Daily Boom 90's Nostalgia: En Vogue - 'Hold On'

"The art of playing games now

Is not the hearts you break

It's bound to good love you make

When it's hearts on fire

 Give him love everyday

Remember he needs space

Be patient and he'll give his heart to you

Don't waste your time

Fighting blind minded thoughts of despair

Hold on to your love

You gotta hold on"

The late 80's music scene featured several pop girl groups. You had The Bangles, Expose, The Cover Girls, Sweet Sensation... all of them had radio and chart success but there was a formula to it. I don't think that anyone really anticipated the change that was coming when the calendar flipped and a new decade began. The 90's ushered in an era of New Jack Swing, slowjamz and R&B that was just amazing. Groups like TLC, SWV, and Xscape kept women front and center.

En Vogue was a major player at the time. Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, Terry Ellis and Maxine Jones teamed up in 1989 and by 1990 they had a bonafide chart hit with "Hold On". It was completely different from everything else that was getting airplay and that's what grabbed my attention immediately. To me, this video and song kind of drew a line in the proverbial sand and from this point on women had to really step up their game in order to compete musically. Check out "Hold On" below. Do you think it was a game changer too?

Daily Boom 90's Nostalgia: En Vogue - 'Don't Let Go (Love)'

What's it gonna be 'cuz I can't pretend
Don't you want to 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

I love when every member of a girl group can hold their own vocally, don't you? Throughout most of the '90s no other girl group seemed to compare to En Vogue. When the ladies (Cindy Herron, Dawn Robinson, Maxine Jones, and Terry Ellis) first broke through with "Hold On" off their debut album Born To Sing in 1989 it was immediately clear that they would become a force to reckon with. From that first single on En Vogue found great success with nearly every track that they dropped and it didn't hurt that their videos were as hot as their music.

"Don't Let Go (Love)", released in 1996 on the Set It Off soundtrack is arguably the group's best vocal performance ever and it also marked the end of Dawn Robinson's stint with them. The single sold 1.3 million copies in the states alone and quickly became En Vogue's top international hit. It was also nominated for a Grammy in 1997, at a point when En Vogue's lineup and future were in a state of flux.

Years of legal wrangling followed the release of "Don't Let Go (Love)". Maxine Jones and Robinson both embarked on solo careers but fought for the right to still use the En Vogue name. It was a fairly unsuccessful plight and you can actually catch Ellis, Herron, and Rhona Bennett on tour now. The ladies are currently part of the lineup on various 80's tours that are winding their way across the country and yes, they still sound fantastic live!

Daily Boom 90's Nostalgia: En Vogue - 'Don't Let Go (Love)'

What's it gonna be 'cuz I can't pretend
Don't you want to 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

I love when every member of a girl group can hold their own vocally, don't you? Throughout most of the 90's no other girl group seemed to compare to En Vogue. When the ladies (Cindy Herron, Dawn Robinson, Maxine Jones and Terry Ellis) first broke through with "Hold On" off their debut album Born To Sing in 1989 it was immediately clear that they would become a force to reckon with. From that first single on En Vogue found great success with nearly every track that they dropped and it didn't hurt that their videos were as hot as their music.

"Don't Let Go (Love)", released in 1996 on the Set It Off soundtrack is arguably the group's best vocal performance ever and it also marked the end of Dawn Robinson's stint with them. The single sold 1.3 million copies in the states alone and quickly became En Vogue's top international hit. It was also nominated for a Grammy in 1997, at a point when En Vogue's line up and future was in a state of flux.

Years of legal wrangling followed the release of "Don't Let Go (Love)". Maxine Jones and Robinson both embarked on solo careers but fought for the rights to still use the En Vogue name. It was a fairly unsuccessful plight and you can actually catch Ellis, Herron and Rhona Bennett on tour now. The ladies are currently part of the lineup on various 80's tours that are winding their way across the country and yes, they still sound fantastic live!

Daily Boom 90's Nostalgia: En Vogue - 'Hold On'

"The art of playing games now

Is not the hearts you break

It's bound to good love you make

When it's heart's on fire

Give him love evryday

Remember he needs space

Be patient and he'll give his heart to you

Don't waste your time

Fighting blind minded thoughts of dispair

Hold on to your love

You gotta hold on"

The late 80's music scene featured several pop girl groups. You had The Bangles, Expose, The Cover Girls, Sweet Sensation... all of them had radio and chart success but there was a formula to it. I don't think that anyone really anticipated the change that was coming when the calendar flipped and a new decade began. The 90's ushered in an era of New Jack Swing, slowjamz and R&B that was just amazing. Groups like TLC, SWV, and Xscape kept women front and center.

En Vogue was a major player at the time. Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, Terry Ellis and Maxine Jones teamed up in 1989 and by 1990 they had a bonafide chart hit with "Hold On". It was completely different from everything else that was getting airplay and that's what grabbed my attention immediately. To me, this video and song kind of drew a line in the proverbial sand and from this point on women had to really step up their game in order to compete musically. Check out "Hold On" below. Do you think it was a game changer too?

90's Nostalgia: En Vogue- 'Don't Let Go (Love)'

What's it gonna be 'cuz I can't pretend
Don't you want to 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

I love when every member of a girl group can hold their own vocally, don't you? Throughout most of the 90's no other girl group seemed to compare to En Vogue. When the ladies (Cindy Herron, Dawn Robinson, Maxine Jones and Terry Ellis) first broke through with "Hold On" off their debut album Born To Sing in 1989 it was immediately clear that they would become a force to reckon with. From that first single on En Vogue found great success with nearly every track that they dropped and it didn't hurt that their videos were as hot as their music.

"Don't Let Go (Love)", released in 1996 on the Set It Off soundtrack is arguably the group's best vocal performance ever and it also marked the end of Dawn Robinson's stint with them. The single sold 1.3 million copies in the states alone and quickly became En Vogue's top international hit. It was also nominated for a Grammy in 1997, at a point when En Vogue's line up and future was in a state of flux.

Years of legal wrangling followed the release of "Don't Let Go (Love)". Maxine Jones and Robinson both embarked on solo careers but fought for the rights to still use the En Vogue name. It was a fairly unsuccessful plight and you can actually catch Ellis, Herron and Rhona Bennett on tour now. The ladies are currently part of the lineup on various 80's tours that are winding their way across the country and yes, they still sound fantastic live!

Daily Boom 90's Nostalgia: En Vogue - 'Hold On'

"The art of playing games now

Is not the hearts you break

It's bound to good love you make

When it's heart's on fire

Give him love evryday

Remember he needs space

Be patient and he'll give his heart to you

Don't waste your time

Fighting blind minded thoughts of dispair

Hold on to your love

You gotta hold on"

The late 80's music scene featured several pop girl groups. You had The Bangles, Expose, The Cover Girls, Sweet Sensation... all of them had radio and chart success but there was a formula to it. I don't think that anyone really anticipated the change that was coming when the calendar flipped and a new decade began. The 90's ushered in an era of New Jack Swing, slowjamz and R&B that was just amazing. Groups like TLC, SWV, and Xscape kept women front and center.

En Vogue was a major player at the time. Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, Terry Ellis and Maxine Jones teamed up in 1989 and by 1990 they had a bonafide chart hit with "Hold On". It was completely different from everything else that was getting airplay and that's what grabbed my attention immediately. To me, this video and song kind of drew a line in the proverbial sand and from this point on women had to really step up their game in order to compete musically. Check out "Hold On" below. Do you think it was a game changer too?

Currently Booming: New Music by En Vogue- 'Rocket'

90's Nostalgia: En Vogue- 'Don't Let Go (Love)'

What's it gonna be 'cuz I can't pretend
Don't you want to 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

I love when every member of a girl group can hold their own vocally, don't you? Throughout most of the 90's no other girl group seemed to compare to En Vogue. When the ladies (Cindy Herron, Dawn Robinson, Maxine Jones and Terry Ellis) first broke through with "Hold On" off their debut album Born To Sing in 1989 it was immediately clear that they would become a force to reckon with. From that first single on En Vogue found great success with nearly every track that they dropped and it didn't hurt that their videos were as hot as their music.

"Don't Let Go (Love)", released in 1996 on the Set It Off soundtrack is arguably the group's best vocal performance ever and it also marked the end of Dawn Robinson's stint with them. The single sold 1.3 million copies in the states alone and quickly became En Vogue's top international hit. It was also nominated for a Grammy in 1997, at a point when En Vogue's line up and future was in a state of flux.

Years of legal wrangling followed the release of "Don't Let Go (Love)". Maxine Jones and Robinson both embarked on solo careers but fought for the rights to still use the En Vogue name. It was a fairly unsuccessful plight and you can actually catch Ellis, Herron and Rhona Bennett on tour now. The ladies are currently part of the lineup on various 80's tours that are winding their way across the country and yes, they still sound fantastic live!

2017 Summer Spirit Festival Preview: En Vogue

Way back in 1992 En Vogue dropped a little ditty in our laps that spent the rest of the year pretty much dominating Billboard's charts and radio airwaves. Funky Divas came out of the gate with the well-produced "Never Gonna Get It" and it offered up the kind of video that even now, 25 years later, I can easily visualize. Slick, sharp, great vocals and stunning videos. En Vogue was everything that a girl group aspires to be. I could ramble on forever but instead, I'll just hand you the music. Check out Funky Divas below!

You can catch En Vogue performing live at the 2017 Summer Spirit Festival.

Currently Booming: The 2017 Summer Spirit Festival is Coming Aug. 5-6! (Listen)

This festival looks great doesn't it? Babyface, BBD, En Vogue and Common all in one place at the same time is in itself well-worth the cost of admission. You can grab tickets here. Check out the playlist below, it's a great way to start your day and it'll make you want to check out this lineup live!

Currently Booming: Brand New En Vogue- 'I'm Good' (Listen)

Throwback Thursday: En Vogue's 'Funky Divas' Turns 25

 

On this week way back in 1992 En Vogue dropped a little ditty in our laps that spent the rest of the year pretty much dominating Billboard's charts and radio airwaves. Funky Divas came out of the gate with the well-produced "Never Gonna Get It" and it offered up the kind of video that even now, 25 years later, I can easily visualize. Slick, sharp, great vocals and stunning videos. En Vogue was everything that a girl group aspires to be. I could ramble on forever but instead, I'll just hand you the music. Check out Funky Divas below!