Give It Up, Turn It Loose Explained

Give It Up, Turn It Loose
Cover:Give It Up, Turn It Loose.jpg
Type:single
Artist:En Vogue
Album:Funky Divas
B-Side:"Free Your Mind" (Theo's Rec & Wreck Remix)
Recorded:November 1991–January 1992[1]
Length:5:13
Label:EastWest
Prev Title:Free Your Mind
Prev Year:1992
Next Title:Love Don't Love You
Next Year:1993

"Give It Up, Turn It Loose" is a song by American R&B/pop vocal group En Vogue, released as the fourth single from their second album, Funky Divas (1992). The song's title is a reference to the 1969 James Brown song "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose". Released on November 12, 1992 by Eastwest Records, the single reached number 15 on the US Billboard Hot 100, number 16 on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart, and number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. It was written and produced by Thomas McElroy and Denzil Foster, and features Maxine Jones on lead entirely. The music video was directed by Marcus Nispel. In 1994, the song was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.[2]

Critical reception

AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis described "Give It Up, Turn It Loose" as a "doo wop good-feelin'"-song.[3] Daryl Easlea for BBC noted its "smooth old-school groove".[4] Larry Flick from Billboard felt that here, the group vocally "glides with ease over a languid, retro-soul shuffle beat. Jazzy flutes and restrained funk guitars add texture that will warm the hearts of pop and urban folks alike."[5] Randy Clark from Cash Box stated, "Although they use the same basic sound and style, these Funky Divas have opted for a more smooth and kicked back approach on this track, compared to their current spirited hit single, with an over-all vibe that's slightly reminiscent of Cheryl Lynn's 'Got to Be Real'."[6] John Martinucci from the Gavin Report found that "Maxine and the girls are giving some sisterly advice for those who are stuck in dead end relationships", calling it a "down-tempo track".[7] In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton wrote, "If anything 'Give It Up' has less to recommend it than some of the others and so is unlikely to end up one of their bigger hits."[8]

Paul Lester from Melody Maker viewed it as "yet another funky En Vogue thing."[9] Pan-European magazine Music & Media commented, "In which direction will the catwalk lead this time? To soul music a la the Pointer Sisters, or four Mariah Careys."[10] Parry Gettelman from Orlando Sentinel declared the "mid-tempo workout" as "a neat kiss-off song".[11] In an retrospective review, Pop Rescue called it "such a funky track".[12] Mark Sutherland from Smash Hits gave it four out of five, adding, "Not quite as snazzy as their last two hits, but still rather fabulous. The four Voguestresses strut about funkily and inform us that "love knocks you on your behind" in such a poignant fashion that you can only nod sagely and mutter 'how true'."[13] Cheo H. Coker from Stanford Daily named it "perhaps the most enjoyable on the album; the jam is the catchiest thing since its Debarge predecessor, 'I Like It', from which it takes its inspiration."[14]

Music video

The accompanying music video for "Give It Up, Turn It Loose" was directed by German feature film director and producer Marcus Nispel.[15] It is made in black-and-white and features the group performing in a beauty parlor while clips of life in the city play throughout the video. It was later made available on YouTube in 2015, and had generated more than 1.1 million views as of February 2023.[16]

Track listings

  1. "Give It Up, Turn It Loose" (LP edit)
  2. "You Don't Have to Worry" (club remix)
  1. "Turn It Loose" (Kevin's Extended R&B Mix) – 5:17
  2. "Turn It Loose" ("Welcome to the Ghetto" Hip Hop Mix) – 5:26
  3. "Turn It Loose" (Kevin's Extended Jazz Mix) – 4:58
  4. "Turn It Loose" (Somethin' for the People Remix) – 5:50
  1. "Give It Up, Turn It Loose" (LP edit) – 4:05
  2. "Free Your Mind" (Theo's Rap and Wreck Mix) – 5:41
  3. "Hold On" (radio version with intro) – 5:02
  4. "Give It Up, Turn It Loose" (Kevin's Jazz Mix) – 4:20

A. "Give It Up, Turn It Loose" (LP edit) – 4:05

B. "Free Your Mind" (Theo's Rec & Wreck Remix) – 5:41

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1993)Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[21] 96
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[22] 84
Europe (European Dance Radio)[23] 3
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[24] 26
UK Airplay (Music Week)[25] 15
UK Dance (Music Week)[26] 8

Year-end charts

Chart (1993)Position
US Billboard Hot 100[27] 84
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[28] 69

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)
United StatesNovember 19, 1992CDEastWest[29]
United KingdomJanuary 4, 1993[30]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Don't think I can make it. By Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Will Townsend, Pharoah Davis, Warren Robinson & Andre Zachary. December 28, 2009. June 29, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110629115157/http://www.faqs.org/copyright/dont-think-i-can-make-it-by-denzil-foster-thomas-mcelroy/. dead.
  2. Web site: Grammy Nominees. Staff. Variety. January 6, 1994. January 1, 2021.
  3. Web site: En Vogue - Funky Divas. Jose F.. Promis. AllMusic. February 15, 2020.
  4. Web site: En Vogue Funky Divas Review. Daryl. Easlea. BBC. 2009. April 7, 2020.
  5. Single Reviews. Larry. Flick. Billboard. November 21, 1992. February 12, 2020. 80. Larry Flick.
  6. Randy . Clark . Music Reviews: Singles . . November 28, 1992 . 5 . November 1, 2020 .
  7. John . Martinucci . Urban: New Releases . . November 13, 1992 . 20 . October 17, 2020 .
  8. Web site: Masterton. James. Week Ending January 16th 1993. Chart Watch UK. January 10, 1993. September 9, 2021. James Masterton.
  9. Paul. Lester. Singles. Melody Maker. January 9, 1993. 25. May 5, 2023. Paul Lester.
  10. New Releases: Singles. Music & Media. 10. 5. January 30, 1993. 26. February 22, 2020.
  11. Gettelman, Parry (April 24, 1992). "En Vogue". Orlando Sentinel.
  12. Web site: Review: "Funky Divas" by En Vogue (CD, 1992). Pop Rescue. May 1, 2020. October 4, 2020.
  13. New Singles . Mark . Sutherland . . January 6, 1993 . 45 . October 6, 2020.
  14. Cheo H. . Coker . Hip-hop's four funky divas . . April 16, 1992 . April 23, 2020 . Cheo Coker.
  15. Web site: En Vogue: Give It Up, Turn It Loose. IMDb. September 9, 2021.
  16. Web site: En Vogue - Give It Up, Turn It Loose (Official Music Video). https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211217/7r1Or_pTdKA . 2021-12-17 . live. YouTube. April 8, 2015. February 1, 2023.
  17. Give It Up, Turn It Loose. En Vogue. 1992. US cassette single sleeve. East West Records America. 4-98455.
  18. Turn It Loose. En Vogue. 1992. US maxi-single liner notes. East West Records America. 96091-2.
  19. Give It Up, Turn It Loose. En Vogue. 1992. UK CD single liner notes. East West Records America. A8445CD, 7567-96082-2.
  20. Give It Up, Turn It Loose. En Vogue. 1992. UK 7-inch vinyl sleeve. East West Records America. A8445.
  21. Book: Ryan, Gavin. Australia's Music Charts 1988-2010. 2011. Moonlight Publishing. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia.
  22. Eurochart Hot 100. Music & Media. 10. 5. January 30, 1993. 43. February 23, 2020.
  23. European Dance Radio. Music & Media. 10. 8. February 20, 1993. 20. November 2, 2021.
  24. News: Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (19.–25. febrúar). Dagblaðið Vísir. is. 29. February 18, 1993. January 1, 2021.
  25. Top 50 Airplay Chart. Music Week. February 20, 1993. 14. April 27, 2024.
  26. Top 60 Dance Singles. Music Week. 22. January 1, 1993. April 8, 2021.
  27. 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.
  28. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1993. Billboard. June 19, 2021.
  29. Web site: En Vogue – Give It Up, Turn It Loose. Amazon. January 26, 2016.
  30. New Releases: Singles. Music Week. 23. December 26, 1992.