"Hold My Hand" is the debut single of the American alternative rock band Hootie & the Blowfish from their first album, Cracked Rear View (1994). All four of the band members (Mark Bryan, Dean Felber, Darius Rucker and Jim Sonefeld) wrote the song sometime in 1989, and it was released on a self-titled cassette EP the year after. Released in July 1994 by Atlantic Records, "Hold My Hand" charted at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song includes a backing vocal from David Crosby.
Critical reception Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic said that the song "has a singalong chorus that epitomizes the band's good-times vibes." Pan-European magazine Music & Media wrote, "Don't give up, here's new hope. Only images of Brazilian footballers holding hands can equal the optimism and camaraderie reflected by this country rock song in a gospel spirit."
Chart performance "Hold My Hand" peaked at number 10 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number six on Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. It ended the year at number 22 on the Billboard year-end chart for 1995.
Music video The accompanying music video for "Hold My Hand" was directed by American filmmaker and director of music videos, Adolfo Doring.
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1994–1995)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA) 70European Hit Radio Top 40 (Music & Media) 40France Radio (SNEP) 89US Cash Box Top 100Cash Box Chart Entries 1990-1996 5
Year-end charts Chart (1994)PositionUS Album Rock Tracks (Billboard) 30 Chart (1995)Position Brazil (Crowley) 92US Billboard Hot 100 22US Adult Contemporary (Billboard) 9US Top 40/Mainstream (Billboard) 9US Cash Box Top 100 32
Certifications
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United StatesJuly 18, 1994RadioAtlanticAustraliaOctober 10, 1994CDUnited KingdomFebruary 13, 1995
References
See also Bottle Rockets