En Vogue’s 1990 debut single was “Hold On.” Six years later, after many hits, they sang the theme song to F. Gary Gray’s Set It Off: the aptly titled “Don’t Let Go (Love). Sense a theme here?

Strong and seductive, the song was a major hit. It was also the group’s last single and music video to feature member Dawn Robinson and was En Vogue’s biggest international single, making it to the top 10 in several countries. According to Billboard, the single ranked as the 83rd most successful single of the 1990s. It was nominated for a Grammy and it won one Soul Train Award.

And I would have nominated it for an Oscar.

This article is part of a special year-long series of anecdotes, reflections and thoughts about the Academy Awards.