People Hold On

"People Hold On" is a song by British band Coldcut and singer-songwriter Lisa Stansfield, released as the first single from the band's debut album, What's That Noise? (1989). It was written by Matt Black, Jonathan More and Stansfield, and produced by Coldcut. The song received positive reviews from music critics and became a commercial success. It was released as a single on 13 March 1989 and reached number eleven on the UK Singles Chart and number six on the US Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs chart. The song was remixed by Blaze, Juan Atkins, Dimitri from Paris, Mark Saunders, Eric Kupper, Tyrone Perkins and Masters At Work.

For the 2015 film, see People Hold On (film).

"People Hold On"
Single by Coldcut featuring Lisa Stansfield
from the album What's That Noise?
Released13 March 1989
Genre
Length3:58
LabelAhead of Our Time
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Coldcut
Coldcut singles chronology
"Stop This Crazy Thing"
(1988)		 "People Hold On"
(1989)		 "My Telephone"
(1989)
Lisa Stansfield singles chronology
"Jackie"
(1988)		 "People Hold On"
(1989)		 "My Telephone"
(1989)
Music video
"People Hold On" on YouTube

In 2003, "People Hold On" was included on Stansfield's compilation, Biography: The Greatest Hits. In 2006, Casuals Remix by Ceri Evans was included on Coldcut's album, Sound Mirrors (Videos & Remixes). In 2014, Full Length Disco Mix of "People Hold On" was included on Stansfield's People Hold On ... The Remix Anthology (also on The Collection 1989–2003).

Chart performance

"People Hold On" managed to make some impact on the charts in several countries. It peaked within the top 20 in the UK, where it made it to number eleven on 9 April 1989,[2] in its fourth week at the UK Singles Chart. Additionally, the song was a top 30 hit in West Germany (24), a top 40 hit in Belgium (32) and the Netherlands (37), and a top 50 hit in France (45). On the Eurochart Hot 100, "People Hold On" reached its best position as number 26 in April 1989. Outside Europe, it peaked at number six on the US Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, while reaching number 37 in New Zealand and number 78 in Australia.

Critical reception

In an retrospective review, Matthew Hocter from Albumism described "People Hold On" as "an innovative dance track".[3] Greg Kot from Chicago Tribune noted Stansfield's "elastic" voice.[4] Tom Ewing of Freaky Trigger complimented her "as a house vocalist". He added, "Lisa Stansfield was a terrific find: she could play the belter with the best of them, but also provide a calm centre for Coldcut’s gleeful cut-and-mix pyrotechnics and pianos. Best of all, she sounded like she was having a tremendous time."[5] A reviewer from Music & Media said, "An effective mixture of Stansfield's soul voice and a rare groove/house backing. Great dance track with a strong melody."[6] Jerry Smith from Music Week declared it as "unforgettable".[7] David Quantick from NME wrote, "Their 'People Hold On' is one of the best things done by either Coldcut or Stansfield, a chargingly daft love 'n' peace nonsense anthem that was really a call for drug-addled copulation. Most importantly for Stansfield, it emphasised a '70s soul stance that suited her voice."[8] Edward Hill from The Plain Dealer praised the song as "fabulous".[9] Marisa Fox from Spin complimented it as a "catchy hit".[10] Joe Brown from The Washington Post described it as "propulsive".[11]

Music video

A music video was produced to promote the single, directed by Big TV!. It was later published on Stansfield's official YouTube channel in March 2012, and had generated more than 1.1 million views as of April 2022.[12]

Impact and legacy

British music publication Fact ranked "People Hold On" number 11 in their list of "21 Diva-House Belters That Still Sound Incredible" in 2014, writing,

Yeah it’s cheesy and loved up and utopian – and what? It really hit the spot back then, find yourself in the right situation now and it still does. Also the a cappella has found its way over so many different beats in bootlegs and DJ sets over the years, this track is woven into the very fabric of things.[13]

Electronic dance and clubbing magazine Mixmag ranked it as one of the 20 best songs in their "The 20 Best Diva House Tracks" list in 2019, adding,

The tune put the pair on the map and influential producers like Juan Atkins, Dimitri from Paris and Masters At Work, took notice of the UK duo's talent and each took shots at remixing the track. It's a clean and powerful dance track with a strong melody that marked the beginning of Coldcut's iconic career.[14]

Track listings

Charts
Chart performance for "People Hold On"
Chart (1989) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[15] 78
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[16] 32
Europe (European Hot 100 Singles)[17] 26
France (SNEP)[18] 45
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[19] 4
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 37
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 38
UK Singles (OCC)[22] 11
US Dance Club Songs (Billboard)[23] 6
West Germany (Official German Charts)[24] 24

"People Hold On" (The Bootleg Mixes)
"People Hold On (The Bootleg Mixes)"
Single by Lisa Stansfield vs the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
from the album Lisa Stansfield
Released6 January 1997 (1997-01-06)[25]
GenreDance
Length3:42
LabelArista
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Lisa Stansfield singles chronology
"Dream Away"
(1994)		 "People Hold On (The Bootleg Mixes)"
(1997)		 "The Real Thing"
(1997)
Music video
"People Hold On" (The Bootleg Mixes) on YouTube

In 1996, "People Hold On" was remixed by British producers Dan Bewick and Matt Frost as the Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. The CD single with these Bootleg Mixes was released on 6 January 1997 and charted higher than the original version of the song in 1989, peaking at number four on the UK Singles Chart and topping the UK Dance Singles Chart as well as the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Songs chart. The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels took their cue from Armand Van Helden's radical reworking of Tori Amos' "Professional Widow", which topped the UK chart the week that the bootleg mixes debuted.[26]

Because of this success, "People Hold On" (Bootleg Mix) was included on Stansfield's eponymous album (1997) as a bonus track. The music video, directed by Max Abbiss-Biro, does not include any new footage of Stansfield but uses small fragments taken from "Change" and "Someday (I'm Coming Back)" videos. Later, "People Hold On" (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels Mix) was also featured on The Remix Album (1998) and a limited edition of Biography: The Greatest Hits (2003). On 24 October 2006, Dance Vault Mixes of "People Hold On" were released digitally. In 2014, Jon Is the Don Mix of "People Hold On" was included on the deluxe 2CD + DVD re-release of Lisa Stansfield (also on The Collection 1989–2003).

Critical reception

Scottish Aberdeen Press and Journal wrote, "This bootleg is only going to be available for one week at the start of the New Year and can be expected to do big things. Bearing an uncanny resemblance to Armand Van Helden’s remix of Tori Amos’ excellent Professional Widow, except featuring vocals from Lisa's classic". The newspaper added that "the rush to get a copy will probably see it in the Top Ten. Not bad at all, even if a tad unoriginal."[27]

Track listings

Charts

See also

References
  1. Muggs, Joe (23 January 2014). "Let's Fackin' Ave It! 21 diva-house belters that still sound incredible". Fact. Retrieved 2 July 2018.
  2. "Official Singles Chart Top 100 09 April 1989 - 15 April 1989". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  3. Hocter, Matthew (17 November 2019). "Lisa Stansfield's Debut Album 'Affection' Turns 30: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  4. Kot, Greg (23 May 1990). "Lisa Stansfield Puts An Appealing Spin On The Soul Revival". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  5. Ewing, Tom (8 October 2010). "Lisa Stansfield – "All Around The World"". Freaky Trigger. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
  6. "Previews: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 1 April 1989. Retrieved 26 March 2018.
  7. Smith, Jerry (27 May 1989). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 21. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  8. Quantick, David (18 November 1989). "Long Play". NME. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  9. Hill, Edward (23 February 1990). "Debut disc has few good cuts". The Plain Dealer.
  10. Fox, Marisa (May 1990). "Spins". Spin. p. 80. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  11. Brown, Joe (23 March 1990). "New Chanteuses Get Down Tonight". The Washington Post.
  12. "Coldcut - People Hold On (Official Video) ft. Lisa Stansfield". YouTube. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  13. Muggs, Joe (23 January 2014). "Let's Fackin' Ave It! 21 diva-house belters that still sound incredible". Fact. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  14. "The 20 best diva house tracks". Mixmag. Retrieved 16 September 2019.
  15. "The ARIA Report issue 367, week ending 10th March 1997: Chartifacts column". ARIA. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  16. "Coldcut feat. Lisa Stansfield – People Hold On" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  17. "Hits of the World" (PDF). Billboard. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  18. "Coldcut feat. Lisa Stansfield – People Hold On" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  19. "Coldcut featuring Lisa Stansfield — People Hold On" (in Dutch). Top40.nl. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  20. "Coldcut feat. Lisa Stansfield – People Hold On" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  21. "Coldcut feat. Lisa Stansfield – People Hold On". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  22. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  23. "Coldcut Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  24. "Offiziellecharts.de – Coldcut feat. Lisa Stansfield – People Hold On" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  25. "New Releases: Singles". Music Week. 28 December 1996. p. 19.
  26. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. 12 January 1997. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  27. Aberdeen Press and Journal. 26 December 1996. p.8.
  28. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 265.
  29. "Lisa Stansfield vs. The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – People Hold On" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  30. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 3205." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  31. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. 25 January 1997. p. 23. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  32. "European Radio Top 50" (PDF). Music & Media. 15 February 1997. p. 25. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  33. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – People Hold On". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  34. "Lisa and Tori — People Hold On" (in Dutch). Top40.nl. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
  35. "Lisa Stansfield vs. The Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – People Hold On" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  36. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  37. Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  38. "Major Market Airplay: Spain" (PDF). Music & Media. 8 March 1997. p. 31. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  39. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  40. "Official Dance Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  41. "Lisa Stansfield Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
  42. "The Year in Music: Hot Dance Club-Play Singles". Billboard. Vol. 109, no. 52. 27 December 1997. p. YE-44. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
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