"Hold Tight"
Single by Justin Bieber
from the album Journals
ReleasedOctober 21, 2013 (2013-10-21)
GenreR&B
Length4:14
LabelIsland
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)The Audibles
Justin Bieber singles chronology
"All That Matters"
(2013) 		"Hold Tight"
(2013) 		"Wait for a Minute"
(2013)

"Hold Tight" is a song recorded by Canadian singer Justin Bieber for his second compilation album Journals (2013). It was released on 21 October 2013, as the third single from Bieber's series Music Mondays, following "Heartbreaker" and "All That Matters" (released on October 7 and 14, respectively).

Background and release

On 17 October 2013, Bieber announced the release of "Hold Tight" via his Instagram account. In the posting, he revealed the artwork for the single and announced that it would be released on 21 October.[1] Of the song's concept, Bieber explained: "I am a hopeless romantic so when I love someone, I never want to let them go. This song is about the rush you get when you have that feeling. No matter how hard you try, you can’t let that person go. You just want to hold on as tight as you can. I tried to capture that with this one."[2] The songwriter of "Hold Tight", Jason "Poo Bear" Boyd, revealed in an interview with Joe Coscarelli of The New York Times, that he had been skeptical about collaborating with Bieber for "Hold Tight".

Justin wanted 'Grip Tight,' a pulsing, dirty club track that I had prepared for my own solo project. I told Mr. Bieber: "You’re 18, and it’s a very sexual song. You can’t go from singing 'Beauty and a Beat’ to ‘Grip Tight’ ", but evidently nobody ever told him no. We just got closer and closer. Then a light bulb switched in my head, and I was like, wait a minute, I’m a songwriter — I can always write more songs.

Jason Boyd changed "Grip Tight" to "Hold Tight", and the song became their first collaboration.[3][4]

Composition

"Hold Tight" is a mid-tempo R&B song.[5] Lyrically, Bieber describes the "addictive power" of a woman's lips.[6] Mikael Wood of the Los Angeles Times noted that "Hold on Tight" could possibly be addressing his on-again/off-again relationship with Selena Gomez.[7] Jason Lipshutz of Billboard wrote that Bieber "sorrowfully delivers each syllable".[8]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
HitFixC[9]

The song was met with generally mixed reviews. On a more unfavorable review Melinda Newman of HitFix criticized the fact that it has "no change in tempo" and opinioned that Bieber’s delivery seems forced. She concluded that "if you’re a Bieber fan who dreams of getting your boy in a lip lock, this song will probably work for you".[9]

Music video

On 1 January 2014, Justin Bieber released a video for "Hold Tight" via his YouTube channel. The video features concert footage of Bieber performing "One Less Lonely Girl" to the live audience during his Believe Tour in Asia. When Bieber performs the song with the musical background, he invites one or two girls on stage to be the object of his affection or the "lonely girl" during the performance. He holds their hands and hugs them tight while they are both on stage.

Live performances

Bieber performed the song on the acoustic guitar with Dan Kanter at the 2015 Wango Tango[10] and on the French television for Le Grand Journal (Canal+).[11] Moreover, "Hold Tight" was also included on the set list for the Purpose World Tour.[12]

Charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[13] 48
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[14] 40
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[15] 23
Belgium Urban (Ultratop Flanders)[16] 5
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[17] 29
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[18] 23
Denmark (Tracklisten)[19] 1
France (SNEP)[20] 46
Germany (Official German Charts)[21] 56
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[22] 14
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[23] 19
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 25
UK Singles (OCC)[25] 28
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 29

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[27] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Country Date Format Label
United States[28] October 21, 2013 Digital download Island

References

  1. ^ Account (2013-10-18). "Justin Bieber | Justin Bieber announces new single Hold Tight". Contactmusic.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  2. ^ "New Music: Justin Bieber – 'Hold Tight'". Rap-Up. 2013-10-20. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  3. ^ "Poo Bear, Speaking Softly and Carrying a Bieber Comeback". The New York Times. 15 October 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  4. ^ Shinners, Rebecca (2014-01-02). "Justin Bieber's "Hold Tight" Video - Believe Tour New Footage". Seventeen.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  5. ^ mtv (2013-10-21). "Justin Bieber Gets To Our Heads On Sensual 'Hold Tight' Track". MTV. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  6. ^ "Listen: Justin Bieber "Hold Tight" | Complex CA". Complexmag.ca. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  7. ^ Mikael Wood (2013-10-21). "Listen to Justin Bieber's new song 'Hold Tight' - latimes". Articles.latimes.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  8. ^ Jason Lipshutz (2013-10-21). "Justin Bieber's Stuck In Love on 'Hold Tight' Track: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  9. ^ a b Newman, Melinda (2013-10-21). "Justin Biebers new sexy jam, Hold Tight: Listen". Hitfix.com. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  10. ^ MacKinley, Page (10 May 2015). "Justin Bieber Thrills Wango Tango Crowd: Says 'Don't Judge Me' Onstage, Some Fans Do". Retrieved 26 July 2016. ... and there was some great singing on "All That Matters" and "Hold Tight," which he performed backed only by musical director and guitarist, Dan Kanter.
  11. ^ "Musique Live du Grand Journal". Canalplus.Fr. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  12. ^ PopCrush Staff (11 March 2016). "Justin Bieber Kicks Off 'Purpose World Tour': Watch the Opening, See the Set List + Photos". popcrush.com. PopCrush Network. Retrieved 11 March 2016. ... 12. "Hold Tight"...
  13. ^ "Justin Bieber – Hold Tight". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  14. ^ "Justin Bieber – Hold Tight" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  15. ^ "Justin Bieber – Hold Tight" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  16. ^ "Justin Bieber – Hold Tight" (in Dutch). Ultratop Urban.
  17. ^ "Justin Bieber – Hold Tight" (in French). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  18. ^ "Justin Bieber Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  19. ^ "Justin Bieber – Hold Tight". Tracklisten. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  20. ^ "Justin Bieber – Hold Tight" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  21. ^ "Justin Bieber – Hold Tight" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
  22. ^ "Justin Bieber – Hold Tight" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  23. ^ "Justin Bieber – Hold Tight" Canciones Top 50. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  24. ^ "Justin Bieber – Hold Tight". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  25. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  26. ^ "Justin Bieber Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 25 October 2013.
  27. ^ "American album certifications – Justin Bieber – Hold Tight". Recording Industry Association of America.
  28. ^ [1][dead link]
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