Just Hold On

## Music video

"**Just Hold On**" is a single by DJ Steve Aoki and singer and songwriter Louis Tomlinson, released as the latter's debut single on December 10, 2016, by Ultra Music. It was written by Tomlinson, Aoki, Eric Rosse, Sasha Sloan and Sir Nolan and produced by Aoki, Sir Nolan and Jay Pryor. Aoki and Tomlinson performed the song for the first time on the series finale of The X Factor (UK).

## Background and release

"Just Hold On" is the first solo music project by Tomlinson after One Direction began their first official break in December 2015. A preview of the song was released on December 9.

Tomlinson's debut performance of "Just Hold On" on The X Factor (UK) came just days after it was announced that his mother, Johannah Deakin, died at the age of 42 after a battle with leukemia. The song was made available on the iTunes Store and streaming services on December 10, 2016.

## Critical reception

In the website Idolator, Christina Lee wrote the song is an "uplifting EDM fare that comes standard with summer music festivals, though also a brand new direction for Louis after five One Direction albums." *Time* called it an "undeniably catchy track, a surprisingly gentle mix of Aoki’s EDM backing and Tomlinson’s melodic boy band vocals". Music website DirectLyrics stated: "Although Steve Aoki's electro-house beat flows well with the uplifting message of the song, I hope Louis releases an acoustic version of "Just Hold On" in the future". *Express* also called the track "fittingly uplifting". We Got This Covered described Aoki's production, stating: "Aoki layers in mid tempo four on the floor rhythms, injecting a tropical vibe moving into the chorus with exotic melodies and undeniable groove; it looks like Aoki is hoping to get in on the EDM-pop crossover trend...of 2016. Thankfully, he doesn’t go the future bass route, opting instead to craft a tropical pop production elevated by Louis Tomlinson’s smooth vocal approach. “Just Hold On” is definitely catchy enough to get some heavy radio play, and Tomlinson's presence on the song may just be enough to score Steve Aoki a full-fledged pop hit."

### Awards and nominations

 Choice Electronic/Dance Song
 Choice Male Hottie

## Lyrics

**[Verse 1: Louis Tomlinson]**

Wish that you could build a time machine

So you could see

The things no one can see

Feels like you're standing on the edge

Looking at the stars

And wishing you were them

**[Pre-Chorus: Louis Tomlinson]**

‪What do you do when a chapter ends?‬

‪Do you close the book and never read it again?‬

‪Where do you go when your story's done?‬

‪You can be who you were or who you'll become‬

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh oh, if it all goes wrong‬

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh oh, darling, just hold on‬

**[Chorus: Louis Tomlinson]**

‪The sun goes down and it comes back up‬

‪The world it turns no matter what‬

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh oh, if it all goes wrong

Darling, just hold on

**[Post-Chorus: Louis Tomlinson]**

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh oh, darling, just hold on

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh oh

**[Verse 2: Louis Tomlinson]**

It's not over 'til it's all been said‬

‪It's not over 'til your dying breath‬

‪So what do you want them to say when you're gone?‬

‪That you gave up or that you kept going on?‬

**[Pre-Chorus: Louis Tomlinson]**

‪What do you do when a chapter ends?‬

‪Do you close the book and never read it again?‬

‪Where do you go when your story's done?‬

‪You can be who you were or who you'll become‬

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh oh, ‪if it all goes wrong‬

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh oh, darling, just hold on‬

**[Chorus: Louis Tomlinson]**

‪The sun goes down and it comes back up‬

‪The world it turns no matter what‬

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh oh, if it all goes wrong

Darling, just hold on

*[Post-Chorus: Louis Tomlinson]*

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh oh

Darling, just hold on

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh oh

If it all goes wrong

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh oh

Darling, just hold on

**[Outro: Louis Tomlinson]**

Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh-oh oh

If it all goes wrong, darling, just hold on

## References

1. ↑ Just Hold On - Single - iTunes (US)
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 One Direction's Louis Tomlinson Goes Solo With Steve Aoki Collab 'Just Hold On'
3. ↑ The Best House Songs Of 2017
4. ↑ Get To Know Steve Aoki’s Recent Collaborator, Jay Pryor
5. ↑ See One Direction's Louis Tomlinson Debut 'Just Hold On' on 'X Factor'
6. ↑ Preview:Louis Tomlinson - Just hold on (feat. Steve Aoki)
7. ↑ Louis Tomlinson debuts new song on ‘X Factor’ days after mom’s death
8. ↑ Louis Tomlinson & Steve Aoki Debut "Just Hold On" On 'The X Factor UK': Watch
9. ↑ Steve Aoki And Louis Tomlinson Debut New Collab “Just Hold On”
10. ↑ Teen Choice