Recorded 2002 | Length 3:22 | |
Released January 28, 2003 (2003-01-28) Format CD single
12" maxi single Genre Reggae fusion
dancehall
R&B Label Atlantic
VP Records
Asylum Records |
"No Letting Go" is a song by Jamaican reggae fusion artist Wayne Wonder. The song was written by Adam Stillman (most notable as Soul Decision frontman) and V.W. Charles and produced by Steven 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.
Contents
The song was one of the many hits from the jumpy handclap riddim known as the Diwali Riddim, that was also produced by Marsden.
Content
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."
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."
Formats and track listings
- "No Letting Go" (Album version) - 3:22
- "No Letting Go" (Alternate mix) - 3:43
- "No Letting Go" (Album version) - 3:25
- "No Letting Go" (Alternate mix) - 3:44
- "No Letting Go" (Instrumental) - 3:40
- "No Letting Go" (Video)
Side A
- "No Letting Go" (Album version) - 3:22
Side B
- "No Letting Go" (Alternate mix) - 3:43
- "No Letting Go" (Instrumental) - 3:43
Sides A
- "No Letting Go" (Album version) - 3:22
- "No Letting Go" (Alternate mix) - 3:41
Side B
- "No Letting Go" (Instrumental) - 3:22
- "No Letting Go" (Alternate mix instrumental) - 3:41
Side A
- "No Letting Go (Remix)" (Club Mix featuring LL Cool J & Queen Duchess) - 3:29
- "No Letting Go (Remix)" (Radio Mix featuring LL Cool J & Queen Duchess) - 3:16
- "No Letting Go (Remix)" (Remix Instrumental) - 3:45
Side B
- "No Letting Go" (Album version) - 3:22
- "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". Rolling Stone were critical of the album but called this song "mesmerizing".