This week’s From The Vault comes courtesy of En Vogue and their overlooked home-run, ‘Riddle’.
Serviced as the first single from their lastest LP – and second as a trio – 2000’s ‘Masterpiece Theatre’, the radio mix of the track was helmed by hit-factory Stargate and incorporated elements from their 1992 mega hit single ‘My Lovin’ (Never Gonna Get It)’.
Unfortunately, the song didn’t catch on with the audience the same way ‘My Lovin” had almost a decade prior. Indeed, missing out on a Billboard Hot 100 placing, it only managed to reach #32 on the UK tally and chart inside the Top 40 of a few European countries.
Nonetheless, the track’s epic accompanying video ensured it remains a staple in the minds of many an EV3 fan. Crafted by Len Wiseman (of the Underworld series fame), the visual sees our dynamic trio play the role of vindicative scorned women who give a whole new meaning to the concept of “male-bashing”.
A great video which, without a spec of doubt, has aged astonishingly well – so much so that would not look out of place next to similar-themed visuals of today (see: ‘Telephone’, ‘Cry Me A River’ or ‘Caught Out There’).
En Vogue’s current situation is literally making our hearts break, because we firmly believe that out of all the acts who were super-popular in the 90’s, they (original line-up) are the ones who – on the merit of their ability today – could make somewhat of n impact with a comeback. Of course, any such return would be unlikely to yield consecutive Top 10s”, but they could be a solid and celebrated Urban/AC fixture. For, something about those voices, harmonies, and ever-energetic routines renders the En Vogue a timeless class act that could never go out of style.
Fingers crossed that the New Year will see the Funky Divas will let bygones be bygones and start focusing on sharing that magic with the world again.
