"Don't Hold the Wall" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake for his third studio album, The 20/20 Experience (2013). It was written and produced by Timberlake, Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley and Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon, with additional writing from James Fauntleroy. Musically, it is a R&B song that contains tribal chants, "oozing" vocal samples, tribal drums, rainsticks, "spacious drums", and a "pseudo-Indian" beat. Lyrically, the song sees Timberlake in pursuit of a woman in a club.
Timberlake started writing and recording for his third studio album in the "late part of May, first week in June" and concluded in July 2012.[1] The project was produced in a span of 20 days.[2] In August 2012, producer Jim Beanz reported that Timberlake started work on his new music project.[3] However, at that time, shortly after the announcement, Timberlake's publicist revealed that there were no current plans for a new Timberlake album, affirming instead that Timberlake was working with Timbaland on songs for his upcoming project Shock Value III.[3] Although, originally planned for release in October 2012, its date was postponed because of the singer's wedding with actress Jessica Biel.[1] Timberlake's manager, Johnny Wright, stated that although the project involved artists who are primarily Timberlake's friends, it was tough keeping it a secret, making them use codenames for the project.[1] It was released on March 15, 2013, under the title The 20/20 Experience.[4]
"Don't Hold the Wall" was written by Timberlake, Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley, Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon and James Fauntleroy.[5] The song was produced by Timbaland, Timberlake and Harmon.[5] Timberlake arranged and produced his vocals, which were recorded at Larabee Studios in North Hollywood, California.[5] Harmon provided keyboards for the song, while Elliot Ives played the guitar.[5] The song was engineered by Chris Godbey, with assistance from Alejandro Baima.[5] The song was mixed by Jimmy Douglass, Godbey, and Timberlake at Larabee Studios.[5]
Composition and lyrical interpretation
"Don't Hold the Wall" is a R&B song with a length of seven minutes and ten seconds.[6] According to Joey Guerra of the Houston Chronicle the song "rides a hypnotic, sensual groove".[7] The song contains tribal chants and "oozing" vocal samples.[8] Tribal drums,[9] rainsticks, "spacious drums"[8] and a "pseudo-Indian" beat[10] are also present.
"Don't Hold the Wall" begins a "gorgeous sounding" The Beach Boys-like chorus, according to David Meller of MusicOMH.[11] Jean Bentley of Hollywood.com compared the a cappella introduction of the song to that of Timberlake's former boy band, 'NSYNC.[12] The song then shifts into a mix of hip hop, Bollywood and Bhangra music.[11] Four minutes and twenty seconds into the song, "Don't Hold the Wall" transcends "darker, more muscular structure", according to Billboard's Jason Lipshutz.[8] The song concludes with drum and bass loops and vocoder backing vocals.[11]
Lyrically, the song sees Timberlake in pursuit of a woman in a club, "something he's undoubtedly had little trouble doing over the years".[13] Timberlake commands the object of his affection to "give in" to her "physical impulses".[8] Timbaland chants, "Dance... Don't hold the wall", in a voice that sounds "as if it is coming through a broken phone receiver", according to Allan Raible of ABC News.[10] According to Lipshutz, Timbaland's production on the song is "the star" of The 20/20 Experience.[8] He wrote that "there are so many things happening" in the song that it takes five listens just to "process them".[8]
Critical reception
Sarah Dean of The Huffington Post called "Don't Hold the Wall" one of the "strongest songs" on The 20/20 Experience. She cited the song as being the "Chop Me Up" of FutureSex/LoveSounds and the "Rock Your Body" of Justified "funked up" for The 20/20 Experience.[13] Allan Raible of ABC News called the song a "sparse, hand-clap jam" that does not warrant its seven-minute length, even with its "marginally interesting breakdown".[10]
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of The 20/20 Experience.[5]
Locations
Vocals recorded and mixed at Larrabee Studios, North Hollywood, California
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