# Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)

"Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" is a song by American recording artist Lumidee, released as her debut single on May 12, 2003, from her first album, Almost Famous (2003). The official remix features Busta Rhymes and Fabolous. "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)" topped the charts in Belgium (Flanders), Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, and peaked within the top ten of the charts in many other countries, including Austria, Belgium (Wallonia), Denmark, and the United Kingdom.

## 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 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.
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.

## 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, 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.

## Chart performance

"Never Leave You (Uh Ooh, Uh Ooh)" debuted at number 61 on the US Billboard Hot 100. 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. 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". The song reached the top spot on the European Hot 100, after it jumped from number three to the top of the charts in the Netherlands and number seven to the top of the charts in Germany. The song entered the top 20 in France, Norway, Sweden and Spain, top thirty in Canada and New Zealand and top 40 in Australia.

## Music video

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

## 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

## Certifications

| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Belgium (BEA) | Gold | 25,000$^*$ |
| Germany (BVMI) | Platinum | 300,000$^‡$ |
| Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland) | Gold | 20,000$^^$ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 400,000$^‡$ |
| $^*$ Sales figures based on certification alone. $^^$ Shipments figures based on certification alone. $^‡$ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |||

## Release history

| Region | Date | Format(s) | Label(s) |
| United States | May 12, 2003 | Rhythmic contemporary radio | Universal |
| United States | June 16, 2003 | Contemporary hit radio | Universal |
| United Kingdom | July 28, 2003 | 12-inch singleCD singlecassette single | Universal |
| Germany | August 4, 2003 | CD single | Universal |
| United States | August 5, 2003 | CD single | Universal |
| Australia | August 25, 2003 | CD single | Universal |
| France | September 15, 2003 | CD single | Universal |
| United States | October 21, 2003 | Digital download, maxi single | Universal |