Hold Fast (song)
"Hold Fast" | ||||
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Single by MercyMe | ||||
from the album Coming Up to Breathe | ||||
Released | 2006 | |||
Format | CD Digital download |
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Recorded | 2006 | |||
Genre | Christian rock Contemporary Christian |
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Length | 4:38 | |||
Label | INO | |||
Writer(s) | Bart Millard, Barry Graul, Jim Bryson, Nathan Cochran, Mike Scheuchzer, Robby Shaffer | |||
Producer(s) | Brown Bannister | |||
MercyMe singles chronology | ||||
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Hold Fast is a song written and recorded Christian rock band MercyMe. It was released as the second single from their 2006 album Coming Up to Breathe.
Contents
Composition
"Hold Fast" is a Christian rock song with a length of four minutes and thirty-eight seconds.[1] The song was written and composed by Bart Millard, Barry Graul, Jim Bryson, Nathan Cochran, Mike Scheuchzer, and Robby Shaffer,[2] and was produced by Brown Bannister.[3]
The song is set in the key of B♯ and has a heavy rock tempo of 80 beats per minute, with a vocal range spanning from F4-G5.[2] The song has a build-up in the bridge[1][4] that has been described as 'powerhouse'.[4] The sound of the song has evoked comparisons to Coldplay.[4]
Reception
Critical reception
"Hold Fast" received generally positive critical reception. Steve Losey of Allmusic commented that the song "is rock with polish"[1] and that "Nathan Cochran's bass groove not only sounds heavy but its very tone exudes sweat".[1] He also opined that "The mid-song bridge shows the band at their pinnacle when the guitars build to Millard's intense vocals".[1] Russ Breimier of Christianity Today commented that the song "initially sounds much like [MercyMe's] usual balladry, but then relies on heavier guitars and a powerhouse build during the bridge (a la Coldplay), as well as some clever lyrics to address the intended audience".[4]
Chart performance
"Hold Fast" debuted at No. 23 on the Hot Christian Songs chart for the chart week of October 28, 2006.[5] In its sixth chart week the song advanced to No. 6,[6] but dropped to No. 10 the next week.[7] In its eighth chart week "Hold Fast" dropped out of the top ten entirely, falling to No. 12.[8] The song dropped to No. 16 in its tenth chart week,[9] and then to No. 24 in its eleventh,[10] but jumped to No. 3 in its twelfth chart week.[11] The song held the spot for a further three weeks[12][13][14] before dropping to No. 4 in its sixteenth chart week.[15] The song spent a total of twenty-five weeks on the chart before dropping out.[16]
On the Adult Contemporary chart, "Hold Fast" debuted at No. 28 for the chart week of April 4, 2007,[17] It achieved its peak position of No. 27 in its fifth chart week,[18] and spent a total of eight weeks on the chart.[16][19]
Uses
"Hold Fast" is also features of the compilation album WOW Hits 2008, and the 2009 compilation album 10.
Charts
Weekly charts
Chart (2007) | Peak Position |
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U.S. Billboard Hot Christian Songs[19][20] | 3 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks[19] | 27 |
Year-end charts
Chart (2007) | Position |
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Billboard Hot Christian AC[21] | 17 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Christian Songs[22] | 21 |
Decade-end charts
Chart (2000s) | Position |
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Billboard Hot Christian AC[23] | 70 |
References
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