| "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 | ||||
  | ||||
"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
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
| No. | Title | Length | 
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hold On" | 3:46 | 
Charts
| Chart (2012–13) | 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
| 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.  | ||
Release history
| Region | Date | Format | Label | 
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 6 February 2012 | Download[1] | Rough Trade Records | 
In Popular Culture
Aired September 3, 2012 on TV series Grimm, episode "Quill"
References
- 1 2 3 iTunes - Music - Hold On - Single by Alabama Shakes
 - ↑ Alabama Shakes - Hold On (Official Video) on YouTube
 - ↑ "50 Best Songs of 2012". Rolling Stone. 5 December 2012.
 - ↑ "Music".
 - ↑ "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.
 - ↑ "American single certifications – Alabama Shakes – Hold On". Recording Industry Association of America.
 
