Lumidee, Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh) | 1 Hit WONDERful

In the 3^rd edition of 1 Hit WONDERful , we highlight “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)” performed by Lumidee.

It only takes ONE hit to solidify a musical legacy ! On 1 Hit WONDERful , we highlight songs that were the SOLE hit by a given musician.  To be fair, it is possible that the artists appearing on this list earned a minor hit or two, BUT for the most part, it’s that ONE hit that earned them recognition. So, in the 3^rd edition of 1 Hit WONDERful , we dive into “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)”,  the one hit wonder by Lumidee.

“Uh-oh, uh-oh / Uh-oh, uh-oh.”  When you hear those lyrics, you know what time it is, or rather, what song it is! That song, my friends, is the one and only “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)” by R&B singer Lumidee (Lumidee Cedeño). “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)” marked Cedeño’s debut single, and it was a BIG one!  This worldwide hit peaked at no. 3 Billboard Hot 100 in 2003. Without question, “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)” marked the crowning achievement of her debut album, Almost Famous. To be fair, Cedeño charted one other entry on the Billboard Hot 100: “She’s Like The Wind” featuring Tony Sunshine.  That said, at best, it was a minor hit, particularly compared to “Never Leave You.”

What made “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)” such a big hit? Well, plenty of credit should be given to producers Trendsetta and DJ Tedsmooth.  That beat kicks some serious ass – there’s no other way to put it.  Naturally, given its infectiousness, the record has been sampled, namely by Nicki Minaj on “Red Ruby Da Sleeze”, because of that distinct dancehall beat.  Of course, the “Uh-oh(s)” by Lumidee contribute greatly to the sampling and sheer catchiness of this cut in the post-chorus.  Beyond the post-chorus, Cedeño’s performance is also noteworthy.  The melody is tuneful in the verses, pre-chorus, and the chorus as Lumidee emphasizes her dedication to H-I-M.  “I never thought you’d be the one / Make me shine brighter than the sun,” she sings rhythmically in the pre-chorus, continuing, “There ain’t no ups and downs, no ins and outs / You’re here right now.” WOO! Where that dedication – that endless love – is fully promised by Cedeño is in the chorus: “If you want me to stay / I’ll never leave /… Love endlessly.” Given how big “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh)” was with its epic production and fun lyrics, it’s sad that Lumidee never truly struck gold again (her following albums yielded no hits).  She rejects the one-hit wonder tag, however.  It’s hard to score a hit, so, Lumidee has nothing to hang her head about.  We’ll never, ever quit this bop!

Lumidee • Almost Famous • UMG Recordings, Inc. • 2003

Lumidee, Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Oooh): 1 Hit WONDERful No. 3 (2023) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; UMG Recordings, Inc.; Julia Larsen, Kurchakto, RDNE Stock project, Victor Terrell from Pexels; Andrew Martin from Pixabay]