I Wanna Hold On to You

"I Wanna Hold On to You"
Single by Mica Paris
from the album Whisper a Prayer
B-side "Say You Will"
Released 24 May 1993
Studio Tarpan (San Rafael, California)
Length 4:16
Label 4th & B'way
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Narada Michael Walden
  • Mike Mani
Mica Paris singles chronology
"I Never Felt Like This Before"
(1993) 		"I Wanna Hold On to You"
(1993) 		"Two in a Million"
(1993)

"I Wanna Hold on to You" is a song by British singer-songwriter Mica Paris, released in May 1993 as the second single from her third studio album, Whisper a Prayer (1993). Co-written by Paris with Narada Michael Walden and Sally Jo Dakota, it peaked at number 27 on the UK Singles Chart and number five on Music Week's Dance Singles chart.

Critical reception

In his weekly UK chart commentary, James Masterton described the song as a "fairly standard piece of Brit soul". Alan Jones from Music Week felt that after the massive "I Never Felt Like This Before", "Mica Paris tackles a less flowing, looser and altogether jazzier song. Vocally superb, but lacking the commercial appeal of the aforementioned single, "I Wanna Hold On to You" is likely to peter out a good 10 or so places lower." Ian McCann from NME wrote, "Standard understated and impossibly unimaginative soul groove." James Hamilton from the RM Dance Update described it as "EnVogue-ish" and "slinky". Damon Albarn and Alex James of Blur reviewed the song for Smash Hits, giving it five out of five. Albarn said that "she definitely sounds more and more like Anita Baker the more records she puts out." He added, "Mica is a really sexy woman, it's sexy music. It gives me the horn. It's energetic and sexy."

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by American artist, photographer, director and creative director Matthew Rolston. It was later published on YouTube in 2018.

Track listings

CD

Europe

No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "I Wanna Hold on To You" (Absolute Radio Mix) Narada Michael Walden, Mica Paris, Sally Jo Dakota Absolute 3:49
2. "I Wanna Hold on To You" (Album Version Edit) Narada Michael Walden, Mica Paris, Sally Jo Dakota Narada Michael Walden, Mike Mani 4:16
3. "I Wanna Hold on To You" (Old School Mix) Narada Michael Walden, Mica Paris, Sally Jo Dakota S & P Jervier 5:24
4. "Say You Will"   Mica Paris 5:10

12-inch

UK

Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "I Wanna Hold on To You" (Absolute Club Mix) Narada Michael Walden, Mica Paris, Sally Jo Dakota Absolute  
2. "I Wanna Hold on To You" (Album Mix) Narada Michael Walden, Mica Paris, Sally Jo Dakota Narada Michael Walden, Mike Mani 4:16
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "I Wanna Hold on To You" (Dirty Drum Mix) Narada Michael Walden, Mica Paris, Sally Jo Dakota S & P Jervier  
2. "Say You Will"   Mica Paris 5:10

US

All tracks are written by Narada Michael Walden, Mica Paris, Sally Jo Dakota

Side one
No. Title Producer(s) Length
1. "I Wanna Hold on To You" (Album Mix) Narada Michael Walden, Mike Mani 4:16
2. "I Wanna Hold on To You" (Dirty Drum Mix) S & P Jervier  
Side two
No. Title Producer(s) Length
1. "I Wanna Hold on To You" (Absolute Remix) Absolute  
2. "I Wanna Hold on To You" (Absolute Instrumental) Absolute  

7-inch

Netherlands

Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "I Wanna Hold on To You" (Absolute Radio Mix) Narada Michael Walden, Mica Paris, Sally Jo Dakota Absolute  
Side two
No. Title Writer(s) Producer(s) Length
1. "Say You Will" Phil Edwards Mica Paris 5:10

Personnel

Personnel are obtained from the Whisper a Prayer liner notes.

Charts

Chart (1993) Peak
position
Europe (European Dance Radio) 2
UK Singles (OCC) 27
UK Dance (Music Week) 5
UK Club Chart (Music Week) 11
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard) 46
US R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard) 54