"Hold On, We're Going Home" peaked at number one in South Africa, number four on the USBillboard Hot 100, theUK Singles Chart, and in Denmark and Lebanon, as well as number five on the singles chart in his native Canada. It is certified Diamond in the US, eight-times Platinum in Australia, and Platinum or higher in seven additional countries. The song received praise from music critics, and was named the best song of 2013 byPitchfork Media[6] as well as number 21 on its "Best Tracks of the Decade" list.[7] In 2021, it was listed at No. 129 on Rolling Stone's "Top 500 Greatest Songs of All Time".[8]
Before "Hold On, We're Going Home" was released, Drake had an interview withMTV News about the song during the 4th Annual OVO Fest saying, "It's me and 40 just channeling our Quincy Jones/Michael Jackson production duo,... Obviously no offense to the greats, I know we're not anywhere near that — it's just us kinda doing our thing, humbly attempting." He also added, "It's not a rap record,... It's not 'Versace,' it's not 'Started from the Bottom.' In approaching this album I was like man, it would be great if we had a record that was played at weddings in 10 years or that people that are away from their families in the Armed Forces could listen to. Something that just [has] timeless writing, timeless melody. So I did it with the group that we signed toOVO called Majid Jordan."[9]
The music video is labeled a short film and set in Miami in 1985.[10] It was directed byBill Pope and released on September 24, 2013.[11] In the video, Drake plays a kingpin whose lover (Ashley Moore) is kidnapped by a rival gang. Throughout the video, Drake does everything in his power to rescue her from mobster played by actor Micah Fitzgerald. Cameo appearances in the video includedFredo Santana,Steven Bauer,Johnny Simmons,Majid Jordan andASAP Rocky among others.[10][11][12]
"Hold On, We're Going Home" debuted at number five on the USBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, making it Drake's thirty-third top 10 hit on the chart. This accomplishment broke the tie for second-most top ten hits with singerR. Kelly, only trailing behind rapperLil Wayne, who has 36.[13] The song also made the top ten in theCanadian Hot 100, peaking at number five, making it his highest-charting single in his home country.[14] In the song's fifth week on the USBillboard Hot 100, it became Drake's 13th top ten hit, climbing at number eight. This feat gave him the most top ten hits of the year with four, including "Fuckin' Problems" (number 8), "Started from the Bottom" (number 6), and "Love Me" (number 9).[15] The song reached number four on theBillboard Hot 100 chart,[16] becoming Drake's first song to reach the top five of the Hot 100 since "Find Your Love".[17] The song peaked at number one on theBillboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[18] It sold over two million copies as of January 2014.[19]
The song sold 207,000 copies in Canada in 2013.[20]
The single reached a peak of number four in the United Kingdom, giving Drake his highest-peaking single there at the time ("One Dance" later reached number one in 2016).[21] It also received heavy rotation on South African radio stations, peaking a number one on the South African Airplay Chart.[22]
In September 2014,Nick Mulvey also delivered an acoustic rendition of the song on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge.[32] American singerPia Mia also made a cover of the song and it went viral gaining over 10 million views.
In 2015, on the voice Australia Nathan Hawes did an acoustic version of this.[citation needed]
On 2020-04-03 UK ArtistNerina Pallot released a compilation of the lockdown sessions covers titled "Best In Show" featuring "Hold On, We're Going Home" on track 6.
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. ‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. † Streaming-only figures based on certification alone.
^Pitchfork Staff (October 7, 2019)."The 200 Best Songs of the 2010s".Pitchfork. RetrievedOctober 22, 2022.It's raw seduction, a disco-reminiscent ballad that borrows from Marvin Gaye's "Sexual Healing".
