Don't Say Love Explained

Don't Say Love
Cover:Leigh-Anne - Don't Say Love.png
Type:single
Artist:Leigh-Anne
Genre:
Length:3:01
Label:Warner
Lyricist:
Composer:
Producer:
  • Jon Bellion
  • Jimmie Gutch
  • Pete Nappi
Next Title:My Love
Next Year:2023

"Don't Say Love" is the debut solo single by British singer and songwriter Leigh-Anne, released on 16 June 2023 by Warner Records. It is her first solo endeavour after Little Mix began their hiatus in 2022. Leigh-Anne, alongside Gregory Aldae Hein wrote the lyrics whereas Jon Bellion, Jimmie Gutch and Pete Nappi participated in the composition and production of the track.

Described as a UK garage and dance-pop track, the lyrics were inspired by Leigh-Anne's frustration that came with feeling invisible in her career. The music video was released the same day as the single and represents the singers rebirth in life and music, as she embarks on a quest to find herself. Upon release, it was met with positive reviews from critics, who praised the song's production and vocals.[2]

The song topped the UK Singles Sales Chart, while reaching number two on the UK Singles Downloads Chart. It entered at number eleven on the UK Singles Chart, and was named the second most purchased physical single in the UK during the summer.[3] It also entered the charts inside Ireland, Latvia, Hungary, Croatia, New Zealand, and Nigeria.

Background

Pinnock signed a solo record contract with Warner Records in February 2022.[4] In May, following their Confetti Tour, Little Mix announced an extended hiatus in order to pursue solo careers.[5] In March 2023, Pinnock shared that she had been working with producer Kuk Harrell.[6] In May, her manager stated that a music video, as well as "photos and trailers", were being worked on. The single's artwork was inspired by Pinnock paying homage to Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi album cover.[7]

Release and promotion

On 5 June 2023, Pinnock initiated speculations about her debut, tweeting the hashtag "#LeighAnneIsComing" and encouraging fans to join her Discord server.[8] She wiped her Instagram profile and posted a 26-second teaser video of the song, then titled "DSL";[8] [9] the video, described as "futuristic", shows Pinnock dressed in an "sparkling sequinned leotard".[8] [10] [11]

On 8 June, she announced the single and posted the cover art, revealing that she had waited an "incredibly long time" to do so. The song was made available to pre-order and pre-save on streaming platforms.[12] In an interview with British Vogue, Pinnock shared an exclusive 16 second preview of the music video.[13] Leigh-Anne continued to tease the song and the music video with daily uploads featuring behind the scene footage and visuals teasers of the music video.[14] The single and its music video were released on 16 June 2023.

On 21 July 2023, a remix of "Don't Say Love" by Mas Tiempo featuring rapper Skepta and grime MC Jammer was released.[15] An R&B remix of the song was released on 4 August 2023.[16] The song had its debut performance at Capital's Up Close with Lucozade Zero.[17] It was later performed at Vevo's London Studios in September 2023.[18]

In October 2023, the song was performed at KISS Haunted House Party.[19] In November 2023, the track was performed at S&C presents Hugo Nights.[20]

Composition

Carl Smith of the Official Charts Company described "Don't Say Love" as a song that "fuses elements of dance with a hint of nostalgic UK garage".[1] Leigh-Anne described the track as a mixture of R&B, amapiano, UK garage, afrobeats, and pop, and stated that, lyrically, it is about wanting to be loved,[13] "[expressing] the pain and frustration that came with feeling invisible and unheard for so much of [her] career."[21]

Billboards Lars Brandle described the track as a "beats-heavy nugget with lashings of UK garage", with lyrics about someone who "no longer seeks external validation and who seeks to regain back their confidence after feeling unheard misunderstood". Rolling Stones Tomás Mier described it "as an upbeat dance-pop track." Charlotte Manning from Attitude, described "Don't say Love". "as the track opens with thumping beats, which give off an uber cool garage vibe."[22]

Music video

The music video for "Don't Say Love" was directed by Emil Nava. Leigh-Anne said that the video is about "trying to escape the feeling of being overlooked and undervalued", adding that she wanted to get across emotions of "frustration, sadness, [and] anger" through the video. Jenke Ahmed styled the video; there are eight different "looks" in the video.[13] She further noted that the music video is a visual representation of her "finding [her] voice".[23]

At the end of the music video Leigh-Anne teased the second single release with a teaser of the next song titled "My Love".[24]

Critical reception

Following its release, Gay Times Lewis Corner described it as an "infectious new song with a cinematic visual that positions [Leigh-Anne] as an exciting force in pop in her own right."[25]

Charlotte Manning from Attitude, described "Don't Say Love" as a "pop anthem", giving praise to the song's lyrics and to Leigh-Anne vocals.[22] NMEs Kyann-Sian Williams described the track as "dance–pop" with influences track of garage and house-inspired that "sees the star deal in the complexities of love".[26] Steffanee Wang from Nylon described it as a "00s, breakbeat pop banger."[27]

Track listings

  1. "Don't Say Love" – 3:00
  1. "Don't Say Love" (Mas Tiempo remix) – 2:32
  1. "Don't Say Love" (R&B version) – 3:00

Charts

Chart (2023–2024)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Croatia (HRT)[28] 85
Latvia (EHR)[29] 33
New Zealand Hot Singles (RMNZ)[30] 18
Nigeria (TurnTable Top 100)[31] 99

Release history

Region! scope="col"
DateVersionFormat(s)Label(s)
Various16 June 2023OriginalWarner
United KingdomCD[32]
Various21 July 2023Mas Tiempo remix
4 August 2023R&B version

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Check out this week's new releases. 15 June 2023. 15 June 2023. Official Charts Company. https://web.archive.org/web/20230615191427/https://www.officialcharts.com/new-releases. 15 June 2023. dead.
  2. Web site: Leigh-Anne – Don't Say Love . 18 June 2023 . www.euphoriazine.com.
  3. Web site: 16 September 2023 . Don't Say Love is this summer's second most-purchased physical single in the UK . 15 September 2023 . Official Charts.
  4. Web site: Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock signs solo deal with Warner Records. Kenneally. Cerys. Line of Best Fit. 3 February 2022. 8 June 2023. 3 July 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220703183356/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/little-mixs-leigh-anne-pinnock-signs-solo-deal-with-warner-records. live.
  5. Web site: Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock announces debut solo single, "DSL". Kelly. Tyler Damara. Line of Best Fit. 7 June 2023. 8 June 2023.
  6. Web site: Leigh-Anne Pinnock has recorded with Beyonce collaborator. Music-News.com. 15 March 2023. 8 June 2023. 28 March 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230328125755/https://www.music-news.com/news/UK/156844/Leigh-Anne-Pinnock-has-recorded-with-Beyonce-collaborator. live.
  7. Web site: 14 June 2023 . Little Mix star Leigh-Anne pays homage to Mariah Carey in artwork for debut solo single . 14 June 2023 . Retropop Magazine.
  8. Denis . Kyle . 6 June 2023 . Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock Announces Debut Solo Single 'DSL' . 8 June 2023 . Billboard.
  9. Web site: Machin . Jennifer . 8 June 2023 . Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock announces she's releasing her debut solo single, "DSL" . 8 June 2023 . Hypebae.
  10. Web site: 7 June 2023 . Little Mix Leigh-Anne teases debut single . 8 June 2023 . The Guardian (Nigeria).
  11. Web site: Magliola . Anna Sky . Roszko . Charlotte . 7 June 2023 . Leigh-Anne Pinnock announces debut solo song . 8 June 2023 . Planet Radio UK . Bauer Media Group.
  12. Web site: Smith . Carl . 8 June 2023 . Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock announces debut solo song Don't Say Love with teaser . 8 June 2023 . Official Charts Company.
  13. Web site: Mukhtar . Amel . 12 June 2023 . Leigh-Anne Pinnock On Motherhood, Finding Her Confidence And Her First Solo Album . 12 June 2023 . . 12 June 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230612170345/https://www.vogue.co.uk/article/leigh-anne-pinnock-solo-interview . live .
  14. Web site: Watch: Leigh-Anne Pinnock Unlocks First Look at 'Don't Say Love' Music Video - That Grape Juice . 14 June 2023 . thatgrapejuice.net.
  15. Web site: Más Tiempo, AKA Skepta and Jammer, share remix of Leigh-Anne's "Dont Say Love" . 2023-08-05 . The Line of Best Fit . en-US.
  16. Web site: Don't Say Love (R&B Version) by Leigh-Anne . Apple Music . 19 August 2023.
  17. Web site: Leigh-Anne Pinnock To Play Exclusive Gig For Capital Listeners . 2023-08-16 . Capital . en.
  18. Web site: Magazine . FAULT . 2023-09-15 . Leigh-Anne FAULTLess "Don't Say Love" & "My Love" Live Performances on Vevo . 2023-09-23 . FAULT Magazine . en-US.
  19. Web site: 2023-09-20 . VOXI Presents Kiss Haunted House Party 2023: everything you need to know . 2023-11-10 . Heatworld . en.
  20. Web site: Interviews . Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & . Soormally . Sabrina . 2023-11-09 . S&C Presents HUGO Nights: Leigh-Anne and AntsLive Live . 2023-11-10 . Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews . en-GB.
  21. Mier . Tomás . 16 June 2023 . Leigh-Anne Exudes a 'Newfound Confidence' on First Solo Single Since Little Mix's Hiatus . 16 June 2023 . Rolling Stone.
  22. Web site: Manning . Charlotte . 16 June 2023 . Leigh-Anne Pinnock drops debut solo single Don't Say Love - and it's a banger . 18 June 2023 . Attitude.
  23. Brandle . Lars . 16 June 2023 . Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Drops First Solo Single 'Don't Say Love': Stream It Now . 16 June 2023 . Billboard.
  24. Web site: 16 June 2023 . Leigh-Anne on life after Little Mix . 19 June 2023 . The Face.
  25. Web site: 16 June 2023 . Leigh-Anne releases infectious debut single Don't Say Love . 16 June 2023 . Gay Times.
  26. Web site: Williams . Kyann-Sian . 16 June 2023 . Listen to Little Mix's Leigh-Anne Pinnock's debut solo single, 'Don't Say Love' . 21 June 2023 . NME.
  27. Web site: 20 June 2023 . Leigh-Anne's "Don't Say Love" & 9 Other New Songs Out This Week . 20 June 2023 . Nylon.
  28. Web site: ARC 100 - date: 14. August 2023.. HRT. 24 August 2023. en.
  29. Web site: EHR TOP 40 - 2022.07.14. European Hit Radio. 15 July 2023. 14 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230714202724/https://www.ehrhiti.lv/arhivs/ehr-top-40?airDate=2023.07.14. live.
  30. Web site: NZ Hot Singles Chart. Recorded Music NZ. 26 June 2023. 24 June 2023.
  31. TurnTable Nigeria Top 100: 30 June 2023 – 6 July 2023. TurnTable. 15 July 2023. 14 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230714204742/https://www.turntablecharts.com/Charts/Top50. live.
  32. Web site: Signed Don't Say Love CD Single (Plus Personal Message) . 16 June 2023 . Leigh-Anne Official Shop.