Hold On (Alabama Shakes song)

"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
"Hold On" (2012) "You Ain't Alone" (2012)

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 August 2024, the video has more than 58 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.	Title	Length
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 Pop Airplay (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. ‡ Sales+streaming 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. 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". Archived from the original on 2017-05-13. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
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.