No Letting Go

"No Letting Go"
Single by Wayne Wonder
from the album No Holding Back
Released	January 28, 2003 (2003-01-28): World June 16, 2003 (2003-06-16): Europe
Format	CD single, 12" maxi single,
Recorded	2002
Genre	Reggae fusion, R&B/Dancehall
Length	3:22
Label	Atlantic / VP Records
Writer(s)	Steven Marsden, V.W. Charles
Producer	Steven "Lenky" Marsden
Wayne Wonder singles chronology
"Something Different"/"The Train Is Coming" (1996) "No Letting Go" (2003) "Bounce Along" (2003)

"No Letting Go" is a reggae fusion song recorded by Jamaican singer Wayne Wonder. The song was written by Steven Marsden and V.W. Charles and produced by Marsden. It was included on Wonder's 2003 studio album No Holding Back and was released as the lead single from the album. The single was released worldwide on January 28, 2003 and charted at a peak position of number three in the UK Singles Chart. It also peaked at number 11 in the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States.^[1]

The song was one of the many hits from the jumpy handclap riddim known as the Diwali Riddim, that was also produced by Marsden.

Production

According to Wayne Wonder, the song is about a girl that he knew but he doesn't mention her name. He said in an interview with MTV in 2003 "I just wrote this song [about a girl] without calling her name in the song because she always said to me, 'You are always [calling] these other girls' names.' I said, 'I don’t have to call your name, I'll just write a song and you can appreciate it.'" He was also amazed by the success that the song had achieved, saying "Everybody loves it, which is surprising to me. When I'm writing, I don’t think [about whether the song] will be a big hit."^[2]

Remix

The official remix features rappers LL Cool J & Queen Duchess. The remix also uses more of the Diwali Riddim beat.

Music video

The music video was filmed in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, in December 2002. Wonder said that "It took us 24 hours [to shoot]... It was raining in the morning and the shoot was supposed to start at like 6:30 a.m. and it never really got started until about maybe 8 o'clock... The video, to me, was a success; the dances, everyone enjoying themselves on the stage, there was no bad vibe."^[2]

Formats and track listings

US CD single

1. "No Letting Go" (Album version) - 3:22
2. "No Letting Go" (Alternate mix) - 3:43

EU enhanced CD single

1. "No Letting Go" (Album version) - 3:25
2. "No Letting Go" (Alternate mix) - 3:44
3. "No Letting Go" (Instrumental) - 3:40
4. "No Letting Go" (Video)

US 12" vinyl

Side A

1. "No Letting Go" (Album version) - 3:22

Side B

1. "No Letting Go" (Alternate mix) - 3:43
2. "No Letting Go" (Instrumental) - 3:43

German 12" vinyl

Sides A

1. "No Letting Go" (Album version) - 3:22
2. "No Letting Go" (Alternate mix) - 3:41

Side B

1. "No Letting Go" (Instrumental) - 3:22
2. "No Letting Go" (Alternate mix instrumental) - 3:41

US 12" vinyl (Remix)^[3]

Side A

1. "No Letting Go (Remix)" (Club Mix featuring LL Cool J & Queen Duchess) - 3:29
2. "No Letting Go (Remix)" (Radio Mix featuring LL Cool J & Queen Duchess) - 3:16
3. "No Letting Go (Remix)" (Remix Instrumental) - 3:45

Side B

1. "No Letting Go" (Album version) - 3:22
2. "No Letting Go" (Instrumental) - 3:32

Reception

Blender magazine's called the song "a fetching love song that paired his [Wonder's] accented tenor with rough, digital funk".^[4] Rolling Stone were critical of the album but called this song "mesmerizing".^[5]

Charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position [6]
Canadian Singles Chart	26 [1]
Dutch Singles Chart	3
French Singles Chart	37
Swedish Singles Chart	23
Swiss Singles Chart	24
UK Singles Chart	3 [7]
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	11 [1]
Hot R&B Singles and Tracks	14 [1]
Hot Rap Tracks	7 [1]
Rhythmic Top 40	8 [1]
Top 40 Mainstream	10 [1]
Top 40 Tracks	10 [1]

References

General

• "allmusic (((Wayne Wonder > Discography > Main Albums)))". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p30005/discography. Retrieved 6 September 2009. 

Specific

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h} "allmusic (((Wayne Wonder > Chart & Awards > Billboard Singles )))". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p30005/charts-awards/billboard-singles. Retrieved 6 September 2009. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Reid, Shaheem. "Wayne Wonder Turns A Sad Day Into Success; Now There's No Letting Go". MTV. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1471101/20030407/index.jhtml?headlines=true. Retrieved 6 September 2009. 
3. ^ http://www.discogs.com/Wayne-Wonder-No-Letting-Go-Remix/release/2455824
4. ^ Patel, Joseph. "No Holding Back". Blender. http://www.blender.com/guide/new/50761/no-holding-back.html. Retrieved 6 September 2009. 
5. ^ "Wayne Wonder: Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. 3 April 2003. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/waynewonder. Retrieved 6 September 2009. 
6. ^ "Wayne Wonder - No Letting Go". swisscharts. http://swisscharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Wayne+Wonder&titel=No+Letting+Go&cat=s. Retrieved 7 September 2009. 
7. ^ "Wayne Wonder - No Letting Go". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php?id=30952. Retrieved 6 September 2009.