If We Hold On Together
{{more citations needed|date=April 2019}}
{{Infobox song
| name = If We Hold on Together
| cover = If We Hold on Together.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Diana Ross
| album = The Land Before Time Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and The Force Behind the Power
| B-side = If We Hold on Together (Instrumental)
| released = {{start date|1988|11|5}}
| recorded = 1988
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 4:07
| label =
| writer =
| producer = Peter Asher
| chronology = Diana Ross
| prev_title = Mr. Lee
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = Workin' Overtime
| next_year = 1989
}}
"If We Hold on Together" is the theme song to the 1988 film The Land Before Time, and is performed by American singer Diana Ross. Played during the film's ending credits, it was released on the film's soundtrack as well on Ross' nineteenth studio album, The Force Behind the Power (1991). It was also released as the soundtrack's first and only single on November 5, 1988 by MCA. The song was written by James Horner and Will Jennings, and produced by Peter Asher. It reached number 23 on the US adult contemporary chart and became Ross' biggest hit song in Japan (No. 1).
"If We Hold on Together" was covered by Anndi McAfee and Aria Curzon, the voices of Cera and Ducky in The Land Before Time series since the fifth film, for The Land Before Time: Sing-Along Songs in 1997. The song was also covered by multi-Na Hoku Hanohano award-winning Hawaiian music artist Keali'i Reichel on his 1995 debut album Kawaipunahele. Jordin Sparks, a winner of American Idol season 6 also covered this song. Filipino singer Manilyn Reynes also covered this song from her 1989 album, Heartbeat. Japanese singer Yōko Nagayama also covered this song in 1990.
Critical reception
Peter Fawthrop from AllMusic described the song as "a soaring, splendid ballad", noting that it "is somewhat Biblical in its message, 'Valley mountain, there is a fountain that washes our tears all away'".{{cite web|first= Peter |last= Fawthrop |title= James Horner – The Land Before Time [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] |publisher= AllMusic |access-date= November 8, 2020 |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-land-before-time-original-motion-picture-soundtrack-mw0000202560}} Katherine Cusumano from Bustle preferred it to "My Heart Will Go On", writing that "it's shamelessly sappy, but it perfectly suits the dinosaur tearjerker it appears in".{{cite web|last=Cusumano|first=Katherine|url=http://www.bustle.com/articles/100400-who-is-james-horner-the-southpaw-composer-is-responsible-for-7-other-iconic-scores-from-aliens|title=Who Is James Horner? The 'Southpaw' Composer Is Responsible For 7 Other Iconic Scores From 'Aliens' To 'Titanic'|date=July 28, 2015|work=Bustle}} James Masterton declared it as Ross' "welcome return to the slushy soul ballads only she can do properly".{{cite web|last=Masterton|first=James|title=Week Ending November 28th 1992|url=https://chart-watch.uk/archives/1992/week-ending-november-28th-1992|website=Chart Watch UK|date=November 23, 1992|accessdate=September 12, 2021|author-link=James Masterton}} Pan-European magazine Music & Media stated: "Ross is the boss when it comes to romantic ballads. This one will have to share the air with all those flying angels during the Christmas period".{{cite magazine|title= New Releases: Singles |magazine= Music & Media |date= December 5, 1992 |page= 10 |access-date= October 22, 2020 |url= https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-and-Media/90s/1992/MM-1992-12-05.pdf}} Rotoscopers said it was the "cherry on top to this great musical score" from James Horner.{{cite web|url=http://www.rotoscopers.com/2015/07/02/a-musical-countdown-tribute-to-james-horner/|title=A Musical-Countdown Tribute to James Horner|work=Rotoscopers|date=July 2, 2015}} The site also said it brings the same "endearing" qualities as "Somewhere Out There" from An American Tail.{{cite web|url=http://www.rotoscopers.com/2015/07/08/remembering-james-horner/|title=Remembering James Horner|work=Rotoscopers|date=July 8, 2015}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2013/12/18/prince-of-egypt-best-songs-animated-movies|title='Prince of Egypt' anniversary: The 10 best animated (non-Disney) songs|date=December 18, 2013|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}
Personnel
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2019}}
- Diana Ross – lead vocals
- Lee Sklar – bass
- Russ Kunkel – drums
- Waddy Wachtel – guitar
- Guy Moon, Randy Kerber – keyboards
- Michael Fisher – percussion
- David Campbell – BGV arrangements, orchestra arrangements and conductor
- Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader
- Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor
- Kate Markowitz, Valerie Carter – backing vocals
Charts
| class="wikitable"
! style="width:17em;"| Chart (1988–1989) ! Peak |
| {{single chart|Billboardadultcontemporary|23|artist=Diana Ross}} |
| class="wikitable"
! style="width:17em;"|Chart (1992–1993) ! Peak |
| {{single chart|Ireland2|25|song=If We Hold on Together}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch40|35|artist=Diana Ross|song=If We Hold on Together}} |
| {{single chart|Dutch100|36|artist=Diana Ross|song=If We Hold on Together}} |
| {{single chart|UKsinglesbyname|11|artist=Diana Ross|song=If We Hold on Together|artistid=14097}} |
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Japan|type=single|artist=Diana Ross|title=If We Hold on Together|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1990|certyear=1990|certmonth=8|note=1990 physical release|salesamount=456,000|salesref={{cite magazine|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1991/BB-1991-04-13.pdf/|title="Disk" Awards To Madonna, Matsutoya|magazine=Billboard|first=Steve|last=McClure|via=World Radio History|page=61|date=April 13, 1991|accessdate=April 13, 2021}}}}
{{End}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{The Land Before Time}}
{{Diana Ross}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Contemporary R&B ballads
Category:Songs written for animated films
Category:Songs written for films
Category:Songs written by James Horner