Don't Walk Away (Jade song) explained

Don't Walk Away
Cover:Jadecd2.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Jade
Album:Jade to the Max
Released:November 23, 1992
Genre:
Length:
  • 4:44 (album version)
  • 3:37 (with intro edit)
Label:Giant
Producer:
  • Vassal Benford III
  • Ronald Spearman
Prev Title:I Wanna Love You
Prev Year:1992
Next Title:One Woman
Next Year:1993

"Don't Walk Away" is a song by American R&B group Jade, released in November 1992 by Giant Records as the second single from their debut album, Jade to the Max (1992). It samples the drums from Kool & the Gang's 1975 song "Jungle Jazz" and the chords progression from Stevie Wonder's 1982 song "That Girl". The song was both written and produced by Vassal Benford III and Ronald Spearman, and peaked at number two on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number four on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, it also peaked within the top 10 in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, reaching respectively number seven and nine. Its music video was directed by Eric Meza. The success of the single landed the trio spots on The Tonight Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, and Top of the Pops in the United Kingdom.

In 2017, Billboard ranked the song number 52 on their list of "100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time".[3] The bassline of the song was sampled by A Tribe Called Quest for the song "Award Tour", from the album Midnight Marauders.[4] The first verse and chorus were interpolated in Diplo and Sleepy Tom's 2015 dance track "Be Right There".[5]

Critical reception

William Cooper from AllMusic felt that the song is "so infectious and irresistible", adding that it "may be a familiar tune heard on the radio years after its success".[6] Larry Flick from Billboard commented, "'I Wanna Love You' from the soundtrack to Class Act laid a fine foundation for this soft-yet-percussive midtempo romp. Charming female trio walks the stylistic line dividing En Vogue-ish urban flash and Exposé-esque pop flair. Catchy chorus ensures heavy multiformat radio action."[7]

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton said, "The cynic in me has the temptation to label this track as sanitised West coast production pop of the kind US FM radio is so enamoured with. Certainly all-girl groups of this particular genre never seem to make much of an impression over here, except it seems at this time of year. Predictions as to the future chart success of this one are divided but it is harmless and inoffensive enough to be an Easter hit."[8] A reviewer from Music & Media noted, "Hot on the heels of En Vogue, this female vocal group is already top 10 in the UK. The beat gets any person out of their arm chair, and the lyrics could make a guy walk on clouds."[9] Mark Kinchen for Music Weeks RM Dance Update wrote, "Jade just catches me with great harmonies in the chorus. The trio's great vocals are backed by a slamming hip hop style track. When you play this one, play it very loud!"[10]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, written and directed by Eric Meza. He also directed videos for Public Enemy and N.W.A. It begins with a group of men hanging out by their cars. One of them is using a car phone to call the group. Jade then performs the song as they dance on the sidewalk, while people around them are watching and/or dancing. Other scenes shows the group singing on a staircase in the locality. In the end, the girls are seen in one of the cars, as it slowly drives away.[11]

Formats and track listings

  1. "Don't Walk Away" (Pop Walk)
  2. "Don't Walk Away" (Album Walk)
  1. "Don't Walk Away"
  2. "Looking For Me Do Right"
  1. "Don't Walk Away" (Album Walk)
  2. "Don't Walk Away" (A Cappella Walk)
  3. "Don't Walk Away" (Instrumental Walk)
  4. "Don't Walk Away" (TV Walk)
  1. "Don't Walk Away" (Pop Walk)
  2. "Don't Walk Away" (Lite Walk)
  3. "Don't Walk Away" (Dark Walk)
  4. "Don't Walk Away" (Mack Daddy Stroll)
  5. "Don't Walk Away" (Album Walk)
  1. "Don't Walk Away" (Album Walk)
  2. "Don't Walk Away" (Instrumental Walk)

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1992-1993)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[12] 72
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[13] 33
Europe (European Dance Radio)[14] 1
Europe (European Hit Radio)[15] 33
UK Airplay (Music Week)[16] 22
UK Dance (Music Week)[17] 4
US Cash Box Top 100[18] 4

Year-end charts

Chart (1993)Position
Europe (European Dance Radio)[19] 13
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[20] 75
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[21] 86
UK Singles (OCC)[22] 75
US Billboard Hot 100[23] 13
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[24] 8

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesNovember 23, 1992Giant
United KingdomMarch 8, 1993[25]

Javine version

Don't Walk Away
Cover:Javine - You've Got A Friend.jpg
Type:single
Artist:Javine
Album:Surrender
A-Side:You've Got a Friend
Released:[26]
Length:3:00
Label:Innocent, Virgin
Producer:Stargate
Prev Title:Best of My Love
Prev Year:2004
Don't Walk Away
Next Title:Touch My Fire
Next Year:2005

"Don't Walk Away" was covered by British R&B singer Javine. It was also released with "You've Got a Friend", a cover of the Carole King classic, as a double A-side. The single peaked at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.

Formats and track listings

  1. "Don't Walk Away"
  2. "You've Got a Friend"
  1. "Don't Walk Away"
  2. "Don't Walk Away" (Armand Van Helden club mix)
  3. "Don't Walk Away" (Soda Club edit)
  4. "Don't Walk Away" (Bad Boy remix)

Charts

Notes and References

  1. Brian . Josephs . The 25 Best New Jack Swing Songs . July 20, 2012 . . July 26, 2016.
  2. Web site: Billboard Staff. 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics’ Picks. Billboard. July 10, 2017. May 17, 2024. ...“Don’t Walk Away” had a strut without peer in ’90s R&B....
  3. Web site: 100 Greatest Girl Group Songs of All Time: Critics' Picks. Billboard. July 11, 2017.
  4. https://www.vibe.com/2011/07/full-clip-q-tip-runs-down-his-music-catalogue-ft-tribe-de-la-soul-nas-biggie-roots/midnight-marauders-tribe-called-quest-q-tip/ Midnight Marauders--A Tribe Called Quest (1993)
  5. Web site: Diplo Unleashes New Collab 'Be Right There' With Sleepy Tom. August 21, 2015. edm.com. July 11, 2017.
  6. Web site: William . Cooper . Jade – Jade to the Max . . November 9, 2020 .
  7. Larry . Flick . Single Reviews . . November 7, 1992 . 79 . October 25, 2020 . Larry Flick.
  8. Web site: Masterton. James. Week Ending March 20th 1993. Chart Watch UK. March 14, 1993. September 9, 2021. James Masterton.
  9. New Releases: Singles. Music & Media. 10. 19. 9. May 8, 1993. October 24, 2021.
  10. Kinchen . Mark . Mark Kinchen . Hot Vinyl Buzzing . Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert) . January 23, 1993 . 7 . March 24, 2021 .
  11. Web site: Jade - Don't Walk Away (1992). YouTube. September 10, 2021. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/wZ9HG0nGe-g . December 22, 2021 . live.
  12. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.
  13. Eurochart Hot 100. Music & Media. 10. 18. May 1, 1993. 23. March 24, 2024.
  14. European Dance Radio Top 25. Music & Media. 10. 20. May 15, 1993. 21. October 24, 2021.
  15. EHR Top 40. Music & Media. 10. 19. May 8, 1993. 26. April 7, 2024.
  16. Top 50 Airplay Chart. Music Week. April 24, 1993. 16. April 29, 2024.
  17. Top 60 Dance Singles . . March 20, 1993 . 20 . April 9, 2021.
  18. Top 100 Pop Singles. Cash Box. LVI. 30. April 3, 1993. 4. April 20, 2024.
  19. 1993 Year-End Airplay Charts: European Dance Radio. Music & Media. 10. 51/52. December 18, 1993. 18. February 27, 2024.
  20. Web site: Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1993. Dutch Top 40. May 3, 2020.
  21. Web site: Jaaroverzichten – Single 1993. dutchcharts.nl. May 3, 2020.
  22. Top 100 Singles 1993. Music Week. 24. January 15, 1994.
  23. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1993 . August 27, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061110095203/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts.php?year=1993 . November 10, 2006 .
  24. Web site: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1993. Billboard. April 30, 2021.
  25. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 17. March 6, 1993.
  26. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 31. August 7, 2004.