If We Hold on Together

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"If We Hold on Together"
If We Hold on Together.jpg
Single by Diana Ross
from the album The Land Before Time Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and The Force Behind the Power
B-side"If We Hold on Together (Instrumental)"
ReleasedNovember 5, 1988 (1988-11-05)
Recorded1988
GenreR&B, pop, soul
Length4:07
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Peter Asher
Diana Ross singles chronology
"Mr. Lee"
(1988) 		"If We Hold on Together"
(1988) 		"Workin' Overtime"
(1989)

"If We Hold on Together" is the theme song to the 1988 film The Land Before Time, and is performed by Diana Ross. Played during the film's ending credits, it was released on the film's soundtrack as well on Ross' 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 the top 30 on the US adult contemporary chart, peaked at #23, as well as giving Ross her biggest hit ever in Japan (No. 1) and later reaching No. 11 in the UK. There was no music video promoted for the song.

"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.

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.""[1] Bustle preferred it to "My Heart Will Go On", writing "It's shamelessly sappy, but it perfectly suits the dinosaur tearjerker it appears in."[2] Rotoscopers said it was the "cherry on top to this great musical score from James Horner."[3] The site also said it "brings forth the same endearing qualities as "Somewhere Out There" from An American Tail."[4][5] Music & Media wrote, "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."[6]

Personnel[]

Charts[]

Chart (1988–1993) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 35
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[9] 36
UK Singles (OCC)[10] 11
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[11] 23

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[13]
1990 physical release 		4× Platinum 456,000[12]

Version[]

In 2021, singer Janella Salvador performed the song on ASAP and her new album Melody of Love with Janella.

References[]

  1. ^ "James Horner – The Land Before Time [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  2. ^ Cusumano, Katherine (July 28, 2015). "Who Is James Horner? The 'Southpaw' Composer Is Responsible For 7 Other Iconic Scores From 'Aliens' To 'Titanic'". Bustle.
  3. ^ "A Musical-Countdown Tribute to James Horner". Rotoscopers. July 2, 2015.
  4. ^ "Remembering James Horner". Rotoscopers. July 8, 2015.
  5. ^ "'Prince of Egypt' anniversary: The 10 best animated (non-Disney) songs". Entertainment Weekly. December 18, 2013.
  6. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 5, 1992. p. 10. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  7. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If We Hold on Together". Irish Singles Chart.
  8. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Diana Ross" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  9. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Diana Ross – If We Hold on Together" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  10. ^ "Diana Ross: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  11. ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  12. ^ McClure, Steve (April 13, 1991). ""Disk" Awards To Madonna, Matsutoya". Billboard. p. 61. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  13. ^ "Japanese single certifications – Diana Ross – If We Hold on Together" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 1990年8月 on the drop-down menu
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