Hold On Tight (Electric Light Orchestra song)
| "Hold On Tight" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "When Time Stood Still" |
"Hold On Tight" is a song written and performed by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).
The song is track twelve on the band's 1981 album Time and was the first song released as a single. The song went top ten in most countries, hitting the top spot in Spain and Switzerland, number two in Germany, number four in the UK,[2] and number ten on the US Billboard Hot 100, as well as number two on the US Billboard Top Rock Tracks chart.[3] It has a verse sung in French, which is a reprise of the first verse of the song.
Music video
At the time, the song's music video was the most expensive ever made, with a budget of approximately £40,000.[4] The mostly black and white video features footage of ELO playing the song in a lounge, intercut with scenes in the style of 1940s serial films featuring the band members.[5]
Uses in other media
 |
- In the mid-1980s, the song was used in The Coffee Achievers television advertisements, which promoted the benefits of drinking coffee. This campaign from the National Coffee Association played in the United States starring celebrities including David Bowie, Heart and ELO. The campaign was later parodied on Saturday Night Live as "The Crack Achievers" in a sketch that also used "Hold On Tight."
- Alvin and the Chipmunks covered the song for their 1982 album Chipmunk Rock.
- In 2005, "Hold On Tight" was used in an Ameriquest commercial. The song was also featured in the season one finale of My Name Is Earl.
- During 2007 and 2008, "Hold On Tight" was used in television promotions for the Honda Accord.
- The song was used in the opening of the movie Larry Crowne.
Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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References
- ^ Template:Wayback. Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 May 2013.
- ^ a b "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ a b c "Time – Awards". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ UK Midlands Central TV News, August 1981
- ^ "Electric Light Orchestra – Hold On Tight". ELOVEVO. YouTube. 11 February 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970-1992. St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
- ^ "Electric Light Orchestra – Hold On Tight" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Electric Light Orchestra – Hold On Tight" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Radio 2 Top 30 : 12 september 1981" (in Dutch). Top 30. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ Template:Wayback. CHUM. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 0392." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 1 June 2013.
- ^ "InfoDisc : Tous les Titres par Artiste" (in French). InfoDisc. Select "Electric Light Orchestra" from the artist drop-down menu. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – All there is to know". Irishcharts.ie. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Electric Light Orchestra - Hold On Tight" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Electric Light Orchestra – Hold On Tight" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Electric Light Orchestra – Hold On Tight". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Electric Light Orchestra – Hold On Tight". VG-lista. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "South African Rock Lists Website SA Charts 1969 – 1989 Acts (E)". Rock.co.za. Retrieved 29 April 2013.
- ^ Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (in Spanish) (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
- ^ "Electric Light Orchestra – Hold On Tight". Singles Top 100. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Electric Light Orchestra – Hold On Tight". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ Template:Wayback. Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ Template:Wayback. Record World. Geocities.com. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Top 100 End of Year AMR Charts – 1980s". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Jahreshitparade 1981" (in German). Austriancharts.at. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten 1981" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Top Singles – Volume 35, No. 22, December 26, 1981". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1981" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "End of Year Charts 1981". Recorded Music New Zealand. Retrieved 6 December 2015.
- ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1981" (in German). Hitparade.ch. Hung Medien. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits for 1981". The Longbored Surfer. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
- ^ Template:Wayback. Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
