not around
I feel unhappy and incomplete without you in my life.
And I won't be satisfied till we're taking those vows
I won't be content until we are married and committed to each other for life.
There'll be some love making, heartbreaking, soul shaking
Our relationship will have its ups and downs, but we'll work through it together.
I often fantasize the stars above are watching you
I daydream about you and imagine that the universe is somehow bringing us together.
They know my heart and speak to yours like only lovers do
I believe that our hearts are meant to be together, and the cosmos is confirming this to us.
If I could wear your clothes, I'd pretend I was you
I want to be as close to you as possible and feel like I'm a part of you.
Running in and out my life has got me so confused
Your inconsistent behavior is making it hard for me to know what kind of relationship we have.
You gotta make the sacrifice, somebody's got to choose
One of us needs to take the risk and make a decision about where our relationship is going.
We can make it if we try, for the sake of you and I
We can have a successful relationship if we both put in the effort for the good of the both of us.
I said you got the right to lose control, yeah, ooh
I'm encouraging you to let go of your fears and insecurities and express your true feelings for me.
Don't let go
Hold onto me and don't let go, even if things get difficult.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ivan A. Matias, Andrea Martin, Marqueze M. Ethridge, Rico Renard Wade, Patrick Gerard Brown, Raymon Murray
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@soshimizu
Lyrics
[Intro]
Oh-oh, yeah
Ooh, ooh
Oh-oh, hey, yeah
[Chorus]
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)
You have the right to lose control (Yeah, don't let go)
[Verse 1]
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
I live in misery when you're not around ('Round, 'round)
And I won't be satisfied till we're taking those vows
[Pre-Chorus]
There'll be some lovemaking, heartbreaking, soul shaking
Oh, lovemaking, heartbreaking, soul shaking
[Chorus]
What's it gonna be? 'Cause I can't pretend (I can't pretend, no)
Don't you wanna be more than friends? (Don't you wanna be? Oh)
Hold me tight and don't let go (Don't let go)
You have the right to lose control (Don't let go)
[Verse 2]
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
[Pre-Chorus]
There'll be some lovemaking, heartbreaking, soul shaking
Oh, lovemaking, heartbreaking, soul shaking
[Chorus]
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)
You have the right to lose control (Don't let go)
[Verse 3]
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
[Chorus]
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)
You have the right to lose control (Don't let go)
[Bridge]
You've got the right to lose control
Don't let go
Don't let go 'cause I can't pretend
[Chorus]
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)
You have the right to lose control (Don't let go)
[Outro]
What's it gonna be?
Don't let go
Don't let go
Don't you wanna be?
Don't let go
Hold me tight and don't let go
@lonestartropicalstx
Who's listening in 2024?
@PastorBobbyAmezcua
Me
@lawrencescott1048
I am.
@KathleenLawyer
I'm still listening In 2024 love it
@nicolaessam1706
Me!
@stacypearson4867
I am lol and singing my heart out too lol 😊😉
@izzyizanalien5013
Can we take a moment to appreciate all the different harmonies and hairstyles?!
@flourishthrive8670
This is that era where talent was real, vocals, instruments, story line, relevance... endless.
@SA..................
And the boobs
0:22 bra??
@DanielS-mc5go
@@flourishthrive8670now the females in music just do over sexual half naked crap these women had class