"Hold My Hand" is a song by American singer Lady Gaga, released on May 3, 2022, through Interscope Records. It is the lead single to the soundtrack for the film Top Gun: Maverick (2022). The song was written and produced by Gaga and BloodPop as "a love letter to the world during and after a very hard time". Benjamin Rice received additional production credits. Musically, "Hold My Hand" is a "hopeful" arena rock track, featuring an anthemic chorus and an electric guitar. It drew inspiration from 1980s power ballads, the decade in which the original Top Gun (1986) was released.
In April 2021, gossip website ShowBiz 411 reported that Lady Gaga would be involved with the soundtrack for Top Gun: Maverick (2022), sequel to the 1986 action drama filmTop Gun.[1] The rumor soon spread to other publications, including W magazine.[2] In April 2022, Gaga began posting cryptic messages on Twitter, which fans interpreted as lyrics to the rumored song.[3][4] She formally announced "Hold My Hand" and its release date on April 27, 2022, and unveiled the cover art, which shows her standing in front of an aircraft marked with the initials "LG".[5][6]
Tom Cruise (pictured at the film's premiere in London in 2022) described the song as "the heartbeat" of Top Gun: Maverick.
A preview of the song was released on April 30, followed by the release of the full track on May 3, as the first single from the soundtrack for Top Gun: Maverick.[5][7] A week after the release, "Hold My Hand" received airplay through adult contemporary and contemporary hit radio stations in the US.[8][9] The song was later also included on the Japan tour edition of Gaga's sixth studio album Chromatica, as the final track.[10] To celebrate Singles Day 2022, "Hold My Hand" was issued as an Urban Outfitters exclusive 12-inch single, pressed on coke-bottle clear vinyl with etched detailing on the reverse.[11][12]
Several other artists were considered to contribute music for the film. Tyler Joseph, frontman of American alternative rock music duo Twenty One Pilots, revealed that he had been working on a song before, but as he put it, Tom Cruise, the lead actor and co-producer of Top Gun: Maverick, "came in and just fired everyone."[13] Ahead of the release, Cruise described "Hold My Hand" as the piece that completed the film's emotional landscape. He recalled that when Gaga came in with the track, "it became our score, the heartbeat of the movie," and said that hearing it eased his concerns about the emotional arc. Its ability to fuse with the story, he noted, was "a real moment" for the whole team.[14]
Randy Spendlove, Paramount's president of motion picture music, explained that Gaga saw the film very early in its development. After she wrote "Hold My Hand", she was invited to contribute to the score as well, with the song serving as the film's "love theme".[15] Melodic motifs from the track recur throughout the score, appearing in cues such as "The Man, The Legend/Touchdown" and "Penny Returns (Interlude)".[16] The theme surfaces not only in moments highlighting the love between two people but also during emotionally charged scenes, reflecting the personal sacrifices the pilots endure.[17] Within Top Gun: Maverick, the song itself appears during a bar scene when Penny (played by Jennifer Connelly) and her daughter are having a conversation, and the full track plays near the end of the film as Penny and Maverick (Tom Cruise) fly off into the sunset in his P-51 Mustang.[15]
Writing and composition
"Hold My Hand" was co-written by Gaga with the song's main producer, BloodPop, with Benjamin Rice providing additional production work.[18] Gaga has said that she and BloodPop developed the track together in the basement studio of her home.[19] Critics in both music and film circles have described the result as a "hopeful, anthemic" arena rockpower ballad with the qualities of a torch song.[20][18][21][22] Jazz Tangcay of Variety characterized it as a soaring rock piece, shaped by violins and guitar lines reminiscent of classic '80s power ballads.[23]
A 28-second sample of "Hold My Hand" featuring the final chorus, showcasing an arena rock vibe with driving electric guitars, Gaga's belting, and a key change up to A♭ major.
The lyrics of "Hold My Hand" show Gaga expressing deep care for someone who is hurting, promising to support them unwaveringly and without hesitation.[6][20] She described it as "a love letter to the world during and after a very hard time,"[24] explaining that she wrote it not only for Top Gun: Maverick but also for anyone who feels they will not be okay. Gaga revealed that she had been developing the song for years and "didn't even realize the multiple layers it spanned across the film's heart, my own psyche, and the nature of the world we've been living in" while writing it.[25] Drawing on lessons from her own struggles, the song emphasizes faith in humanity even when self-belief wavers and aims to reach listeners who feel isolated, offering hope that they can ultimately find the strength to stand on their own.[26]
Musically, the arrangement opens with an "atonal, warbling vocal chop"[27] and a piano-led foundation that gradually builds into a larger arena-rock sound, featuring electric guitar, piano, synthesizer elements, and a steady drumbeat, with additional strings in the bridge, supporting Gaga's "reverb-soaked" and belted vocal delivery.[28][6][29] The song is composed in G major, and in the final chorus, it modulates upward to A♭ major.[30][31] Lars Brandle of Billboard noted that the song has a close lineage to Berlin's "Take My Breath Away" and Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone", two tracks from the soundtrack of the original Top Gun (1986).[32] Critics have also compared it to songs such as "Open Arms" by Journey (1982), "Alone" by Heart (1987), and Gaga's own 2011 single, "The Edge of Glory".[33][34]
Critical reception
"Hold My Hand" received mostly positive reviews from music critics, who highlighted Gaga's vocals and the song's emotional impact. Robin Murray of Clash called it "a triumph of bombast" that "finds Lady Gaga cutting loose as a vocalist,"[22] while Variety's Jazz Tangcay azz Tangcay described it as a "catchy earworm" with a "strong guitar solo," predicting it could be "an Oscar frontrunner in the original song race."[26] Nancy Tartaglione from Deadline Hollywood noted it as another strong entry in Gaga's and Top Gun's musical canon, also suggesting it could go all the way to the Oscars.[18] Stuart Heritage of The Guardian praised the track for its emotional intensity and classic Gaga power-ballad style.[35]
Critics emphasized that Gaga's performance carries the song. Kristen S. Hé of Vulture noted that while the song is "one of her only pop songs with zero subversive elements," its lyrics consist largely of potential clichés — yet Gaga lifts them with "sheer vocal power", turning the track into a sincere end-credits ballad.[27]Screen Rant's Benjamin Weiss highlighted Gaga's "soaring" vocals, noting the track relies more on her performance than on production or instrumentation.[36] Gemma Samways of the Evening Standard and Ross Bonaime of Collider noted that its exaggerated style only works because of Gaga, calling it both "brilliantly overblown" and "cheesy, but effective."[37][38]
Some reviewers appreciated how the song elevates the movie. Mikael Wood of Los Angeles Times called it a standout track of 2022, achieving "popcorn nirvana" when paired with the film, even if it "can't hold a Bic lighter to 'Shallow' from A Star Is Born."[39] Stephen Thompson of NPR added that, though the lyrics are simple, they complement the film's cinematic imagery effectively.[40]Peter Travers of ABC News called it the "closest" Top Gun: Maverick "gets to passion", with Gaga "belting her feels full out in an Oscar-ready new theme song".[29]
However, some critics found "Hold My Hand" less compelling. Michael Cragg of The Guardian called the track "mildly underwhelming" and "bloated and saggy",[41] while Adam White of The Independent felt the stadium-sized ballad fell short, noting that "she's done far better with similar ingredients".[42] Alexa Camp of Slant Magazine wrote that despite years of development, the song "struggles to take flight".[28] Others were more dismissive: USA Today's Melissa Ruggieri described it as "a middling ballad",[43]NME's Nick Levine called it "tepid",[44] and Dallas Observer's Carly May Gravley found it "forgettable".[45]
Chart performance
Due to being released on a Tuesday, in its first week "Hold My Hand" did not enter the United States' Billboard Hot 100, but entered at number 17 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 based on three days of tracking.[46] A week later it debuted at number 82 on the Billboard Hot 100. Following the theatrical release of Top Gun: Maverick, the song reached a new peak of number 49 in its fifth week on the chart.[47] Additionally, the song peaked at number 19 on the BillboardMainstream Top 40 chart, number 12 on the BillboardAdult Pop Airplay chart, and number nine on the BillboardAdult Contemporary chart.[48][49][50] On the Billboard Global 200 chart, the song debuted at number 62 following its first full week of availability, and reached a peak in the top 40 at number 37.[51]
The song entered at number six on the Canadian Digital Song Sales chart with just three days of tracking.[52] A week later the song debuted at number 38 on the Canadian Hot 100, marking her 25th top 40 entry on the chart. In its sixth week on the chart, the song reached a new peak of number 25.[53] The song debuted in the top 40 in Australia on the ARIA Singles Chart, making its entry at number 36, becoming her 30th top 40 entry there. In Australia, the song peaked at number 29 in its eighth week on the chart.[54] In New Zealand, the song debuted at number 33 on the Top 40 Singles Chart following the release of Top Gun: Maverick.[55]
Throughout Europe, the single fared better. "Hold My Hand" entered the UK singles chart at number 51, before falling to number 60 the following week. In its fourth week on the chart, following the theatrical release of Top Gun: Maverick, the song climbed to a new peak position of number 24.[56] It was the 22nd best-selling song of 2022 in the UK.[57] The song debuted at number 63 on the Swiss Singles Top 75 chart in its first half week of release, but entered the top 20 the following week after a full week of availability, charting at number 13. In Switzerland, the song reached a peak of number five.[58] On Belgium's Wallonian Ultratop 50 Singles chart, the song reached a peak of number six, while peaking at top twenty in Flanders.[59] In the Netherlands, the song debuted at number 35 on the Dutch Top 40 chart and at number 26 on the country's Single Tip chart, on the latter of which it later peaked at number one.[60][61] In France, the song debuted outside of the top 100, at number 123 by the week of May 7, 2022. A few weeks later, the week of July 23, 2022, the song reached the top forty, at number 32, becoming Gaga's twenty-third top forty in the country, tying with Nicki Minaj and Rihanna as the artist with the most top forty.[citation needed] The song was later certified Diamond for more than 330,000 units sold.[62]
Music video
Gaga standing atop her piano in the music video, wearing a billowing parachute-inspired gown, as a plane flies past in the background
The accompanying music video was directed by Top Gun: Maverick filmmaker Joseph Kosinski and released on May 6, 2022. Partially presented in black and white,[26] the video blends nostalgic flashbacks from the 1986 Top Gun with theatrical footage from Top Gun: Maverick. Featured moments include Tom Crusie as test pilot Maverick repairing his aircraft, riding his motorcycle, and confronting memories of Anthony Edwards' character, Nick "Goose" Bradshaw, holding him after the character tragically dies.[63] These film excerpts are intercut with shots of Lady Gaga performing dramatically—playing a grand piano on a military runway and singing inside an airplane hangar.[26][64]
For the first part of the video, Gaga appears in a white tank top, aviator sunglasses, along with the original aviation bomber jacket that Cruise wore in the original Top Gun film. She later switches her outfit for a beige gown. At the climax of the song, Gaga stands on top of her piano while a plane soars past, making her gown explode off her and swirl dramatically in the wind.[65][66] This outfit was created by Ukrainian designer Lessja Verlingieri for her brand Lever Couture, and she was approached by long-time collaborator Nicola Formichetti – Gaga's creative director – to design a fashion piece that fits the theme of the movie.[66][67] The dress took its cues from parachute design, built from roughly 200 yards of fabric and detailed with ropes, complete with a sweeping cape that billows strikingly in the wind. Verlingieri envisioned Gaga as someone who had wandered the desert for two decades, with the dress symbolizing independence, courage, and endurance.[67][66]
Gaga explained that no CGI was used for the scene in which the plane flies over her head, and that the shot required many takes with the actual aircraft.[68] As the video concludes, the sun sets and she raises her hand toward the sky from the piano bench, the plane disappearing into the horizon.[65] The music video has been called "powerful" and "emotional" by journalists.[68][69]
Live performances
"Hold My Hand" served as the encore on Gaga's 2022 stadium tour, The Chromatica Ball.[70] The performance featured heavy guitar work, pyrotechnics, and Gaga in latex and leather with a metallic claw.[41][71][72] Reactions were mixed: some reviewers felt the choice of encore was "a mistep[sic]"[73] or "a little flat" as a closer,[73] while others praised her "scorching vocal"[44] and described it as an "exceptional encore".[74]The Guardian's Michael Cragg— who had been lukewarm on the studio version — felt the song resonated more strongly in a stadium. He wrote that removed from the film, it becomes a message to her fans, with its refrain serving as a moment of connection.[41]
It was initially reported that Gaga would skip performing the nominated "Hold My Hand" at the 95th Academy Awards due to filming commitments for Joker: Folie à Deux (2024). However, on March 12, 2023, the day of the ceremony, she was confirmed as a last-minute addition.[75] Taking the stage without makeup in a plain black t-shirt and ripped jeans, she introduced the song with a brief speech about finding heroes in unassuming places, then began singing, supported only by piano at first, with drums and bass joining in afterward.[76][77] The performance was dedicated to the memory of the original Top Gun's late director, Tony Scott.[78] Oscars director Glenn Weiss noted that Gaga aimed for an unadorned rendition, "not as an 'Oscar performance', but as her."[79] Thania Garcia of Variety felt "Hold My Hand" received a "surprisingly rootsy, rock-band production" and described it as "stripped-down, yet enormously effective".[80]USA Today's Melissa Ruggieri highlighted how Gaga "relied on her mega-vocals in the most affecting performance of the show."[81]
During the Super Bowl LIX pregame show on February 9, 2025, Gaga sang "Hold My Hand" live in New Orleans, Louisiana, as a tribute to the victims of the 2025 New Orleans truck attack, the 2025 California wildfires and Hurricane Helene. After an inspirational speech by American football player Tom Brady, the camera cut to Gaga, who was seated at a piano in the middle of Bourbon Street, dressed in a wide-brimmed white hat and a long lace gown.[82] She was accompanied by a live band and a local gospel choir, while police officers and firefighters looked on.[83][84]Billboard's Stephen Daw called the rendition "moving".[82] The same year, Gaga performed "Hold My Hand" as a surprise song at the first Sydney date of her Mayhem Ball tour, on December 12.[85]
↑"Nominace – Žebřík 2022"[Nominations – Žebřík 2022]. Anketa Žebřík (in Czech). Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
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