Hold On (Alabama Shakes song)

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"Hold On"
Single by Alabama Shakes
from the album Boys & Girls
Released6 February 2012
Recorded2011
GenreSouthern rock, blues rock
Length3:46
LabelRough 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]

Music video[edit]

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[edit]

"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[edit]

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

Charts[edit]

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[edit]

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

Certifications[edit]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[16] Gold 40,000*
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 500,000‡

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

Release history[edit]

Region Date Format Label
United Kingdom 6 February 2012 Download[1] Rough Trade Records

In Popular Culture[edit]

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


References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c 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.


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