"Gone till November" a song by Haitian rapper Wyclef Jean, released as the third single from his debut solo album The Carnival (1997). The song was released on 25 November 1997 by Columbia and Ruffhouse, and peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Jean's highest-charting solo hit in the UK alongside 2000's "It Doesn't Matter". In the United States, the song peaked at number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It reached number four in both Canada and New Zealand.

"Gone till November"
Jean playing guitar onstage
Single by Wyclef Jean
from the album The Carnival
B-side"No Airplay"
Released25 November 1997 (1997-11-25)
Length3:28
LabelColumbia, Ruffhouse
Songwriter(s)Wyclef Jean, Jerry Duplessis
Producer(s)Wyclef Jean, Jerry "Wonda" Duplessis
Wyclef Jean singles chronology
"No, No, No"
(1997)
"Gone till November"
(1997)
"Cheated (To All the Girls)"
(1998)

The album version differs from the more-familiar pop version found on the single and used in the video. The album version has a different bass line and more, different, voiceover. The pop version is more recognizable due to radio play but is not found on the actual album. Both album and pop versions differ from the "remix" version.

Composition

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The orchestral accompaniment, which was arranged and conducted by Sonny Kompanek, was performed by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Chart performance

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"Gone till November" peaked at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 and spent a total of 20 weeks on the chart. It also peaked at number nine on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In the UK, the song debuted at number three on the UK Singles Chart and spent a total of nine weeks on the chart. This became Wyclef's highest-charting single on the chart. The single was eventually certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for sales of over a million copies in the United States.

Critical reception

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British magazine Music Week wrote, "This laidback ode to a footloose lifestyle by the Fugees rapper is desperately catchy and features pleasing arrangements, but somehow seems a bit lifeless."[1]

Remix

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The remix of "Gone till November" features R. Kelly and Canibus, with backing vocals by Destiny's Child, and contains interpolations of the songs "Michelle" by the Beatles and "Karma Chameleon" by Culture Club. A separate music video was also made for the remix version.

Music video

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The music video for "Gone till November", directed by Francis Lawrence, was filmed at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on 20 November 1997, and released in December 1997.[2] It features a cameo appearance by Bob Dylan when Wyclef sings, "knockin' on heaven's door like I'm Bob Dylan."[3][4] Canibus and Destiny's Child also make appearances respectively, but R. Kelly does not.

Track listings

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Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[42] Gold 5,000*
United Kingdom (BPI)[43] Silver 200,000^
United States (RIAA)[45] Platinum 1,200,000[44]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States 25 November 1997 [46]
20 January 1998
  • CD
  • cassette
[47]
United Kingdom 4 May 1998 [48]

References

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  1. ^ "Single reviews" (PDF). Music Week. 4 April 1998. p. 10. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  2. ^ MTV News Staff (22 December 1997). "Bob Dylan Makes Cameo In Wyclef Video". MTV News. Archived from the original on 22 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  3. ^ Nelson, Havelock (27 December 1997). "The Rap Column". Billboard. p. 85. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  4. ^ "Production Notes" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 6. 7 February 1998. p. 86. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  5. ^ Gone till November (US CD single liner notes). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records, Ruffhouse Records. 1998. 38K 78752.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  6. ^ Gone till November (US cassette single sleeve). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records, Ruffhouse Records. 1998. 38T 78752.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  7. ^ Gone till November (UK cassette single sleeve). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records, Ruffhouse Records. 1998. 665871 4.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  8. ^ Gone till November (US maxi-CD single liner notes). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records, Ruffhouse Records. 1998. 44K 78753.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ Gone till November (US 12-inch single sleeve). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records, Ruffhouse Records. 1998. 44 78753.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  10. ^ Gone till November (European CD single liner notes). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records, Ruffhouse Records. 1998. 665323 1.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  11. ^ Gone till November (UK CD1 liner notes). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records, Ruffhouse Records. 1998. 665871 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  12. ^ Gone till November (UK CD2 liner notes). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records, Ruffhouse Records. 1998. 665871 5.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  13. ^ Gone till November (Australian CD single liner notes). Wyclef Jean. Columbia Records, Ruffhouse Records. 1998. 665740 2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  14. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 144.
  15. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Chart History". Billboard.
  16. ^ "RPM Dance – May 11, 1998". RPM. Retrieved 20 November 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  17. ^ "RPM Urban Top 30 – May 18, 1998". RPM. Retrieved 20 November 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  18. ^ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 15, no. 22. 30 May 1998. p. 9. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
  19. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Gone till November" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
  20. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Gone till November". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  21. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 16, 1998" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  22. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Gone till November" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  23. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Gone till November". Top 40 Singles.
  24. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  25. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Gone till November". Singles Top 100.
  26. ^ "Wyclef Jean – Gone till November". Swiss Singles Chart.
  27. ^ "Wyclef Jean: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  28. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  29. ^ "Wyclef Jean Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  30. ^ "Wyclef Jean Chart History (Dance Singles Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
  31. ^ "Wyclef Jean Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
  32. ^ "Wyclef Jean Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard.
  33. ^ "Wyclef Jean Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
  34. ^ "RPM's Top 50 Urban Tracks of '98". RPM. Retrieved 20 November 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  35. ^ "End of Year Charts 1998". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
  36. ^ "Best Sellers of 1998 - Singles Top 100" (PDF). Music Week. 16 January 1999. p. 7. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  37. ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1998". Archived from the original on 9 March 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2010.
  38. ^ "The Year in Music 1998: Hot R&B Singles". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. 26 December 1998. p. YE-51.
  39. ^ "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Rap Singles". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. 26 December 1998. p. YE-53.
  40. ^ "The Year in Music 1998: Hot Dance Maxi-Singles Sales". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 52. 26 December 1998. p. YE-55.
  41. ^ "Most Played Rhythmic Top 40 Songs of 1998". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 6, no. 52. 25 December 1998. p. 46.
  42. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Wyclef Jean – Gone till November". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  43. ^ "British single certifications – Wyclef Jean – Gone till November". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 1 May 2021.
  44. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1998". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 5. BPI Communications Inc. 30 January 1999. p. 75. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  45. ^ "American single certifications – Wyclef Jean – Gone till November". Recording Industry Association of America.
  46. ^ "New Releases / AddVance Notice". Radio & Records. No. 1224. 25 November 1997. pp. 44, 50, 58.
  47. ^ Tomlinson, Ben (20 January 2018). "Baller Alert's Today in Hip-Hop: Wyclef Jean Released 'Gone Till November' 20 Years Ago". Baller Alert. Retrieved 26 October 2021.
  48. ^ "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 2 May 1998. p. 31.