Lady Gaga‘s “Hold My Hand” song was unarguably a masterpiece. Lady Gaga needs no formal introduction in the music scene, as she’s one of the most successful female artists in the world. Among her impressive discography, “Hold My Hand” stands out as a poignant and emotionally charged track that showcases Gaga’s versatility as a musician and her ability to connect with listeners on a profound level.
Unsurprisingly, Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand” song was chosen as the lead single for Top Gun: Maverick‘s (2022) soundtrack album Top Gun: Maverick (Music from the Motion Picture). From its lyrics to visuals, “Hold My Hand” is one of 2022 best-hit songs. Here’s an in-depth look at the song’s background, lyrics, and chart performances.
“Hold My Hand” Background And Inspiration
Before music and movie fans read Lady Gaga’s official announcement on the release of “Hold My Hand,” there had been several initial reports. Although Lady Gaga’s announcement came on April 27, 2022, the song and possible collaboration were first reported by the ShowBiz 411 gossip website a year earlier in April 2021. Like any other film, Top Gun: Maverick producers approached several artists to provide music and score for the film. Lady Gaga’s “Hold My Hand” immediately stood out for the producers and Tom Cruise.
However, Lady Gaga didn’t exactly start writing the song’s lyrics after she was approached to contribute to the film’s soundtrack. According to the singer, she has been working on the song’s lyrics for many years. Coincidentally, the song’s lyrics synced with the emotional depth of Top Gun: Maverick. Part of the song’s inspiration comes from “the nature of the world we’ve been living in.” Ultimately, “Hold My Hand” is more than just a song; it’s a musical journey into the depths of human emotion and connection.
“Hold My Hand” Lyrics And Music
At its core, “Hold My Hand” is a song about human connection and vulnerability. The lyrics express a longing for closeness and support, a universal theme that resonated profoundly throughout Top Gun: Maverick. The song begins with “Hold my hand, everything will be okay/ I heard from the heavens that clouds have been grey/ Pull me close, wrap me in your aching arms/ I see that you’re hurtin’, why’d you take so long.” Such powerful lyrics give listeners a sense of comfort and reassurance.
“Hold My Hand” was written and produced by Lady Gaga and BloodPop. The song is 3 minutes 45 seconds long and falls into the Arena Rock genre. The song was officially released on May 3, 2022, about three weeks before Top Gun: Maverick was released in the United States. It received mixed reviews from music critics. While some critics considered it a “catchy earworm” and powerful rendition, others criticized the vagueness of the lyrics.
“Hold My Hand” Music Video
“Hold My Hand” music video was directed by Top Gun: Maverick‘s director, Joseph Kosinski. It was released three days after the audio and features scenes from Top Gun (1986) interspersed with scenes from the new Top Gun: Maverick (2022). One of the highlights of the video is Lady Gaga playing a grand piano on a military airforce runway. The song is also synced with flying jets, giving viewers a feel of the movie as they watch the video. Throughout the video, Lady Gaga switches between wearing an aviation bomber jacket (the original Cruise wore in Top Gun (1986) and Lessja Verlingieri‘s nude gown flying around as she sings.
“Hold My Hand” Chart Performances
A week after “Hold My Hand” was released, it debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 82. However, it rose on the chart after the movie’s release, peaking at number 49. On the Billboard Global 200, the song debuted at 62 and eventually peaked at number 37. Similarly, the song peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart, number 12 on the Billboard Adult Pop Airplay chart, and number 19 on Billboard Mainstream Top 40 chart.
The song also did well on Canadian music charts. It peaked at 25 on the Canadian Hot 100, 5 on Canada AC (Billboard), and 18 on Canada Hot AC (Billboard). Generally, the song fared better in European music charts. It peaked at number 1 in Croatia (HRT), 6 in Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia), and 11 in Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders). It also peaked at number 5 in Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade) and Hungary (Single Top 40).
“Hold My Hand” was certified Platinum in Canada, France, Italy, Poland, and Switzerland. It was certified Gold in Australia, Belgium, and Denmark. It was certified Silver in the United Kingdom. The song was nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards, Best Original Song – Motion Picture at the Golden Globe Awards, Best Song Written for Visual Media at the Grammy Awards, and Song of 2022 at the People’s Choice Awards.
“Hold My Hand” Live Performances
The first live performance of “Hold My Hand” was at Lady Gaga’s seventh headlining concert tour, The Chromatica Ball. It was performed as an encore. Lady Gaga’s next live performance of the song was at the 95th Academy Awards, held on March 12, 2023. It was a stripped-down version of the song, with the performance relying heavily on Lady Gaga’s vocals. She performed without make-up and wore a simple black t-shirt and ripped jeans. Anyone who watched Lady Gaga‘s live performance of “Hold My Hand” at the Oscars understood the song was much more than a soundtrack but dear to the singer’s heart.
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