Hold On (Alabama Shakes song)

Last updated
"Hold On"
HoldOnAlabamaShakes.jpg
Single by Alabama Shakes
from the album Boys & Girls
Released6 February 2012
Recorded2011
Genre Southern rock, blues rock
Length3:46
Label Rough Trade Records
Songwriter(s) Brittany Howard
Alabama Shakes singles chronology
"Hold On"
(2012)
"You Ain't Alone"
(2012)

"Hold On" is a song by American rock band Alabama Shakes. The track was first released on February 6, 2012 in the United Kingdom as the lead single from the studio album Boys & Girls (2012). [1]

Contents

Music video

A music video to accompany the release of "Hold On" was first released on YouTube on 30 March 2012. In this video, the song was performed live in a studio. As of November 2022, the video has over 49 million views. [2]

Reception

"Hold On" received critical acclaim from music critics. Rolling Stone named it the best song of 2012. [3] It was also voted the 11th best single of 2012 by The Village Voice's 40th annual Pazz & Jop poll. [4]

NPR named "Hold On" the fifth best song by a woman or non-binary artist in the 21st century, saying of the song:

"Despite her ability to quickly transition from a sultry croon à la Janis Joplin to a bellowing, often disembodied howl, it's the lyrical wisdom that masks Howard's young age and makes this song special. "Hold On" is not just a mantra offering the encouragement needed to get through life's rough patches; it's a timeless song that wouldn't work without Howard's ability to interweave a myriad of emotions with raw honesty" [5]

Track listing

Download [1]
No.TitleLength
1."Hold On"3:46

Charts

Chart (2012–2013)Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders) [6] 34
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia) [7] 23
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [8] 81
Canada Rock ( Billboard ) [9] 7
Japan (Japan Hot 100) [10] 69
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [11] 49
US Billboard Hot 100 [12] 93
US Adult Top 40 ( Billboard ) [13] 33
US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs ( Billboard ) [14] 15

Year-end charts

Chart (2012)Position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard) [15] 80

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [16] Gold40,000*
United States (RIAA) [17] Gold500,000

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabel
United Kingdom 6 February 2012Download [1] Rough Trade Records

Aired September 3, 2012 on TV series Grimm, episode "Quill"


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">What's Love Got to Do with It (song)</span> 1984 single by Tina Turner

"What's Love Got to Do with It" is a song written by Graham Lyle and Terry Britten, and recorded by Tina Turner for her fifth studio album, Private Dancer (1984). Capitol Records released it as a single from Private Dancer in May 1984 and it eventually became Turner's biggest-selling single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seven Nation Army</span> 2003 single by the White Stripes

"Seven Nation Army" is a song by American rock duo the White Stripes. It is the opening track on their fourth studio album, Elephant (2003). V2 Records released the song to American alternative radio on February 17, 2003, as the lead single from the album. Worldwide, the single was issued through XL Recordings. Written and produced by Jack White, the song consists of distorted vocals, a simple drumbeat, and a bass line created by playing a guitar through a pitch shift effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evanescence discography</span>

American rock band Evanescence has released five studio albums, two live albums, one compilation album, two demo albums, three extended plays, eighteen singles, nine promotional singles, two video albums, and eighteen music videos. Evanescence was founded in 1994 by Amy Lee and Ben Moody in Little Rock, Arkansas. The band's lineup comprises Lee, guitarist Troy McLawhorn, guitarist Tim McCord, drummer Will Hunt, and bassist Emma Anzai. As of 2022, the band has sold over 31.9 million albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Summer Long (Kid Rock song)</span> 2008 single by Kid Rock

"All Summer Long" is a song by American recording artist Kid Rock. It was released in March 2008 as the third single from his seventh studio album, Rock n Roll Jesus (2007). It samples Bob Seger's song "Night Moves", "Sweet Home Alabama" by Lynyrd Skynyrd and "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">21 Guns (song)</span> 2009 song by Green Day

"21 Guns" is a song by American rock band Green Day. It was released as the second single from their eighth studio album, 21st Century Breakdown (2009), and serves as the sixteenth track from the album. The single was released through Reprise Records on May 25, 2009 as a digital download and July 14, 2009 as a CD single.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolling in the Deep</span> 2010 single by Adele

"Rolling in the Deep" is a song by English singer-songwriter Adele from her second studio album, 21 (2011). It is the lead single and opening track on the album. The song was written by Adele and Paul Epworth. The singer herself describes it as a "dark blues-y gospel disco tune". In 2011, it was reportedly the biggest crossover hit in the United States since 1985; "Rolling in the Deep" gained radio airplay from many different radio formats. It was first released on 29 November 2010 as the lead single from 21 in digital download format. The lyrics describe the emotions of a scorned lover.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alabama Shakes</span> 2010s American rock band

Alabama Shakes were an American rock band formed in Athens, Alabama, in 2009. The band consisted of lead singer and guitarist Brittany Howard, guitarist Heath Fogg, bassist Zac Cockrell, and drummer Steve Johnson.

<i>Boys & Girls</i> (album) 2012 studio album by Alabama Shakes

Boys & Girls is the debut studio album from American band Alabama Shakes. It was released on April 9, 2012, through ATO Records. The album peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard 200 and number 3 on the UK Albums Chart. A tenth anniversary deluxe edition was released on December 9, 2022, including a bonus disc of the band's live performance at KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Little Talks</span> 2011 single by Of Monsters and Men

"Little Talks" is the debut single by Icelandic indie rock band Of Monsters and Men. The song was released as the lead single from their debut studio album, My Head Is an Animal (2011). It was also released on the band's EP Into the Woods. It was written by primary vocalists Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar Þórhallsson, and produced by Aron Þór Arnarsson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brittany Howard</span> American singer (born 1988)

Brittany Amber Howard is an American musician from Athens, Alabama. Currently a solo artist, she rose to prominence in the early 2010s for being the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and the primary songwriter of Alabama Shakes. Her work with Alabama Shakes garnered her four Grammy Awards from nine nominations. Later in the decade, Howard played bass in the side project Thunderbitch, and both acoustic guitar and double bass for the trio Bermuda Triangle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madness (Muse song)</span> 2012 single

"Madness" is a song by the English rock band Muse. It is the second track and second single from Muse's sixth studio album, The 2nd Law (2012), released as a download on 20 August 2012. It was written by singer and guitarist Matthew Bellamy and produced by the band. The music video premiered on 5 September 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radioactive (Imagine Dragons song)</span> 2012 single by Imagine Dragons

"Radioactive" is a song by American pop rock band Imagine Dragons from their major-label debut EP Continued Silence and later on their debut studio album, Night Visions (2012), as the opening track. It was first sent to modern rock radio on October 29, 2012, and then released to contemporary hit radio on April 9, 2013. Musically, "Radioactive" is an electronic rock and alternative rock song with elements of dubstep. In a 2021 podcast interview called The Turning Point, Dan Reynolds revealed that after almost a decade, he had realized that the lyrics were actually about him not giving up hope after losing faith in Mormonism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Latch (song)</span> 2012 single by Disclosure

"Latch" is a song by English electronic music duo Disclosure, featuring vocals from English singer Sam Smith. It was released as a digital download on 8 October 2012, by PMR Records. The lead single from their debut studio album, Settle (2013), the song debuted on the UK Singles Chart at number 26 and peaked at number 11. In the United States, "Latch" was a sleeper hit, peaking at number seven on the US Billboard Hot 100 in August 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wire (Haim song)</span> 2013 single by Haim

"The Wire" is the fourth single from American rock band Haim's debut studio album, Days Are Gone (2013), released in the United Kingdom on September 22, 2013. The song had previously been released on US radio on September 17, 2013. The song peaked at number 16 in the UK Singles Chart, and at number 25 in the Billboard Hot Rock Songs. It also went platinum in Australia, and featured at number 11 in radio station Triple J's Hottest 100 Countdown of 2013. The song ranked highly at number 6 on Pitchfork Top 100 Tracks of 2013 list. and at number 91 on Pitchfork 200 Best Songs of the 2010s list. It was number 16 on Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Best Songs of 2013 list. A music video to accompany the release of "The Wire" was first released onto YouTube on August 12, 2013, at a total length of four minutes and fourteen seconds. The video features an appearance from comedian Jorma Taccone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fever (The Black Keys song)</span> 2014 single by The Black Keys

"Fever" is a song by American rock band The Black Keys. It was released on March 24, 2014, as the lead single from their eighth studio album, Turn Blue. On April 15, 2014, the song was released on CD with the album's title track as a B-side, along with a credit applicable to purchases of the physical formats of the album. For the 57th Annual Grammy Awards, "Fever" was nominated for Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't Wanna Fight</span> 2015 single by Alabama Shakes

"Don't Wanna Fight" is a song performed by American rock band Alabama Shakes, issued as the lead single from the band's second studio album Sound & Color. The band performed the song live for the first time on February 28, 2015 on Saturday Night Live. The song won two awards at the 58th Grammy Awards on February 15, 2016. It was also featured in a season 2 episode of the HBO comedy series Silicon Valley.

<i>Sound & Color</i> 2015 studio album by Alabama Shakes

Sound & Color is the second and final studio album by American band Alabama Shakes. It was released on April 17, 2015 via ATO Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gimme All Your Love</span> 2015 single by Alabama Shakes

"Gimme All Your Love" is a song performed by American rock band Alabama Shakes, issued as the second single from the band's second studio album Sound & Color. Co-produced by the band and written by lead singer Brittany Howard, the song peaked at #36 on the Billboard rock chart. The band performed the song live on television for the first time on February 28, 2015, on Saturday Night Live.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Humble (song)</span> 2017 single by Kendrick Lamar

"Humble" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar. It was released on March 30, 2017, along with its music video, by Top Dawg Entertainment, Aftermath Entertainment and Interscope Records. The song was written by Lamar and producers Mike Will Made It and Pluss. It was provided to rhythmic contemporary radio as the lead single from Lamar's fourth studio album, Damn. "Humble" is Lamar's second number-one single on the US Billboard Hot 100 after "Bad Blood" and his first as a lead artist. The song received four nominations at the 60th Annual Grammy Awards: Record of the Year, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Music Video, winning in the last three categories.

<i>Jaime</i> (album) Album by Brittany Howard

Jaime is the debut solo studio album from Brittany Howard, released on September 20, 2019, via ATO Records. It has received acclaim from critics and has been nominated for several awards; it was a moderate sales success, appearing on several charts. The album is a mix of several musical styles that reflects intimate events and perspectives in Howard's life, which she supported with her first solo tour.

References

  1. 1 2 3 iTunes - Music - Hold On - Single by Alabama Shakes
  2. Alabama Shakes - Hold On (Official Video) on YouTube
  3. "50 Best Songs of 2012". Rolling Stone . 5 December 2012.
  4. "Music".
  5. "The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+ (20-1)". NPR.org. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
  6. "Alabama Shakes – Hold On" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  7. "Alabama Shakes – Hold On" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  8. "Alabama Shakes Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  9. "Alabama Shakes Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
  10. "Alabama Shakes Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  11. "Alabama Shakes – Hold On" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  12. "Alabama Shakes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  13. "Alabama Shakes Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  14. "Alabama Shakes Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
  15. "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  16. "Canadian single certifications – Alabama Shakes – Hold On". Music Canada . Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  17. "American single certifications – Alabama Shakes – Hold On". Recording Industry Association of America.