I Hold On
{{Infobox song
| name = I Hold On
| cover = IHoldOn.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Dierks Bentley
| album = Riser
| released = {{Start date|2013|8|26}}
| recorded = 2013
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = Country
| length = {{ubl|{{Duration|m=4|s=39}} {{small|(main version)}}|{{Duration|m=3|s=46}} {{small|(edit)}}}}
| label = Capitol Nashville
| writer = {{hlist|Brett James|Dierks Bentley}}
| producer = Ross Copperman
| prev_title = Bourbon in Kentucky
| prev_year = 2013
| next_title = Drunk on a Plane
| next_year = 2014
}}
"I Hold On" is a song co-written and recorded by American country music artist Dierks Bentley. It was released in August 2013 as the second single from his 2014 album Riser.{{cite news|last=Wyland|first=Sarah|title=Dierks Bentley Releases "I Hold On" as New Single|url=http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2013/08/14/dierks-bentley-releases-i-hold-on-as-new-single/|access-date=October 23, 2013|newspaper=Great American Country|date=August 14, 2013}} Bentley wrote the song with Brett James.{{cite news|last=Whitaker|first=Sterling|title=Dierks Bentley Releases New Single, 'I Hold On'|url=http://theboot.com/dierks-bentley-i-hold-on/|access-date=October 23, 2013|newspaper=The Boot|date=August 13, 2013}}
Content
The song describes the singer staying true to what he enjoys and is comfortable with, including an old truck, an old guitar, and his lover. The truck and guitar referenced are still used by Bentley today. In his Sounds Of Summer tour, he played his old guitar that has a hole in it. Part of the video in the background while he played the song showed his 1994 Chevy Silverado that he and his late father drove to Nashville.
Critical reception
Billy Dukes of Taste of Country gave the song three out of five, writing that "one senses him trying to do something new, something totally unique, but still not quite wanting to give up the sound and style his longtime fans appreciate." Dukes stated that "lyrically, he starts strong, but levels off, relying more on attitude than substance by the midway point."{{cite web|last=Dukes|first=Billy|title=Dierks Bentley, 'I Hold On' – Song Review|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/dierks-bentley-i-hold-on/|access-date=October 23, 2013|website=Taste of Country|date=August 13, 2013}} Matt Bjorke of Roughstock gave the song four stars out of five, saying that "with low booming bass lines and a percussive arena-rock melody backing up Dierks Bentley's lyrics, 'I Hold On' is the kind of song that showcases Dierks Bentley in a new way." Bjorke called it "a strong lyrical song, a song which showcases the artistry of Dierks Bentley that sometimes gets dismissed when he's chasing radio airplay but is held up when he records and release stuff that doesn't."{{cite news|last=Bjorke|first=Matt|title=Single Review: Dierks Bentley - I Hold On|url=http://www.roughstock.com/reviews/single-review-dierks-bentley-i-hold-on|access-date=October 23, 2013|newspaper=Roughstock|date=August 12, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140404215518/http://www.roughstock.com/reviews/single-review-dierks-bentley-i-hold-on|archive-date=April 4, 2014|url-status=dead}} In 2017, Billboard contributor Chuck Dauphin placed "I Hold On" at number one on his top 10 list of Bentley's best songs.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/7858082/dierks-bentley-songs-best-hits-list|title=Dierks Bentley's 10 Best Songs: Critic's Picks|last=Dauphin|first=Chuck|author-link=Chuck Dauphin|magazine=Billboard|date=July 14, 2017|access-date=May 18, 2020}} In 2024, Rolling Stone ranked the song at #182 on its 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time ranking.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-country-songs-1234986540/deirks-bentley-i-hold-on-1235009775/|title =The 200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time|magazine = Rolling Stone|date =May 24, 2014}}
Live performances
Bentley debuted the song when he co-hosted The View on July 26, 2013.{{cite news|last=Vinson|first=Christina|title=Dierks Bentley Debuts New Song 'I Hold On' on 'The View'|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/dierks-bentley-i-hold-on-the-view/|access-date=October 23, 2013|newspaper=Taste of Country|date=July 28, 2013}} He also performed it on the season finale of America's Got Talent on September 18, 2013.{{cite news|last=Sciarretto|first=Amy|title=Dierks Bentley to Perform 'I Hold On' on 'America's Got Talent' Finale|url=http://tasteofcountry.com/dierks-bentley-i-hold-on-americas-got-talent-finale/|access-date=October 23, 2013|newspaper=Taste of Country|date=September 18, 2013}} On January 3, 2014, he also performed during halftime of the 2014 Orange Bowl.
Music video
A live music video was directed by Ryan Silver and premiered on October 31, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/videos/dierks-bentley/950559/i-hold-on-tour-performance.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005222114/http://www.cmt.com/videos/dierks-bentley/950559/i-hold-on-tour-performance.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 5, 2013|title=CMT : Videos : Dierks Bentley : I Hold On (Tour Performance)|publisher=Country Music Television|access-date=October 23, 2013}} The official music video was directed by Wes Edwards and premiered on October 31, 2013.{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/videos/dierks-bentley/974242/i-hold-on.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103041632/http://www.cmt.com/videos/dierks-bentley/974242/i-hold-on.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2013|title=CMT : Videos : Dierks Bentley : I Hold On|publisher=Country Music Television|access-date=November 2, 2013}}
Commercial performance
"I Hold On" debuted at number 59 on the U.S. Billboard Country Airplay chart for the week of September 7, 2013.{{cite news|last=Morris|first=Edward|title=Luke Bryan's Crash My Party Still Commands the Album Charts|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1713382/luke-bryans-crash-my-party-still-commands-the-album-charts.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130902024002/http://www.cmt.com/news/country-music/1713382/luke-bryans-crash-my-party-still-commands-the-album-charts.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 2, 2013|access-date=October 23, 2013|newspaper=Country Music Television|date=August 31, 2013}} It also debuted at number 35 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and at number 84 on the Canadian Hot 100 chart for the week of September 14, 2013. It also debuted at number 100 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week of January 4, 2014. The song was certified Gold by the RIAA on April 28, 2014, and Platinum on November 24, 2014. As of early May 2014, the song has sold 610,000 copies in the United States.{{cite news|title=Country Chart News - The Top 30 Digital Singles - May 8, 2014: Brantley Gilbert's Guns N Roses Debut |url=http://www.roughstock.com/blog/country-chart-news-the-top-30-digital-singles-may-8-2014-brantley-gilbert-s-guns-n-roses-debut |last=Bjorke |first=Matt |publisher=Roughstock |date=May 8, 2014 |access-date=May 8, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509002155/http://www.roughstock.com/blog/country-chart-news-the-top-30-digital-singles-may-8-2014-brantley-gilbert-s-guns-n-roses-debut |archive-date=May 9, 2014 }}
Charts and certifications
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable"
!align="left"|Chart (2013–2014) !align="center"|Peak |
| {{singlechart|Canada|44|artist=Dierks Bentley}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcanadacountry|2|artist=Dierks Bentley}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardhot100|40|artist=Dierks Bentley}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcountryairplay|1|artist=Dierks Bentley}} |
| {{singlechart|Billboardcountrysongs|3|artist=Dierks Bentley}} |
=Year-end charts=
{{col-2}}
=Certifications=
{{certification Table Top}}
{{certification Table Entry|type=single|region=United States|artist=Dierks Bentley|title=I Hold On|award=Platinum|number=2|certyear=2021|relyear=2013|refname="CertRef"|accessdate=October 25, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom| nosales=true | noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
{{col-end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Dierks Bentley}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Capitol Records Nashville singles
Category:Songs written by Brett James
Category:Songs written by Dierks Bentley