Faith Evans released her second album, Keep the Faith, in 1998, which featured the hit singles “Love Like This” and “All Night Long.” Both songs sampled seventies classics and made audiences want to dance. While the songs are classics, I’ve always preferred Faith’s ballads. Honestly, Keep the Faith is full of romantic gems, such as the 112 duet “Caramel Kisses” and the Diane Warren written, “Lately I.” However, the album’s third single, “Never Gonna Let You Go,” earns the Slow Jam Saturday slot.
Damon Thomas and Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds co-wrote and produced the song, a lovely ballad about agape love for your partner. The moment Evans belts out, “If I had one wish boy, I’d wish you next to me,” the listener knows they are going on a blissful musical journey. Evans’s passion in the song is something any woman who has ever had that kind of love for someone can relate to. While for me as a man, I felt that Evans was singing to me.
The song was Evans second time working with Babyface after their elegant ballad “Kissing You” from the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack three years prior. It’s hard to believe that initially, Faith Evans didn’t think the song was going to be a hit, but now it’s one of her signature ballads. I first heard the song when I purchased the audio cassette of Keep the Faith in my junior year of high school. I instantly knew that the song would be a feature in my wedding when that time came.
Ten years later, when I jumped the broom, I let my fiancée know I wanted her to walk down the aisle to the song. I still remember my family and friends all smiling in unison as my wife was walked down the aisle by her late grandfather to the elegant vocals of Mrs. Evans. Twenty-three years later, “Never Gonna Let You Go” still holds up and will forever remain a timeless song about love.
Final Grade: A
“Never Gonna Let You Go” is available on all streaming platforms.
Twenty years ago, in the spring of 2005, R&B was in a good place. Usher had released what is arguably his magnum opus a year prior, rumors were rampant that Oscar winner Jamie Foxx was going to sign with J. Records, Mario was still basking in the success of his hit “Let Me Love You,” and former B2K frontman Omarion (this week’s Slow Jam Saturday artist) had just dropped his solo debut, O.
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