"Hold On" is a song by American girl groupEn Vogue. It was released in early 1990 as the lead single from their debut album, Born to Sing. The song was produced by Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, and composed by the former two and all members of En Vogue. It peaked at number 5 in the UK and number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US. In addition, the song reached number-one on the BillboardDance Club Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts. In 2017, "Hold On" was ranked number 4 in Spin magazine's ranking of The 30 Best ’90s R&B Songs.
Production
The song opens with an a cappella rendition of the Motown standard "Who's Lovin' You", written by Smokey Robinson and originally recorded by his group, The Miracles. It features lead vocals by Cindy Herron and Terry Ellis vocals on the introduction. The song also contains a guitar sample from "The Payback" by James Brown.
Commercial performance
Following its release, the single peaked number one on the BillboardHot R&B Singles, number two on Billboard Hot 100, and number one on Billboard's Hot Dance chart. "Hold On" was also a hit in several countries worldwide, reaching number 5 in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, number 6 in Germany, number 10 in the Netherlands, and number 12 in Austria. "Hold On" was the top R&B hit on the Billboard Year-End chart for 1990, and was the eighth most-successful pop hit on the Billboard Hot 100 Year-End Chart. En Vogue performed the song at the 2008 BET Awards with Alicia Keys. In 2007, the song's chorus was used and performed by Pharrell on Jay-Z's song "Blue Magic" The song was also sampled in the Terminator X song "Buck Whylin'.
Critical reception
editor Jose F. Promis described the song as a "cool, shuffling, timeless hip-hop R&B track". Another editor, Stephen Thomas Erlewine described it as "yearning". David Taylor-Wilson from Bay Area Reporter called it "sexy and gentle, with a teasing, downtempo dance beat." Bill Coleman from Billboard commented, "Step back and give 'em some room! Quartet of future divas fresh from the Foster/McElroy stable deliver intricate, tight harmonies with a dash of sass on this groove-laden debut. Can't wait for the album." The Network Forty wrote, "Gold single, golden girls! What more do you need to convince you to spin this hardcore dance floor jam." Gerald Martinez from New Sunday Times called it "gospel-funk" with "stunning vocal arrangements." Edward Hill from The Plain Dealer said in his review of Born to Sing, that "Hold On" "is already famous for its no-holds-barred a cappella opening and sluggishly powerful bassline. On 12-inch it's pepped up with bonus beats and a slightly faster rhythm track." David Quantick from Smash Hits noted it as "lithe and lovely". Steve Daly, writing for Spin magazine, said the song is "perfect for those warm evening on the stoop" and felt that the "exotic melody takes its cue from Soul II Soul, while the rhythm section does a slow grind in 95 percent humidity with no AC." Cheo H. Coker from Stanford Daily wrote, "It was the first song in a long time that featured real singing, perfect four-part harmony, and a mother lode of hip-hop attitude and feeling." Laura Checkoway from Vibe noted it as "an answer of sorts to 1962's "Who's Lovin' You" from Smokey Robinson & The Miracles." Wells Journal called it "a moody but repetitive song with mellow backing track".
Impact and legacy
The Daily Telegraph ranked "Hold On" at number 47 in their Top 50 Dance Songs list in 2015, adding:
"R&B girl group En Vogue broke through with this club classic. A sharp acapella rendition of Motown standard Who's Lovin You leads into a hip-hop beat with a funky bass line, horn and piano sounds. "You've got to hold on, to your love", the girls proclaim, and it is their powerful singing that carries this one."
Spin placed the song at number 4 in their list of The 30 Best ’90s R&B Songs in 2017. They wrote:
"Producers Foster & McElroy deliver a slow-burning rhythm with a James Brown drum kick, but "Hold On's" greatest element is Herron, Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, and Maxine Jones blending their voices into a sound that shifts the culture."
Formats and track listings
US 12" single
"Hold On" – 5:18
"Hold On" – 3:56
"Hold On" – 3:59
US CD single
"Hold On" – 5:07
"Lies" – 3:59
UK CD single
"Hold On" – 4:04
"Hold On" – 4:00
"Hold On" – 6:17
Credits and personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of Born to Sing.
