If We Hold on Together

1988 single by Diana Ross
"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)"
ReleasedNovember 5, 1988 (1988-11-05)
Recorded1988
GenreR&B, pop, soul
Length4:07
Label
  • MCA
  • Geffen
  • Motown
Songwriter(s)
  • James Horner
  • Will Jennings
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 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 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] 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

Charts

Chart (1988–1993) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[8] 25
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[9] 35
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[10] 36
UK Singles (OCC)[11] 11
US Adult Contemporary (Billboard)[12] 23

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[14]
1990 physical release 		4× Platinum 456,000[13]

References

  1. ^ Fawthrop, Peter. "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. ^ Masterton, James (November 23, 1992). "Week Ending November 28th 1992". Chart Watch UK. Retrieved September 12, 2021.
  4. ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. December 5, 1992. p. 10. Retrieved October 22, 2020.
  5. ^ "A Musical-Countdown Tribute to James Horner". Rotoscopers. July 2, 2015.
  6. ^ "Remembering James Horner". Rotoscopers. July 8, 2015.
  7. ^ "'Prince of Egypt' anniversary: The 10 best animated (non-Disney) songs". Entertainment Weekly. December 18, 2013.
  8. ^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – If We Hold on Together". Irish Singles Chart.
  9. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Diana Ross" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  10. ^ "Diana Ross – If We Hold on Together" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  11. ^ "Diana Ross: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
  12. ^ "Diana Ross Chart History (Adult Contemporary)". Billboard.
  13. ^ McClure, Steve (April 13, 1991). ""Disk" Awards To Madonna, Matsutoya". Billboard. p. 61. Retrieved April 13, 2021 – via World Radio History.
  14. ^ "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
  • v
  • t
  • e
Film series
Theatrical
  • The Land Before Time (1988)
Direct-to-video
  • The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure (1994)
  • The Land Before Time III: The Time of the Great Giving (1995)
  • The Land Before Time IV: Journey Through the Mists (1996)
  • The Land Before Time V: The Mysterious Island (1997)
  • The Land Before Time VI: The Secret of Saurus Rock (1998)
  • The Land Before Time VII: The Stone of Cold Fire (2000)
  • The Land Before Time VIII: The Big Freeze (2001)
  • The Land Before Time IX: Journey to Big Water (2002)
  • The Land Before Time X: The Great Longneck Migration (2003)
  • The Land Before Time XI: Invasion of the Tinysauruses (2005)
  • The Land Before Time XII: The Great Day of the Flyers (2006)
  • The Land Before Time XIII: The Wisdom of Friends (2007)
  • The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave (2016)
Related
  • Category
  • v
  • t
  • e
Studio albums
Compilations
  • Greatest Hits (1972)
  • Diana Ross' Greatest Hits (1976)
  • 20 Golden Greats (1979)
  • To Love Again (1981)
  • All the Great Hits (1981)
  • Forever Diana: Musical Memoirs (1993)
  • One Woman: The Ultimate Collection (1993)
  • Diana Extended: The Remixes (1994)
  • Voice of Love (1996)
  • Love & Life: The Very Best of Diana Ross (2001)
  • The Definitive Collection (2006)
  • The Greatest (2011)
  • Upside Down: The Collection (2012)
  • Supertonic: Mixes (2020)
Live releases
Soundtrack albums
  • Diana! (1971)
  • Lady Sings the Blues (1972)
  • Mahogany (1975)
  • The Wiz (1978)
  • Endless Love (1981)
Video albums
Singles
Featured singles
Tours and concerts
Related topics
  • Category