Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)

"Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)"
Single by Lumidee
from the album Almost Famous
B-side	Remix
Released	May 13, 2003
Format	CD single, maxi
Genre	R&B, dancehall, reggae fusion, hip hop
Length	3:06
Label	Universal, Straight Face
Writer(s)	Lumidee Cedeño, Teddy Mendez, Edwin Perez, Steven Marsden, Trevor Smith, John Jackson
Producer(s)	DJ Tedsmooth, Trendsetta
Lumidee singles chronology "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" (2003) "Crashin' A Party" (2003) Fabolous singles chronology "4Ever" (2003) "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" (2003) "Can't Let You Go" (2003) Busta Rhymes chronology "Oh!" (2003) "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" (2003) "Lovely Day" (2003)

"Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" is a song by American recording artist Lumidee, released as the debut single on May 13, 2003 from her debut studio album, Almost Famous (2003).

Background

The original mix of the song was recorded by DJ Tedsmooth, a native of Spanish Harlem where she was raised, for DJ Tedsmooth's independent record label Straight Face. The song used the same instrumental and consent as Dirt McGirt and Nicole Wray's single Welcome Home. The song became the #1 requested song on many New York radio stations. The success resulted in many major record label offered deals to both Lumidee and DJ Tedsmooth. After signing with Universal the song remixed with guest appearances by Busta Rhymes and Fabolous.^[1]

This song gained popularity because of its slightly altered use of the already wildly popular Diwali riddim by then-up-and-coming dancehall producer Steven "Lenky" Marsden. "Diwali" was one of the most internationally successful dancehall rhythms of all time, garnering hits from Wayne Wonder ("No Letting Go"), T.O.K. ("Galang Gal"), Bounty Killer & Wayne Marshall "Sufferer", Elephant Man ("Elephant Message"), and Sean Paul ("Get Busy"). But since "Never Leave You" was an R&B song by an R&B singer over a dancehall riddim, sound system selectors, club DJs and urban market radio stations immediately took notice of this unique factor and started playing it heavily and regularly, mixing it in with the other songs on the rhythm. It remains the most successful song of Lumidee's career so far regarding chart positions and her only hit to date. The song was most successful in Europe, reaching #1 in five countries. It peaked at #1 in Belgium, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Switzerland in August–September 2003. It also charted at #2 in the United Kingdom. Nevertheless the song peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in her own country. Never Leave You also did well in International charts to reach #1 in Eurochart Hot 100 Singles.

"Never Leave You" was incorporated into the 2010 re-release of the Diwali riddim album on Greensleeves/VP Records. Other songs derived from the Diwali riddim, along with Sean Paul's "Get Busy," which was a late entry that never made the original release.

The song was also used multiple times in the 2004 film Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, which starred Lindsay Lohan.

Composition

"Never Leave You (Uh Ooh, Uh Ooh)" is an R&B song written by Lumidee Cedeño, Teddy "Tedsmooth" Mendez and Eddie Perez, and features a prominent dancehall reggae riddim called "Diwali" written by Steven "Lenky" Marsden.^[2][3] although it is slightly altered from the original riddim.

Belgian artist Luc Van Acker made allegations that the song resembles "Zanna," a song he wrote. However, in an interview he said Belgian anti-piracy agency SABAM advised him not to waste money on a lawsuit.^[4]

Music video

The music video of "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" was directed by Nzingha Stewart^[5] and it features American actor J.D. Williams as Lumidee's love interest.^[6]

Chart performance

In the United States, "Never Leave You (Uh Ooh, Uh Ooh)" debuted at number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[7] In the United Kingdom, the single debuted at number two on the UK Singles Chart on August 3, 2003 (for the week ending date August 9, 2003), beaten to top by Blu Cantrell and Sean Paul's "Breathe".^[8] The song reached the top spot on Billboard's European Hot 100, after it jumped from number three to number-one in the Netherlands and number seven to number three in Germany.^[9] Due to the increase of radio plays for the song, it ascended up the chart from number 10 to number five on the Billboard Hot 100.^[10]

Track listings

Maxi single

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)" (Original Mix)	3:06
2.	"Lumidee feat. Busta Rhymes & Fabolous - Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" (Uh Oooh Remix)	3:33
3.	"Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)" (Anthony Acid & DJ Skribble Remix (Radio Cut))	3.44
4.	"Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" (Video)

Official versions

1. "Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh!)" [Original Mix] - 3:06
2. "Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh!)" (Album Version) / [Main] - 3:33
3. "Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh!)" [Anthony Acid & DJ Skribble Remix (Radio Cut)] - 3:44

Personnel

• Lumidee – lead vocals, background vocals
• DJ Tedsmooth – producer
• Trendsetta – producer, drums, programming, mixing, engineering, keyboards
• Stevie J. – engineering, mixing
• Jamie "S.S" Garcia – mixing assistant

Charts and certifications

Peak positions Chart (2003) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[11] 33 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[12] 4 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[13] 1 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[14] 8 Denmark (Tracklisten)[15] 2 France (SNEP)[16] 12 Germany (Official German Charts)[17] 1 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[18] 2 Hungary (Single Top 40)[19] 9 Ireland (IRMA)[20] 17 Italy (FIMI)[21] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[22] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[23] 25 Norway (VG-lista)[24] 15 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[25] 2 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[26] 18 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 1 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[28] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[29] 3 US Latin Pop Songs (Billboard)[30] 33 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[31] 15 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[32] 9

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Position Austrian Singles Chart[33] 30 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart[34] 8 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart[35] 60 Dutch Top 40[36] 28 Swiss Singles Chart[37] 7 US Billboard Hot 100[38] 41 Decade-end charts (2000–2009) Position German Singles Chart[39] 80 Certifications Region Certification Sales/shipments Belgium[40] Gold 25,000 Germany[41] Gold 150,000 Switzerland[42] Gold 20,000 ^*sales figures based on certification alone ^^shipments figures based on certification alone ^xunspecified figures based on certification alone

See also

• Hot 100 number-one hits of 2003 (Europe)
• Ultratop 50 number-one hits of 2003
• Dutch Top 40 number-one hits of 2003
• Number-one hits of 2003 (Germany)
• FIMI number-one hits of 2003
• List of Swiss number-one hits of 2003

Release history

Region	Date	Format	Label
United Kingdom[43]	July 28, 2003	CD single	MCA Records
Germany[44]	August 4, 2003		Universal Records
United States[45]	August 5, 2003
France[46]	September 15, 2003
United States[47]	October 21, 2003	Digital download, maxi single

References

1. "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
2. Jeffries, David. "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh Uh Oooh) Review". Allmusic. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
3. (2003) Album notes from Almost Famous (Lumidee album) by Lumidee [Booklet]. Universal, Straight Face Records,
4. Radio 1 - Allez Allez 17-06-2009
5. Lumidee, "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" | Music videos BET.com. Black Entertainment Television, LLC. Retrieved 11-17-2010
6. Through The Wire mohaganygirl.com. Retrieved 11-17-2010.
7. "No 'Questions': 50 Cent's Back On Top". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
8. "Cantrell, Coral Scale U.K. Charts". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
9. "Np Stopping Blu On U.K. Chart". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
10. "Beyoncé, Jay-Z Go Chart 'Crazy'". Billboard. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
11. "Australian-charts.com – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
12. "Austriancharts.at – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
13. "Ultratop.be – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
14. "Ultratop.be – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)" (in French). Ultratop 50.
15. "Danishcharts.com – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)". Tracklisten.
16. "Lescharts.com – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)" (in French). Les classement single.
17. "Musicline.de – Lumidee Single-Chartverfolgung" (in German). Media Control Charts. PhonoNet GmbH.
18. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
19. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége.
20. "Chart Track: Week 33, 2003". Irish Singles Chart.
21. "Italiancharts.com – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)". Top Digital Download.
22. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 34, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40
23. "Charts.org.nz – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)". Top 40 Singles.
24. "Norwegiancharts.com – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)". VG-lista.
25. Romanian Top 100: Editia 47, saptamina 8.12 - 14.12, 2003
26. "Swedishcharts.com – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)". Singles Top 100.
27. "Swisscharts.com – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)". Swiss Singles Chart.
28. "Archive Chart: 2003-08-09" UK Singles Chart.
29. "Lumidee – Chart history" Billboard Hot 100 for Lumidee.
30. "Lumidee – Chart history" Billboard Latin Pop Songs for Lumidee.
31. "Lumidee – Chart history" Billboard Pop Songs for Lumidee.
32. "Lumidee – Chart history" Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for Lumidee.
33. "2003 Austrian Singles Chart" (in German). Austriancharts. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
34. "2003 Belgian (Flanders) Singles Chart" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
35. "2003 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
36. "Single top 100 over 2003" (pdf) (in Dutch). Top40. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
37. "2003 Swiss Singles Chart" (in German). Swisscharts. Retrieved 3 May 2010.
38. "2003". Billboard.
39. "RTL Fernsehprogramm von heute - aktuelles TV Programm - RTL.de". RTLde.
40. Belgian certifications Ultratop.be (Retrieved March 28, 2009)
41. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('Never+Leave+You')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
42. Swiss certifications Swisscharts.com (Retrieved March 28, 2009)
43. Never Leave You (Uh Ooh Uh Ooh): Lumidee: Amazon.co.uk: Music Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved January 22, 2011
44. Never Leave You (Uh Ooh Uh Ooh): Lumidee: Amazon.de: Musik Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved January 22, 2011
45. Amazon.com: Never Leave You (Uh Ooh Uh Ooh): Lumidee: Music Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved January 22, 2011
46. Never Leave You (Uh Ooh Uh Ooh): Lumidee: Amazon.fr: Musique Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved January 22, 2011
47. "Never Leave You (Maxi Single) by Lumidee". itunes.apple.com. Apple, Inc. Retrieved January 22, 2003