Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)

"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). The official remix features Fabolous and Busta Rhymes.

"Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)"
Single by Lumidee
from the album Almost Famous
B-side	"Remix"
Released	May 13, 2003
Genre	R&B dancehall hip hop
Length	3:06
Label	Universal, Straight Face
Songwriter(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 singles chronology
"Oh!" (2003) "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" (2003) "Lovely Day" (2003)

Background

The original mix of the song was recorded by DJ Tedsmooth, a native of Spanish Harlem where Lumidee 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 number 1 requested song on many New York radio stations. The success resulted in many major record label offering deals to both Lumidee and DJ Tedsmooth. After signing with Universal, the song was remixed with guest appearances by Busta Rhymes and Fabolous.[1]

The 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 for Wayne Wonder ("No Letting Go"), T.O.K. ("Galang Gal"), Bounty Killer and Wayne Marshall's "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 number 1 in five countries. It peaked at number 1 in Belgium, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Switzerland in August–September 2003. It also charted at number 2 in the United Kingdom. It also reached number 1 on the Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Nevertheless, the song peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in her own country. "Never Leave You" was incorporated into the 2010 re-release of the Diwali riddim album on Greensleeves/VP Records. It included 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

"Never Leave You (Uh Ooh, Uh Ooh)" debuted at number sixty-one on the Billboard Hot 100.[7] Due to the increase of radio plays for the song, it later ascended up the chart from number ten to number five, before peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100.[8]

In the United Kingdom, the song debuted and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart on August 3, 2003 — for the week ending date August 9, 2003 — beaten to the summit by Blu Cantrell and Sean Paul's "Breathe".[9]

The song reached the top spot on Billboard's European Hot 100, after it jumped from number three to the top of the charts in the Netherlands and number seven to number three in Germany.[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

Weekly charts 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 Canada (Nielsen SoundScan)[15] 23 Czech Republic (IFPI)[16] 5 Denmark (Tracklisten)[17] 2 Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[18] 1 France (SNEP)[19] 12 Germany (Official German Charts)[20] 1 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[21] 2 Hungary (Single Top 40)[22] 9 Ireland (IRMA)[23] 17 Italy (FIMI)[24] 1 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[25] 1 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[26] 1 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[27] 25 Norway (VG-lista)[28] 15 Romania (Romanian Top 100)[29] 2 Scotland (OCC)[30] 7 Spain (PROMUSICAE)[31] 20 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[32] 18 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[33] 1 UK R&B (OCC)[34] 2 UK Singles (OCC)[35] 2 US Billboard Hot 100[36] 3 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)[37] 4 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[38] 9 US Latin Pop Airplay (Billboard)[39] 33 US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[40] 15 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[41] 5 US Tropical Airplay (Billboard)[42] 34

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Position Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[43] 30 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[44] 8 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[45] 60 Germany (Official German Charts)[46] 9 Italy (FIMI)[47] 19 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[48] 28 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[49] 20 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[50] 7 UK Singles (Official Charts Company)[51] 44 US Billboard Hot 100[52] 41 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[53] 47 Decade-end charts Chart (2000–2009) Position Germany (Official German Charts)[54] 80 Certifications Region Certification Certified units/sales Belgium[55] Gold 25,000 Germany[56] Gold 150,000 Switzerland[57] Gold 20,000

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[58]	July 28, 2003	CD single	MCA Records
Germany[59]	August 4, 2003		Universal Records
United States[60]	August 5, 2003
France[61]	September 15, 2003
United States[62]	October 21, 2003	Digital download, maxi single

References

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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. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 1, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) Radio 1 - Allez Allez June 17, 2009
5. Lumidee, "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" | Music videos Archived May 3, 2009, at the Wayback Machine BET.com. Black Entertainment Television, LLC. Retrieved November 17, 2010
6. Through The Wire Archived April 14, 2009, at the Wayback Machine mohaganygirl.com. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
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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.
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16. "Oficiální Česká Hitparáda - Pro týden" (in Czech). IFPI ČR. Archived from the original on February 19, 2004. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
17. "Danishcharts.com – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)". Tracklisten.
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19. "Lescharts.com – Lumidee – Never Leave You (Uh-Oooh)" (in French). Les classement single.
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45. "2003 Belgian (Wallonia) Singles Chart" (in French). Ultratop. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
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56. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank ('Never+Leave+You')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
57. Swiss certifications Swisscharts.com (Retrieved March 28, 2009)
58. Never Leave You (Uh Ooh Uh Ooh): Lumidee: Amazon.co.uk: Music Amazon.com, Inc. Retrieved January 22, 2011
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