Never Want to Give You Up explained

Never Want to Give You Up
Type:studio
Artist:Sammi Cheng
Cover:Sammi_Cheng_Never_Want_To_Give_You_Up.jpg
Released:29 May 1996
Recorded:December 1995 – March 1996
Language:Cantonese
Genre:
Length:40:28
Label:Warner Music Hong Kong
Producer:Alvin Leong, Mahmood Rumjahn, Stanley Leung
Prev Title:Can't Let You Go
Prev Year:1995
Next Title:Worth It
Next Year:1996

Never Want to Give You Up (Cantonese: 放不低) is the ninth Cantonese studio album by Hong Kong singer Sammi Cheng. Released on 29 May 1996, by Warner Music Hong Kong,[1] the album features a mix of dance tracks and ballads. In Hong Kong, the album was a commercial success, achieving double platinum status shortly after its release.[2] After three months, it was certified triple platinum.[3] As of November 1996, the album sold 175,000 copies,[4] making it the best-selling Cantonese album by female artist that year.[5]

Composition

The album incorporates a range of contemporary Cantopop styles, blending sentimental ballads, dance-pop with up-tempo tracks. Cheng worked with several producers and songwriters, including Alvin Leong, Mark Lui, Mahmood Rumjahn, Stanley Leung, Vicky Fung, C.Y. Kong and Andrew Lam.

Promotion

Sammi Cheng promoted the album through various live performances, including events and TV appearances. She conducted various interviews and features in magazines and newspapers. Additionally, a giant outdoor billboard of the album was hung on the HMV building in Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong.[6]

The title track "Never Want to Give You Up" was used as the theme song for the TV drama "When a Woman Loves a Man" and was also featured in a commercial for Panasonic Discman,[7] which helped it reach a wider audience. Additionally, "Disagreement" served as the interlude for the same TV drama. Shortly thereafter, the film Feel 100% starring Sammi Cheng as the female lead was released and became highly popular. The film's theme song "Owe You Nothing" and the interludes "Asking Me" and "Colour... Scent",[8] were performed by Cheng.

Singles

In Hong Kong, six singles were released from the album. The first three, "Beware Of Woman", "Never Want to Give You Up", and "Owe You Nothing", (from Feel 100%), are commercial singles intended for radios, TVs, and karaoke bars. The last three, "Asking Me" (from Feel 100% 1), "Colour ... Scent" and "Disagreement" are promotional singles intended solely for karaoke bars.

"Beware of Woman" was chosen as the album's lead single, topping four major charts. "Never Want to Give You Up" was released as the second single, peaking at number one on three major charts. "Owe You Nothing" (from Feel 100%) was released as the third and final commercial single, reaching number one on one major chart. It was also so popular in karaoke bars that it shot straight to the top of the karaoke charts for eight weeks.

Accolades

YearOrganizationCategoryNominee Result
1996JSG Selections 2nd Quarter[9] Top 10 Songs"Beware of Woman"[10]
JSG Selections 3rd Quarter[11] Top 10 Songs"Never Want to Give You Up"[12]
Metro Radio Hits Music AwardsMost popular karaoke song"Owe You Nothing"
Youth Music Channel Music AwardsMost popular Cantonese song
Malaysia PWH Music Awards
RTHK Top 10 Gold Songs AwardsTop 10 Songs"Never Want to Give You Up"
Best-selling female artist[13] Sammi Cheng

Commercial performance

Never Want To Give You Up debuted at number one on IFPI (Hong Kong Group), maintained that position for one week.[14] It stayed in the chart for 12 weeks.

Track listing

Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1996)!scope="col"
Peak
position
Hong Kong Albums (IFPI)[15] 1

Release history

List of formats and editions of the album being released in each country, along with the date of the release
Region DateFormat LabelEdition
Asia29 May 1996Warner Music Hong KongStandard
Canada14 June 1996Warner MusicHong Kong import
South Korea24 June 1996Warner Music KoreaKorean edition [16] [17]
Hong Kong28 February 2001Warner Music Hong KongBest Sound of Warner Music HDCD remaster series
Taiwan15 January 2002Warner Music TaiwanReissue
Hong Kong21 December 2010Warner Music Hong KongGolden reissue series
Taiwan14 February 2014Warner Music Taiwan

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Never Want To Give You Up. allmusic. 7 January 2024.
  2. https://books.google.com/books?id=xwkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA50#v=onepage&q&f=Billboard - 26 Oct 1996 - Page 50
  3. After three months, Never Want to Give You Up successfully achieved triple platinum status. Nanyang Siang Pau. 10 October 2024.
  4. With album sales exceeding one million, Sammi Cheng aspires to be a chubby housewife.(Never Want To Give You Up achieved triple platinum status, with total sales 175,000 copies). Lianhe Wanbao. 23 November 1996.
  5. Web site: Sales award. RTHK. 10 October 2024.
  6. Web site: 1996 Sammi Cheng - Tsimshatsui HMV huge format outdoor billboard Never Want to Give You Up. digicolor. 7 January 2024.
  7. Web site: 1996 Panasonic Discman. youtube. 7 January 2024.
  8. Web site: 1996 Feel 100% Soundtracks. imdb. 7 January 2024.
  9. Web site: 1996 JSG Selections 2nd Quarter. 7 January 2024.
  10. Web site: 1996 JSG Selections 2nd Quarter Top 10 song awards Beware Of Woman. youtube. 7 January 2024.
  11. Web site: 1996 JSG Selections 3rd Quarter. 7 January 2024.
  12. Web site: 1996 JSG Selections 3rd Quarter Top 10 song awards Never Want to Give You Up. youtube. 7 January 2024.
  13. Web site: 10 October 2024 . Sales award . RTHK.
  14. 10 October 2024 . IFPI (Hong Kong Group) . Billboard.
  15. 10 October 2024 . IFPI (Hong Kong Group) . Billboard.
  16. Web site: Never Want To Give You Up (Korean Edition). yes24. 7 January 2024.
  17. Web site: Never Want To Give You Up (Korean Edition). mused.co.kr. 7 January 2024.