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"If We Hold on Together" is the theme song to the 1988 film The Land Before Time, and is performed by American singer Diana Ross. Played during the film's ending credits, it was released on the film's soundtrack as well on Ross' nineteenth studio 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 number 23 on the US adult contemporary chart and became Ross' biggest hit song in Japan (No. 1).
| "If We Hold on Together" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| 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)" | |||
| Released | November 5, 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1988 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:07 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriter(s) | ||||
| Producer(s) | Peter Asher | |||
| Diana Ross singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"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. Filipino singer, Manilyn Reynes also did covered this song from her 1989 album, Heartbeat.
Critical reception
editPeter 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] Katherine Cusumano from Bustle preferred it to "My Heart Will Go On", writing that "it's shamelessly sappy, but it perfectly suits the dinosaur tearjerker it appears in".[2] James Masterton declared it as Ross' "welcome return to the slushy soul ballads only she can do properly".[3] Pan-European magazine Music & Media stated: "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".[4] Rotoscopers said it was the "cherry on top to this great musical score" from James Horner.[5] The site also said it brings the same "endearing" qualities as "Somewhere Out There" from An American Tail.[6][7]
Personnel
edit- Diana Ross – lead vocals
- Lee Sklar – bass
- Russ Kunkel – drums
- Waddy Wachtel – guitar
- Guy Moon, Randy Kerber – keyboards
- Michael Fisher – percussion
- David Campbell – BGV arrangements, orchestra arrangements and conductor
- Gavyn Wright – orchestra leader
- Isobel Griffiths – orchestra contractor
- Kate Markowitz, Valerie Carter – backing vocals
Charts
edit| Chart (1988–1989) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[8] | 23 |
| Chart (1992–1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Ireland (IRMA)[9] | 25 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[10] | 35 |
| Netherlands (Single Top 100)[11] | 36 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[12] | 11 |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Japan (RIAJ)[14] 1990 physical release |
4× Platinum | 456,000[13] |
References
edit- ^ Fawthrop, Peter. "James Horner – The Land Before Time [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]". AllMusic. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
- ^ Cusumano, Katherine (July 28, 2015). "Who Is James Horner? The 'Southpaw' Composer Is Responsible For 7 Other Iconic Scores From 'Aliens' To 'Titanic'". Bustle.
- ^ Masterton, James (November 23, 1992). "Week Ending November 28th 1992". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 5, 1992. p. 10. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
- ^ "A Musical-Countdown Tribute to James Horner". Rotoscopers. July 2, 2015.
- ^ "Remembering James Horner". Rotoscopers. July 8, 2015.
- ^ "'Prince of Egypt' anniversary: The 10 best animated (non-Disney) songs". Entertainment Weekly. December 18, 2013.
- ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
- ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If We Hold on Together". Irish Singles Chart.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Diana Ross" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "Diana Ross – If We Hold on Together" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
- ^ "Diana Ross: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
- ^ McClure, Steve (April 13, 1991). ""Disk" Awards To Madonna, Matsutoya". Billboard. p. 61. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via World Radio History.
- ^ "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