Daigle’s smoky voice sets this song on fire. Lauren Daigle is back in 2021 with a brand new single, the first release since her 2018 hit record Look Up Child. The title track from her last album broke the record for most weeks at #1, a spot it still holds after 119 weeks. The soulful Christian singer is now poised to put more of her music on the Billboard list with this strong first showing.
“Hold On to Me” commands the listener’s attention from the start. Lauren’s opening note sounds strained and tired, giving a particular weight to the performance. She effortlessly grows the tune with belting high notes that ring with just the right amount of vibrato. The simple accompaniment adds to a sense of loneliness that drives the melancholy yet hopeful lyrics.
Hold on to me when it’s too dark to see You
When I am sure I have reached the end
Hold on to me when I forget I need You
When I let go, hold me again
A hymn of hope
The words are a somber reflection on the need for God in all our lives. Daigle told American Songwriter that she wanted to do away with cliché song tropes but maintain the “lyrical depth” of a hymn. In order to achieve this, she teamed with Paul Duncan and Paul Mabury for the first time. The end result is a shiver-inducing gospel song that speaks to the heart of the human experience.
In the interview with American Songwriter, Daigle said of the work:
“The thing I love most about this song is that it lends itself to someone who is feeling incredibly vulnerable, someone who is feeling insecure, or uncertain,” Daigle shares. “There are times we may need a reminder of who we are and that we are worthy of having joy in our lives. In moments where the future may look uncertain and unknown, this is a song of hope that any person can cling to.”
We thought the live version, featured above, was a magnificent vocal. The official studio recording, however, has a much grander accompaniment that makes the song enormous. Take a look at the official lyric video below to hear the difference.
Read more:
With 100 weeks at #1, Lauren Daigle’s crossover hit breaks Billboard record
