Let Me Hold You
Encyclopedia
"Let Me Hold You" is the first single from Bow Wow's fourth album, Wanted. Released in 2005, the single, which also features the singer Omarion
, peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100
. The song was the first Top 10 single both for Bow Wow and for Omarion
as a solo artist.
, and features a sample from Luther Vandross
' version of "If Only For One Night", written (and originally performed) by Brenda Russell. Whereas Bow Wow's earlier singles discussed romantic love in the voice of a teenager or in the voice of someone suffering from unrequited love, in "Let Me Hold You", the singer is addressing, for the first time, a girlfriend with whom he is in a serious relationship. "Let Me Hold You" is the first single Bow Wow has released since reaching the age of eighteen, which may be reflected in an increased maturity in the theme of this love song
.
On his own end, Bow Wow has also publicly announced his interpretation of the song's meaning as he stated, ""Basically the song is me talking to a girl and telling her, 'These are the things I can do for you. Let me hold you down. This is what I want to do for you as a man. These are the things I'm capable of doing for you if you get with me. Just hear me out.' I'm just really talking to the ladies. The song is really special to me, and I love that song."
As the two artists on this song do not usually record together, there is a story behind how the collaboration came together, but it is not complicated or involved. Bow Wow has stated, "The [way the] whole thing came about [was] me and Jermaine Dupri were in New York, in the studio working, and he was like, 'You need to get Omarion on this.' I said, 'O? That's nothing. I'll call him right now.'". The pair were then able to coordinate their schedules and met up together in Los Angeles to record the song.
The song's music video, directed by Bryan Barber
, features Bow Wow attempting to woo a girl with mixed results. After surprising her at her house, the two attend a house party
, but problems arise as she is less social than Bow Wow, who begins talking to other girls. After a brief reconciliation, the two argue again over the music at the party. Once again, the two are able to reconcile, but things remain awkward, and they do not communicate on their return home. The video appears to be an unresolved cliffhanger
, but a "to be continued" title is shown as the video ends. (The video's story is continued in Bow Wow's next video, "Like You
".) The video features a cameo from the song's co-producer, Jermaine Dupri, and the song's guest star, Omarion, also appears in the video.
's first Top Ten single as a solo artist, although he had previously had Top Ten hits with the band B2K
. Relative to its airplay, sales peaked lower at position twenty-four on Hot Digital Songs
. Jermaine Dupri, with the inclusion of "Let Me Hold You" in the Hot 100 Airplay chart, had production (or co-production) credit on the current four top songs on that chart ("Let Me Hold You", along with Bow Wow's next single, "Like You
", Mariah Carey
's "We Belong Together" and "Shake It Off
held positions #1-#4).
The song was also Bow Wow and Omarion's first entry ever on the Pop 100, where it peaked at position fourteen, with an airplay position of nine. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and its component airplay (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
) the single peaked at number two, being kept from the top spot by Mariah Carey's massive We Belong Together. The song also became the top single on Hot Rap Tracks
.
Omarion
Omari Ishmael Grandberry better known as Omarion, is an American R&B singer, actor, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and former lead singer of the R&B group, B2K. Omarion was spotted at a young age by a manager, Christopher B. Stokes, who took a liking to his vocal abilities...
, peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The song was the first Top 10 single both for Bow Wow and for Omarion
Omarion
Omari Ishmael Grandberry better known as Omarion, is an American R&B singer, actor, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and former lead singer of the R&B group, B2K. Omarion was spotted at a young age by a manager, Christopher B. Stokes, who took a liking to his vocal abilities...
as a solo artist.
Song information
The single was co-written and co-produced by Mak 1 OnE and No I.D.No I.D.
No I.D., officially known as Immenslope and also known as Ernest Wilson , is a hip hop and R&B record producer, also the vice-president of Def Jam Recordings, best known for his early work with Chicago rapper Common and is known as "The Godfather of Chicago hip hop".. The nickname No I.D...
, and features a sample from Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
' version of "If Only For One Night", written (and originally performed) by Brenda Russell. Whereas Bow Wow's earlier singles discussed romantic love in the voice of a teenager or in the voice of someone suffering from unrequited love, in "Let Me Hold You", the singer is addressing, for the first time, a girlfriend with whom he is in a serious relationship. "Let Me Hold You" is the first single Bow Wow has released since reaching the age of eighteen, which may be reflected in an increased maturity in the theme of this love song
Love song
A love song is about falling in love and the feelings it brings. Anthologies of love songs often contain a mixture of both of these types of song. A bawdy song is both humorous and saucy, emphasizing the physical pleasure of love rather than the emotional joy...
.
On his own end, Bow Wow has also publicly announced his interpretation of the song's meaning as he stated, ""Basically the song is me talking to a girl and telling her, 'These are the things I can do for you. Let me hold you down. This is what I want to do for you as a man. These are the things I'm capable of doing for you if you get with me. Just hear me out.' I'm just really talking to the ladies. The song is really special to me, and I love that song."
As the two artists on this song do not usually record together, there is a story behind how the collaboration came together, but it is not complicated or involved. Bow Wow has stated, "The [way the] whole thing came about [was] me and Jermaine Dupri were in New York, in the studio working, and he was like, 'You need to get Omarion on this.' I said, 'O? That's nothing. I'll call him right now.'". The pair were then able to coordinate their schedules and met up together in Los Angeles to record the song.
The song's music video, directed by Bryan Barber
Bryan Barber
Bryan Barber is a music video and motion picture director. He has directed many music videos for popular artists.-Personal:Barber graduated from Sacramento, CA Hiram Johnson High School in 1988...
, features Bow Wow attempting to woo a girl with mixed results. After surprising her at her house, the two attend a house party
House party
A house party in the English-speaking world is typically a type of party where medium to large groups of people gather at the residence of the party's host. In modern usage, a house party is typically associated with teenage or young adult crowds, loud music, dancing, and the consumption of alcohol...
, but problems arise as she is less social than Bow Wow, who begins talking to other girls. After a brief reconciliation, the two argue again over the music at the party. Once again, the two are able to reconcile, but things remain awkward, and they do not communicate on their return home. The video appears to be an unresolved cliffhanger
Cliffhanger
A cliffhanger or cliffhanger ending is a plot device in fiction which features a main character in a precarious or difficult dilemma, or confronted with a shocking revelation at the end of an episode of serialized fiction...
, but a "to be continued" title is shown as the video ends. (The video's story is continued in Bow Wow's next video, "Like You
Like You
"Like You" is a 2005 hit song duetted by rapper Bow Wow and singer Ciara. It was written by Jermaine Dupri, Jaron Alston, and Johnta Austin, and produced by Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox for Bow Wow's fourth album entitled Wanted. The song includes the keyboard chord of New Edition's "I'm Leaving You...
".) The video features a cameo from the song's co-producer, Jermaine Dupri, and the song's guest star, Omarion, also appears in the video.
Chart performance
With the release of "Let Me Hold You", Bow Wow achieved his first Top Ten hit ever on The Billboard Hot 100. The song was also OmarionOmarion
Omari Ishmael Grandberry better known as Omarion, is an American R&B singer, actor, songwriter, record producer, dancer, and former lead singer of the R&B group, B2K. Omarion was spotted at a young age by a manager, Christopher B. Stokes, who took a liking to his vocal abilities...
's first Top Ten single as a solo artist, although he had previously had Top Ten hits with the band B2K
B2K
B2K was an American R&B music group. The group met in 1998, established in 2001, and managed by music producer Chris Stokes with Lil' Fizz, J-Boog, Raz-B, and Omarion as members. The group disbanded in 2004 due to internal disagreements.-2001-2002: B2K:...
. Relative to its airplay, sales peaked lower at position twenty-four on Hot Digital Songs
Hot Digital Songs
The Hot Digital Songs chart ranks the best-selling digital singles in the United States, according to Billboard.Beginning in February 2005, digital sales have been incorporated into many of Billboards music single charts. It was decided to do so mainly because of the dramatic rise in popularity of...
. Jermaine Dupri, with the inclusion of "Let Me Hold You" in the Hot 100 Airplay chart, had production (or co-production) credit on the current four top songs on that chart ("Let Me Hold You", along with Bow Wow's next single, "Like You
Like You
"Like You" is a 2005 hit song duetted by rapper Bow Wow and singer Ciara. It was written by Jermaine Dupri, Jaron Alston, and Johnta Austin, and produced by Dupri and Bryan Michael Cox for Bow Wow's fourth album entitled Wanted. The song includes the keyboard chord of New Edition's "I'm Leaving You...
", Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey
Mariah Carey is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress. She made her recording debut with the release of her eponymous studio album in 1990, under the guidance of Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola, whom she later married in 1993...
's "We Belong Together" and "Shake It Off
Shake It Off
"Shake It Off" is a song performed by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey, taken from her tenth studio album, The Emancipation of Mimi . It was written and produced by Carey along with Jermaine Dupri, Bryan-Michael Cox, and Johntá Austin...
held positions #1-#4).
The song was also Bow Wow and Omarion's first entry ever on the Pop 100, where it peaked at position fourteen, with an airplay position of nine. On the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and its component airplay (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart is the airplay component chart of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. It is not the R&B subset of The Hot 100 Airplay, but rather a separate panel of R&B stations in urban markets used for the R&B/Hip-Hop chart...
) the single peaked at number two, being kept from the top spot by Mariah Carey's massive We Belong Together. The song also became the top single on Hot Rap Tracks
Hot Rap Tracks
Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single...
.
Chart positions
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
2 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks Hot Rap Tracks Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single... |
1 |
| U.S. Billboard Pop 100 Pop 100 The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009... |
14 |
| Australian Singles Chart | 14 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
27 |