Holding On for Life

"Holding On for Life"
Single by Broken Bells
from the album After the Disco
Released November 21, 2013
Recorded 2012-13
Genre Indie rock, disco
Length 3:56
Label Columbia
Writer(s) James Mercer, Brian Burton
Producer(s) Brian Burton
Broken Bells singles chronology
"Vaporize"
(2011)		 "Holding On for Life"
(2013)		 "After the Disco"
(2014)

"Holding On for Life" is a song performed by American alternative rock band Broken Bells. Written by band members James Mercer and Brian Burton and produced by the latter, the song was originally recorded for the band's second studio album, After the Disco, on which it appears as the third track. It was released as the album's lead single on November 21, 2013.[1]

Reception

Kory Grow of Rolling Stone described the song as "a Bee Gees-like indie-disco number,"[2] a sentiment also expressed by NPR's Bob Boilen, who wrote that he "heard Bee Gees in something like this." In an interview with Boilen, Danger Mouse concurred with this comparison, saying, "It sounded kind of like the Bee Gees a little bit, but so what? The Bee Gees had some good choruses."[3]

Music video

A music video for the song was directed by Jacob Gentry, and stars Kate Mara and Anton Yelchin.[4] The video serves as a sequel to the previously released video for the song "Angel and the Fool", also from After the Disco.[5]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2013) Peak
position
Belgium (Ultratip Flanders)[6] 3
Belgium (Ultratip Wallonia)[7] 30
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[8] 22
US Rock Airplay (Billboard)[9] 27
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[10] 2
US Alternative Songs (Billboard)[11] 16

Year-end charts

Chart (2014) Position
US Hot Rock Songs (Billboard)[12] 92
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[13] 16

References

  1. ↑ Minsker, Evan (November 12, 2013). "Video: Broken Bells: "Holding on for Life", Starring Kate Mara and Anton Yelchin". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  2. ↑ Grow, Kory (December 6, 2013). "Broken Bells Explore Sci-Fi in 'Holding On for Life'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  3. ↑ Boilen, Bob (November 4, 2013). "Broken Bells Shares New Song, Accidentally Channels Bee Gees". NPR. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  4. ↑ Breihan, Tom (November 21, 2013). "Holding on for Life Video". Stereogum. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  5. ↑ DeVille, Chris (October 29, 2013). "Broken Bells – After The Disco Short Film Part One: Angel And The Fool". Stereogum. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  6. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Broken Bells – Holding On for Life" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Broken Bells – Holding On for Life" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Broken Bells Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot Rock Songs for Broken Bells. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Broken Bells Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Rock Airplay for Broken Bells. Retrieved June 12, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Broken Bells Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Adult Alternative Songs for Broken Bells. Retrieved March 24, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Broken Bells Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Alternative Songs for Broken Bells. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Hot Rock Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Adult Alternative Songs: Year End 2014". Billboard. Retrieved December 21, 2014.

External links