Music / En Vogue

The original lineup (from left to right): Maxine Jones, Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron, and Dawn Robinso

Free your mind,
And the rest will follow,
Be color-blind,
Don't be so shallow!

— "Free Your Mind"

En Vogue are an R&B group, formed in 1989 in Oakland, California. The original lineup was comprised of four singers, Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Often considered one of the best female vocal groups of all time, they made their debut in 1990 with Born to Sing, which spawned the hit single "Hold On", which peaked at no. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Members:

• Terry Ellis (1989-present)
• Cindy Herron (1989–present)
• Rhona Bennett (2003–2005; 2006–2008; 2012–present)

Former Members:

• Maxine Jones (1989–2001; 2003–2012)
• Dawn Robinson (1989–1997; 2005; 2008–2011)
• Amanda Cole (2001–2003)

Studio Albums:

• Born to Sing (1990)
• Funky Divas (1992)
• EV3 (1997)
• Masterpiece Theatre (2000)
• The Gift of Christmas (2002)
• Soul Flower (2004)
• Electric Café (2018)

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This group has examples of:

• A Cappella: "Hold On" begins with an acapella cover of "Who's Lovin' You?" by The Jackson 5.
• Adam Westing: Done in a skit for In Living Color! where Ugly Girl Wanda was part of the group while they were trying to record "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)".
• Abandoned Hospital: The video for "Whatever" takes place in one, with the girls as zombie patients.
• Break Up Song:
  • "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)", in which the protagonist is telling her boyfriend that, despite getting a new girlfriend, she'll never accept his advances if he breaks up with his new girlfriend.
  • "You Don't Have to Worry" provides an example of the "Please Don't Go" variant. At one point, the protagonist states that she and her boyfriend's relationship has been good "up to this very day", and she'll see where "our dedication leads."
• Black Gal on White Guy Drama: "Free Your Mind" dismisses this trope
  I might date another race or color
  It doesn't mean I don't like my strong black brothers!
• Be Yourself: The moral of "Free Your Mind".
• Cover Version: The band has produced a few covers throughout their history, including one of The Beatles' "Yesterday" for Funky Divas.
• Malicious Slander: "Lies" discusses how this negatively impact people.
• Shout-Out: "Free Your Mind" begins with a line based of In Living Color's Calhoun Tubbs
  "Prejudice! Wrote a song 'bout it! Like to hear it? Here it go!"
• Song of Prayer: "Thanks (Prayer)" from Funky Divas is literally this. Cindy leads the prayer while Dawn, Terry, and Maxine vocalize in the background.