Not Giving Up on Love

"Not Giving Up on Love" is a collaboration between Dutch DJ and record producer Armin van Buuren and English singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor. It was released on 20 August 2010 as the second single from van Buuren's fourth studio album, Mirage, and the fourth single from Ellis-Bextor's fourth studio album, Make a Scene.

"Not Giving Up on Love"
Single by Armin van Buuren vs. Sophie Ellis-Bextor
from the album Mirage and Make a Scene
Released	20 August 2010 (2010-08-20)
Studio	Armada Studios, Amsterdam
Genre	Vocal trance
Length	2:53
Label	Armind Armada Ultra
Songwriter(s)	Armin van Buuren Benno de Goeij Miriam Nervo Olivia Nervo Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Producer(s)	Armin van Buuren Benno de Goeij
Armin van Buuren singles chronology
"Full Focus" (2010) "Not Giving Up on Love" (2010) "This Light Between Us" (2010)
Sophie Ellis-Bextor singles chronology
"Bittersweet" (2010) "Not Giving Up on Love" (2010) "Off & On" (2011)

Background and release

The song was written by Australian songwriters Olivia Nervo and Miriam Nervo and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.^[1] It premiered on BBC Radio 2's The Dermot O'Leary Show on 11 July 2010 when it was performed in an acoustic version by Sophie Ellis-Bextor.^[2] The extended version debuted on Armin van Buuren's radio show A State of Trance on 12 August 2010. On 5 December 2010 it was announced that the song entered the 2010 edition of the Q Top 1000 of all time, compiled by listeners of Dutch radio station Q-Music, on number 545.^[3] In the 2011 edition of the Q Top 1000 of all time, the song landed at number 409.^[4] The song was nominated at the "2011 International Dance Music Awards" in the category of "Best Commercial Dance Track" and "Best Trance Track", for which it won the award.^[5]

Composition

 

"Not Giving Up On Love" (2010)

A 30 second sample of "Not Giving Up on Love".

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"Not Giving Up on Love" is a trance song.^[6] It also features euphoric synths and pulsating beats.^[7] According to Idolator's Robbie Daw, the opening lyrics to 'Not Giving Up on Love' could almost be describing Sophie’s feelings about her chart fortunes over the past year: "I know you’re feeling restless, like life’s not on your side/It’s weighing heavy on your mind."^[8] In the chorus, she sings: "Hold me now, nothing else matters, it’s just the two of us / And if it all falls down, nothing else matters, you know we’re strong enough / I’m not giving up, I’m not giving up on us / I said I’m not giving up, I’m not giving up on love."^[6]

Critical reception

The song received positive reviews from most music critics. Jon O'Brien of Allmusic wrote that "on the warm and melancholic multi-layered trance of 'Not Giving Up on Love', she shows her Ibiza soundtrack days aren't as far behind her as first thought."^[1] Tom Hocknell of BBC Music commented, "The album’s purple patch continues with Van Buuren’s uplifting Not Giving Up on Love, which sounds like Chicane at the gym."^[9] Lewis Corner of Digital Spy awarded it four out of five stars, writing "The result is a club thumper more fabulous and heavy than a Big Fat Gypsy wedding dress."^[7] Robert Copsey also of Digital Spy called it "a club-thumping collaboration with superstar DJ Armin van Buuren."^[10] Clixie Music called it "typically Sophie, an anthem-driven track."^[11] Sputnikmusic's staff wrote that "the song exist only to excite. It's a sleeper club hit just waiting to happen."^[12]

Music video

The video for "Not Giving Up on Love" was shot in Ibiza, Spain by British director Sophie Muller, as stated by Ellis-Bextor on an interview. The video shoot took place in San Antonio and the Amnesia Club during August 2010.^[13] It was premiered on 17 August 2010.^[14]

Van Buuren told MTV News:

"Sophie [Ellis-Bextor] was very keen on working with Sophie Muller. She's like the name in music video production. We wanted a video that was very beautiful. Sophie Ellis-Bextor is a beautiful person to look at. She's an amazing performer, and I was like, 'I have my residency at Amnesia [a marquee club on the island], why not just do a video in Ibiza?' And everybody was like, 'OK!'".^[15]

Inter-cut with shots of Ellis-Bextor soaking up the sun is a club scene showing the pair performing the song. Van Buuren told MTV News the shoot was the first live attempt at the song in which the duo performed. Said the Dutch trance music star: "It was really crazy because we only had one take to do it live. We had [about] eight cameras rolling, and it was like, 'Sophie is gonna be here. She's gonna rock the track live for you guys. We are shooting a video and we only have one take to do it. So you better be enthusiastic!'".^[15]

Track listing

Digital download — The Remixes Part 1^[16] "Not Giving Up on Love" (album version) – 2:53 "Not Giving Up on Love" (extended version) – 6:52 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Dash Berlin 4AM mix) – 7:06 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Jorn van Deynhoven remix) – 6:54 Digital download — The Remixes Part 2^[17] "Not Giving Up on Love" (Armin van Buuren remix) – 7:01 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Mischa Daniels mode) – 7:04 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Glenn Morrison remix) – 7:29 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Jorn van Deynhoven dub mix) – 6:54 Juno digital download^[18] "Not Giving Up on Love" (Nicola Fasano and Steve Forest remix edit) – 3:09 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Paul and Luke remix edit) – 3:36 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Samuele Sartini remix edit) – 3:33 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Simon de Jano remix edit) – 4:00 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Nicola Fasano and Steve Forest remix) – 5:39 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Paul and Luke remix) – 6:38 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Samuele Sartini remix) – 6:14 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Simon de Jano remix) – 6:44

German CD single^[19] "Not Giving Up on Love" (radio version) – 2:53 "Not Giving Up on Love" (extended version) – 6:52 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Dash Berlin 4AM mix) – 7:06 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Jorn van Deynhoven remix) – 6:54 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Mischa Daniels mode) – 7:04 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Glenn Morrison remix) – 7:29 UK digital download — The Remixes Part 1^[20] "Not Giving Up on Love" (radio edit) – 2:53 "Not Giving Up on Love" (extended version) – 6:52 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Armin van Buuren remix) – 7:01 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Jorn van Deynhoven remix) – 6:54 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Dash Berlin 4AM mix) – 7:06 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Zodiax dub mix) – 5:26 UK digital download — The Remixes Part 2^[21] "Not Giving Up on Love" (Zodiax remix) – 5:45 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Mischa Daniels mode) – 7:05 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Glenn Morrison remix) – 7:29 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Jorg Schmid remix) – 5:22 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Jorn van Deynhoven dub mix) – 6:54 "Not Giving Up on Love" (Zodiax radio edit) – 3:19

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Not Giving Up on Love" Chart (2010–2011) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[22] 26 Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)^[23] 24 CIS (TopHit)^[24] 3 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[25] 13 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[26] 8 Poland (Polish Airplay Top 100)^[27] 1 Poland (Polish Airplay TV)^[28] 1 Poland (Dance Top 50)^[29] 21 Russia Airplay (TopHit)^[30] 21 UK Dance (OCC)^[31] 27 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)^[32] 50 US Dance/Electronic Digital Songs (Billboard)^[33] 36 US Dance/Mix Show Airplay (Billboard)^[34] 3

Year-end charts 2010 year-end chart performance for "Not Giving Up on Love" Chart (2010) Peak position CIS (TopHit)^[35] 63 Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[36] 89 Netherlands (Download Top 100)^[37] 90 2011 year-end chart performance for "Not Giving Up on Love" Chart (2011) Peak position CIS (TopHit)^[38] 117 Russia Airplay (TopHit)^[39] 111 Ukraine Airplay (TopHit)^[40] 180

Personnel

Songwriting	Olivia Nervo Miriam Nervo Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Composition and production	Armin van Buuren Benno de Goeij
Vocal production and backing vocals	Olivia Nervo Miriam Nervo
Vocals	Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Mastering	Joe LaPorta Emily Lazar

Source: Not Giving Up on Love (liner notes). Armin van Buuren vs. Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Armada Music. 2010.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

Release history

Region	Date	Format
Worldwide^[16]	20 August 2010	Digital download
Netherlands	27 August 2010^[19]	CD single
Germany
Austria
Italy^[41]	11 January 2011	Digital download
United Kingdom	6 March 2011

References

1. O'Brien, Jon (6 June 2011). "Make a Scene — Sophie Ellis Bextor: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards: AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
2. Copsey, Robert (12 July 2010). "Ellis-Bextor premieres new single". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
3. . Q-Music. 5 December 2010. Archived from the original on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2010.
4. . Q-Music. 20 November 2011. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 20 November 2011.
5. Slomowicz, DJ Jon. . About.com. Archived from the original on 13 August 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
6. Stern, Bradley (17 August 2010). "ARMIN VAN BUUREN VS. SOPHIE ELLIS-BEXTOR: NOT GIVING UP ON LOVE (VIDEO PREMIERE)". MuuMuse. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
7. Corner, Lewis (9 March 2011). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: 'Not Giving Up on Love'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
8. Daw, Robbie (16 August 2010). "Armin Van Buuren And Sophie Ellis-Bextor Are "Not Giving Up on Love"". Idolator. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
9. Hocknell, Tom (1 July 2011). "BBC — Music — Review of Sophie Ellis Bextor — Make a Scene". BBC Music. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
10. Copsey, Robert (13 June 2011). "Sophie Ellis-Bextor: 'Make A Scene'". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
11. Bradshaw, Lee (7 May 2011). . Clixie Music. Archived from the original on 25 May 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.
12. "Sophie Ellis-Bextor Make A Scene". Sputnikmusic. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
13. Sophie Ellis-Bextor heading to Ibiza for video
14. Copsey, Robert (17 August 2010). "Ellis-Bextor video premiere announced". Digital Spy. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
15. "Armin Van Buuren Spills 'Not Giving Up on Love' Video Details". VH1. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2012.
16. "Armin van Buuren and Sophie Ellis-Bextor — Not Giving Up on Love — EP". iTunes Store. 20 August 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
17. "Armin van Buuren and Sophie Ellis-Bextor — Not Giving Up on Love — EP (Remixes Vol. 2)". iTunes Store. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
18. "Armin van Buuren vs. Sophie Ellis-Bextor — Not Giving Up on Love — The Italian Job". Juno Records. Retrieved 5 April 2013.
19. "Not Giving Up on Love: Armin Van Buuren vs. Sophie Ellis-Bextor". Amazon.de. Retrieved 22 August 2010.
20. UK iTunes bundle
21. UK iTunes bundle
22. "Armin van Buuren vs Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Not Giving Up on Love" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
23. "Armin van Buuren vs Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Not Giving Up on Love" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
24. Armin Van Buurenvs.Sophie Ellis-Bextor — Not Giving Up On Love. TopHit. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
25. "Nederlandse Top 40 – Armin van Buuren vs Sophie Ellis-Bextor" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
26. "Armin van Buuren vs Sophie Ellis-Bextor – Not Giving Up on Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
27. "Listy bestsellerów, wyróżnienia :: Związek Producentów Audio-Video". Polish Airplay Top 100. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
28. "Top 5 Airplay TV". Polish Video Chart. ZPAV. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
29. (in Polish). ZPAV. 1 November 2010. Archived from the original on 13 May 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2011.
30. "Russia Airplay Chart for 2010-12-27." TopHit. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
31. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
32. "Ukraine Airplay Chart for 2011-01-10." TopHit. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
33. "Dance/Electronic Digital Song Sales". Billboard. 11 September 2010. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
34. "Armin van Buuren Chart History (Dance Mix/Show Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
35. "Top Radio Hits Global Annual Chart 2010". TopHit. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
36. "Jaaroverzichten – Singles 2010" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
37. "Jaaroverzichten – Download 2010" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
38. "Top Radio Hits Global Annual Chart 2011". TopHit. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
39. "Top Radio Hits Russia Annual Chart 2011". TopHit. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
40. "Top Radio Hits Ukraine Annual Chart 2011". TopHit. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
41. LA BEXTOR: NGUOL - The Italian Job

External links

• Official music video on YouTube