"Give It Up, Turn It Loose" was the fourth single from American R&B/pop vocal group En Vogue's second album, Funky Divas. The song earned a Grammy nomination and reached #15 on the US pop chart, and #16 on the US R&B chart and #22 on the UK singles chart. The song's title is a reference to the 1969James Brown song "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose". This song features Maxine Jones on lead entirely.
Critical reception
AllMusic editor Jose F. Promis described it as a "doo wop good-feelin'"-song in his review of Funky Divas.[3] Daryl Easlea for BBC noted its "smooth old-school groove".[4]Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that the group vocally "glides with ease over a languid, retro-soul shuffle beat. Jazzy flutes and restrained funk guitars add texture that will warm the hearts of pop and urban folks alike."[5]Music & Media commented, "In which direction will the catwalk lead this time? To soul music a la the Pointer Sisters, or four Mariah Careys."[6] Cheo H. Coker from Stanford Daily noted that the song is "perhaps the most enjoyable on the album; the jam is the catchiest thing since its Debarge predecessor, "I Like It", from which it takes its inspiration."[7]
Official versions
Give It Up, Turn It Loose (LP Version) (5:10)
Give It Up, Turn It Loose (LP Edit) (4:05)
Give It Up, Turn It Loose (Kevin's Extended R&B Mix) (5:17)
Give It Up, Turn It Loose ("Welcome To The Ghetto" Hip-Hop Edit) (5:26)
Give It Up, Turn It Loose (Kevin's Jazz Mix) (4:58)
Give It Up, Turn It Loose (Kevin's Jazz Mix/Edit) (4:20)
Give It Up, Turn It Loose (Somethin' For The People Remix) (5:50)
Give It Up, Turn It Loose (Hip-Hop Instrumental) (4:50)