Hold_On_(Alabama_Shakes_song)
Hold On (Alabama Shakes song)
2012 single by Alabama Shakes
"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]
| "Hold On" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Alabama Shakes | ||||
| from the album Boys & Girls | ||||
| Released | 6 February 2012 | |||
| Recorded | 2011 | |||
| Genre | Southern rock, blues rock | |||
| Length | 3:46 | |||
| Label | Rough Trade Records | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Brittany Howard | |||
| Alabama Shakes singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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]
"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]
| 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 |
| 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. | ||
| Region | Date | Format | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 6 February 2012 | Download[1] | Rough Trade Records |
Aired September 3, 2012 on TV series Grimm, episode "Quill"
- "50 Best Songs of 2012". Rolling Stone. 5 December 2012.
- "The 200 Greatest Songs By 21st Century Women+ (20-1)". NPR.org. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 2020-06-30.
- "Alabama Shakes – Hold On" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- "Alabama Shakes – Hold On" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- "Alabama Shakes Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- "Alabama Shakes Chart History (Canada Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2021.
- "Alabama Shakes Chart History (Japan Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
- "Alabama Shakes – Hold On" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- "Alabama Shakes Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- "Alabama Shakes Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- "Alabama Shakes Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved December 30, 2017.
- "Hot Rock Songs – Year-End 2012". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
- "Canadian single certifications – Alabama Shakes – Hold On". Music Canada. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
